Spring 2020 Organic Matters

Organic Matters QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2020

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Organic Plus Trust, New Standard in Grass-fed

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Organic and Sustainable Ag Research

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PCO Annual Membership Meeting

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Greater Story of Sustainable Agriculture

Organically Speaking

Dear Members of the PCO Community, At PCO, we care deeply about the health and well-being of our employees and our clients. Keeping people at the center of every action, interaction, and decision is part of PCO’s core values. Now, in this time of uncertainty, it is more important than ever to hold true to this value. COVID19 may be keeping us physically apart however we are all in this together.

The PCO office in Spring Mills, PA closed to the public on March 16 and will be closed until restrictions are lifted. However, we are “open” to serve our members, clients and community. Staff are working remotely; our phone and fax lines are open; and mail is being processed. As the situation unfolds, we will continue to keep you informed of any operational changes. We are making every attempt to limit any delays and continue to provide the customer service PCO is known for. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us, send us an email at pco@paorganic.org or call us at 814-422-0251.

In-person, on-site inspections are suspended at this time; until further notice, inspections will be conducted by other means such as virtually with a desk audit or by desk audit only. Operations where the inspection is conducted virtually or via desk audit will be subject to a follow up inspection, which may be announced or unannounced.

Operations will be charged for virtual inspections, desk audits, and in-person inspections; however, we do not antic-

The health of you, our client-members, and your families are the utmost importance to us. We want to be a resource you can reach out to in need. Below we have listed important phone numbers to have during this ever-changing pandemic.

Our friends at Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) have set up a toll-free help line with

ipate a significant increase in the overall inspection cost for individual operations as verification of aspects of an operations Organic System Plan will not be duplicated across all inspection types (virtual, desk audit, in-person).

Unfortunately, new operations will not be able to receive organic certification until an on-site, in-person inspection can take place. PCO cannot guarantee any timeline for certification, as we are uncertain when in-person inspections will be able to be conducted. At this time, we’re recommending no earlier than June 1 for on-site, in-person inspections.

Have you heard about the financial assistance and other support that is available for your business or farm? As information is shared from various agriculture/organic entities, PCO is adding to our list of resources available to you as this pandemic evolves. Check our website and the info box below to find the help and assistance you need.

We are doing everything we can to provide attentive and responsive service. On behalf of PCO, thank you for being a valued member of our community and for your patience and understanding as we navigate this situation. Please keep yourself, your family and companions safe during this time.

The following is a list of state Department of Health numbers: MA Dept. of Health ....................................................... 2-1-1 NH Dept of Health ..................................... (866) 444-4211 NJ Dept. of Health .................................... (800) 962-1253 NY Dept. of Health .................................. (888) 364-3065

details on the COVID-19 guidance from the PA Depart-

OH Dept. of Health ................................... (833) 427-5634

ment of Agriculture:

PA Dept. of Health .................................... (877) 724-3258

Summary of COVID-19 guidance ...(844) 349-9856 x 716

VT Dept of Health ................................... (800) 464-4343

PA Dept. of Agriculture daily updates ........................................................... (844) 349-9856 x 717

AgChoice has a hotline with up-to-date information on the COVID-19 situation ............................ (877) 772-4299

Organic Matters • sPring 2020

For up to date information and resources to help you and your operations moving forward, please visit our website: www.paorganic.org/covid-19resources.

www.paorganic.org

OFFICER S PRESIDENT

Tina Ellor, Phillips Mushroom Farms

VICE PRESIDENT

Andrew Smyre, Tuscarora Grain Co. LLC

TREASURER

Ted LeBow, Kitchen Table Consultants

S EC R E TA RY

Ron Hoover, Penn State Extension

M A N AG I N G B OA R D C H A I R

Penn State University

Organic Matters SPRING 2020

Beth Gugino,

ADVISORY BOARD Kristy Borrelli, Penn State University Lisa de Lima, MOMs Organic Market Ross Duffield, Entoura CBD Bob Eberly, Denver, PA Betty Harper, Penn State University Luke Howard, Homestead Farms, Inc. Samuel Malriat, Rodale Institute Joe Miller, Oberweis Dairy Spencer Miller, Boyd Station, LLC Mike Spangler, Proximity Malt

STAFF LEADERSHIP TEAM

Katherine DiMatteo, Interim Executive Director Diana Underwood, Director of Operations Kyla Smith, Certification Director Stacey Budd, Executive Assistant A D M I N I S T R AT I V E T E A M

Elizabeth Leah, Accounting Manager Shawnee Matis, Staff Accountant Lia Lopez, Administrative Assistant Sandy Vandeven, Human Resources Manager C E R T I F I C AT I O N T E A M

Marissa Evankovich, Certification Program Manager Reva Baylets, Operations Manager Heather Donald, Senior Certification Specialist Justine Cook, Certification Specialist Stephen Hobaugh, Certification Specialist Cathy Jackson, Certification Specialist Chelsea Johnson, Certification Specialist Lauren Lewis, Certification Specialist Marlin Mueller, Certification Specialist Craig Shroyer, Certification Specialist Eastlyn Wright, Certification Specialist Diana Dombrowski, Program Assistant Aleisha Schreffler, Program Assistant Kristin Shade, Program Assistant I N S P EC T I O N S T E A M

Evaluation of malting barley variety trial. Photo: Kristy Borrelli.

F E AT U R E S 2 | Organic Plus Trust The new national standard in grass-fed production 4 | Penn State Organic and Sustainable Ag Research and Extension What we are doing to benefit you 8 | Time for Change PCO’s Annual Membership Meeting moves to winter

Jenny Cruse, Inspection Program Manager M AT E R I A L S T E A M

Jennifer Berkebile, Materials Program Manager Sabine Carey, Materials Specialist April Kocis, Materials/Outreach Specialist

STORIES

Q UA L I T Y T E A M

Angela Morgan, Quality Systems & IT Manager Garrick McCullough, IT Specialist

7 | PCO Welcome 2020 Board Members 10 | Reflecting on the Greater Story of Sustainable Agriculture

106 School Street, Suite 201 Spring Mills, PA 16875 phone: 814.422.0251 fax: 814.422.0255 email: pco@paorganic.org web: paorganic.org facebook.com/PAorganic VISION all communities are enriched through organic food and farming MISSION To ensure the integrity of organic products and serve our farming community CORE VALUES 1. People & Service — Keep people at the center of every action, interaction, and decision 2. Organic Spirit & Environment — Promote restorative practices that improve the world for future generations 3. Honesty & Integrity — Embrace transparency and integrity in all our work.

www.paorganic.org

COLUMNS 12 President’s Message 13 Dear Aggy 14 Transitions 16 Organic Updates Certification Legislative Materials Quality Standards & Policy 20 New Members

Cover photo: Aimee Good, The Good Farm

22 Organic Marketplace Organic Matters • sPring 2020

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Organic Plus Trust, the New National Standard in Grass-Fed Production

BY tiM JOsePh, MaPle hill FOunding FarMer

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CO, PCO farmers, and Maple Hill have always been pioneers in grass-fed production and label integrity.

Together we developed the first grass-fed, organic certification program in 2012. Maple Hill has operated under the PCO 100% Grass-fed certification since the program’s inception. Over the last year, PCO and Maple Hill have continued to innovate in this area as key stakeholders in the process of transitioning the grass-fed livestock certification to the new national program that is administered by Organic Plus Trust (OPT).

PCO, NOFA-NY, Organic Valley, and Maple Hill collaborated over a number of years to take the individual standards that each operated under and identify the gaps and differences. Working together, we were able to harmonize these standards into a single program that could be implemented equally, not only amongst ourselves, but through other certifiers across the nation as well.

Maple Hill has always been very proud to display the PCO 100% Grass-fed seal on our packaging, so it is bittersweet that Maple Hill and PCO have now fully transitioned to the new OPT Grass-Fed seal. Over the coming months, all Maple Hill products will display the new grass-fed certification seal on packaging, as all farms and processing plants have now been certified to the new program. Organic Plus Trust is a non-profit formed to be the owner of the new OPT Certified Grass-Fed Organic Livestock Program. The program itself is administered by Earth Claims.

It really speaks to the importance and integrity of the new program, that competitors have come together to do the right thing for producers and consumers. Both Maple Hill and Organic Valley compete at retail within the grass2

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fed organic sector, and PCO and NOFA-NY compete for certification customers, but we all strongly believe that when a consumer makes the decision to purchase a grassfed product, it should be genuine and well-defined.

This is not only the right thing to do from a label integrity stand point, but is also imperative to protect the market of all producers who choose to change the management of their farms in order to produce certified grass-fed organic milk.

As believers in the value of organic production, we all felt it critical to ensure that the foundation of the new program was organic, and that grass-fed is a natural extension of and compliment to the organic system and philosophy. As a result, the new program under OPT was designed to operate within the existing organic certification system and network of certifiers. Any accredited organic certifier may apply to adopt the OPT Grass-Fed Program as an add-on certification they may offer to their clients.

This broadens the number and geography of certifiers as well as streamlines the inspection process for those producers whose organic certifier is participating in the OPT Grass-Fed Program. There are currently 19 certifiers that are accredited under OPT and we anticipate additional certifiers will join over time as the market for grass-fed organic dairy and beef products continues to expand in the US. The intention of the program is to follow the same feedback model that exists within organic. However, as a nongovernment owned program, it attempts to be more nimble and responsive to feedback from producers, handlers, brands, and certifiers, all while maintaining the spirit and integrity of the grass-fed claim. While this is a delicate balance, it is one I feel confident we can pull off. The initial pilot Top: David King Farm in Fort Plain, NY

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was completed last year in 2019. The program received a myriad of feedback and issued 19 memos to certifiers providing clarification and corrections to areas of the standards that were confusing, conflicted with other requirements, or were not practical.

Earth Claims did a great job gathering feedback, bringing it to the steering committee, and communicating the resulting clarifications and changes to the field. All of the changes and clarifications received in 2019 have now been integrated into a revised version of the standard as well as the program manual used by certifiers.

Many Maple Hill farms began shipping to Maple Hill prior to the existence of a grass-fed certification. While no farmer is looking for more paperwork, inspections, or certification costs, I can say that the farmers who ship to Maple Hill have always understood and supported the need for grass-fed certification being that transparency and integrity are paramount for the values that consumers who purchase grass-fed dairy products hold. I can also say that many are also frustrated that not all brands or products that claim grass-fed are required to operate under a 3rd party verification program. We have come a long way from humble beginnings and most major organic grass-fed dairy brands have moved towards grass-fed certification.

If there is a complaint from grass-fed organic dairy farmers it is this: “Another required certification?! With more paperwork and more costs? This is not what we are looking for! Especially when stores and government don’t require it!”

This is definitely an understandable point of view. In a perfect world, retailers would require that products being sold with a grass-fed claim are verified just like any other important claim, such as organic, kosher, non-GMO, gluten free, etc. Unfortunately, the current status is far from perfect. Retailers and distributors do not require verification of grass-fed claims in dairy, and the verification process in the beef world leaves a lot to be desired in terms of integrity and truth in labelling.

The conundrum is that it would potentially be easier and less expensive for farmers and brands if we were all to wait until it is required. However, the only way to put pressure on retailers, distributors, and other gate-keepers, is to take the high-ground first. In the grass-fed organic dairy world, we are fairly lucky in that all of the major players have moved to certification and verification.

This creates a positive dynamic in terms of our ability to have conversations with retailers and distributors about grass-fed label integrity and the need for verification. Over the past year or two it has become more common for buyers at major retailers to ask the question about certification and the background of the dairy supply that is claiming grass-fed. This bodes well for the future of grass-fed claims in the dairy case. I believe the growth and interest coming from consumers will highlight the need to ensure authenticity in grass-fed products.

The advantage for brands and farmers who adopt the new OPT Grass-Fed seal now is that at retail we have the chance to establish a consistent and recognizable certification which can become a trusted guide for consumers who would like to purchase organic grass-fed dairy and beef products to serve their families. Consumers spend only seconds at a retail shelf. During those brief seconds they make purchasing decisions for a variety of reasons, the one most relevant to the new OPT seal is trust. Over time as more products display the seal, this trust will continue to grow and become a key differentiator.

Today, Maple Hill has over 150 small family farms from which we source our milk. But back at the very beginning, there was only one family and one farm—Stone Creek Farm—a 250 acre dairy farm that Tim and Laura Joseph purchased in 2003. Tim and Laura had no farming experience — they had never milked a cow — but received a fast education when sixty-four cows stepped off the trailers in 2004. The Josephs began as conventional dairy farmers, but quickly became enamored with organic practices.

As America’s original 100% grass-fed organic dairy, Maple Hill’s mission is to bring healthy, organic, 100% grass-fed dairy products to families all over the United States. As a result, healthy soil is the cornerstone of literally everything we do. We work tirelessly within our network of organic 100% grass-fed farmers to develop and implement practices that result in the regeneration of the land through the management of organic grass-fed cows.

Autumn Valley Farm in Worchester, NY

www.paorganic.org

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Penn State Organic and Sustainable Ag Research and Extension: What we are doing to benefit you!

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s the recognized land-grant university for Pennsylvania, Penn State strives to “provide unparalleled access to education and public service to support the citizens of the Commonwealth and beyond. We engage in collaborative activities with private sector, educational, and governmental partners worldwide to generate, integrate, apply and disseminate knowledge that is valuable to society.”

Research and extension projects being conducted in support of the organic and sustainable agriculture are multidisciplinary involving the plant and animal sciences, entomology, environmental science and management, plant pathology and environmental microbiology, ag economics, sociology and education and extension. From the crops side, we focus on improving production, managing pests, diseases and weeds, identifying new/emerging crop opportunities, improving environmental quality and overall farm profitability. Several ongoing research and extension efforts were highlighted during the recent 2020 PASA Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Lancaster, PA and are further summarized here.

IDENTIFYING NEW CROP OPPORTUNITIES

Dr. Alyssa Collins, Director of the Penn State Southeast Research and Extension Center in Lancaster Co., PA One of the advantages of Land Grant research is the flexibility to explore the production of new and reemerging crops. Whereas a farmer may not have the resources to devote to discovering the best management practices for a new crop on their own, the scientists at Penn State can expand their programs to test various ways of producing crops without “risking the farm.” Dr. Alyssa Collins has seen grower interest drive the direction of her projects over the past decade. While much of the work at SEAREC is focused on traditional Pennsylvania crops, it has also included sugar beets, malting barley (Fig. 1), hybrid rye, spelt, and most 4

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Fig 1. Evaluation of malting barley variety trial. Photo: Kristy Borrelli.

recently industrial hemp. From variety trials to nutrient studies, every new crop requires a host of baseline data to determine if it could be a good candidate, financially and practically, to include in a farm rotation. As Collins likes to say, “we farm with other people’s money so that you can save your money.”

IMPROVING PRODUCTION IN PROTECTED CULTURE Dr. Elsa Sánchez, Professor and Vegetable Specialist

Extended production seasons and increased profit margins have led to a marked increase in high tunnel vegetable crop production. Between 2015 and 2019, Sánchez and researchers at the University of Vermont studied the use of biocontrols to manage aphids in high tunnels. An element of the project was using habitat plants to attract natural enemies of aphids. Habitat plants provide food sources (nectar, pollen and attracted insect pests), sites to reproduce and shelter for beneficial insects. Of the plants tested, alyssum which is inexpensive and easy to grow, provided the highest value and can be grown year-round in high tunnels. Approximately 2 feet of habitat plants were maintained within 100 feet of row (Fig. 2), but they could also be planted as a strip along a sidewall within a tunnel. One key point to remember is to make sure that they can be easily watered. More information on this project can be found here: uvm.edu/~entlab/High%20Tunnel%20IPM/HighTunnelIPM.html.

Not surprisingly, intensive production in high tunnels can have an impact on soil quality. Sánchez and Tom Ford, Penn State Extension Educator, worked with 33 farmers, including 8 organic farmers, across Pennsylvania to identify potential soil chemistry and organic matter constraints in

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Fig 2. A habitat planting, including alyssum, in a high tunnel.

Photo: Elsa Sánchez

high tunnel soils. Farmers sent soil and irrigation water samples to Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory (aasl.psu.edu) for analysis and this is what was learned: • Soils in 73% of the high tunnels had a high pH (above 7.0)

• Soil nutrient levels often fell into the “exceeds crop needs category” for phosphorus and magnesium (100% of the tunnels), calcium (93%) and potassium (80%)

• Organic matter content ranged from 2.4 to 13.2%, with a 6.2% average which is higher than typical field soils • Soluble salts levels ranged from 0.14 mmhos/cm to 9.27 mmhos/cm, with an average of 1.48 mmhos/cm which in most cases can be a problem for plant growth Based on these results, a series of high tunnel specific recommendations were developed and can be found here: extension.psu.edu/catalogsearch/result/?q=Elsa+Sanchez + Thomas+Ford+High+Tunnels.

NITROGEN MANAGEMENT IN ORGANIC FIELD CROPS

Sarah Isbell, Ecology PhD student, Dr. Jason Kaye, Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry, Penn State, and Dr. Charles White, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management Managing nitrogen on organic farms is a critical challenge important to both growers and to the environment.

Our team is working on a variety of projects that target reducing nitrogen pollution losses from agroecosystems while maintaining high yields and economic viability. Kaye’s research has shown that using cover crop mixtures in these systems offers the potential to reduce nitrogen losses through soil leaching while also providing a source of nitrogen to the following cash crop. For example, a mixture of a grass and a legume will serve the dual function of both retaining and supplying nitrogen. Isbell is evaluating the tradeoffs between nitrogen retention and supply in organic systems that use cover crops and reduced tillage simulta-

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neously. One such project is evaluating the strategy of interseeding cover crops into a standing cash crop, which provides an opportunity to eliminate a tillage event and may also offer nitrogen benefits. This strategy is particularly appealing in northern climates where a short fall season after corn grain harvest can create poor conditions for establishing a cover crop. Additionally, an ongoing project is digging into the relationships between cover crops and soil microbes. These microbial-crop connections may be important for nitrogen cycling in the soil, as well as other soil health and crop benefits. White is integrating all of these interactions into a nitrogen decisions support tool for organic corn. The tool calculates the nitrogen yield gap for organic corn after accounting for nitrogen that becomes available from cover crop and soil organic matter. It is available now on the web at: extension.psu.edu/nitrogen-recommendations-for-corn.

I NSECT AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT OF FIELD AND VEGETABLE CROPS Dr. Mary Barbercheck, Professor of Entomology and Dr. Beth Gugino, Professor and Vegetable Extension Pathologist Because the use of synthetic insecticides and transgenic varieties are prohibited, organic feed and forage crop producers rely mainly on biological control and cultural practices to manage pests. Since 2003, the Barbercheck lab has conducted research focused on the impact of beneficial organisms and cultural practices, including tillage reduction, cover crops, and planting date, on pest insects and slugs and their natural enemies in organic feed and forage cropping systems. The lab’s researchers have found that, in general, insect populations increase over time in organic management, but their abundance and damage rarely cause economic losses. This is because good cultural practices, like rotation, and predation by insect natural enemies, such as ground beetles, spiders, and insect-parasitic fungi usually effectively control pests below economically-damaging levels. Delayed planting of cash crops can help growers avoid damage from early-season pests. A recent focus of the lab is understanding how to conserve a naturallyoccurring beneficial fungus commonly found in agricultural soils that can infect both insects and plant roots. When the fungus infects plant roots, plant growth can be enhanced while the growth of insects that feed on those plants can be slowed. Currently the lab is conducting research to understand how organic production practices and environmental conditions affect the abundance of this beneficial fungus in soil and in crop plants.

The vegetable pathology program focuses on understanding pathogen biology, epidemiology and hostpathogen interactions in order to develop innovative, sustainable disease management strategies that can be cost-effectively incorporated into IPM programs. An ongoing project is focused on reducing onion bacterial disease losses through augmented management practices such as continued next page Organic Matters • sPring 2020

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Fig 3. Sweet onions pulled and curing on silver plastic mulch. The row on black plastic was harvested early due to bacterial disease. Photo: Beth Gugino continued from previous page

reducing soil temperatures at bulbing by transplanting into silver plastic mulch with a black heat strip instead of standard black plastic. The program also evaluates the efficacy of biorational fungicides for in-season management of important diseases of vegetables including powdery and downy mildews on cucurbits, early and late blight as well as bacterial spot on tomato. In addition, the active monitoring and/or forecasting of diseases such as cucurbit downy mildew (cdm.ipmpipe.org) and tomtato/potato late blight (usablight.org) provide growers information needed to make timely informed management decisions.

IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF MICROBIAL PRODUCTS

Laura Kaminsky, Plant Pathology PhD student and Dr. Terry Bell, Assistant Professor of Phytobiomes Many species of soil microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) are beneficial to crop plants. Besides the betterknown N-fixing rhizobia and nutrient-scavenging arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), various other soil microbes can increase crop growth or help suppress diseases. Such microbes are increasingly being sold as commercial products approved for use in organic production, providing an alternative to conventional pesticides and fertilizers. While microbial products usually perform well in research trials in greenhouse or laboratory settings, results in field conditions are more variable. Partly this is because the applied microbes must survive and establish a large, active population in the soil around crop roots to have an observable effect. Often, this is not the outcome. In any particular field soil, conditions such as the pH, texture, nutrient content, organic matter, and moisture may be suboptimal for the applied microbes, limiting their ability to grow. Additionally, soils are already inhabited by huge numbers of resident microorganisms which can outcompete the applied 6

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microbes and prevent them from establishing. Among other topics, research in the Bell lab investigates the establishment success of applied beneficial microbes in agricultural soils. We are testing several methods to improve establishment, with the goal of having higher beneficial microbial populations surviving for longer amounts of time.

NORTHEAST SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (SARE)

Dr. Kristy Borrelli, Pennsylvania State Coordinator and Penn State Agronomy Extension Educator Northeast SARE (northeastsare.org) offers grant support and educational materials so that farmers and agricultural professionals can explore sustainable agriculture interests together and enhance their agricultural communities. In addition to the 6 competitive grant programs, a Northeast SARE state coordinator (Borrelli, PA) manages a professional development program that prepares agriculture service providers to address sustainability concerns that immediately impact farmers. The current Pennsylvania project focuses on helping agricultural advisors support farmers who are involved in organic and craft beverage grain markets, which are both economically important in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Penn State Extension (extension.psu.edu) offers continuous support and directs digital, written, and in-person outreach programs across seven main topic areas. Our intention is to provide farmers with unbiased information and help them practice the science of agriculture on their farms.

Funding sources for these projects include: USDA-NIFA Hatch and Smith-Lever Appropriations, national and regional funding from USDA-NIFA OREI, USDA-NIFA ORG, NIFA Pre-doctoral fellowship, NSF-GFRP, NE-SARE, NE-IPM, USDAAMS SCBG, USDA-AMS SCMSP as well as commodity funds from PGVA and the US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative.

www.paorganic.org

PCO WELCOMES NEW 2020 BOARD MEMBERS At the end of 2019, membership cast their ballots for our 2020–2021 board members. We are excited to welcome two new faces.

Lisa de Lima MOM’s Organic Market Rockville, MD Lisa has worked at MOM’s for the past 20 years and has been a driving force behind the growth of this independent chain of organic grocery stores. Her expertise includes organizational strategy, major initiative implementation and change management, employee engagement & development, category management, and merchandising & pricing strategies. Lisa has also had the unique opportunity to spearhead and implement various environmental initiatives, helping MOM’s drive its mission. Lisa earned her BS from the University of Vermont in Environmental Studies & Political Science, and her MBA from Johns Hopkins University. Outside of work Lisa enjoys teaching Tai Chi and traveling.

Samuel Malriat Rodale Institute Kutztown, PA Sam is the Lead Organic Crop Consultant with the Rodale Institute, an agricultural research and education center based in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. He is part of a new, collaborative effort to help farmers transition their agricultural operations from conventional to certified organic systems by providing direct consultations to farmers that need support throughout the transition period. This service is currently free to farmers in Pennsylvania. Sam has approximately 12 years of farming experience in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York.

With this new year, we also say goodbye to Dave Hartman, of Penn State Extension, after serving two terms (6 years). Dave was instrumental in keeping continuity as new board members were elected. His service as treasurer lent a keen eye to oversight and forward progress with PCO’s financials. Dave has agreed to stay active on the finance committee.

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We’d be remiss if we did not recognize the contributions of outgoing Board President, Luke Howard, owner of Homestead Farms Inc. of Millington, Maryland. Leading an organization through a transition from a founding Executive Director is no small task. He fostered open dialogue and respectful disagreement while facilitating foundational change for PCO. Though he remains on the board for one more year, Luke’s leadership has inspired many and leaves the groundwork for future board success. As we welcome Tina Ellor, Phillips Mushroom Farms, into the Board President role, we are excited to see her lead our organization through our next phase of growth.

Advisory Board Meeting Dates for 2020-2021 Thursday, April 16 Thursday, July 16 Thursday, October 15-Friday, October 16 — Board Retreat Thursday, January 21 Note: meeting dates are subject to change

Advertise in Organic Matters Organic Matters is the quarterly newsletter of Pennsylvania Certified Organic, a non-profit organization serving growers, processors and handlers of organic products.

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Organic Matters • sPring 2020

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TIME FOR CHANGE: PcO’s annual MeMBershiP Meeting MOves tO Winter

challenges and opportunities to grow our member base.

The annual membership meeting was a great opportunity to share our initial conversations and gather input from those in attendance. After the pilot program is evaluated, the alliance will be looking for certifiers to administer this new certification. We want to be ready for the opportunity if the membership is interested in this offering. Our internal staff is crafting a survey to be sent out to a selection of our members to glean their interest and desires for such a program. Keep your eyes open for your opportunity to share your thoughts and weigh in on our next steps.

BY staceY Budd, executive assistant

Another development in the pipeline, the National Organic Program (NOP) has been working on a proposed rule in response to the fraud problems that have surfaced in the organic industry. The Strengthen Organic Enforcement Rule is a revision to an existing rule and is meant to close the gaps in the supply chain. The biggest changes for our members include a certification requirement for handlers along with obtaining proper documentation for imports. US Customs will be implementing a new electronic data system to track all organic imports. As with all proposed rules, a 30-day comment period will be offered once it is released.

Having helped develop the NOP standards, Interim Executive Director Katherine DiMatteo encouraged members to comment. “It is your organic civic duty. High stakeholder engagement will help keep the NOP a public/private partnership,” stated DiMatteo. PCO will send notification on the comment period and offer templates for members to share with the NOP. This is a step in the right direction to close loopholes and enforce the integrity behind organic.

Over the last couple of years, PCO held its annual membership meeting in the late fall. We recognize that this can be a busy time for many of our members; finishing up harvest or prepping the land for winter. In an effort to grow our member participation and engagement, we made a shift for 2020. On Thursday, February 6th, in Lancaster, PA we held our annual meeting to coincide with the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) annual conference. Our desired outcome is to bring members together to connect, learn and share. It is an opportunity for both board and staff to meet members and hear about their experiences with organic growing and processing. With customer service ever present in our strategic planning, these interactions are invaluable to building our organizational goals and growth.

This year’s annual meeting was held in a historic bakery building in downtown Lancaster, now renovated into the Mulberry Art Studios. Proprietor April Koppenhaver was so excited to host our event that she switched out the art collection for pastoral landscapes for all to enjoy. Attendees were treated to a filling feast of locally sourced and locally crafted hors d’oeuvres from the Scarlet Runner Catering Company. While conversations and connections are a large part of the evening, per our nonprofit bylaws, we use this annual gathering to update members on our current work and future initiatives on the horizon.

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE BUZZ

By now, you are probably aware of the energy surrounding regenerative agriculture. Its tenets revolve around building healthy organic matter in the soil while sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. A pilot program is underway for a new certification that uses the National Organic Program as its baseline. The Regenerative Organic Certification was developed by the Rodale Institute but has built an alliance of partners to oversee the framework and guidelines. The certification is built on three pillars: Soil Health, Animal Welfare and Social Fairness.

PCO continues to explore ways to bring financial sustainability to our organization. We often discuss the impact of more certification services on our members and staff. Regenerative Organic Certification provides both 8

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STRENGTHEN ORGANIC ENFORCEMENT RULE

NEW LOOK FOR PCO

The membership meeting was a great opportunity for PCO to reveal the new look behind our brand refresh. Most notable is a modified logo and a website overhaul. PCO is poised for growth and a new brand can help firmly position us in our industry. “Our goal is to increase our visibility for the services we provide and amplify our voice to a variety of stakeholders so we can continue to fulfill our vision of enriching communities through organic food and farming,” stated Diana Underwood, Director of Operations.

Our new logo maintains connection to our previous identity but gives us just a little makeover to make it fresh and up to date. “We wanted it to reflect our history as an established organization but also desired to showcase that we are relevant and modern in today’s growing industry.”

(See page 18 for more details on the logo and associated implementation plan.)

Our biggest branding change is our website overhaul. It took many hands and many hours to create PCO’s new website. It was designed and structured to offer current members continued support and easy access to frequently visited pages — Certification Portal and Pay My Invoice. We have also added access to supplemental forms. In addition,

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Clockwise from top left: 1. Katherine DiMatteo, PCO Interim Executive Director, provides an update on the NOP’s Strengthen Organic Enforcement Rule while Tina Ellor, PCO Board President looks on. 2. Tina Ellor, PCO Board President, reviews PCO’s mission, vision and core values with PCO Annual Meeting attendees. 3. Jay Young, of PCO certified Rising Spring Meat Company, poses a question regarding the organic certification of meat processing facilities. 4. Deirdre Flemming, of PCO certified Two Gander Farm, checks out the new PCO website that was revealed as part of the brand refresh. 5. Kyla Smith, PCO Certification Director, explains PCO’s membership structure and transition services. we’ve enhanced the website to make it more user-friendly for those interested in certification, by providing all the information needed to make the transition to organic production or processing. We welcome your feedback as we want our website to grow with your needs.

In all, the new branding efforts embody PCO as we strive to keep moving forward, while maintaining our roots in supporting our members and advancing our mission.

TRANSITIONS IN LEADERSHIP

With each new year, membership elects four individuals to fill open board seats. Some return for a second term while others are new to our organization’s leadership. The election process is conducted between November and

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December, making a winter membership meeting ideal for meeting the newly elected board members. At our February meeting, we were able to introduce Sam Malriat and Lisa de Lima to the membership.

Sam Malriat is an Organic Crop Consultant with the Rodale Institute. He is excited to serve on PCO’s board as he brings a voice working with transitional farmers. Though his work is confined to the state of Pennsylvania, his insights can enlighten board and staff on how best to serve this clientele. “We are hoping our technical assistance program can aid in the growth of certified members for PCO,” Malriat stated.

Though unable to be physically present. Lisa de Lima continued on page 22 Organic Matters • sPring 2020

9

REFLECTING ON THE GREATER STORY OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE BY stePhen hOBaugh, PcO certiFicatiOn sPecialist

The 29th annual Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) conference took place in downtown Lancaster in early February. The 2020 conference was the second year the event was hosted at Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square. Attendees took part in a series of lecture and conversational based, educational programs targeted towards agricultural operations, industry professionals, and homesteaders/gardeners. In addition to the learning opportunities, PASA also hosted a trade show and social opportunities for industry networking.

As agricultural professionals, February can be a time to reflect on the previous year’s work while preparing for the upcoming season. Reflection can take many shapes, and there are many lessons to be learned by the beginning farmer and seasoned expert alike. Personal growth may be focused around an on-farm system, the variety of seeds used last season, or employee relations to name a few.

However, one of the main benefits of a gathering of the industry like the PASA conference has historically been the opportunity to reflect on the movement of sustainable agriculture and on our own involvement in a bigger picture. The keynote speakers lead the discussion on reflecting upon the broader sustainable agriculture movement.

The keynote programming was opened by the PASA Executive Director, Hannah Smith-Brubaker. SmithBrubaker provided preliminary remarks and welcomed to the stage Dana Harris-Yates, Program Operations Director for BUGs Farm and Co-op in Pittsburgh, PA. Dana spoke on behalf of the Native Americans of the Lancaster County area. Among her remarks were an acknowledgement of the tribes in Lancaster County. “The light in me honors the light in you all,” said Harris-Yates, with a cadence matching the importance of her duties as a cultural liaison. Her statements furthered the overarching theme of reflections on our own involvement in the larger sustainable agriculture movement.

Representatives of the PA and US government had the opportunity to contribute to the programming. Cheryl Cook, PA Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary for Market Development spoke about her department’s efforts on data collection and the impact of farming on climate 10

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change. She also noted the availability of a new funding source to develop rural internet availability. King Whetstone, the Regional Director of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) — Pennsylvania Field Office, echoed the importance of data collection. “I’m with the USDA and I’m here to help,” opened Whetstone, as he elaborated on the importance of collecting agricultural data to help assist the government in the creation of policy and the allocation of funding. He noted specifically that NASS will be collecting data on organic agriculture including sales, production practices, and challenges/difficulties in organic production.

The next speaker was the primary keynote presenter, Josh Tickell, who is a documentary film maker and the author of Kiss the Ground: How the Food You Eat Can Reverse Climate Change, Heal Your Body & Ultimately Save Our Planet. Tickell’s approach to encouraging social change is a mixture of activism, science, and creative expression.

While working on a documentary, he drove a van powered by biofuels recycled from restaurant kitchens. Tickell’s speech was part autobiographical, part philosophy, and part real world examples of success stories in the ongoing group effort of humans becoming aware of and responding to their own impact on the world around them. The themes between the different sections of the speech were faith in the possibility of change and our personal ability to make an impact.

Dana Harris-Yates, the Program Operations Director for BUGs Farm and Co-op, delivers an opening acknowledgement on behalf of the Native Americans of Lancaster County.

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Tickell first became involved with environmentalism as a young person, when he WWOOFed (World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) on a Rudolph Steiner farm in former East Germany. Here he was impressed by the data that was maintained on agricultural production. He remarked how there was 200 years of data on production methods like how much land is required to raise a draft horse. The farmers there were crushing rapeseed for fuel, which undoubtedly influenced his restaurant-oil-powered van journey and documentary.

One central idea to the speech was that “bad” actors can become “good” actors. This point recognizes that different groups of humans are not static in how they impact sustainable agriculture, but rather have the ability to reflect, change, and become a leader in promoting sustainable practices. As Tickell continued the story of his personal growth and understanding his relationship to the broader sustainable agriculture movement, he started to notice an increasing gap in the metrics of success between national agricultural policy and the small, family farms. The PASA conference audience was able to bear witness to social change in action. Just prior to Tickell taking the stage, governmental representatives like Whetstone and Cook announced programs working towards collecting data to help measure and understand sustainable agriculture so that policy can be made to address the needs of the sustainable agriculture industry. The PASA conference keynote

has always been a time to inspire those in the sustainable agriculture industry, and real-life success stories like these helped forward that cause.

Tickell transitioned into discussing history and philosophy as they pertain to sustainable agriculture in society. He discussed the ancient society of Mesopotamia and drew the conclusion that the human-caused erosion of fertile topsoil coincided with the dissolution of the first major human agricultural society. He noted this area, once known as the “fertile crescent”, has become a dessert biome, and he believes it is due to human agricultural practices. “Soil is the foundational wealth of society. Nutrition is the wealth of a society,” he said as he continued to cite 20 additional historical human agricultural societies that have collapsed. To elaborate his point, he cited that, “… in year 1000 BCE there were globally 10 billion hectares of farmable land and now there are 5 billion hectares,” and he continued to suggest that this reduction in farmable land was a result of human agricultural practices contributing to soil erosion.

Though it might have sounded like this evaluation of agricultural history is exclusively critical, Tickell assured the audience that he was developing his thoughts towards realistic solutions. “I am not here to say chemicals are evil and that we all have to live in grass huts. There are two different ways of agriculture, and depending on which we chose will affect where the carbon goes. Carbon can go into the

King Whetstone, the Regional Director of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) addresses the audience on the importance of agricultural data.

The keynote speaker, Josh Tickell, authored Kiss the Ground: How the Food You Eat Can Reverse Climate Change, Heal Your Body & Ultimately Save Our Planet.

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continued on page 24

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11

President’s executive assistant Message staceY Budd

BY tina ellOr, PcO BOard President

The PCO Annual Meeting has moved around in time and space through the years and this year we moved it back to coincide with the PASA Conference. Thank you to all the members who were able to attend — it was great to meet members I had not yet met and great to catch up with old friends. For those of your who could not make it, here is a very brief recap:

• We recognized PCO staff, board, and former board members in the room with heartfelt gratitude for their dedication and service to PCO. • We reviewed PCO’s mission, vision, and core values which we do before every board meeting to keep them fresh in our mind as we are conducting any PCO business.

You can find them here: paorganic.org/about/missionvision-and-core-values/ • We welcomed two new members to the PCO board, Lisa de Lima and Samuel Malriat. We recognized and thanked outgoing board member, Dave Hartman. (See page 7 for more details on outgoing and incoming board members.)

further strengthen and extend our network and influence — Evaluate the following ways to expand and strengthen PCO: certification, education, consulting, lobbying and the creation of a foundation — Make sure PCO has a “seat at the table” and is a thought leader in the organic industry

• Diana Underwood, Director of Operations, introduced PCO’s Brand Refresh. You can see it in action on our new and improved website: www.paorganic.org. (See page 18 for more information.)

• Kyla Smith, Certification Director, also explained PCO’s membership structure and transition services.

• New business included two important topics for discussion: Regenerative Organic Certification (learn more here: regenorganic.org) and some new proposed rules by the NOP to strengthen organic enforcement. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about this in future Organic Matters and other communication from PCO staff.

Please try to join us at our next Annual Meeting, which will align with the PASA Conference in 2021 or at any Board Meeting. PCO is your organization and needs your input and support.

Thank you, Tina Ellor email: tellor@phillipsmushroomfarms.com phone/text: 610-656-7250

• We introduced Katherine DiMatteo, our Interim Executive Director. We feel very fortunate to have her aboard to lead our organization and to help us find a permanent Executive Director to lead us into the future. You can find her impressive biography here: paorganic.org/about/ staff/.

• Andrew Smyre, Vice President of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Executive Director Search Committee gave an update on board priorities and our search for a permanent Executive Director.

A Full-Service Certification Agency Now offering Transitioning Farmer services!

• There was a brief update on strategic priorities for PCOwhat they are, how we arrived at them, and how, with the help of membership at our last Annual meeting; we prioritized them as follows: — Develop a marketing plan to increase visibility and brand recognition of PCO in the organic industry — Focus on the financial stability and diversification of revenue streams to allow for PCO’s growth — Work closely with staff to streamline the certification process to provide highly responsive customer service, while keeping the highest standards and integrity in the organic industry — Seek out strategic partnerships in the industry that will 12

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“Great certifying agency that is small enough to be able to have a personal feeling, but large enough to give you great service!”

814-422-0251 • paorganic.org www.paorganic.org

Dear Aggy

Dear Aggy, How can I make sure that I’m doing the legal thing when it comes to applying pesticides? Our neighbor just retired from farming and dropped off a big plastic jug of “Organic Product” that has the name “Neem?” written in sharpie, but he did tell me he thought it was OMRI listed and the rate that he applies it at to control leafhoppers.

Dear Aggy,

— Cautious Carl

My company makes fertilizer blends which many of your organic farmers use. We’re currently working on new formulations, and we would like to have confirmation that these products will be allowed before we add them to our catalog. Can you help us out? Also, do you offer any advertising opportunities for industry professionals such as us?

— XYZ Fertilizer Co.

Hi XYZ Fertilizer Co., I’m so glad your business values our organic producers and is being pro-active in making sure the products you offer them are in compliance. As part of our certification process, we do review every single input our clients would like to use to determine compliance with the requirements of the National Organic Program (NOP). Frequently this review starts when a producer requests review of a new product after seeing it in a catalog or hearing about it from a salesperson. That producer might have to wait awhile to receive an answer on whether that product is allowed or not, as we have to track down contact information for the manufacturer and get in touch with them to get all the necessary information.

For those manufacturers who would like to streamline the review and approval process and get their products reviewed ahead of time, our business membership is an ideal solution. We can review your product before it is even offered for sale in the marketplace, and include it in our published list which is provided to our 1600+ members.

Our Basic Business Membership offers the following benefits: • PCO and Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) brand name material lists for your guidance.

• Review of two material inputs for compliance with NOP criteria. Review determinations are not to be used for marketing purposes, but will be included in our published lists. Additional material input compliance reviews start at $100/material, depending on complexity.

• Organic Matters — our quarterly print newsletter packed with all the latest organic news and research.

• 10% discount on display ads, as well as a free 30-word classified ad in each issue of Organic Matters.

• Invitation to annual membership meeting, including voting rights for PCO standards, policies and board elections.

— Aggy

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Hi Carl, Sorry to say, but you won’t be able to use that product.

Pesticides should never be stored in unlabeled containers, as proper warnings and use instructions are now missing.

Accurate product name, manufacturer and intended use must be included on your yearly Materials Used Form, and label instructions must be followed. In this instance, there is no way to determine if this product is in organic compliance or not. If the label states that the pesticide is for ornamental, or residential use only, it cannot be legally applied to your commercial crops. Any restrictions or warnings, such as re-entry intervals or bee toxicity, must be noted and appropriate application must take place. Since the label is entirely missing from this jug, this product should be turned over at your next local pesticide collection program to be safely disposed of off-site.

— Aggy

Organic Matters • sPring 2020

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Transitions

Inspiration for Organic: A Q & A with Transitioning Farmers Brent Alderfer owns Regenerative Farms, LLC, on 125 acres in Solebury Township, near New Hope, PA. They are in the process of becoming certified organic for vegetables and beef, and had previously been certified through PCO under Alderfer Farms, LLC for poultry. Brent is also an owner of 50 acre Sandbrook Meadow Farm in Stockton, NJ that has been certified for 9 years through New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

1. Can you tell us a bit about your operation?

We have 125 acres in Bucks County, PA and 50 acres across the river in Huntingdon County, NJ. We grow vegetables for farm members who come weekly through the summer and fall to pick up fresh vegetables. They can purchase what they want; it’s a flexible member farm market operation. And we have chickens, eggs, and cattle. We have about 30 head of beef at any given time, so we have grass-fed, grass-finished local beef. Those are our main offerings.

We started the NJ operation 9 years ago. CSAs were just beginning to get popular at that time so we opened with a traditional CSA concept of a boxed-share membership where everyone got the same share every week. That has expanded over time to a much more flexible member farm

market with customer choice. A member may not want a share of kale every week and may want more peas or beans, so members can choose what they want.

2. What was your inspiration to certify the farm in NJ and what is your inspiration to expand the farm in PA? Well, in both cases, we are looking to create local, regenerative farming in the broadest sense, which means that we have a love of farming that comes from being on a natural farm with green plants, flowers, trees, and animals—chickens, cows, and sheep— living healthy and natural lives among fields and meadows. It’s that traditional feeling of a farm; what most people think of when they think of a farm is really what we wanted to reproduce. The reason to do that is because it produces not only a great place to be and work and to invite people in so they can stay in touch with their farmer and their food; it also produces healthy, great tasting food that doesn’t sit on a truck or in a warehouse for a week before you eat it. So, we are inspired to bring back that farm feeling that gives everybody peace and joy. And we are looking to provide healthy, local food more and more in demand for; for health reasons, taste, and nutrition. So in addition to sustainability our inspiration is based on those two things together: sharing the traditional farm experience and producing good local food.

So many of the things we are doing go beyond certification: regeneration of the soil, things that work for local food and taste, etc. But the organic certification is the reference point and basic level of assurance, for us and for our customers, that we aren’t using inputs or practices that got farming in trouble in the first place: petrochemicals, pesticides, damage to the soil, damage to the crops, and the related negative health impacts. So our motivation for organic is that there’s a lot of research and experience that

Rolling pastures with vegetable fields in the valley of Regenerative Farms, LLC in Solebury Township, PA. Photo: Brent Alderfer.

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went into organic certification standards and we wanted that as our starting point, on everything. We wanted to keep the crops not only looking good but healthy, to maintain good soil microbiology and prevent toxin build up in the soil long term. So we could reinvent all that but organic certification already did that work and gives a seal of approval that we trusted as our start. And then we can build and restore our natural farm on top of that, but that was our baseline. That’s why we started and have stuck with organic certification.

3. What has been the biggest stumbling block to certification and how are you working to overcome it?

As for stumbling blocks it’s almost the same thing. Not only is there a baseline that organic certification gives us but there are a lot of the details we don’t know and organic practices to learn as we go along that may or may not be obvious, such as seeds, mulch, what’s permitted with equipment and manure, when you apply what for health and other reasons. So, the stumbling block is really accessing the necessary information when you need it. When you are ready to make a decision in the field you can’t go research organic certification to see if this or that use is permitted or not. So, it’s the host of questions that is the biggest barrier. That’s why the Rodale expertise and ability to check in with questions and resources is just fantastic. It brings all the body of information to bear when you need it. So, the two together – the research and depth of organic certification that’s been developed, along with Rodale and the expertise to deliver the information when you need it is a powerful combination for anyone who wants to be an organic farmer.

4. What advice would you give another farmer considering transitioning to organic?

Just do it. It’s the foundation to build on. Why reinvent it or create confusion with your customers or your farm staff when it’s already laid out? Just do it as the foundation.

5. We all know that farming is extremely hard work, often requiring long days in difficult conditions. What motivates you to get up each day and keep going?

I am the farm owner but my full time work is in renewable energy and solar across the country. So I don’t get to farm every day but I am part of the team and support it as the farm owner. Both for our lead farmers and for me there are a few things but the main one is knowing that we need to come together to get sustainable farms back for our children and the next generation, to recreate the picture that shows up on organic food labels, supermarket shelves, and cereal boxes. The picture of that farm is what we all have in mind- the traditional family farm, animals restoring the soil, cows eating and fertilizing grass, butterflies and birds- we know we have to recreate that just for sustainability and health alone, but the double payoff is we get to enjoy it with our friends and family. That’s what keeps you going in terms of investment. It’s got to be done. We can’t keep going the same direction. Industrial chemical-based farming doesn’t

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lead to a sustainable future, so that’s the one driver. But probably what I alluded to earlier is even stronger: the smells, beauty, and peace that comes from being out on the farm every day. It might be tough in the rain and the snow but when the sun comes out, animals are born in spring, crops push out of the ground, first blueberries fruit, and butterflies show up and monarchs migrate back across the property in the fall- that’s what really keeps us going. You have the mission but then you have the experience and there’s nothing quite like it. I would say that’s what keeps our farm members coming back too. It is healthier, fresher and more nutritious food and they like that, but most of them say they just love coming out, being on the farm, seeing the chickens, lambs and baby calves, and picking up the vegetables. There’s something pretty deep about farming and farmland and being on it and around it, and I think that’s really what keeps us going.

6. Is there anyone who has influenced you in your farming journey that you want to tell us about?

Thinking back, it’s probably mostly the Mennonite farmers that I watched as a kid in Montgomery County. I watched them in the fields. They were rotating crops, fertilizing with manure, and fighting pests and predators with their smarts and experience, rather than chemicals. I watched them rotate clover through or soybeans and then maybe corn and wheat. Again, the experience of watching that work and what it produced was probably my strongest image. I didn’t grow up on a farm but grew up with farms around me so maybe I was just far enough from all the hard work that farming is still pretty romantic for me as an adult. I wasn’t totally daunted by it, even though it is hard work. I think that’s the inspiration for me really- how much they knew and how much they produced in harmony with the land. It was very impressive to watch and I think we need more of that back.

7. Are there any fundamental farming “lessons” that you have learned in your farming career that you would like to share with farmers who will read your interview?

Keep going. It’s a worthwhile mission to keep farms in everyone’s life. When you do you see the enjoyment it brings. So let’s inspire each other.

Brent Alderfer is working with Organic Crop Consultants at the Rodale Institute. The consulting services are FREE to Pennsylvania farmers transitioning to organic thanks to funding from the PA Department of Agriculture. Farmers who make the transition to organic can earn two to three times the price of their conventional counterparts and increase the value of their land, giving farmers a valuable continued on page 24 Organic Matters • sPring 2020

15

These past few weeks have been full of uncertainty, and things are rapidly changing day by day. Although this edition of Organic Matters has some overall general information regarding PCO’s organizational response to the COVID-19 measures, I’d like to take a minute to tell you how the certification team is handling things during this time of evolution, and how we’re set up to continue to provide the best service to you as possible.

Since 2015, the certification department has had many fully-remote staff members. Currently, we have certification specialists in New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Montana and even Oregon! When you call, you are routed directly to your certification specialist no matter their location. All certification specialists are still working full time from home and will continue to answer your calls and emails in a timely manner.

The most challenging aspect for PCO has been the mailing process. PCO works with many clients who select paper (postal) as their preferred method of sending and receiving correspondence. PCO’s physical office location has been closed, but one staff member has been going in once a week to receive the mail and do essential printing, scanning, and mailing. Because all incoming and outgoing mail has only ever been handled through the main office location, there has been a slight delay in getting items in the mail to clients (such as certification reports, guidance documents, new Organic System Plans, hard copies of certificates and Organic Certificate Addendums, etc.), and those incoming items from you (such as compliance responses, product labels, etc.) into the hands of the certification specialists.

We are requesting that if you have any capacity to communicate electronically (fax, email, phone (texting)), please do so. If you would like to text your certification specialist (CS), please send a text to 814-600-8855 (my phone number) and note your name and who your CS is, and I will make sure the response gets to your CS. If you do not have fax, email, or texting, we will still be able to send and receive items from you – we may just need a little extra time. We are aware that this could affect how timely you may be able to respond to a certification report or non-compliance; if that’s the case, please do call us and let us know. We want to work with you during this time and be as flexible as possible.

Keeping in good communication with us helps us be able to offer the flexibility!

Lastly, certification specialists are just finishing up with certification reports, and will be turning their attention towards reviewing your annual update paperwork. Although inspections may be affected by the COVID-19 measures, we are continuing to prepare your files for inspectors, whether it’s for a desk audit, virtual inspection, or an on-site 16

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inspection. If you haven’t turned in your annual update – please do as soon as possible!

Thank you for your patience and graciousness during these uncertain times. We appreciate being able to continue to work with you on your organic certification. We are just a phone call or email away if you have any questions or concerns, or need more information on operations during this period of time, or, need assistance in finding resources related to COVID-19. Wishing you a safe, healthy, and productive spring.

UPDATED LABELING GUIDELINES ON GMOS AND ANIMAL RAISING

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued labeling guidelines designed to help establishments that want to make animal-raising or GMO absence claims on meat and poultry labels.

The updated “Guidelines on Statements that Bioengineered or Genetically-Modified Ingredients or Animal Feed Were not Used in Meat, Poultry, or Egg Products,” clarify how companies can make “negative” label claims that a GMO ingredient was not used in the production of meat, poultry or egg products. The agency has confirmed that certified organic products may be labeled with negative claims—such as “derived from beef fed no GMO feed”— provided the claim is connected by an asterisk or other symbol to the statement, “Produced in compliance with the USDA Organic Regulations.” FSIS explicitly recognizes USDA organic certification and the corresponding organic certificate as sufficient documentation to support nonGMO claims.

“Labeling Guideline on Documentation Needed to Substantiate Animal Raising Claims for Label Submissions” has also been revised to reflect submitted public comments.

The updated guidance provides additional clarity on the documentation needed when submitting labels that bear an animal raising claim and how to add additional suppliers to a label with an animal raising claim that has been approved. For organic claims, the name of the certifying agency, website address and logo (when the organization has a logo) must be included on the label. FSIS will accept the organic certificate to support certain labeling claims such as “raised without antibiotics,” “no added hormones,” “vegetarian diet,” “no animal-by-products,” “NON-GMO” and “humanely raised” with company’s description and

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qualifier [“These are consistent with the USDA organic regulations”]. Tracing and segregation mechanisms are also covered under the organic certificate.

In both cases, these updated guidelines now recognize and accept organic certificates as a way to substantiate a suite of label claims and attributes commonly used on meat and poultry products.

for the organic transitions research program, the same level as fiscal year 2020. Additionally, the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) is projected to administer $25 million in funding for organic research grants for fiscal year 2021, the first increase in funding for organic research in nearly a decade as required by the 2018 Farm Bill.

PRESIDENT’S PROPOSED 2021 BUDGET INCLUDES NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM SPENDING CUTS

Earlier this year the President released his proposal for the federal budget for fiscal year 2021. The President recommended $12 million in funding for the National Organic Program (NOP), a 25% cut from the current NOP budget of $16 million. The White House provided the following justification for the decrease in spending: “USDA AMS will decrease expenses by not developing additional courses for stakeholders, decrease proactive investigations and forecasting.” Last year, NOP launched an online training platform and developed courses for certifiers and inspectors as part of the Organic Integrity Learning Center (See page 18 for more information on the Organic Integrity Learning Center.) Training for certifiers and proactive investigations are a critical part of a risk-based approach to oversight and enforcement.

The budget proposal also includes $6 million in funding

The PCO Materials Team is busy reviewing the new input materials that you’ve included on your 2020 Materials Used Form. If you haven’t yet sent in your annual update paperwork, contact PCO immediately! If you don’t want to wait to hear back about a material, call Jen, April, or Sabine at the PCO office, 814-422-0251, for a speedy review. Make sure you have the name of the product and the name of the manufacturer.

MATERIAL REVIEW STATUS CHANGES

Please note the following status changes for materials reviewed by PCO for use by certified operations.

PROHIBITED – Operators must immediately discontinue use of these products unless otherwise noted.

n Crop Materials • Fafard F 15 Mix by Fafard, Inc., is prohibited as growing media. You must discontinue use immediately. n Livestock Materials • The following Free Choice Enterprise products are prohibited for use as both livestock feed additives/ supplements and OPT grass-fed feed additives/ supplements. You may use up only until April 1, 2020, at which point you must discontinue use of these products.

Please note, Free Choice Enterprise has created allowed versions of these products with “Grass/Organic” in the name. Any versions of these products that are not “Grass/Organic” or that contain rice hulls will be prohibited as of April 1, 2020. Please contact Free Choice Enterprises at 608-723-7977 with any questions: 8 Way Mineral Mix, Acid Neutralizer OH, Alkaline Neutralizer CL, CB, Cobalt, Copper, Iodine I, Iron, Magnesium MG, Manganese, Molybdenum, Phosphorus P, Potassium K, SE, Silicon SI, Sodium NA, Sulfur S, TA, TB, TC, Vitamin V4, Zinc continued on page 18

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continued from page 17

• Champions Choice Mix N Fine Salt — no YPS — by Cargill Animal Nutrition is prohibited as a livestock feed additive/supplement due to insufficient information. You may use up any of this product that you have on hand.

• Sel Plex 2700 and DeOdorase by Alltech, Inc., are prohibited as livestock feed additive/supplements. You must discontinue use immediately. n Processing Materials • Chlorine Liquified Gas by Univar USA, Inc., is prohibited as a food contact sanitizer/antimicrobial.

ORGANIC INTEGRITY LEARNING CENTER OFFERS FREE TRAINING

In May of 2019 the USDA launched a new Organic Integrity Learning Center, providing free 24/7 online training to support the continuing education of organic certifiers, inspectors, reviewers, and other professionals working to protect organic integrity. Initial course offerings included: • Introduction to the USDA Organic System • Sound and Sensible Organic Certification • Fundamentals of Inspection • Compliance and Enforcement: Adverse Actions, Appeals, and Reinstatements

• Import Oversight Essentials Subsequent course offerings include Dairy Compliance, Traceability Techniques, Advanced Inspections, Material Reviews, Certification Administration, and Sampling and Testing.

PCO recognizes that well-qualified, highly trained organic professionals are key to maintaining organic integrity and thus we have incorporated the new Organic Integrity Learning Center into our 2020 PCO staff training plan. Additionally, PCO contracted inspectors have been invited to sign up for the learning center as well. Useful assessments give learners the opportunity to improve learning and thinking, while game-based learning breaks down complex material into manageable parts to help learners achieve greater understanding. The USDA routinely gathers feedback on course content as part of a continuous improvement plan to ensure reliable, on-time training for organic professionals. Knowledge obtained through these courses will enable the PCO staff to better serve our members and further organic integrity.

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Standards and Policy Update KYla sMith, certiFicatiOn directOr

SAVE THE DATE: UPCOMING NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARD MEETINGS

The National Organic Program has announced dates and locations of the next several National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meetings.

n Spring 2020 – Remote (April 29-May 1, 2020)

n Fall 2020 – Cedar Rapids, IA (October 27-29, 2020) The NOSB is a Federal Advisory Board made up of 15 public volunteers from across the organic community, which are appointed by the U.S Secretary of Agriculture. Established by the Organic Foods Production Act, the NOSB considers and makes recommendations on a wide variety of issues involving the production, handling and processing of organic products. The NOSB is also responsible for reviewing input materials for inclusion on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.

The NOSB meets twice per year as public meetings to discuss the items on its work agenda, vote on proposals and make recommendations to the Secretary. This year, this includes reviewing and voting on whether to continue the allowance of several fertilizers, pest control products, livestock treatments, processing aids, and ingredients for rereview prior to their sunset (expiration) date from the National List in 2022. All meetings are free and open to the public. The NOSB values public input. Both advanced written comment and oral comments via webinar or in-person are encouraged in order for the NOSB members to gain additional perspective.

For more information on the NOSB or meeting agendas and hotel info, visit the NOP web page at: ams.usda.gov/ rules-regulations/organic/nosb.

PCO LAUNCHES NEW BRAND IMAGE

PCO is proud to unveil our refreshed brand image! PCO’s new branding is the result of a project to create a more cohesive brand in the marketplace, and this includes a modified logo. Our new logo features updated fonts that offer visual balance, an updated color palette that will ensure

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people consistent sional for date representation many different appearance weyears serve. usage to sizing ofcome. throughout that thefor PCO will The instant remain logo brand, all recognition is materials, relevant designed our services, with and to and accommoour aaand professtrong brand the PCO’s new logo is now available for use by certified operations via the PCO website at paorganic.org/certification/already-certified/logo-download/. You may also contact the PCO office to obtain copies of the logo. We encourage you to incorporate PCO’s new logo on product labels, marketing materials, etc.

While we are extremely excited to launch this brand refresh, we acknowledge the impact that logo changes have on our certified operations. As such, PCO is taking a soft implementation approach. When our logo changes, this often results in labeling and marketing material changes not only for PCO but for our certified operations as well. We are committed to ensure a smooth transition as our certified operations incorporate PCO’s new logo. As a reminder, the use of PCO’s logo on product labeling and marketing materials is optional.

All operations certified or applying with PCO should have received a letter detailing the implementation plan which is also outlined below.

n Implementation Plan: Existing Clients All approved existing, printed labels containing older PCO logos may be used up.

During 2020, operations must inform their Certification Specialist of their timeline to update all product labels (including design, plate creation, printing) and any marketing materials (e.g. website, signs, brochures) that will extend beyond 3/1/2022.

New Clients If using the PCO logo (optional), must use new logo.

Please contact PCO with any questions you may have on how this specifically affects your operation.

Shop online at Amazon?

Support PCO at the same time with AmazonSmile!

The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible Amazon Smile 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!

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STAY CONNECTED, VISIT:

paorganic.org Organic Matters • sPring 2020

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New Members Atlantic Frozen Foods Port Canaveral, FL

Austin Ehrisman Richfield, PA

Barsuglia Farms, LLC Vineland, NJ

Charles Hamilton Harrison, AR

Chris Blalock Sugarcreek, OH

CNY Egg Processing, LLC Romulus, NY

Dan Mast

Millersburg, OH

Dana Brown Homer, NY

David Glick

Jeff Martin Mt Joy, PA

Lowville, NY

Gouverneur, NY

Alvin Fisher

Joyful Farms LLC Georgetown, NY

Lake Russell Maple LLC Fort Pierce, FL

Layne Rarig Catawissa, PA

Mark Siegrist Telford, PA

Mary’s Land Farm, LLC Ellicott City, MD

Nathan Martin Kreamer, PA

New Generation Poultry Service, Inc. Mount Joy, PA

Joyful Farms LLC

Troyer Family Farm

Georgetown, NY

Canastota, NY

Justin Geisinger

Welch Hill Farm

Chambersburg, PA

Knarich Family Farm Mount Vision, NY

Paradise, PA

Alvin W Weaver Geneva, NY

Maple Cove Dairy

Christiana, PA

Bishopp Family Farm

Marlin L. & Carrie R. Martin Waynesboro, PA

Guilford, NY

Dreamin’ Grass Acres Ehstview Dairy

Michael Geiser

Eli Ray King Fort Plain, NY

Fort Plain, NY

Mansfield, PA

Queensboro Farm Products, Inc. Canastota, NY

Oakview Farm Waterloo, NY

Gilbertsville, NY

Rainbow Valley Acres

Oregon Ag LLC

Faith Farms

Reuben M. Beiler

Canajoharie, NY

Spring Mills, PA

Lititz, PA

Moravia, NY

Middleburg, VA

Rodger Hackenberg

Gideon Miller Farm

Rippling Brook Farm

Edward and Linda Weaver

Samuel King

Harold Kreider Dairy

Rolling Sunrise Farm

Eli Miller

Turkey Ridge Farms

Hidden Camp Farm

RRR Farms

Day Spring Farm, LLC

El Dorado Springs, MO

Middleburg, PA

Lancaster, PA

Nathalie, VA

Killbuck, OH

Elias Zook

Tuscarora Grain Co., LLC

Bernville, PA

Greenmoore Gardens

Mohrsville, PA

Port Matilda, PA

Wade Hilton

Greenstreet Coffee Co. Philadelphia, PA

ORGANIC PLUS TRUST CERTIFIED

Jacob M. Glick

Adirondack View Farm

Paradise, PA 20

Prattsburgh, NY

Sprakers, NY

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Lyons, NY

Thompsontown, PA

Canajoharie, NY

Hidden Creek Farm LaFargeville, NY

Jacob Kauffman Canajoharie, NY

Guilford, NY

Manheim, PA

Sherburne, NY

Sandy Springs Farm

Alltech, Inc.

Nicholasville, KY

Applied Bio-Minerals Best Veterinary Solutions Ellsworth, IA

Chemstation Philadelphia

Downingtown, PA

Danone North America Louisville, CO

Emil Gallo & Sons Inc Greenwood, DE

Harbor Point Mineral Products Utica, NY

Homestead Nutrition Inc New Holland, PA

York Ag Products York, PA

ADVOCATE

Betty Harper

State College, PA

Charles Miller

Spring Creek Farms, LLC

Ed Stepler

James P. McKeag d.b.a. Circle K Farms

Spring Hill Farm

John F Smith

Steuben Foods, Inc.

Sherburne, NY

Cherry Hill, NJ

Newmanstown, PA

Wernersville, PA

Tioga, PA

TRANSITION

Lancaster, PA

Meadow Acre Farm Melvin K Zook/ Pasture Valley Acres

Richfield Springs, NY

Fort Plain, NY

BUSINESS

Moravia, NY

Little Falls, NY

Windy Hill Acres

Maple Grove Farm

Deansboro, NY

Donna & Paul Baran

Turin, NY

Kenneth Gross

Rome, NY

Amos E. Stoltzfus

West Winfield, NY

Canastota, NY

Ellen Larsen/Locust Farm

Grovespring, MO

Davis Livestock Sales Inc.

Alpine Heritage Creamery Paradise, PA

Jonas J. Stoltzfus

Tranquility Farm

Little Falls, NY

PCO Welcomes 1st Quarter New Members!

NEWLY CERTIFIED ORGANIC

John Troyer

Gilbertsville, NY

Elma, NY

East Earl, PA

Monroeville, NJ

Rivulet Ranch Schnecksville, PA

Spring Run Auditing Services Selinsgrove, PA

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Organic Matters • sPring 2020

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Marketplace CROPS

PCO-certified organic baleage. Individually wrapped. 4 x 4 mixed hay. First cutting, $45/bale. Dry first cutting, $25/bale. Jim Hepp. 570-746-1651. Bradford County.

Certified Organic Meadow Grass hay. Large square bales (3x7), clean, dry, and stored indoors. RFV 82. Great for horses or dry cows. $75.00 per bale. Call or text: Cindy 717476-1220.

LIVESTOCK

25 Certified grass-fed, organic cows. AI sired- a2a2, polled.

Holst and crosses. Sold as group. Leave message. Karl 315750-0411 or pilgrimsprogress.kb@gmail.com. Madison County.

EQUIPMENT Four and six rows cultivators: John Deere and IH. IH 56 2 Row corn planter. All ready to go to work (rebuilt). Contact Carl Modica for prices. 814-267-5640. Somerset 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 Co., PA.

LAND FOR SALE/RENT

Large amount of certified organic dairy farm for rent or sale.

70+ acres of pasture. Contact 570-721-3605. Sullivan County

PCO’s Annual Membership Meeting continued from page 9

was able to join us remotely through our online stream available to all members. Lisa is the Vice President of Grocery for MOMs Organic Market. Lisa is joining the board after a 5-year appointment on the National Organic Standards Board. She is looking forward to sharing her learned experience with our more intimate community. (See page 7 for more information on the new board members.)

We also were able to recognize the three re-elected board members serving their second term: Ted LeBow from Kitchen Table Consultants, Kristy Borrelli from Penn State and Northeast SARE program, and Joe Miller, an independent marketing consultant in the dairy industry.

We are continually grateful to our members who choose to be active participants in our community and attend our annual gathering. As we move forward to host again next winter, we hope you will mark your calendar once the date is released and consider joining us. A connected experience is guaranteed for all!

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Organic Matters • sPring 2020

www.paorganic.org

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 â?– www.lakevieworganicgrain.com

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Organic Matters • sPring 2020

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The Story of Sustainable Agriculture continued from page 1 1

atmosphere, water, or soil, but the only way to draw carbon down into the soil is through biology.” The goal he proposed was to take what we have learned about sustainable agriculture and the lessons we’ve learned from history to mitigate the negative impact of human society on the environment in ways like prevention of top soil erosion, ultimately to promote stable societies. The development of this point helped bring the data collection of NASS into the perspective of the bigger picture. With the help of data collection, we can move more efficiently towards healthier soils and more stable societies.

If the auto-biographical portion of the speech developed the ethos, defending the speaker’s credibility to make conclusions, and the historical and philosophical portion of the speech developed the logos, or the reason and proof behind the conclusions, then the final portion of the speech about faith and activism was most certainly to develop the pathos, or the emotional story of the conclusions. Tickell summarized his pathos in the line, “The impossible only seems possible in retrospect.”

Tickell continued to provide historical examples of times that people doubted the possibility of change prior to experiencing the change. He cited leaders of non-violent social change like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. He credited these two leaders and called the audience to action, “We have to create the narrative of the future that we want, because the alternative is buying into the current way of thinking of things.”

He shared an example from his own home town in Southern California which was negatively impacted by the commercial usage of chemical inputs in non-organic crop production. To control Asian citrus psyllid, farmers were using a neonicotinoid and a neurotoxin, but because of the climate and topography of the land, the spray was remaining concentrated in the valley, and the local residents were concerned. The locals took action through activism and now young people are buying land in the area and are substituting sustainable management practices for the previous destructive farming systems. Many PASA conference attendees are young farmers who have helped in their own ways to create a new narrative on their own land.

One conceptualization that Tickell argued cannot be part of our future was the idea that there are “good” actors and “bad” actors in the story of our shared future. “If the narrative is ‘us versus them’, all big companies are bad and can never be good, and only small farms are good, then we will lose,” Tickell asserts to lead into his next example of a large company being a part of the sustainable agriculture narrative. He noted that General Mills responded to public criticism for using a particular chemical input in their wheat production by committing to developing 1,000,000 acres by 2030 for wheat production without this chemical input.

Larger companies have the ability to impact broader scale change more quickly than individuals, but change did not 24

Organic Matters • sPring 2020

happen without the collective voice of individual consumers. The resulting reduction of use of the chemical input was championed by all stake-holders.

The keynote programing was concluded with a brief outroduction by John Good, PASA board member and coowner of The Good Farm. Good provided insight into PASA’s mission of telling the story of PASA farmers to the eaters and consumers of agricultural products. Without data collection the government cannot effectively legislate a better future and without telling the thousands of stories of sustainable agriculture to the consumer, the consumer cannot advocate for a better system. By successfully sharing the agricultural practices of the farmers to the consumer, we can all take an active part in shaping the story of sustainable agriculture.

Transitions continued from page 15

asset for future generations. Rodale Institute is a trusted resource for technical assistance, regulatory advice and community connections. Consultations typically begin with a phone call, followed by a site visit. Support is provided throughout the entire transition to make sure farmers are on the right track.

Farmers that are interested in receiving consulting services can contact the Rodale Institute directly by calling 610-683-1416 or Consulting@RodaleInstitute.org

A Full-Service Certification Agency Now offering Transitioning Farmer services!

“Great certifying agency that is small enough to be able to have a personal feeling, but large enough to give you great service!”

814-422-0251 • paorganic.org www.paorganic.org

Non-Profit Org US POSTAGE PAID CENTRE HALL, PA PERMIT NO. 33

106 School Street, Suite 201 Spring Mills, PA 16875