Quarterly Newsletter • Fall 2018
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Starting a Farm: One Couple’s Story
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Pennsylvania Food & Farm Policy Forum
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Formal Vegetable Apprenticeship
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Conservation Assistance for Farmers
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e are honored to have been selected as Interim Co-Directors by the PCO Board of Directors, after the announcement of the departure of Founder and longtime Executive Director, Leslie Zuck. In this role, we will serve jointly in continuing PCO’s commitment to providing excellent service to its members and supporting the greater organic community. While with PCO, Leslie demonstrated a tireless commitment to the organic industry and passion for serving PCO members. This commitment and passion is imprinted upon the local community and the organic industry. We are grateful for her service and know she will continue to contribute to the health and well-being of our organic community. In this time of transition, we look to the familiar and are reminded of why PCO exists. Over 20 years ago, the PCO founders envisioned communities that are enriched through organic food and farming. And so it is that vision and the strategic plan that stems from it that we turn to today. The exceptional team at PCO continues to carry the organic commitment and dedication to customer service. This dedication remains unwavering and continues to guide the organization forward, as it always has. PCO has had a great deal to celebrate over the last 20 years. PCO grew from a volunteer staff of one employee to nearly 30 staff members, and 57 certified members in its first year to almost 1,600 certified members today, making us the fifth-largest organic certifier in the nation. In addition, we have expanded our programs to include a 100% Grassfed Certification and Forest Grown Verification. Our programs and services contribute significantly to Pennsylvania’s second-in-the-nation ranking in organic sales. With so much accomplished, there is still more to achieve in order to continue to ensure the integrity of organic products and serve our farming community. We are grateful to every PCO member, past and present, for your commitment to PCO. You are the reason we are here and we look forward to ongoing success together. Please feel free to reach out to us anytime with questions, comments, and concerns. We would love to hear from you.
Diana Underwood Interim Co-Executive Director Director of Operations Diana@paorganic.org • 704-718-0058
ORGANIC MATTERS • FALL 2018
Kyla Smith Interim Co-Executive Director Certification Director Kyla@paorganic.org • 215-840-9640
www.paorganic.org
Organic Matters Fall 2018
FFEEAT URREESS AT U OFFICERS
president Luke Howard, Homestead Farms, Inc. vice president Michael Ranck, Charvin Organic Farms secretary Tina Ellor, Phillips Mushroom Farms treasurer Dave Hartman, Penn State Extension managing board chair Bob Eberly
ADVISORY BOARD
Preston Boop, Briar Patch Organic Kristy Borelli, Penn State University Ross Duffield, The Rodale Institute Beth Gugino, Penn State Extension Ron Hoover, Penn State Extension Ted LeBow, Kitchen Table Consultants Joe Miller, Trickling Springs Creamery Ponniah Selvakumar, GAPS EcoSys Andrew Smyre, Anchor Ingredients/ Precizion Ag LLC Marketing and Consulting Mike Spangler, Laurel Grain Company
STAFF
leadership team director of operations & interim co-executive director Diana Underwood certification director & interim co-executive director Kyla Smith executive assistant Betty Harper administrative team accounting manager Elizabeth Leah staff accountant Shawnee Matis administrative assistant Lia Lopez human resources manager Sandy Vandeven
2 | Starting a Farm: One Couple's Story PCO-certified farmers John & Aimee Good share insights from their journey 4 | PA Food & Farm Policy Forum: Fertilizing Grassroots Activism Digging through emerging issues and long-term goals for policymakers and family farms
certification team certification program manager Marissa Pyle operations manager Reva Baylets senior certification specialist Heather Donald certification specialist Justine Cook certification specialist Stephen Hobaugh certification specialist Cathy Jackson certification specialist Chelsea Johnson certification specialist Emily Newman certification specialist Colleen Scott certification specialist Craig Shroyer program assistant Aleisha Schreffler program assistant Kristin Shade inspections team inspections manager Liz Amos inspection program coordinator Ashley Madea materials team materials program manager Jennifer Berkebile materials specialist Sabine Carey materials/outreach specialist April Kocis quality team
6 | A Formal Apprenticeship for Vegetable Farmers…at Last! PASA launches regional training program for diversified vegetable production
S T O RY 8 | Farmers Encouraged to Apply for Conservation Assistance NRCS now accepting applications for financial and technical assistance 10 | 7th Annual PA Organic FarmFest Special thanks to educational programming sponsors!
quality systems & it manager Angela Morgan it specialist Garrick McCullough
C O LU M N S
106 School Street, Suite 201
fax: 814.422.0255
Spring Mills, PA 16875
email: pco@paorganic.org
814.422.0251
web: paorganic.org
facebook.com/PAorganic OUR MISSION: To ensure the integrity of organic products
and provide education, inspection, and certification services that meet the needs of our members. PCO provides certification services nationwide
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1 1 President’s Message
20 New Members
1 2 Dear Aggy
22 Organic Marketplace
1 4 Transitions
23 Calendar
1 6 Organic Updates Certification Legislative Materials Standards
On the cover: Rooster by Sabine Carey, FreeRanging Photography.
ORGANIC MATTERS • FALL 2018
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John and Aimee Good, of PCO-Certified The Good Farm in Germansville, PA.
and aspiring farmers at their home to share insights from their journey and to answer questions about what it took for them to realize the small-farm dream. John and Aimee have farmed together for nearly twenty years, though neither of them came from farming backgrounds. The couple found their shared vocation when, soon after college, they apprenticed together on a farm in New England and never looked back. Two years later, they were hired by a nonprofit organization to create and manage a small CSA farm. “We were lucky, in a sense,” John says, “because we got hired to manage a start-up CSA when we weren’t totally ready to manage an operation. It was a big leap.” The couple noted that this first farm management experience as part of a larger nonprofit provided several advantages. Primarily, it allowed them to experiment and challenge themselves as farmers while offering a basic level of financial security. “We were given housing and wages, and the equipment was already there. It was a great opportunity to learn and make mistakes with minimal risk. We were able to start out on just two acres of land, raising food for a 40-member CSA and one farmers market.” In time, though, the Goods felt the desire to run their own operation. They also wanted to return to the community where they were born and raised, and to start a family. But first, they needed a plan. The couple envisioned a “15-15-15” strategy — they would put $15,000 each toward a new house, a new business, and a financial safety net...in case their plan failed. John and Aimee began to implement their plan when they moved on to a new farming arrangement in their home community. Similar to their previous situation, they would cultivate land owned by another nonprofit organization, which came with a good deal of infrastructure and equipment available for rental and use. This time, though, they would be leasing the land themselves, purchasing a house nearby, and starting their own venture. The business — and the risk — was now theirs alone. Despite giving up some of the security their previous management position offered, the Goods’ business prospered on their leased land. They grew their CSA from 150 members in their first season to 275 members in their tenth season. The Goods built equity over the years by purchasing farm equipment, a little at a time, and by owning their home. They remained at this site through three lease cycles — a one-year and two five-year terms. “A stable lease arrangement might actually be ideal, with land values where they are,” John said. “Ownership isn’t necessarily crucial, but the key is stability within the lease.” Still, one drawback to their arrangement became increasingly apparent. Although their home was only five miles away
Starting a Farm: One Couple’s Story
PCO-certified farmers John & Aimee Good share insights from their journey By Aaron de Long, PASA For many first-generation farmers, there is an undeniable romance to the notion of stewarding a piece of land and growing food for one’s livelihood. These romantic conceits can be quickly dispelled, though, once the work is taken up. Beyond meeting the physical challenges of farming as a career, there are the financial realities — from the low pay of a field hand, to the seasonality of positions, to the challenging prospect of running an operation and the even more challenging prospect of owning one. First-generation farmers don’t often have access to the knowledge, equipment, and land that established farmers may pass down from one generation to the next. In many ways, they are starting from a blank slate — a daunting prospect for even the most committed. Role models for this journey are both valuable and difficult to come by. PASA members John and Aimee Good, owners of The Good Farm — a PCO-certified organic vegetable farm in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania — provide just such role models to first-generation farmers. In September, as part of PASA’s CRAFT event calendar, the Goods hosted a group of beginning
What is CRAFT? The Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training — more commonly known as CRAFT — consists of a network of farmers across the country hosting informal farm tours and educational events for aspiring and beginning farmers. In partnership with Penn State Extension and the PA Women’s Agricultural Network, PASA coordinates year-round CRAFT events in southeast and western Pennsylvania. Find these events and others at pasafarming.org.
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from the land they were leasing, “traveling back and forth two or three times a day to water greenhouses and open and close high tunnels with small children in tow began to get old,” Aimee explains. “And we still had the dream, I think all farmers do really, of living on the land.” After signing their second five-year lease, the Goods decided that lease would be their last. Either they would buy their own land to farm, or they wouldn’t farm at all. In discussing this decision, John laughs, recounting that “in the end, we felt like we were good at farming, and, to be honest, what else would we do?” The Goods now had their own farm business, equipment, and some infrastructure. They just needed to find a piece of land to call home. “It was a bit scary, buying a farm, moving the business, starting all over again,” Aimee said, “and it took years to find land.” The couple was committed to staying close to their extended families, and, with a growing family of their own, they wanted access to good schools for their children. They also wanted to stay close to the CSA membership they had built. Really, they wanted to stay in the community in which they’d been raised, and which they’d help create. They lived with their family for a year while their search for land and affordable housing continued. Finally, John and Aimee found the land — and built the house. One of their strategies for raising the capital to purchase land was selling CSA shares three-years in advance. This is a strategy they continue to consider using for large farm purchases. The Goods also used the equity in their home, as well as loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), MidAtlantic Farm Credit, and a local bank to help them transition to the new land and construct their new home, barn, greenhouse, and other farm infrastructure. “We were very averse to taking on debt for years,” John notes. “But in the end, we had to become comfortable with debt in order to achieve our vision.” Today, the Goods are finishing their second season at their new farm in Germansville, PA. During a year with seemingly endless rain, their well-drained shale fields helped mitigate some of the effects of the uncompromising weather. Still, there are challenges. “As a CSA farm, it’s tougher now than when we started. There’s less opportunity, and more competition in multiple directions,” John notes. “And finding labor can be difficult.” Aimee spoke toward the complexity of managing communications on multiple platforms, including their website, blog, e-newsletters, social media, and email. “There’s a greater quantity of communication,” she notes, “but the quality is often less.” To help manage these different communication streams, the Goods have hired a CSA member to handle their social media accounts as work trade. Looking forward, John and Aimee see their business continuing to evolve to meet both the market and their personal needs. They caution against expansion for its own sake, and think they might actually shrink their membership, a bit, to increase their efficiency. They are also looking toward partnering with more farms so that they can deliver product yearround and access new markets. And, they decided, they won’t be leaving farming anytime soon. “The farm is our retirement,” John notes. When asked if,
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Aimee Good, of PCO-Certified The Good Farm, wears many hats on the farm from tractor work and CSA delivery to marketing, financial planning and bouquet making.
looking back, he would do anything different, he laughs. “The only question I have is would I do it at all? Because once you’re in, it’s a somewhat choice-less situation. Still, I feel like we made the best decisions we could at the time, and that led us to where we are.” “Anything you do for forty-plus hours a week is going to be work,” Aimee says. “The key to keeping the passion is setting boundaries. Take lunch. Work an eight-hour day. Take weekends, as much as possible.” “Manage the farm,” John adds. “Don’t let the farm manage you.”
The Good Farm is a PCO-certified organic farm raising vegetables, berries, flowers, and herbs for a 200-member CSA and farmers market with happy customers — over 70 percent of their CSA members return every year. Learn more at goodfarmcsa.com.
PASA is a Pennsylvania-based sustainable agriculture association founded in 1992. We coordinate year-round workshops and events, administer formal farming apprenticeships, and facilitate research that empowers farmers with data they value. Our annual sustainable agriculture conference draws thousands of people from all sectors of the food system for four days of intensive learning on a wide range of food and farming topics. Learn more at pasafarming.org.
ORGANIC MATTERS • FALL 2018
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PA Food & Farm Policy Forum: Fertilizing Grassroots Activism Digging through emerging issues and long-term goals for policymakers and family farms
Mark Higgins, Centre County Commisssioner, informs PA Food & Farm Policy Forum attendees of his "Save Our Local Dairy Farms" campaign, a local initiative that raises awareness of the serious financial straits dairy farmers and encourages consumers to spend food dollars locally. Photo: Kurtz Grotz, Waterhouse Studios.
By Justine Cook, Certification Specialist PCO’s FarmFest, held on Saturday, July 28, in Centre Hall, introduced a new feature in its seventh year: the Pennsylvania Food & Farm Policy Forum. This all-day activism event was an opportunity for attendees to discuss pressing issues with those on the forefront of policy, including state and local government officials, farmers, political candidates and leaders from agricultural advocacy and education organizations. The address by Russell Redding, Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, along with the listening session panel featuring Congressman Tom Marino, US House of Representatives; Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, US House of Representatives; Rob Larew, National Farmers Union; Richard Ebert, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau; Bethany Coursen, Dairy Farmer; Scott Case, Organic Farmer; and Mark Higgins, Centre County Commissioner, presented a picture to attendees of family farms as a vital element to the Pennsylvania economy and an outlook of emerging policy issues and long-term industry goals.
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Emerging Issues in Agriculture One of the first hurdles to developing effective agricultural policy is reconciling the interests of a diverse industry. As Redding pointed out in his address, and Coursen and Case reinforced during the panel, the farming community is not a monolith and does not speak with one voice — urban and rural farms; a feeder pig operation and a dairy; and an organic vegetable farm and a grain farm are producing food under different constraints with varying priorities. In addition, while agriculture starts on the farm, its policy issues expand through the supply chain from researchers to food processors. Secretary Redding stressed that while this diversity of thoughts may present a challenge for policymakers, it is vital to the health of the industry. Building on the recognition of diversity when considering challenges, Ebert and Larew noted that policymakers should keep this diversity in mind when seeking solutions — it requires approaching issues from multiple sides and considering several perspectives. Seeking solutions also requires balancing our vision of the future with immediate needs, Redding offered. When action is taken, it must both answer the current question, while preserving the industry’s ability to grow and develop with the marketplace. Thinking specifically of the current downturn in the dairy industry, policymakers mused over several approaches to revitalizing the market and easing some of the financial burden, crossing between encouraging the consumption of fluid milk to focusing on processing facility development for Class II or III dairy products. While the speakers alternatively discussed potential solutions and current work, it was clear that the policy created today needs to leave space for the possibilities of the future. The future all speakers described had the preservation of family farms at its center. Family farms are at the intersection of several policy issues: workforce, health, economics, food and nutrition, and the environment. In order to create a future that offers a high quality of life to farmers and protects community resources, we need an agricultural industry that encourages people to stay and welcomes new people to the table. This includes having infrastructure in place to support businesses, such as broadband access, and having adequate transport options and processing facilities for businesses to get their product to market. Coursen and Case noted the challenges that small farmers face when accessing markets and processors, and they stressed the importance of programs that can create a safety net, such as insurance programs, or lessen
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Rob Larew, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Communications for National Farmers Union, speaks to opiod addiction and its impact on family farms at the PA Farm & Policy Forum held in Centre County, PA. Photo: Kurt Grotz, Waterhouse Studios.
barriers to entering certain valuable markets, like the organic certification cost-share program. These funding and insurance programs, funded through the Farm Bill, protect farmers in uncertain markets and climate events. It was noted by Richard Ebert that these programs, by creating a safety net for family farmers, contribute to food security and, therefore, are vital to national security. Action at the County, State and Federal Level It was clear from the Secretary’s address and subsequent panel session that the emerging issues and policy challenges facing the agricultural industry will require the “many little hammers” approach — an approach that organic farmers are familiar with. The cross-section of speakers, with perspectives and reach ranging from local to national, provided attendees with a glimpse behind current strategies and services available for support. Not strictly an agricultural policy issue, but certainly a community issue, Higgins and Larew both raised the topic of opioid addiction and how it is impacting family farms. In January of 2018, Governor Tom Wolf signed a statewide disaster declaration stating that the opioid crisis in Pennsylvania is a public health emergency. As county commissioner, Higgins mentioned the newly established Centre County Drug Court, which aims to rehabilitate probation and parole violators who struggle with substance abuse and are at high risk of reoffending. It offers a supervised, supportive alternative to incarceration for certain individuals who struggle to maintain sobriety. Modeled after other successful programs in the nation, supporters say it has the double benefit of ultimately saving taxpayers money while reducing recidivism. Larew publicized the joint effort between American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union called “Farm Town Strong” which
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offers support and resources to farm and ranch families who are affected by the opioid epidemic. If the agricultural industry starts in the field, it’s on the backs of farm families; these organizations and representatives are working to reduce the stigma of opioid addiction and support farm families who are impacted by it. Another policy effort includes positioning Pennsylvania products in the marketplace; telling consumers a compelling story to create added value around locally produced goods. Higgins has started a “Save Our Local Dairy Farms” campaign to raise awareness of the serious financial straits dairy farmers are facing and of the impact of spending your food dollars locally. He encouraged constituents to be in contact with him if they are seeking loans for infrastructure development or leveraging bank funds. Funding was also mentioned by Secretary Redding, who spoke about the recently published PA Dairy Development Plan, a culmination of years of research that outlines several strategies to revitalize the dairy industry. This plan establishes a dedicated fund of $5 million dollars for statelevel grants for research and development, assistance with transitioning to organic dairy production, value-added processing, and marketing and promotion programs. It also includes the “PA First Fund,” which is a $15 million-dollar funding pool to incentivize processors to establish their business in Pennsylvania or, if they are already operating in the state, to expand their facilities. Part of the development plan outlines the potential economic gains of expanding the processing capacity in the state, which would increase demand for milk and retain more milk in the state. Congressman Marino and Thompson discussed federallevel efforts to support family farms: they are working to get whole milk back into schools, in order to foster the next generation of milk drinkers, and to include incentives for fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy purchases in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, part of the Farm Bill. Congressman Thompson called out the organic certification cost-share program as a vital part of the Farm Bill and pledged to fight for its inclusion during conference (at the time of this event, costshare funding was included in the Senate Farm Bill version, but not the House-passed version). Marino and Thompson also support a campaign to enforce the strict definition of the word “milk,” so that non-dairy substitutes (beverages made from nuts, seeds, grains, etc.) cannot be labelled as milk. Recommendations The subjects covered by the speakers were especially timely for farmers operating in tightening markets, but important for anyone operating in the agricultural supply chain. Speakers stressed the importance of stakeholders (e.g. farmers, processors, researchers, students, etc.) making their voices heard and connecting with their representatives. Being plugged into policy networks can connect businesses with burgeoning opportunities, such as new processing plants, or funding pools, such as the “PA Preferred” dairy grant funding or the organic costshare program. Assuming that your representative understands your perspective and needs may result in being left out of the conversation. continued on page 7
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A Formal Apprenticeship for Vegetable Farmers… at Last! PASA prepares to launch training program for diversified vegetable production By Dan Dalton, PASA We here at PASA are developing the first formal apprenticeship in our region for vegetable farmers: Diversified Vegetable Apprenticeship. The program launches this fall, when we’ll begin accepting applications for the 2019 season. Formal apprenticeships are training programs for an occupation that are registered with either the state or federal government. Through on-the-job training and related coursework, formal apprenticeships have successfully prepared skilled workers — such as carpenters and electricians — in the trades for more than a century. Yet, surprisingly, none were available to farmers. This changed in 2010 when a group of dairy graziers in Wisconsin banded together to address the aging population of U.S. farmers and the rapid decline of dairy farms across the country. These graziers founded Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship — the first federally recognized apprenticeship for farmers — to help stem the tide of farmland loss and introduce a new generation to dairy grazing. Responding to the proven results of this learning model, as well as feedback from our members, we developed Diversified Vegetable Apprenticeship to meet the needs of aspiring and experienced vegetable growers. To design the Diversified Vegetable Apprenticeship, we facilitated a rigorous curriculum development process guided by a model called DACUM — short for “Developing a Curriculum” — which has been effectively used across the globe for decades to identify and define core competencies required for an occupation using a focus group. Guided by this model, we worked with farmers, educators, and apprentices from 19 of our member farms to create a custom learning experience that covers the essential vegetable production and business skills farmers need to succeed. We also put an administrative structure into place that
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Dan Dalton, PASA's Diversified Vegetable Apprenticeship Coordinator, meets with apprentice Jess Hermanofski to check in about her on-the job learning as she works toward meeting the program's learning objectives. Photo: PASA
includes an application process designed to identify and suitably pair apprentices and master growers. That way, we’re able to relieve master growers of the burden of finding and vetting qualified apprentices, and can ensure that apprentices are training at a farm that’s in line with their own agricultural values and interests. We began piloting the Diversified Vegetable Apprenticeship earlier this 2018 season at Plowshare Produce, a three-acre, PCO-certified organic Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm in Huntingdon County, PA. Owners Bethany and
I really enjoy that every day is different, and that I’m learning something new every day. I enjoy seeing everything come together for the beautiful CSA shares, and the members’ reactions when they see their shares. I also love seeing the farm transition from empty beds, to small transplants, to larger plants, and then getting to harvest the beautiful crops, and knowing I helped make that happen! — Jess Hermanofski, Diversified Vegetable Apprentice at Plowshare Produce in Huntingdon County, PA
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Micah Spicher-Schonberg agreed to pilot the program because they knew “an aspiring vegetable grower would engage in the daily work here on a deeper level than someone with just a passing interest.” Also, while they’ve been fortunate to find good help in the past, they thought that participating in the program would be a reliable way to connect them with dependable, motivated employees. We matched Bethany and Micah with aspiring farmer Jess Hermanofski, who they enjoy having work with them because she “really wants to understand why we do things the way we do,” and is constantly surprising them as they discover her competencies. Plus, Bethany and Micah said they “benefited tremendously” from their own experiences as apprentices on other farms, so they wanted to share that experience with others. While in their role as master growers they’ve found it challenging to “distill this kind of work into a tidy list of skills,” they nonetheless have been pleased with their experience so far. “We highly recommend the Diversified Vegetable
Apprenticeship program!” said Micah. “PASA not only helped us locate an employee; they’ve been gently guiding us through the season, ensuring that our apprentice receives a wellrounded education.” Interested in becoming an apprentice or master grower? Contact Dan Dalton, PASA’s Three Rivers Program Manager, at dan@pasafarming.org or 814.349.9856 x710. In addition to the Diversified Vegetable Apprenticeship, PASA facilitates the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. You can read a Q&A between a dairy grazing apprentice and master grazier in the summer 2018 issue of Organic Matters. PASA is a Pennsylvania-based sustainable agriculture association working to build a more economically-just, environmentallyregenerative, and community-focused food system through education and research that directly supports farmers. Learn more at pasafarming.org.
Food & Farm Policy Forum continued from page 5
In addition to informing policy-makers, diversity of perspective can lead to innovation in production method and product development. Ebert recommended studying how your product crosses different parts of the supply chain in order to identify new markets or partnerships. Cooperatives were also mentioned as a possible avenue for farmers, whether it’s using that support network to find solutions or creating a new market by forming one. It was noted that several local cooperatives have been developed successfully as a means of retaining more control over pricing and market development. For farmers interested in learning more about cooperatives, Keystone Development Center is a non-profit located in York, PA that offers research and technical assistance to groups who wish to organize as cooperatives. For example, they are currently surveying Pennsylvania farmers who are interested in an organic grain cooperative. Connecting with local groups and seeking new markets can be part of the solution; speakers also encouraged attendees to take advantage of programs offered through state and federal agencies. While there are several factors to weigh when deciding whether to participate in Farm Bill programs, Thompson, Marino, Larew and Ebert framed the funds as a safety net for the community, not just farmers. The externalities of organic food production, for example, include protecting open space and maintaining or improving natural resources – while organic farmers may receive a price premium, it often doesn’t match the true cost of production. Insurance, conservation assistance and certification cost-share programs can be part of bridging that gap and recognizing the added community benefits that farms offer. And as this Farm Bill is being hammered out at the federal level, start thinking about the next one, advised Larew. While the connection between farms and food is generally
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Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding with Pennsylvania queens and princess, National Future Little Miss United States Agriculture and Centre County Dairy Princess.
clear, many people may not be aware of how complex the food supply chain can be; and understanding how food moves through our society can be vital to preserving family farms for generations to come. The wide range of topics covered during this policy forum illustrated the multi-faceted nature of the agricultural industry, an industry that crosses several sectors and has far-reaching effects on the wellbeing of families, communities and the environment. According to Secretary Redding, agriculture has been on the path of change for over 200 years, and having these conversations is critically important to ensuring that the industry that feeds our nation, feeds our farm families. RESOURCES: Farm Town Strong • farmtownstrong.org Save Our Local Dairy Farms • centrecfb.org/save-our-local-dairy-farms PA Preferred Dairy Grant Funding • centerfordairyexcellence.org/pa-preferred-in-dairy-grant-opportunity, 717-346-0849 Organic Cost Share Program • ams.usda.gov/services/grants/occsp 717-836-3973 Keystone Development Center • kdc.coop, 717-792-2163
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Lindsey Williams, Soil Conservationist in Berks County NRCS has been providing technical assistance to America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners since 1935, and since then a lot has changed. Markets have fluctuated, new equipment and farming techniques have emerged, and the public demand for new products drives how we farm and what we produce. Today, more and more families are looking to organic produce and products for their households for one reason or another. As the demand for organic products continues to rise, so does the demand on our land for production. There are a variety of conservation practices out there to help organic farmers supply the market to meet public demand while still protecting and improving the quality of natural resources on their land. NRCS can provide technical assistance to help you select the practices best suited for your farm and goals. A simple phone call to your local field office (found at offices.usda.gov) can help kickstart your NRCS journey by setting up a one-on-one meeting with one of our conservation planners at your farm. You will work hand in hand to develop a conservation plan that outlines your goals and conservation practices to meet your needs. Whether you’re interested in improving the quality of your forage, increasing pollinator populations on your farm, or have erosion issues in your crop fields, NRCS can help. NRCS has specialists that can help with a wide range of conservation practices that have multiple benefits for you and your farm. Installing field borders, filter strips, hedgerows, and even riparian buffers can help provide distinct, defined boundaries of fields, capture sediment runoff from erosion before it enters waterways, and can provide habitat for beneficial insects and local wildlife. Establishing permanent vegeta-
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tion through critical area plantings in low production or steep crop areas with a pollinator mix can improve habitat, protect soil, and improve water quality. Developing a conservation crop rotation below tolerable soil loss with integrated cover crops, strip crops, and contour farming can help improve the physical, chemical, and biological condition of the soil while minimizing erosion. A well-developed rotation can recycle nutrients and/or produce nitrogen, and build soil organic matter. Reduced tillage techniques, terraces, and grassed waterways can help fields withstand rain events with added residue and filter areas. Managing on-farm nutrients and regular soil tests can help you address crop nutrient needs by applying the right source, at the right time, at the right rate, and the right placement within NOP Regulations. Have an organic livestock operation? How about developing and applying a prescribed grazing plan with an NRCS grazing specialist to establish a
forage base and improve the health and vigor of your pasture grasses. Establish walkways between pasture paddocks, and add additional watering locations for better livestock distribution. Windbreaks and/or shelter belts can improve air quality around livestock areas, provide livestock protection from chilly winds and the hot sun, and improve microclimates for fruit and vegetable growers. Overall, NRCS offers a wide range of technical assistance to meet the unique need of each operation. Once you have met with an NRCS Conservationist to develop a Conservation Plan for your operation, financial assistance may be available to help with the implementation or installation of some practices. If you are interested in learning more about any of these conservation practices, what conservation practices can help you meet your goals for your farm, or potential financial assistance opportunities, contact your local NRCS field office for more information: pa.nrcs.usda.gov NRCS TECHNICAL CENTERS Clarion ................ 1-814-226-8160 x 4 Somerset ............ 1-814-445-8979 x 6 Lebanon ............... 1-717-274-2597 x 5 Bloomsburg ........ 1-570-784-4401 x 6
Farmers encouraged to apply for conservation assistance NRCS now accepting applications for financial and technical assistance Pennsylvania agricultural producers are encouraged to apply for technical and financial assistance to improve and enhance natural resources on their farm and forest land. Funding is available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The first application cutoff date for fiscal year 2019 is October 19, 2018 for both EQIP and AMA. Assistance is available to help farmers and forest landowners plan and implement conservation practices to improve water and air quality, build healthier soil, improve grazing and forest lands, conserve energy, enhance organic operations, and achieve other environmental benefits. Popular practices include waste storage structures, heavy use area pads, energy, cover crops, irrigation water management, poultry windbreaks and more. continued on page 11
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7th Annual Pennsylvania Organic FarmFest Thank you to our 2018 sponsors! Funding from our generous sponsors allowed PCO to provide ample educational opportunities at FarmFest, including the PA Food & Farm Policy Forum where attendees heard from Russell Redding, PA Department Secretary of Agriculture, on Family Farms as the Foundation of Pennsylvania’s Vibrant and Diverse Regional Food System and engaged with agriculture policy makers in person. In addition, FarmFest hosted a full slate of workshops ranging in topics from pollinators and holistic animal care to edible perennials and soil health, as well as a variety of blacksmithing, horse care and harnessing, and falconry demonstrations. Thank you sponsors for your support! SUN SPONSORS
WAT E R S P O N S O R S
SEED SPONSORS C Factor • Central Insurers Group, Inc. • Centre County Farm Bureau • Common Ground Organic Farm Green Mountain Energy • Juniata Valley Council Boy Scouts of America • Martin’s Feed & Fertilizer Patchwork Farm and Greenhouses • Penns Valley Conservation Association • Soliant Consulting • SOS from Texas State College Area Roller Derby • The Accidental Agronomist • PA Cyber Charter School • Wegmans
The Organic Valley Family Arena hosted a full slate of activities for all ages including a petting zoo, falconry demonstrations, wild horse talks, face painting and more. Photo: Kurt Grotz, Waterhouse Studios
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President’s Message
Transition of the Season By Luke R. Howard, PCO Advisory Board President Fall is finally here. As we approach harvest on the farm we often evaluate how we did for the year. It is always exciting to reap what we sow. But we must always be thinking about how we can do better. As the combines roll across fields in our region it will be exciting to find out what the yield will be for 2018. On our farm 2018 may go in the books as one of the tougher years. We struggled to get into wet fields in the spring to plant and cultivate. Then in the middle of growing season we had an extreme hyper-drought with intense heat that definitely hurt our corn crop. But transition will happen on the farm and it is one my favorite parts of owning a farm. Whether you are ready or not things transition and next year we will have the opportunity to do better. Along with transitions on the farm, we also have had transitions at PCO. This September, Leslie Zuck our longtime Executive Director has left our organization. We are grateful for Leslie’s efforts at helping to build our organization. She has been at the helm for over 20 years. A great career by any standard. As Leslie moves on to other activities we wish her success and happiness. And thank her for dedicating so many years to PCO. But also as many of you know PCO is much more than just an Executive Director. We are a membership
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organization. We also have a very active board that has dedicated many hours of volunteer time to the organization. And finally but not least we have an outstanding staff that carry the work load and is respected not just within the organic world but all of the agriculture world. It doesn’t matter where I travel, I always hear great things about the staff at PCO. We will be moving forward during this transition time and continuing to provide the highest standards in certifica-
NRCS Assisistance continued from page 8
Additionally, NRCS offers special initiatives through EQIP, including: • On-Farm Energy Initiative: helps producers conserve energy on their operations. • Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative: helps producers install high tunnels designed to extend the growing season into the cold months, increase productivity, keep plants at a steady temperature and conserve water and energy. • Organic Initiative: helps producers to install conservation practices on certified organic operations or those working toward organic certification. NRCS conservationists will work with producers to develop a conservation plan on their land to identify concerns and opportunities, help determine objectives and recommend solutions. “Our high-quality comprehensive con-
tion and service to our membership. As we look toward the future the board will be busy with finding the path forward to replace our Executive Director. While we are in the process of evaluating the decision we are in very capable hands with our Interim Co-Executive Directors Kyla Smith and Diana Underwood. Along with the efforts of the entire staff PCO is primed to transition into the future. Finally, we will be having our Annual Membership meeting in November this year. Several reasons have created an opportunity to move this to November. With the changes in some conference schedules we felt it was important to hold our annual meeting a little earlier in the year. The date will be Wednesday, November 28th in Bellefonte, PA. Details will be announced later this month. I hope to see many of you there. This is always a great opportunity to meet our staff, board members and many other people who have a passion for PCO and organics. It is also a great opportunity for the membership to get updates on the plans for PCO. We have an exciting future. Be safe this harvest season and as always feel free to contact me. 410-7083105, lukerichardhoward@gmail.com servation plans can provide farmers with step-by-step recommendations they can use to improve their water quality, soil health and more — all while reducing input costs,” said Denise Coleman, Pennsylvania NRCS State Conservationist. NRCS accepts applications yearround but makes funding selections at application cut-off deadlines. Pennsylvania producers with applications in before October 19, 2018 will have a higher chance of application approval as funding is limited. Applications received after that date will be accepted and considered for funding in the second ranking in December, if funds remain. To participate in USDA conservation programs, applicants should be farmers or farm or forest landowners and must meet eligibility criteria. To take advantage of NRCS technical assistance and expertise or federally funded conservation on your farm or land, please contact your local USDA NRCS Field Office (see page 8 for contact information.)
ORGANIC MATTERS • FALL 2018
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Dear Aggy Readers’ Letters
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Pests in Crop Storage Dear Aggy, I’m having an issue with weevils in my grain bins. I do my best to keep spilled grain swept up and to clean out my bins thoroughly from year to year, but sometimes I do get rushed and they miss a good cleaning. Is there anything I can use to fumigate my bins between uses, or can I add something to the grain to get rid of these pests? — No More Buggy Grain
ease vectors, weed seeds, and habitat for pest organisms; and (3) Cultural practices that enhance crop health, including selection of plant species and varieties with regard to suitability to site-specific conditions and resistance to prevalent pests, weeds, and diseases. (b) Pest problems may be controlled through mechanical or physical methods including but not limited to: (1) Augmentation or introduction of predators or parasites of the pest species; (2) Development of habitat for natural enemies of pests;
Dear Mr. Buggy, Post-harvest pest control is the prevention of pests from coming into contact or impacting the quality of a raw organic agricultural commodity after it has been harvested and before processing. Controlling grain storage pests such as the weevils you have encountered in your grain bins is very important from a production standpoint, as pest infestation can result in serious post-harvest losses, spoilage, lower quality feed and even rejection of grain by potential buyers. Especially after a wet year such as this one, proper grain storage is crucial to maintain quality and minimize problems caused by insects or mold. Pest management in grain bins falls under the Crop pest, weed and disease management practice standard at §205.206, which requires that: (a) The producer must use management practices to prevent crop pests, weeds, and diseases including but not limited to: (1) Crop rotation and soil and crop nutrient management practices, as provided for in §§205.203 and 205.205;
(3) Nonsynthetic controls such as lures, traps, and repellents. (d) Disease problems may be controlled through: (1) Management practices which suppress the spread of disease organisms; or (2) Application of nonsynthetic biological, botanical, or mineral inputs. (e) When the practices provided for in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section are insufficient to prevent or control crop pests, weeds, and diseases, a biological or botanical substance or a substance
included on the National List of synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production may be applied to prevent, suppress, or control pests, weeds, or diseases: Provided, That, the conditions for using the substance are documented in the organic system plan.
What does this mean on your farm? Physical/mechanical prevention practices should be the first option in regards to post-harvest pest management. Factors such as temperature, moisture, humidity, storage time, cleanliness, etc., all have an impact on the ability to control pests from infesting your stored crops. Preventative management practices include the following: Ensure storage bins are clean and sealed. Proper housekeeping and removal of weeds, trash, or moldy grain in and around the bin, aeration ducts, and auger trenches will help to eliminate an environment where insects can thrive. Ensure that all openings of the bin are sealed in order to provide a barrier against insect entry at all locations below the roof eaves. With the help of shovels and brooms, remove any insect eggs, pupae, and adults that may be hiding in cracks and crevices, doors, seams, vents, and especially under false floors. When loading grain, ensure that it is clean and dry. High levels of moisture in the grain will create the potential for insects and mold growth. Foreign materials should be removed from the grain to the best of your ability. Also, keeping the stored grain surface relatively level will be easier to manage and help to prevent temperature changes during storage.
Got a question for Aggy? • Email to: pco@paorganic.org • Fax to: 814-422-0255
(2) Sanitation measures to remove dis-
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Maintain grain temperature and monitor moisture levels. Grain temperature should be below 60°F to control insects and mold. Grain temperatures should be reduced to the optimum storage level as early as possible following harvest, and grain temperature should be managed by aeration of grain in the fall, winter, and early spring. Aeration will also help to reduce grain moisture content and prevent moisture migration equalizing grain temperature and moisture throughout the bin. Never put newly harvested grain into bins containing old grain, which could harbor insects and diseases. Use proper grain cleaning to reduce fines, which are more prone to mold and insect infestations. A grain cleaner is especially important when storing wet, damaged, or immature grain, which we’re more likely to see after this rainy season. Using pheromone traps for your specific pests will also allow you to monitor pest activity and give you an opportunity to act before an outbreak reaches uncontrollable levels.
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Approved post-harvest pest materials When preventative physical/mechanical methods such as those discussed above are not enough to prevent pests from infiltrating storage bins, approved post-harvest materials may be used. You will need to document your preventative physical/mechanical methods in your organic system plan. In order for a postharvest material to be allowed under the National Organic Program regulations, the active ingredients must either be a: synthetic specifically listed at §205.601 for post-harvest use or listed at §205.605 and meet applicable annotations, or be a non-synthetic not listed at §205.602 (prohibited non-synthetics) Currently, there are no synthetic ingredients listed at §205.601 for postharvest pest control. Also, inert (nonactive) ingredients in post-harvest pest control materials must either be allowed at §205.601(m) or a non-synthetic substance not restricted or prohibited at §205.602. Please note: Even though a pesticide may be allowed for use in the field on organic crops, that does not always mean
it will be allowed for post-harvest use, as the pesticide must meet additional specific criteria to be allowed for post-harvest use. Please use the PCO materials book or contact your certification specialist to verify the status of any products prior to use. The following active ingredients could be considered non-synthetic and allowed, but must be reviewed by PCO to determine compliance of complete ingredients: Diatomaceous Earth is a naturally occurring sedimentary rock that is crumbled into a fine white powder. The surface of each particle of diatomaceous earth is very sharp on a microscopic level, and these sharp edges cut into pests as they feed or move over the grain, causing them to desiccate. Pyrethrin/Pyrethrum is derived from the chrysanthemum flower. Pyrethrin results in an immediate “knockdown” effect and insect death. It degrades rapidly under sunlight, air and moisture and has a relatively low mammalian toxicity. Pyrethrin controls a continued on page 24
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within one week. Note that if organic livestock are brought onto pasture that is not certified organic, livestock may lose certified organic status. However, keep in touch with PCO so we can discuss the options you have available to you and timing needs. We may ask you for certain things during inspection. Some common documentation & records that you will want to keep for ruminants include:
Transitions Livestock Inspections: What to expect at your ruminant, swine, or poultry inspection By Chelsea Johnson, Certification Specialist
When you submit an application for organic or 100% grassfed certification, you are assigned a certification specialist who reviews your application. If any information is missing, they may either contact you, or they will describe the missing information that you should have at inspection in the Initial Review Report (commonly called an IRR). This is a letter that will be sent to you prior to inspection. It is important to read this letter carefully so that you send in the requested information or have it available at inspection. Once you are assigned an inspector, he or she will contact you to set up a day and time for your inspection. At every new and annual inspection, the Organic System Plan(s), Materials Used Form, and Field & Pasture Records or Poultry Outdoor Access Records are verified. In addition, the inspector will ask for several supporting documents. The inspector’s role is to verify accuracy of the information you have submitted and collect additional information if needed. The inspector is a neutral thirdparty who cannot make recommendations, issue adverse actions, or grant certification. The inspector will provide a written report to PCO, and then PCO will take action as needed, such as asking for additional information, issuing non-
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compliances & requesting corrections or granting certification. Inspectors may work for several different certification agencies, or they may be PCO staff members who also do inspections. Inspectors may receive training through organizations like International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA), and they usually complete an apprenticeship with an experienced inspector. At the end of your inspection, you will have the opportunity to fill out an inspector evaluation. Your inspector may give you one of these to fill out or you can contact PCO if you do not receive one. PCO is continually evaluating inspectors to ensure that they meet high standards of quality. After your initial inspection and after you are granted certification, you must be inspected annually (once per calendar year) in order to keep your certification. Ruminant Inspections Most of the ruminants certified with PCO are dairy animals, but this category can also include beef cattle, goats and sheep. If your livestock are currently in transition, your inspection must occur during the transition period (the 12month period immediately prior to the sale of organic milk and milk products) and usually within three months prior the eligibility date of the livestock. If you have purchased certified organic livestock and are not yet certified for livestock, your inspection should occur as soon as possible after livestock are brought onto the operation, ideally
n Off-farm boarding agreement — if you are boarding livestock at another farm, it is essential to fill this out prior to moving your animals. Contact PCO if you plan to board your livestock off farm, even for a short period of time. n Herd List — starting this year, PCO is
requesting a herd list for all ruminant animals. This list should include organic slaughter eligibility. If you have not submitted this yet, PCO will be asking you to submit with your annual update next year (or your initial application). This list should include all organic livestock on farm, including milking cows & young stock. n Feed ration records — these will help
show your inspector that your animals are meeting the requirement of getting 30% of their Dry Matter Intake from pasture. n Healthcare records — Any time you are using a healthcare product, the treatment must be documented. This documentation should include the name of the product used, and which specific livestock received the treatment, including the dates of treatment. n Outdoor access records — Ruminants require daily outdoor access. If they are confined indoors due to weather conditions or another reason, this must be documented. n For ruminant animals, the inspector
must be able to identify each animal without your assistance. This can be done with ear tags and a corresponding number, tattoos or other markings, or photographs/drawings with corresponding names. While you may know the identity of each animal, the inspector should be able to come onto your farm and be able to identify them without your help.
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Poultry Inspections The initial inspection for pullets and layers (any egg-laying bird) must occur while the birds are present at the operation. The initial inspection for broilers, turkeys, and other species must occur while the birds are present at the operation and before birds are slaughtered. If you are certified and adding a new poultry house, you must have an add-on inspection done. Once your operation is certified, the annual inspection can occur at any time and birds to not need to be present. Common documents the inspector may ask for poultry include:
For all inspections The inspector will check whether there is any potential commingling or contamination of product. An example of commingling is storing organic hay next to non-organic hay; there is a potential that these two products become mixed. An example of contamination would be a prohibited substance entering your organic system, for example from a neighboring farm. Your inspector will likely look at your buffers to ensure that they are enough to prevent contamination. It is important to keep prohibited
medical treatments and non-organic feed labeled. While you may know which products are not allowed, someone else may come on to your farm and mistakenly give a prohibited medicine or nonorganic feed to organic animals. Good practices can include keeping organic product separated from non-organic, as well as labeling feed and products appropriately. During every annual inspection two audits will be conducted. These are an in/out (or mass balance) audit and a trace-back audit. It is important to keep continued on page 23
n Documentation that shows when the poultry arrived and where they came from
n Cleaning documentation for poultry house and feed bin n Pest management logs
n Poultry outdoor access logs n Feed records
n Organic certificates for feed purchased n Documentation that sawdust used for
bedding comes from untreated wood The inspector will also walk through the poultry house and may ask to see things such as where feed and materials are stored. You should also discuss your biosecurity procedures with your inspector prior to inspection. This can include information such as whether car tires get sprayed and whether you provide a suit and boots for the inspector. 100% Grassfed inspections Your 100% grassfed inspection will be combined with your organic inspection if you are certified organic with PCO. At this inspection, your inspector will be taking a close look at your records to ensure that you are meeting PCO’s 100% grassfed requirements. Feed ration records are important to show how much pasture and other feed (e.g., hay) your animals are consuming. Additionally, your inspector will verify which supplements you are feeding your 100% grassfed animals; these may include minerals, kelp, molasses, and salt. For farms that are not certified organic with PCO, the inspector may ask for the most recent copy of the farm’s organic certificate.
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ORGANIC MATTERS • FALL 2018
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Organic Updates
Certification Update Marissa Pyle, Certification Program Manager Happy Autumn! I hope you are enjoying the leaves changing from green to golden, and fall harvesting is going smoothly. This autumn has also brought a few changes that I’d like to remind members of, particularly if you certify or handle organic livestock. First, in March of this year, PCO sent out a memo to our membership indicating that by September 1, 2018, all auction facilities buying/selling/handling organic livestock must be certified organic in order for the animal to retain its organic status. Previously, operators were allowed to buy/sell through non-certified facilities, provided the owner/manager of the livestock was on-site the entirety of the auction, but due to clarification received from the National Organic Program, this is no longer an allowed practice. Certified operations that continue to buy and sell animals through uncertified auction facilities after September 1, 2018 are in violation of the USDA organic regulations and may be subject to proposed suspension or revocation of certification. Secondly, PCO is now requiring organic herd lists to be submitted to the PCO office as part of your livestock organic system plan. We are requesting this information be ready for your inspector to collect and verify at time of inspection. However, if it is unavailable, we will request it via your certification report. This list will need to be updated annually with your annual update. As part of the herd list information, we are requesting information on the slaughter eligibility of the livestock listed. This is due to more and more requests to add slaughter stock to organic certificates. Even if you do not currently have a market or plans to sell organic slaughter stock, PCO still will be requesting information on verifying which livestock on farm are eligible for slaughter status. Lastly, this time of year brings organic cost share program applications! If there were a way to be reimbursed 75% (up to $750/scope) of your fees, would you be interested? Well, there is! Any fees paid between October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2018 are eligible for this reimbursement program. If you are a dairy producer (certified for the scopes of crops and livestock) and have paid $2000 to PCO between 10/1 and 9/30, you could receive up to $1500 back. This is not a competitive program, so if you apply, you will be reimbursed. For Pennsylvania residents, the application is due to Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture by November 16th. Other states application deadlines may vary slightly. PLEASE see PCO’s guidance document that lists the cost share administers for each state available on the PCO website at paorganic.org/cost-share-guidance, or contact the PCO office. Also, for 2018, you may visit any local FSA office and obtain an application directly. If you have not
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received an application and wish to participate in this program, please contact your state’s cost share contact immediately or visit your local FSA office. We want to help you keep your certification costs low, and this program is designed for that purpose. PCO would be happy to have the check signed directly over to us to credit your account if you are uncomfortable accepting the reimbursement. As always, if you have any questions or need assistance with paperwork, feel free to reach out to the PCO office. We’re here to help!
Legislative Update Kyla Smith, Interim Co-Executive Director & Certification Director
California Court Rules Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Lawsuit Has Standing In August, a Northern District Court of California judge responded to a lawsuit filed earlier this year by several consumer and animal welfare groups. The lawsuit alleged that USDA’s withdrawal of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) rule was illegal. The judge ruled that two of the claims have legal standing, while dismissing the other two claims. The arguments that the court ruled have standing: • Cost-benefit analysis claim II: This argument is regarding the cost-benefit analysis that USDA conducted on OLPP and used as a primary reason for withdrawing the rule was itself flawed. • Standing from the Plaintiffs: This argument claims that consumers were harmed by the USDA’s withdrawal of the OLPP because they do not have assurance that organic eggs and other animal products they purchase are in fact produced in accordance with the appropriate animal welfare standards. The arguments that were dismissed by the court: • Cost-benefit analysis claim I: This argument claims that the withdrawal of the OLPP Rule violated the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) because the statute does not permit USDA to refuse to promulgate standards based on alleged costs to producers. • Failure to consult with the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB): This argument claims that UDA violated OFPA by not consulting with NOSB before issuing the withdrawal of OLPP. The Organic Trade Association (OTA) also filed a lawsuit against the USDA in Washington, D.C. district court that contains similar or identical claims presented in the California suit. The D.C. court has not responded to either the USDA’s
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Organic Updates motion to dismiss OTA’s lawsuit or OTA’s request for hearing. While the fact that the California case has preceded OTA’s will not have any impact on the D.C case moving forward, it could be beneficial to OTA’s case that a judge has ruled that at least two of the claims that OTA also made in their suit have legal standing.
House and Senate Engage Joint Conference Committee to Further 2018 Farm Bill The House and Senate initiated the next step toward the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill by convening the joint conference of the chambers. The conference committee is charged with settling differences between the House and Senate farm bills and agreeing to one final conference report. This final report will then be required to be voted on and passed by both the full House and Senate before and President can sign the bill into law. The below organic provisions are identical in the current version of the House and Senate farm bills and will therefore not be part of the conference discussion. These will be included in the final farm bill. National Organic Program (NOP) Authorization for Funding • Organic Data Initiative Funding ($5 million) • NOP Technology Upgrades ($5 million)
• Enhanced NOP oversight enforcement of global organic supply chain (H.R. 3871 The Organic Farmer and Consumer Protection Act) The organic provisions listed below are those that currently differ between the House and Senate farm bills. These items will be negotiated during the conference committee. An agreement must be reached in these areas for the farm bill to proceed. • Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) funding levels • Organic Certification Cost Share funding • Enhanced NOP oversight and enforcement of global organic supply chain (S. 2927, includes additional provisions not included in H.R 3871) • Improved access and incentives for organic transitioning farmers in conservation programs (includes Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Stewardship Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Program) • Improvements to better serve organic farmers in crop insurance programs • National Organic Standards Board language (both House and Senate bills contain different language referencing NOSB) • Adding organic as an issue covered in state agriculture and mediation programs continued on page 18
Box 361, 119 Hamilton Place Penn Yan, NY 14527 315-531-1038 Certified Organic Feed, Seed & Livestock Products from Northeast organic farmers for Northeast organic farmers ❖ www.lakevieworganicgrain.com
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ORGANIC MATTERS • FALL 2018
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Organic Updates continued from page 17
Materials Update Jennifer Berkebile, Materials Program Manager The PCO Materials Team is pleased to welcome April Kocis as our newest Materials Specialist! April has been working for PCO for 10 years, most recently as our Outreach Specialist, but she recently made the switch to the materials team and we are excited to have her!
Material Review Status Changes Please note the following status changes for materials reviewed by PCO for use by certified operations. n ALLOWED — Contact PCO with any questions about the use or restrictions for these products. Crop Materials • Greenhouse Media by Keystone Bio Ag, LLC, is allowed as growing media. • Organic Potting Mix/ Greenhouse Media by Advancing Eco-Agriculture is allowed as growing media. • SilagePro (Water Soluble) by American Farm Products is allowed as a forage treatment. Livestock Materials • CMPK Solution by Aspen Veterinary Resources, Ltd., is allowed as a livestock medical treatment. • DBC Enzyme 101 by DBC Agricultural Products/ Heritage is allowed as a livestock feed additive/supplement. • Fleet Saline Enema by C. B. Fleet Co. is allowed as a livestock medical treatment with the following restriction: Medical Treatment. Must not be administered in the absence of illness. Records must be kept documenting specific animal treated, treatment/dosage used, and duration of treatment. §205.238(b) • Grass Liquid OCP / Linseed Oil by Free Choice Enterprises is allowed as a livestock feed additive/supplement and as a grassfed supplement. • HolisTec Calcium 135 by Animal Medic, Inc., is allowed as a livestock medical treatment with the following restriction: Medical Treatment. Must not be administered in the absence of illness. Records must be kept documenting specific animal treated, treatment/dosage used, and duration of treatment. §205.238(b) • Liquid OCP / No Oil by Free Choice Enterprises is allowed as a grassfed supplement. • Udder Comfort — Blue / White Lotion by Udder Comfort is allowed as a teat dip/ udder care product.
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• Vitamin A D Injection by Durvet, Inc., is allowed as a livestock medical treatment. n PROHIBITED — Operators must immediately discontinue use of these products unless otherwise indicated. Crop Materials • Cal 500 Damp by New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc./ Martin Limestone is prohibited as a fertilizer/soil amendment. Usage of this product must be discontinued immediately. • Cal 500 Damp Fines by New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc./ Martin Limestone is prohibited as a fertilizer/soil amendment. Usage of this product must be discontinued immediately. • Greenhouse Media by Keystone Bio Ag, LLC, is prohibited as growing media. This can be used up until Dec. 31, 2018. • Organic Potting Mix / Greenhouse Media by Advancing Eco-Agriculture is prohibited as growing media. This can be used up until Dec. 31, 2018. • Organic Seed Starting Formula by Burpee Garden Products Co. is prohibited as growing media. Usage of this product must be discontinued immediately. Livestock Materials • Rum Innoc Gel by Star Labs is prohibited as a livestock medical treatment. Usage of this product must be discontinued immediately. • Star Neo Para by Star Dairy Resources is prohibited as a feed additive/supplement. Usage of this product must be discontinued immediately. • Super Booster for Calves by IBA, Inc., is prohibited as a livestock medical treatment. This can be used up until Dec. 31, 2018.
Standards Update Kyla Smith, Interim Co-Executive Director & Certification Director
USDA Publishes Policy Memos Regarding Import Oversight As part of the Enforcement Action Plan and building on recommendations from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP) has released additional policy memos for importers and certifying agents: • Policy Memo 18-1 Impact of Fumigation and Irradiation Requirements on Organic Imports
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Organic Updates • Policy Memo 18-2 Impact of Prohibited Grain Seed Regulations on Organic Imports
Policy Memo 18-1 outlines the fumigation and irradiation notification process:
These memos are directed at USDA accredited certifiers and importers of organic products, including certified organic handlers as well as other operations that are excluded from certification (e.g. brokers). Policy Memo 18-1 serves as a reminder that fumigation with a prohibited substance renders products ineligible for future sale as organic in the United States, as all known fumigants are prohibited for use under the USDA organic regulations. These memos also explain that Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) role is to safeguard U.S. agriculture and natural resources against the entry, establishment, and spread of economically and environmentally significant pests into and within the United States, and to facilitate the safe trade of agricultural products within the U.S. To achieve this, APHIS establishes import requirements for live plants and plant products, such as fruits, vegetables, soil, and seeds, and prohibits certain commodities entirely, because they could introduce exotic pests and diseases not known to occur in the United States. Import requirements may include treatment as a mandatory condition of entry and an inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists (CBPAS) at U.S. ports of entry. If a pest is detected and APHIS determines the pest poses a threat, APHIS may require the shipment be treated, re-exported, or destroyed.
1. Customs and Border Protection (CBOP) will notify the responsible parties (e.g. certified operation, broker) about the status of the shipment and the mitigation options (e.g. treating, re-exporting, or destroying).
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a. Treatments may involve fumigation with substances such as methyl bromide or ionizing radiation, both of which are prohibited for use in the handling of organic products. 2. Treatments are documented by APHIS and CBP though phytosanitary certificates, fumigation records, and/or Emergency Action Notifications. 2. If treated, products may not be sold, labeled or represented as organic. 3. U.S. importers and brokers are responsible for ensuring imported products are free from prohibited substances. 4. Importers and certifiers must ensure that organic integrity was maintained at all border crossings and throughout the product’s supply chain, through verification of documentary evidence (e.g. phytosanitary certificates). Policy Memo 18-2 reminds certifiers and importers that certain grains and seeds, such as corn and wheat seed from Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine, are prohibited entry into the continued on page 21
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New Members PCO Welcomes 3rd Quarter New Members! NEWLY CERTIFIED ORGANIC Abner Ebersol Earleville, MD
Acégélia Natural Foods, LLC
C.P. Yeatman & Sons, Inc.
Edgefield Farm, LLC
West Grove, PA
Keene Valley, NY
D&S Farm
Edward H. Zimmerman
Dutch Country Organics Topeka, IN
Dale Nolt
Hidden Hollow Farm
Longhini, LLC
Falconer, NY
New Haven, CT
Ivan Lee Lapp
Luke Eby
Lykens, PA
Melhorn Service Co. Chambersburg, PA
James Stelfox Plainville Farms Spring Grove, PA
Mast Farm
Jason S. Dissinger
Michael George
Lenhartsville, PA
Arcade, NY
Jeff Netherton
Milky Way Trading Manassas, VA
Dundee, NY
Farmer’s Pride, Inc. Bell & Evans Middleburg, PA
Eli Hershberger
John Martin
Landenberg , PA
Edmeston, NY
BJE Farms Mifflinburg, PA
Mt. Alone Farm
Bowie, MD
Manheim, PA
Allen Yoder Family Farm
Dan Raber
Guilford, NY
Kalmbach Feeds, Inc. Millersburg, OH
Gordonville, PA
Jonathan F. Beiler
Gordon Kopp
Kirkwood, PA
BJE Farms Beaver Springs, PA
Daniel S. Beiler
Farmer’s Pride, Inc. Bell & Evans Sunbury, PA
JuJo Acres
Danville, PA
Andy Jones
David Buch
Grassroots Dairy
Seaford, DE
Farmer’s Pride, Inc. Bell & Evans Ephrata, PA
Rome, PA
Andrew Speicher
Burke, NY
Fairview Valley Farm
Loysville, PA
David D. Stoltzfus
Hesston, PA
Beshore Specialty Produce, LLC
E.K. Bare & Sons
New Cumberland, PA
Bird-in-Hand, PA
Black Jack Farms
Ecenroad Family Farm
Pilgrim’s Sanford Processing Seagrove, NC
Farmer’s Pride, Inc. Bell & Evans Fredericksburg, PA
20
Nathan Myer Dale Nolt Lititz, PA
Nods Forest LLC
Our Father’s Farm Tabernacle, NJ
Levi G. Stotlzfus Loganton, PA
Performance Farms
Farmer’s Pride, Inc. Bell & Evans Manheim, PA
Lilley Farm
Pilgrim’s Sanford Processing Lexington, NC
Groundwork Market Garden
Limestone Springs
Railroad Farms Talley Farms
Buffalo, NY
Danville, PA
Stanfield, NC
Greg Herr
ORGANIC MATTERS • FALL 2018
Heuvelton, NY
North East, MD Lee, MA
Narvon, PA
Mother Earth, LLC
Leahey Farm
GreenSpace
Andy L. Mast
Dover, DE
Port Royal, PA
www.paorganic.org
River Farm
W.E. Jackson
Michael George
Grantsville, MD
Butterball, LLC Clinton, NC
Arcade, NY
Nagel Farm
Robert Rutt Farmer’s Pride, Inc. Bell & Evans Mifflintown, PA
Wade Taylor White Oak Farm LLC
Whitehall, NY
Gap Mills, WV
S&S Ag Enterprise LLC
Windsong Farms
Mifflin, PA
Oxford, PA
Scenic Slope Farm
Yoderstead Dairy Farm
continued from page 19
Newmanstown, PA
Fillmore, NY
TRANSITION
Belleville, PA
Moore’s Meadow Blueberry & Cranberry Farm NEWLY GRASSFED CERTIFIED
Abernacle, NJ
Bishopp Family Farm
Sudlersville, MD
Southern Tier Organics Eden, NY
Legislative Update
Sandy Springs Farm Thorn Rose Farm
Scenic View Farm Mill Hall, PA
Panama, NY
Lawrenceville, PA
Rosario Vizzari
Salisbury, PA
Wesley Winterstein
Deansboro, NY
Steven A. Mast Massena, NY
David A. Nichols
Sweet P’s Poultry
Maple Hill Creamery, LLC Madison, NY
Pilgrim’s Sanford Processing Robbins, NC
Grover Lane Organics
Thorn Rose Farm Fillmore, NY
Thousand Hills Heritage Farms
Hustontown, PA
Honey Brook, PA
Conewango Valley, NY
Oregon Ag Hidden Hollow Farm
Lititz, PA
Falconer, NY
Raju Peter Hoover Farms Dundee, NY
Water Solutions NW Vancouver, WA
Kent Brown Maple Hill Creamery, LLC Cincinnatus, NY
Verl’s Salads
Lewis Farm (Scott W. Lewis)
Fredericksburg, PA
Antwerp, NY
www.paorganic.org
NEW BUSINESS MEMBERS Jeff Harman
Boswell, PA
Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative
Organic Updates
United States due to phytosanitary risks. Certifiers are responsible for verifying the admissibility of commodities exported by the foreign operations they certify. Certifiers should not issue transaction certificates for commodities that are prohibited entry into the United States. Prohibited commodities may be re-exported or destroyed upon arrival in the United States by U.S. Customs authorities. Lastly, these memos include several APHIS guidance documents to assist in the determination of which plants and plant product are allowed entry into the U.S., such as the Fruit and Vegetable Import Requirements Database (FAVIR), the Cut Flowers and Greenery Manual, the Plants for Planting Manual, the Miscellaneous and Processed Products Manual, and Seeds Not for Planting Manual. These policy memos were published in the National Organic Program Handbook available at the following link: ams.usda.gov/rulesregulations/organic/handbook. Hard copies are available by contacting the PCO office. continued on page 22
ORGANIC MATTERS • FALL 2018
21
Organic Marketplace
CROPS PCO-certified organic baleage. Individually wrapped. 4x4 mixed hay. 1st cutting. $45 a bale. 1st cutting dry hay $2530/bale. Jim Hepp. 570-7461651. Bradford County. Organic hay for sale. Alfalfa grass mix, wrapped bailage. Round bales. Tests available. Pick up only. Please contact Melvin Stoltzfus at 717-3628449 for more information. Dauphin County. Organic Hay, soybeans (raw or roasted), and oats for sale. Please contact Alvin Renno at 122 Renno Drive, Tyrone, PA
16686. Delivery available. Locust fence posts available. Blair County. Non-GMO pasture Hogs for sale. $1.50 per pound live weight, delivery options available. Please contact Marlin Martin at 717-275-6988. Perry County. Organic hay for sale. 3x3x8 square bales. Contact Josiah Kauffman for pricing and delivery: 570-250-0859. Bradford County.
LIVESTOCK 100% grass-fed certified beef
fed and finished. Finished on certified organic forages. Please contact Ron Gargasz 724-7306488. Lawrence County. 15 organic cows and springing heifers for sale. Overstocked. Asking $1500 each. Contact Jack at 570-727-2322. Wayne County.
EQUIPMENT • 13 Foot S-tine harrow likenew condition. Excellent for seed prep. $3,000. • 1710 John Deer 11 shank chisel plow, excellent condition.
• 642 Ford Combine “Claas” 14-foot grain head, 4 row corn head. 2,000 hours — excellent condition. Please contact Ron Gargasz (landline) 724-530-7220, (cell) 724-730-6488, or email at rgargaszfarms@gmail.com. Lawrence County.
SERVICES Ag plastic recycling. I can use black and white bunker covers, bale wrap, plastic twine, clear stretch film, greenhouse covers, flats, and pots. Call for details. 717-658-9660. Franklin County, PA.
Organic Updates
Legislative Update continued from page 21
PCO Drafts New Policies to Clarify USDA Organic Production Practices PCO adopted or revised the following policies. Full text of these or any PCO policies are available by contacting the PCO office. Crops/Livestock • Baler Twine: This policy identifies the points of verification for the use of baler twine that has been treated with a prohibited material. Only non-synthetic (natural) baler twine that is untreated may be incorporated into feed, bedding, or soil. Handling • Packaged Ingredients in Final Packaged Products: This policy sets the requirements of packaged goods that may contain nonorganically produced, separately packaged agricultural products. • Label Use Up — Switching Certifiers: This policy clarifies when and for how long a certified operation is allowed to use up labels when they are switching certifiers. • Certified Organic By *** Statement: This policy clarifies the placement of the required “certified organic by ***” statement. Grassfed • Confidentiality and Information Disclosure (Grassfed): This policy clarifies what types of information will be kept confidential and which will be made available to the public in regards to operations certified to PCO’s 100% Grassfed Certification Program.
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ORGANIC MATTERS • FALL 2018
General/Compliance • Standards of Conduct: This policy provides expectations for staff and client behavior. • Responding to GM Test Results: This policy clarifies how to interpret and respond to test results for samples tested for genetic modification..
New Faces PCO Welcomes Betty Harper, Executive Assistant Betty Harper joined the PCO team in June 2018 as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director. Prior to joining PCO, Betty spent 19 years at Penn State as an academic advisor, higher education researcher, and strategic planner. Originally from Florida, Betty was introduced to sustainable agriculture when she moved to central Pennsylvania and is proud to now be part of the organic industry. In her spare time, Betty loves to ski, mountain bike, ride horses, and travel with her husband, Scott.
www.paorganic.org
Calendar
NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 1 Exploring the Small Farm Dream Leesport, PA Extension.psu.edu 877-345-0691
NOVEMBER 8–9
DECEMBER 5
Organic Farming Conference Mt. Hope Event Center Mt. Hope, Ohio Organicfarmingconf.com 330-674-1892
Pennsylvania Women’s Agricultural Network Annual Symposium Eden Hall Campus of Chatham University Pittsburgh, PA Agsci.psu.edu/wagn/events 814-865-7031
NOVEMBER 22–23 NOVEMBER 3 Pastured Hogs Rodale Institute Kutztown, PA Rodaleinstitute.org 610-683-1400
Thanksgiving Holiday PCO Office Closed Spring Mills, PA
DECEMBER
NOVEMBER 7
DECEMBER 4–7
Webinar: Soil Health & Organic Production, Lessons from Rodale Institute’s Farming Systems Trial Rodaleinstitute.org 610-683-1400
ACRES Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show Louisville Marriott Downtown Louisville, KY Acresusa.com 800-355-5313
Livestock Inspections continued from page 15
good records so that the audit can be done successfully. The intent of the in/out or mass balance audit is to demonstrate that sufficient organic ingredients or products were purchased, produced, or managed to equate to the reported quantity of final product during the audited time period. This audit is done for a particular window of time, such as a year or several months. For example, this audit could be done choosing a 6 month period and reviewing feed purchases & invoices, or harvest records to ensure that sufficient organic feed was purchased or harvested for the number of livestock present on farm. The trace-back audit is intended to demonstrate that an organic product can be traced back to its origin in the operation. The organic product should be able to be traced during each step of production. A product sold, one animal, or a flock is selected and the inspector will attempt to follow the audit trail by linking elements on the operation’s records and documents (such as lot number, invoice numbers, etc.) to verify that the product (or ingredients or animal) can
www.paorganic.org
JANUARY JANUARY 1 New Year’s Day PCO Office Closed Spring Mills, PA
JANUARY 5–12
Christmas Holiday PCO Office Closed Spring Mills, PA
Pennsylvania Farm Show Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center Harrisburg, PA Farmshow.pa.gov 717-787-2905
DECEMBER 31
JANUARY 8–10
New Year’s Eve PCO Office Closed Spring Mills, PA
Keystone Farm Show York Fairgrounds York, PA Keystonefarmshow.com 800-218-5586
DECEMBER 24–25
be reconciled with the products produced and received on the operation. Unannounced Inspections Every certification agency is required to do unannounced inspections for 5% of the operations they certify annually. This means that once you are certified, you may have an unannounced inspection. Your inspector may call you up to 4 hours in advance, or you may get no notice at all. In the case of an unannounced inspection, the inspector is often collecting specific information which has been requested by the certification agency. These kinds of inspections are generally brief, and we do our best to respect your time. You may be asked if you would like to complete your annual inspection during your unannounced inspection, but there is no obligation to do so, and your annual inspection can be scheduled at a later date. Furthermore, at some unannounced inspections, the inspector may take samples and submit them for residue testing. You will receive a copy of this report once the residue testing comes back from the laboratory. Final Thoughts Keep in mind that while you know what goes on at your farm, the inspector does not and needs to be able to verify
what happens through complete and thorough records. As inspectors are often told during their training: “If you don’t write it down, it didn’t happen!” You can contact your certification specialist if you need assistance developing your recordkeeping system.
Do you shop online at Amazon? You can support PCO at the same time through a program called AmazonSmile! The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to PCO at no adiitional cost to you. To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from your web browser. Then select “Pennsylvania Certified Organic” using your existing Amazon.com account. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it easy to return and start your shopping and supporting!
ORGANIC MATTERS • FALL 2018
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continued from page 13
on moths, butterflies, flies, mosquitoes, beetles, wasps, ants, sawflies, and nematodes.
wide range of insects and mites including flies, fleas, beetles, and spider mites. Azadirachtin is derived from the tree Azadirachta indica. It works as a feeding deterrent, insect-growth regulator, repellent, and sterilant. Azadirachtin has an extremely low mammalian toxicity and is the least toxic of the commercial botanical insecticides. It is active on a broad range of insects, including stored grain pests, aphids, caterpillars and mealybugs. Sabadilla is derived from the seeds of the plant Schoenocaulon officinale. It is one of the least toxic botanical insecticides and degrades rapidly in sunlight and moisture. Sabadilla is effective against caterpillars, leaf hoppers, thrips, stink bugs, and squash bugs. Spinosads control a wide range of caterpillars, leaf miners and foliage-feeding beetles. Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) has a low toxicity in humans and is most effective
Application methods of post-harvest pest materials Approved post-harvest materials may be applied differently depending on the material used, type of pest, or type of crop being stored. • A coarse spray of an approved material may be applied to empty bins in order to eradicate existing pests and prevent pest entry. • A grain “protectant” is an insecticide that can be applied to the bulk grain as it goes into a storage bin. This treatment offers protection for about one season and can be considered if the grain is to be held for more than six months. • When a “protectant” is not used, a surface dressing may be applied to prevent insects from entering the top of the grain mass and to control surface infestations of Indian meal moth. Label instructions for each specific post-harvest material will provide direction for proper application of that product.
Pests in Crop Storage
Restrictions It is important to note that the following restriction applies to the use of most post-harvest pest control materials: Pesticide. May be used if preventative, mechanical, and physical management practices provided for at §205.206(a)-(d) are insufficient to prevent or control crop pests, weeds, and diseases. The operator must document conditions for using the substance in organic system plan. All materials for post-harvest pest control must be reviewed and approved by PCO prior to use, so be sure to check with us or consult a current PCO Approved Materials List, OMRI, or WSDA list prior to purchasing or using a product. These pest control activities as required above must be documented in your records so that the inspector can verify that you are continuously making pest management control efforts. RESOURCE:
extension.psu.edu/management-ofstored-grain-pests-in-organic-systems
A Full-Service Certification Agency Now offering Transitioning Farmer membership!
814-422-0251 • paorganic.org 24
ORGANIC MATTERS • FALL 2018
www.paorganic.org
Non-Profit Org US POSTAGE PAID CENTRE HALL, PA PERMIT NO. 33
106 School Street, Suite 201 Spring Mills, PA 16875