Organic Matters Quarterly Newsletter • Winter 2020
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Can Cannabis Change the Game?
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Community Collective on Strategic Priorities
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Pricing Strategies for Successful Selling
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Fall NOSB Meeting Summary
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t’s early January of a new year and decade — 2020, and for me an exciting new undertaking as the Interim Executive Director at Pennsylvania Certified Organic — PCO. I have been welcomed by the staff in the Spring Mills office and those that work remotely. Although I have only begun to discover the skills and expertise of the staff, my early impressions of the quality and values built into customer service, systems, technology, team development and engagement confirm that PCO can deliver on its mission to ensure the integrity of organic products and serve its farming community. Diana Underwood, Director of Operations, and Kyla Smith, Certification Director, who have served as interim co-executive directors, have kept the organization stable and financially sound, expertly managing programs and operations as well as leading initiatives to build for the future. The Advisory Board has effectively provided oversight and done the hard work of developing a strategic plan for 2020–2024 with clear priorities to expand and strengthen PCO. It is an honor to join this team. I bring my 30 years of passion for organic and experience in the organic farm and products sector as well as my expertise in
organizational management to my role at PCO. During the next six months I will support and complement the work of the staff, particularly in developing the action plan to execute the strategic plan, partnering with the board to identify a permanent executive director, and continue PCO engagement with the Pennsylvania and national organic community. I look forward to meeting you, the PCO members, at the Annual Member Meeting on February 6th in Lancaster, PA. Yes, another Annual Member Meeting soon after the October 2019 meeting! However, we hope that aligning our Annual Member Meeting with the PASA Conference will be convenient for more of you. Come hear about the strategic plan, greet incoming board members, share in our recognition of outgoing board members, and enjoy time to meet and mingle. Look for announcements about the meeting and do join us. If you can’t be there in person, we will again offer remote attendance options. I am eager to help make great things happen for PCO and its family of members. Together we can advance organic agriculture and its benefits for people and the planet.
You’re Invited to PCO’s 2020 Annual Membership Meeting and Mixer What can you expect to learn and discover by attending? • Meet our new Interim Executive Director, Katherine DiMatteo • Hear from newly elected board members • A first-hand look at our new refreshed brand image • Update on strategic priorities from our October 2019 Annual Meeting • New relationships built on a passion for an organic future!
ORGANIC MATTERS • WINTER 2020
Thursday, February 6 • 6:00–8:00 pm Mulberry Art Studios 19–21 North Mulberry Street Lancaster, PA 17603 5:30–6:00 pm ............ Registration 6:00–6:45 pm ............ Annual Meeting 6:45–8:00 pm ............ Reception & Mingle Free to PCO members, families and guests RSVP via phone or website: 814-422-0251 paorganic.org/membershipmeeting Remote participation will be available! Indicate this options as part of your RSVP and we will send you further details.
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Organic Matters
OFFICERS
president Luke Howard, Homestead Farms, Inc. vice president Tina Ellor, Phillips Mushroom Farms secretary Ron Hoover, Penn State Extension treasurer Dave Hartman, Penn State Extension managing board chair Beth Gugino, Penn State Extension
Winter 2020
ADVISORY BOARD
Kristy Borelli, Penn State University Ross Duffield, AVF CBD Solutions Bob Eberly, Eberly Poultry Betty Harper, Penn State University Ted LeBow, Kitchen Table Consultants Joe Miller, Oberweis Dairy Spencer Miller, Boyd Station, LLC Andrew Smyre, Anchor Ingredients/ Precizion Ag LLC Marketing and Consulting Mike Spangler, Proximity Malt
STAFF
leadership team interim executive director Katherine DiMatteo director of operations Diana Underwood certification director Kyla Smith executive assistant Stacey Budd administrative team accounting manager Elizabeth Leah staff accountant Shawnee Matis administrative assistant Lia Lopez human resources manager Sandy Vandeven certification team certification program manager Marissa Evankovich operations manager Reva Baylets senior certification specialist Heather Donald certification specialists Justine Cook Stephen Hobaugh Cathy Jackson Chelsea Johnson Lauren Lewis Marlin Mueller Craig Shroyer Eastlyn Wright program assistants Diana Dombrowski Aleisha Schreffler Kristin Shade
FFEEAT URREESS AT U 2 | Can Cannabis Change the Game? Farmers, processors, and consumers are excited about new opportunities and products Cannabis sativa is bringing to the market 4 | PCO Annual Meeting: A Community Collective on Strategic Priorities 2019 membership meeting focuses on our collective wisdom to help shape PCO’s next growth phase 8 | Pricing Strategy for Farm and Food Businesses Penn State Extension Business Management Team shares insights on pricing methods to achieve business goals
STORIES Matthew Borbonous accepts the Going the Extra Acre Award on behalf of Borbonous Family Farm from Kyla Smith, PCO Certification Director (L) and Diana Underwood, PCO Director of Operations (R).
inspection team inspection program manager Jenny Cruse inspection program coordinator Ashley Madea materials team materials program manager Jennifer Berkebile materials specialist Sabine Carey materials/outreach specialist April Kocis quality team quality systems & it manager Angela Morgan it specialist Garrick McCullough
6 | Gratitude and Recognition for our Members PCO recognizes outstanding members at 2019 Annual Meeting Membership Awards 10 | Fall National Organic Standards Board Meeting Recap Board passes seven proposals and refers them to USDA for approval and implementation
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.
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12 | PCO Hosts Networking Reception at Fall 2019 NOSB Meeting PCO Staff, board, members and agricultural professionals gather to celebrate successes of the organic industry
C O LU M N S 14 President’s Message 16 Dear Aggy OrganicMarketplace 18 Transitions
20 Organic Updates Certification Materials Legislative Standards & Policy New Faces 22 New Members 24 Calendar
On the cover: Chaitanya Kapadia, Gita Nagari Farm
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Can Cannabis Change the Game? An old crop gets a new chance to grow. Farmers, processors, and consumers are excited about new opportunities and products Cannabis sativa is bringing to the market
Eastlyn Wright, Certification Specialist Through the passing of the 2018 US Farm Bill, farmers and processors are gaining a new opportunity to deal with a US commodity, industrial hemp. Industrial Hemp, scientifically known as Cannabis sativa looks and smells like its illicit cousin “marijuana” but contains a lower tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. THC is the chemical compound responsible for the psychological effects that marijuana is known for. By law industrial hemp must contain no more than 0.3% THC, for comparison marijuana often contains 20% THC or more. Laws to grow hemp vary from state to state but require registration and often a permit from the associated state’s department of agriculture. See the Legislative Update on page 20 for more details on the USDA’s Hemp Production Interim Rule. Hemp is a versatile crop that offers an array of potential products. When hemp was brought to North America in the early 1600s, it was primarily cultivated for fiber and hemp seed oil. Fiber from the crop was used in the production of rope, grain bags, clothing, and other industrial fabrics, such as Conestoga wagon covers and ship sails. Hemp seed oil proved useful in inks, paints, and oil for lamps. Upon the cultivation of cotton and tobacco in the United States hemp fell out of popularity as a cash crop. The final blow for hemp came in the 1930s when industrial hemp was tied to its high THC cousin and prohibited from production on state and federal levels. Following the prohibition of hemp, residents of the United States still enjoyed the benefits of hemp in value added products imported from other countries, mainly Canada and China. Today products from hemp continue to grow in popularity and expanding markets. The crop can be grown for fiber, seed,
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or flower. Hemp in our society continues to be utilized in the production of fiber products such as clothing, ropes, and paper. Developments to use hemp in place of plastics, cardboard, synthetic insulation, fuel, and wood are ongoing due to the renewable nature, and fast growing habit of the plant. Seed from Cannabis sativa is frequently used as high protein grain in products such as as granola, birdseed, and ground flours or protein powders. Of course seed is also used to grow the next generation of hemp plants. Oil can be derived from hemp as well, generally sourced from the seed, which can be used for cooking oil, and as an ingredient in personal care items such as soaps, shampoos, and beauty products. Hemp flower has entered the spotlight recently for its use in the production of cannabidiol (CBD) oil and as an herbal product. Hemp is an annual broadleaf plant, with a taproot. Hemp thrives in a sunny location with well-drained soil. The crop is often touted as drought resistant and able to grow in poor soil conditions, however as with growing any commodity crop it should be expected to see higher quality and yields when offered optimal conditions. In the northeast United States hemp is planted from May to late June. Maturation of hemp only begins when the day length is less than 12 hours of sunlight, as it is considered a short-day plant. Maturity of hemp plants is reached within 70–120 days after seeding, depending on the cultivar planted and environmental factors. It is common to plant hemp seed directly in the field — similar to other row crops, transplanted from cuttings, or grown as annual seedlings to later be transplanted. Please remember that in order for annual seedlings to be used on an organic operation the purveyor of the annual seedlings must be certified organic per §205.204. Plants from hemp are dioecious, meaning that the male (pollen) and female (flower) reproductive organs are on separate individuals. The sex of the plant grown is important as the uses for male and female hemp plants differ. Male hemp plants
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are favored for fiber uses, due to their long and limited branching growth habits resulting in longer, stronger cellulose fiber growth. Female plants are widely sought after when producing hemp for CBD oil, and seed production. Female plants tend to have a shorter growth habit, with extensive branching. Several cultivars have been developed, and similar to crops such as corn the crop’s end use plays a role in deciding which is the most appropriate cultivar to plant for its intended marketing use. In addition to the various cash crop applications, hemp has benefits as part of crop rotation, by adding diversity, removing toxic metals from soils, aerating soils, and helping to break the cycle of disease, and weeds associated with traditional rotations. It is common for hemps plants to grow between 6 and 15 tall. Because of hemp’s growth habits it has been shown to be effective in reducing erosion, and limiting weed competition. Additionally, hemp has been praised as a great food source for pollinators due to its prolific pollen production. Like any crop, hemp presents its own challenges. With the crop being federally prohibited from cultivation for approximately 80 years in the United States it can be difficult to locate reliable information as the crop has not been studied as extensively as its agricultural counterparts. Souring seed for hemp can be challenging and cost prohibitive due to its disappearance from the US market for decades. Equipment developed for harvesting hemp is specialized, and expensive, and not readily available to contract for custom harvest. Conventional equipment such as combines and mowers can be utilized for the harvest of the crop but present challenges due to the tough and sticky fibrous nature of the plant. Choices for inputs to be used with hemp are limited, especially for organic production. Though hemp is generally touted as disease and pest resistant, there are molds, and viruses that effect the crop, especially in excessively wet conditions. Frequently hemp is required to be dried post-harvest, so operators need additional space and/or equipment set up to allow for the drying of the product. Drying of the product adds an element of extended care prior to sale which is less desirable to some operators. Hemp currently is illegal for use as animal feed, so operators with livestock components as part of their organic system plan need to account for acreage that could otherwise be growing a sustenance crop for their animals. Legal requirements, and availability of crop insurance for hemp also present unique challenges. Testing of the crop is required, if THC content for the hemp grown is over 0.3% growers are legally obligated to destroy their crop. It is difficult to anticipate exact percentage of THC present in the crop, which can increase due to environmental factors such as excessive heat, which can initiate excess THC production in individual plants. Additionally, because of the extended prohibition on the cultivation of the crop there are few facilities located in the United States that are set up to process the product post-harvest. Hemp purveyors are encouraged to carefully assess markets, and budget accordingly prior to production for economic feasibility, and to ensure that production is done in accordance with state and federal laws. Specialty food products need additional processing to be marketable to consumers. Hemp’s seeds, also known as ‘hemp hearts’ require hulling to be used as a food ingredient. Oils pro-
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duced from hemp are commonly expelled through mechanical cold-pressing. Protection from oxygen, light, and heat are critical during this process. Solvent extraction methods are emerging to produce oils as well. It is also common for refining and deodorizing steps to be implemented when used in cosmetic applications. Fiber requires the most extensive processing. The woody core of the plant is separated from the fine bast fibers, and then fibers are clean, sorted, and sometimes pulped prior to use. Fibers are then tested for tensile strength, and fiber diameter. Fibers are also exposed to steam to remove natural binders in order to produce a weaveable fiber that could used in clothing or other textiles. As with all other legal agricultural products, hemp is eligible for organic certification, for the crops and processing scopes. Clients interested in organic certification of hemp should contact PCO. New clients to PCO are welcome to apply for certification; we will set you up with a certification specialist to walk you through the process. Continuing clients are also welcome to add hemp as crop, or processed product for 2020. In order to add organic hemp to your product listings updates to your Organic System Plan, and Field Plan/Organic Product Profile will be required to reflect the changes in your operation. When considering growing hemp as certified organic product crop producers should be mindful of seed sourcing, methods used in growing of annual seedlings or planting stock. Processing clients will need to locate certified organic agricultural products and should be cautious with labeling claims. Contact PCO or your Certification Specialist for additional information.
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
ORGANIC MATTERS • WINTER 2020
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PCO Annual Meeting: A Community Collective on Strategic Priorities The 2019 membership meeting focuses on our collective wisdom to help shape PCO’s next growth phase
Stacey Budd, Executive Assistant Connection and community through a shared vision PCO once again held its annual membership meeting in Bellefonte, PA on Wednesday, October 16, 2019. Each year the meeting is designed to bring the PCO board, staff and members together to build connections and community around our commitment to organic production. This year’s meeting was designed with membership feedback in mind. As part of the meeting, attendees formed small working groups to discuss strategic priorities established by the Advisory Board. PCO’s board looks to the insight of members to access our strengths and challenges as an organization, while meeting the demands of a growing organic industry. As a member-driven organization, those in attendance both in person and remotely were asked to weigh in on some strategic initiatives that were crafted by the board over the last several months. Members were asked to provide a ranking to the initiatives that focused on: • PCO’s image as a thought leader in the organic industry • Developing a marketing plan to increase visibility and brand recognition for PCO • Establishing financial stability and diversification of revenue streams to allow for growth • Streamlining the certification process
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• Seeking out strategic partnerships that will strengthen and extend our network and influence These served as a way to help facilitate the small group conversation but also prioritize the direction of PCO’s next strategic plan. Common themes that rose to the surface were finding ways PCO can support members beyond certification, creating opportunities to process challenges they might face the rest of the way to market. In addition, streamlining the certification process was a favorite among participants. With both a staff and board member in each group, the information and thoughts were captured and examined at the board retreat the following two days. Luke Howard, third-year board president and owner/operator of Homestead Farms, Inc. in Milllington, MD, graciously thanked members for their thoughtful participation in this process. This work helps amplify the collective wisdom of those we serve. Howard would be remiss if he did not acknowledge the staff ’s role in our success. “The consistent professionalism our staff has at PCO would make anyone proud in the business world so we are quite fortunate.” Year in Review As per our bylaws, PCO leadership and board members presented a look at our progress over the year. 2018 brought a slight growth in membership - with PCO certifying 1632 operations, indicating a 14% increase in certifications. The biggest increase in scope occurred with
crops and poultry. The work and goals of PCO’s operations have been guided by the 2017-2019 strategic plan developed by the board. Three overarching themes were established to evaluate the health and longevity of PCO. Though the work can shift when deemed necessary, all decisions made were reflected with the following themes in mind; customer service, financial viability and establishing a high performing board. Financial stability in a changing industry Laying the groundwork for financial viability starts with re-examining the pros and cons of existing programs. In 2018, PCO’s leadership team took a long hard look at our service offerings and our member benefits. Metrics were established based on financial implications and the alignment of programs to our mission. Based on the data, the PCO leadership made some strategic shifts in our programs and offerings this year. One shift occurred by finding a new home for our Forest Grown Verification program. Established for non-timber forest products, this program was transferred to United Plant Savers(UpS) in March 2019. PCO’s leadership collaborated with UpS for a smooth transition of ownership. Kyla Smith, Certification Director, noted that UpS has a strong community that could steward the program alongside their medicinal plant forest conservation effort. Smith shared some background on the transformation of PCO’s 100% Grassfed program. PCO
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was brought to the table to help build a more unified standard for a Grassfed label. The vision is for the new label to create more consistent recognition in the marketplace. In collaboration with several other regional certifiers and largescale producers, the Organic Plus Trust (OPT) label was born. Facilitated through another third-party entity, PCO is accredited to offer OPT certification to our members. Dave Hartman, Board Treasurer, took the floor to highlight additional steps PCO is taking towards financial resiliency, as well as PCO’s financial trends. As Treasurer, Hartman and the Finance Committee are instrumental in overseeing our financial strategy to meet our goals. “In 2018, we established a reserve fund to help PCO offset adversity of downward trends in the industry,” Hartman stated. Our goal is to build the fund to an amount that would cover 25% of our overall annual expenses, giving PCO some resiliency to weather those down years. Hartman went on to review trends over the last couple years, noting that in 2017 we made investments in software upgrades along with realigning PCO’s salary scales to be competitive in the industry. “Though 2018 was good and 2019 is looking like we will have a surplus, things have been tight with the downturn of dairy industry.” Currently PCO is experiencing more surrenders than new clients. Hartman closed by highlighting the board’s plan to examine ways PCO can stay competitive and increase marketing to grow new clients. Brand Refresh As PCO looks to build more awareness of our top-notch certification services, we have started the groundwork of engaging in a brand refresh. Along with increased awareness, the overall goal of this project will help us grow our market share in the certification space. Perception is key and as a leading organization in the organic community, how we are seen in the marketplace is important. We have partnered with a branding firm to help us better tell our story and improve our tools for increased visibility. “Overall we are looking to create some brand consistency and establish a storyline that highlights PCO through all the ways that individuals discover us — industry
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events, educational opportunities or social media,” shared Diana Underwood, Director of Operations. A large focus of this work will be to rebuild PCO’s website, creating valuable content that is easily navigable to both new and longstanding members. The target launch for the rebrand will be in February at the 2020 PASA Conference in Lancaster, PA. We are excited to share this with our membership and hope it captures the professionalism we bring to the industry. Customer service and core values Smith and Underwood shared organizational benchmarks regarding the values we uphold and the service we provide. Each year a survey is sent out to our membership to glean feedback on our customer service. Our 2018 survey showed an increase in member satisfaction. “We believe that this increase is very impactful,” said Smith, “especially at a time when our overall client-member numbers continue to grow.” With improvement being a foundational tenet to organic, this membership survey establishes a gauge to examine the work provided to PCO certified operations. Under customer service, the PCO staff have been focusing on bringing our established core values to life in the work that we do. Diana Underwood shared how the core values dictate how we operate at PCO. She stated, “they are deeply held values that we are committed to long-term and emphasize how we go about fulfilling the mission and vision of the organization.” “As the staff go about
their days, they are empowered to reflect on actions that are being embodied to fulfill these values,” Underwood continued. Our core values evolved through a collaborative process with the PCO staff, crafting statements that define how we choose to show up in our work. They have been integrated into our hiring process and measured as part of our performance reviews. You can expect to see these more often as we begin to develop marketing pieces that reflect PCO as a values-based organization. Strengthening board success The responsibility of PCO’s Governance Committee is to facilitate board policies and opportunities for continued board success. In 2018, their directive was to create a succession plan to maintain a high level of performance each year as board member terms end and new members join. Ron Hoover, who has lead the committee for the past two years, discussed ways in which the committee assists in developing leaders, who can then rise through the ranks to the executive team. Board success will also be determined by their work in hiring PCO’s next Executive Director. Since July, the board’s search committee has been actively engaged in this process. Tina Ellor, who co-chairs the search committee, discussed the steps taken thus far in the search. In early 2019, the board began interviewing consultant firms to partner with on this process. After thorough deliberation, the committee selected North Group Consultants out of Lititz, PA. “We are going to take as long as we need to find the right person to take PCO forward,” Ellor stated. Since the fall meeting, the board hired an Interim Executive Director, Katherine DiMatteo of Wolf, DiMatteo & Associates, as of January 6, 2020. Please see Organically Speaking on page 1 for more details. The night closed out with a hearty meal for the community who gathered. You always know your event was successful when no one makes a fast attempt to go home. It is a good reminder to PCO staff and members to share more opportunities for connection and conversation.
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Gratitude and Recognition for our Members Our work at PCO helps our members find success with organic production. Our efforts are directly reflected in the contributions of our certified operations. Each year, PCO’s staff, inspectors and board are invited to nominate a member to be the recipient of our annual membership awards. These awards, created by the staff, recognize those members who embody the organic spirit through their work and dedication to their communities. This year’s winners were recognized at the Annual Membership Meeting held on October 16th, 2019, in Bellefonte, PA.
OUTSTANDING NEW ORGANIC FARMER Red Hawk Rise Organics, LLC Harpers Ferry, WV Farmers: Katie Brownell and Mike Herbst Founded in 2017, Red Hawk Rise Organics is located in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. On their 3-acre property, Katie and Mike grow mixed fruits and vegetables for farmers markets in DC along with providing a local CSA to feed their community. With training in organic production and years of working in an urban farm setting, the opportunity to have a property to build a small-scale, organic farm is a dream come true! Sustainability and ecological practices have always been the backbone of their farming methodology. Mike and Katie see their farm as part of the larger ecosystem that surrounds their land. For them, it is about encouraging a healthy balance between their cultivation efforts and the naturally-occurring growth that pops up or buzzes around them. They believe healthy soils begets healthy plants and use preventative methods to stop problems before they happen. Like good stewards of the land, they rotate crops annually and plant varieties with diversity in mind. For Katie and Mike, the path toward certification was a business decision. Local farmers would often share how certification helps gain entry into the competitive DC market. But what started as a business decision soon became a central tenet of their farm. There was a realization of the importance of the organic label and the certification process. “It gives us a framework that validates our farming practices and legitimizes what we value,” Brownell shared in her acceptance video. Katie went
on to say, “Organic certification is not just rules dictated by authority — instead it feels like all farmers who are certified are responsible for the integrity of the label. It becomes meaningless if they don’t follow the guidelines.” In their nomination, Mike and Katie were recognized as individuals who genuinely care about the organic label and doing things right. When asked about working with them, Craig Shroyer, PCO Certification Specialist shared, “Fresh out of the gate they asked all the right questions. They are one of those farms that get into organic production because of the market possibilities, but remain rooted in the practices because of their commitment to the land and the community. To them it is more than the seal.” You can find out more about Red Hawk Rise Organics on their website: www.redhawkriseorganics.com. There you can also enjoy the writings of Katie — both musings and farming observations/tips — on her blog twofeetinthedirt.com
GOING THE EXTRA ACRE Borbonus Family Farm Blairsville, PA Farmer: Matthew Borbonus A third generation farmer on the family land, Matthew has 200+ acres for rotational grazing on perennial grasses. He uses a holistic way to approach land and animal management while keeping his eye on new opportunities to steward organic agriculture growth in his community. Matthew would be the first to admit that organic agriculture was not part of his plan when he graduated from Penn State in 2004. He had big dreams of mega farming with some shiny equipment. For Matthew, mentors in his life have made the largest impact on how he farms today. He had opportunities to intern on a wide variety of farms, including time with Titus Martin
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and Forrest Stricker, both owning PCO-certified farms. These experiences gave him new perspectives from which to examine
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possible enterprises within his farm. Matthew was inspired to begin rotational grazing for the three main groups of his herd; lactating, young stock and dry cows. What started as 40 acres grew into the 200+ acres he grazes on today. In 2007, financial scrutiny and economic drivers led Matthew to focus on self-grown perennial grasses as the sole feed for his cows. Making the decision to follow a grassfed regimen helped him pull his farm out of the red during the hard times of 2007-2010. Taking it a step further, Matthew’s operation became certified organic in 2014. Thanks to his early-on interactions with our members, he choose PCO as his certifier. Organic production and certification standards embody his philosophy of less is more. The less we mess with natural systems and our food — the better. “Initially, I never would have believed there was a way to produce food without harmful chemicals,” Borbonus stated during his acceptance speech. This thought came to light when one day he was out on his open station tractor in front of the sprayer. He could feel a sticky substance on his forearms and questioned whether this really was the better way. Matthew reflected on his use of synthetic fertilizers at the time along with thoughts on the decline of his father’s health and he knew he had to explore
another way. While embracing the progression from grassfed to a full holistic approach to land and animal management, Matthew was overjoyed to find people were willing to pay for food made in a way that provided him with personal contentment. A world of opportunity opened their doors to him as part of his transition. He discovered an organic milk truck in his area, giving him access to a vibrant milk market. He now dabbles in direct to consumer sales of pastured poultry and pigs with the hopes of expanding his production to include vegetables crops. Matthew was nominated for the Going the Extra Acre for his involvement with the Westmoreland Conservation District in Westmoreland County, PA. He understands the synergy between conservation efforts and organic, regenerative agriculture. As a convener of ideas, Matthew was an active participant in their Next Generation Farm Summit held in June. Stephen Hobaugh, Matthew’s Certification Specialist, highlighted, “He is a true leader in his agricultural community, finding new and innovative ways to help build sustainable markets for area farmers.” We look forward to seeing more of the good work Matthew creates on his farm and in his community.
SUSTAINABILITY AWARD Carversville Farm Foundation Mechanicsville, PA Farmers: Steve Tomlinson, multiple farm apprentices and many community volunteers
Tomlinson, Farm Manager, was present to accept the award. Tomlinson mentioned Carversville’s goal was to certify everything on the farm and was pleased to announce that this was achieved in 2019. “PCO is truly on our side and with us every step of the way.” Steve believes that the organic label provides dignity to the food they grow. It is important that the recipients get the same quality of goods they would find at an expensive grocery store or farmers market. In addition, it helps farm workers and volunteers know there are no harmful fertilizers or pesticides in use on the farm. “We feel that goes along way for everyone working with healthy food in a healthy environment,” said Tomlinson. Feed, Teach and Nurture is the mission of Carversville Farm Foundation. They help inspire sustainable practices through a variety of outreach events. Farm tours show visitors what they do on the farm, while sharing both discovered successes and mistakes. They partner with other organizations to host workshops and information exchange gatherings. Volunteers also learn the steps in planting and harvesting crops sustainability. Through their efforts, the farm’s goal is to have people from all walks of life fall in love with agriculture. You can find out more about Carversville Farm Foundation and their impressive impact numbers at www.carversvillefarm.org.
Carversville Farm Foundation is a non-profit that produces fresh, sustainable food specifically for donation to populations who lack access to a balanced diet while offering workshops and field days to support an understanding of sustainable farming methods. In all they do, the farm focuses on regenerating the agro-ecosystem. Everyone at the farm works at producing the best food they possibly can, while growing soil, practicing good animal welfare and serving their partners with dignity. In her introduction, Justine Cook, PCO Certification Specialist for Carversville Farm Foundation, highlighted their work in furthering sustainability for farms, families, communities and the environment. “Their food is grown specifically for donation to local soup kitchens and food pantries in the Philadelphia area,” Cook shared. The farms operates as a team. From the Executive Directors to the farm crew to the volunteers that help them grow food responsibly, everyone is part of the collective process. They plan out the year by working with soup kitchen chefs to give them what they want without giving them too much or too little. Deliveries are made weekly to help make sure good food is easily accessible for their partners. Carversville Farm Foundation raises beef, broilers, laying hens and turkeys alongside their production of vegetables, hay, mushrooms, eggs and wild crops. On the farm they also have a certified turkey processing house. Collectively, stakeholders for the farm decided to become certified organic because they believe in the process, which makes them better farmers. Steve
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Pricing Strategy for Farm and Food Businesses
Photo: michaelwrose. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The following article has been adapted from a workshop series by Penn State Extension Business Management Team called Strategies for Successful Selling and is the first of a 3-part article reflecting the series. Molly Berntsen, Penn State Extension Education Specialist and Maria Graziani, Penn State Extension Educator
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or a small business owner, understanding how to appropriately and smartly set prices is a key skill. The prices you set for your products affect your customers’ likelihood to purchase your products, their perceived value of your products, and, of course, your total profits. So, how do you arrive at the right price? The first step in finding your product’s price is to determine your breakeven price, or the minimum price that you can possibly sell the product for in order to cover the costs of producing it. Be aware that your costs of production, and therefore your breakeven price, may change depending on how much product you plan to sell! It is important to plan realistically here; a common mistake made by new business owners is to overestimate the amount of product expected to be sold. A sensitivity analysis will help you determine your breakeven price as it relates to your projected sales. Once you know your breakeven price, you can start thinking about the pricing method that will best fit your business goals. For example, is your biggest priority with your business to gain market share, to retain existing customers, or to be profitable? Your business goals should be clearly laid out in your business plan, and having a clear understanding of your goals will help you determine which pricing method will work best for you and your business. Now, you are ready to begin considering your customers, and how their needs will factor into your price. What are your customer demographics (age, gender, race/ethnicity, income level, geographic location, etc.)? What are your customers’ values and lifestyles? What are they willing and able to pay? How important is price in their purchasing decisions? Do your customers tend to be repeat customers or one-time customers? Also imperative to understand is your competition. Who is
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selling similar products in your area? What are your competitors charging for their products? A thorough understanding of the competitive landscape will give you an advantage by helping you identify unmet needs or customers, setting comparable prices, and adjusting as necessary to fluctuations in the marketplace. At this point, you can finally start delving into particular pricing methods and choose the method that is right for your product. There are many pricing methods to choose from, from cost-plus pricing to subscription pricing to target return pricing (see figure 1). Once you’ve arrived at a general pricing strategy that you will use for your product, there is a large body of research to show that the specific number that you land on for your price, as well as the way that your prices are presented with your product, can have a large impact on how your customers perceive them! This is known as psychological pricing, and the following tips can be applied in any situation as best fits the needs of the seller and consumer. Tip 1: Smaller is better Studies show that pricing with the smallest leftmost digits register in our brains as significantly smaller. For example, the perceived difference between $3.00 and $2.99 is much greater than $0.01. This is known as the “left digit effect” or “charm pricing.” Additionally, numbers with a smaller number of syllables and numbers written in a smaller font are perceived as lower numbers than numbers with a high number of syllables or written in a large font. May sound strange, but it’s something to consider! Tip 2: Make it easy Always make your prices as easy as possible to read, understand, and assess. Clear, readable font or handwriting is key, and if you are selling your product in multiple units (i.e. apples by a smaller carton and by a large crate), display the prices of both units to avoid making your customer do the math for
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themselves. Additionally, think about if you want your customers to see your product first or the price first. In other words, do you want them to see your product before they know the price, or after? These distinctions create subtle differences in how our brains make purchasing decisions! Tip 3: Make it feel like a deal There are many ways that you can use pricing to make your product feel like a great deal to your customers. It can be helpful to emphasize gaps, in price or in quality, between your reference points. This could be for a sale price by keeping the original product price clearly visible, in comparison to a competitor’s price, or in comparison to similar products from the supermarket, etc. Also, research shows that when prices are listed in a row, that listing prices from high (top) to low (bottom), will encourage customers to spend more money than when prices are listed in the opposite way. Tip 4: Use visual cues Presenting strong visual cues is an important part of several marketing strategies, and it can also help to increase your customers’ perceived value of your products. It is usually a good idea to use strong cues to indicate sale prices (different color, bold font, etc.) as well as to keep the original price visible. Also offer visual cues that point to the effort that went into your product, such as pictures of your farm or your process, raw materials, or tools. All of these images will conjure in your customers’ minds a more realistic idea of the labor and love that went into your product, and help them to see the value in it! Tip 5: Simplify No one enjoys the experience of parting with their money, even when paying for products we truly want! This is referred to as the “pain of paying” and as much as you can do to reduce this “pain” will serve to benefit your customers and lead to a positive payment experience. How can the interaction be as
Pricing Methods
Figure 2: Molly Berntsen, Penn State Extension, teaching a Pricing Workshop in Beaver County. Photo: Maria Graziani, Penn State
quick as possible? Do you offer multiple payment options (cash, card, etc.)? In the case of a farmers market, this tip could outweigh the “charm pricing” technique as dealing in small coins for change can take much longer than working only with dollars and quarters. In the end, the process of pricing can end up being much more of an art than a science. With all of these considerations, there are often many judgement calls that need to be made in the moment based on your intuitive sense of your product and your customers. However, coming from a strong basis of knowledge and applying some structure to this process can help you to arrive at prices that are well thought out and meet the needs of your business and your customers. The Penn State Extension Business Management Team offers articles, in-person workshops and online courses in all aspects of farm and food business management. Please visit our website at https://extension.psu.edu/business-and-operations/ business-management to find out about 2020 Strategies for Successful selling workshops in your region and find articles and other resources to help you manage your business.
Molly Berntsen is an Education Associate for Penn State Extension in Allegheny County, where she works as a farmer educator in agricultural entrepreneurship. Molly is passionate about strengthening local food systems and communities throughout western Pennsylvania. Previously, she has worked in food systems and education at DC Greens in Washington, DC and the Environmental Charter School of Pittsburgh. Molly holds a B.S. in Biology from Carnegie Mellon University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. Maria Graziani holds an MBA from Carlow University and joined Penn State Extension in 2016. She is a former urban farmer and value-added producer who is currently part of a team that ensures agriculture in Pennsylvania is a thriving business that supports farming families, communities and commerce. Ms Graziani's engagement in agricultural economic research, entrepreneurship, and program development, is creating a systems-approach to local and regional food production and working to put the producer on the pulse of industry changes, advancements and opportunities.
Figure 1: Pricing Methods. Sarah Cornelisse, Penn State Extension
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Fall National Organic Standards Board Meeting Recap Board passes 7 proposals and refers them to USDA for approval and implementation Thanks to outgoing NOSB members Tom Chapman, Ashley Swaffar, Lisa de Lima, and Harriet Behar for their years of dedicated service on the Board. Photo: Organic Trade Association.
Kyla Smith, Certification Director
T
he National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Fall Meeting took place on October 23–25, 2019, in Pittsburgh, PA. NOSB is a Federal Advisory Board made up of 15 dedicated public volunteers from across the organic community. Established by the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) and governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the NOSB considers and makes recommendations on a wide range of issues involving the production, handling, and processing of organic products. The NOSB also has special responsibilities related to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. During meetings, the NOSB listens to public comments, discusses agenda items, and then votes on proposals to the Secretary in a public forum. As the meeting was held in PCO’s home state, several PCO staff members were in attendance. PCO gave public comment on several of the agenda items to ensure that the proposed regulatory changes being discussed by the board are consistent with other parts of the regulations, will be able to be consistently enforced by all certifiers and will not be overly burdensome on organic producers. Below are the highlighted outcomes from the meeting: n PROPOSALS: NOSB considered 7 proposals at this meeting. Of the proposals, all 7 PASSED (referred to USDA for approval and implementation) • Fatty alcohols — proposal to allow use as sucker control in tobacco production is adopted • Potassium hypochlorite — proposal to allow for use as irrigation water treatment is adopted
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• Genetic integrity of seed grown on organic land — proposed instruction to certifiers is adopted • Vaccines made with excluded methods — proposal to permit GMO vaccines only when non-GMO versions are not commercially available is adopted • Excluded methods determination — proposal to prohibit induced mutagenesis produced via vitro nucleic acid techniques and allow livestock embryo transfer is adopted • Research priorities — proposed research priorities are adopted • Policy and Procedures Manual — proposed updates are adopted • Sunset Reviews: NOSB voted on over 50 currently allowed generic inputs. Of these, 2 are recommended for REMOVAL from the National List. The rest will remain on the list. • Dairy cultures (Handling) — recommended that redundant listing is removed and allowance continues under the existing broader listing of Microorganisms. This recommended action will not result in any change to the current and continued allowance of dairy cultures in organic processing and handling. • Alginic acid (Handling) — recommended removal and prohibition of non-organic alginic acid • Discussion Documents: NOSB considered 3 discussion documents at this meeting. • Paper pots and other crops production aids — petitioned for use as planting aids in crop production • Marine materials — discussion about ensuring sustainable harvesting of seaweeds for use in crop fertilizers and soil amendments continued on page 17
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PCO Hosts Networking Reception at Fall 2019 NOSB Meeting PCO Staff, board, members and agricultural professionals gather to celebrate successes of the organic industry
NOSB Members from left to right: Emily Oakley (producer), Dave Mortensen (scientist), Scott Rice (certifier), Lisa de Lima (retailer), Tom Chapman (handler), Ashley Swaffar (producer), Harriet Behar (resource conservationist), Steve Ela (producer), Dan Seitz (public interest), Sue Baird (public interest), Jesse Buie (producer), Asa Bradman (environmentalist), Rick Greenwood (resource conservationist). Photo: National Organic Program
Kyla Smith, Certification Director
D
uring the week of the Fall 2019 National Organic Standards Board meeting, PCO hosted a networking reception for all attendees, board members, and National Organic Program employees. PCO’s vision that all communities are enriched through organic food and farming was certainly fostered during the event where PCO staff, board, members and agricultural professionals had the opportunity to connect, engage and celebrate the successes of the organic industry. Held at the Beauty Shoppe, a coworking space in downtown Pittsburgh, the reception featured certified organic food and beverages from PCO members. Adam Dellinger, Organic Program Coordinator with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) and Sam Malriat, Organic Crop Consultant with the Rodale Institute, shared remarks highlighting accomplishments specific to organic agriculture in Pennsylvania. Dellinger spoke in detail about the first ever Pennsylvania Farm Bill signed
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into law in 2019. This historic comprehensive package of funding opportunities and resources aims to provide continued investments in Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry. Included in the bill was the PA Preferred Organic Initiative, a $1.6 million-dollar investment aimed at helping farmers diversify or transition entirely into organic production, as well as helping processors find affordable financing to do the same. One way in which PDA is already working toward this goal has been to partner with the Rodale Institute to ensure PA farmers have access to free technical assistance for transitioning to organic. PDA will continue to engage with stakeholders in the state to determine future development of the PA Preferred Organic Program, such as how to: • develop peer-to-peer learning opportunities • provide help with marketing and business planning • Ag Business Development Center • pinpoint key areas of growth for Pennsylvania organic agriculture • encourage more producers and proces-
sors to begin the transition to organic • help farmers find markets for crops grown during the transition period Through funding from PDA, the Rodale Institute started their organic crop consulting service. This service provides direct, on-site support to conventional farmers, beginning farmers and landowners who are interested in transitioning land to organic production. Rodale’s goal is to transition as much land as possible in Pennsylvania to organic production. Due to the PA Farm Bill, Rodale is able to offer this service for free to any farmer located in the state of Pennsylvania. PCO has been able to team up with Rodale, working closely with Malriat, to ensure farmers are able to move through the certification process with ease. “Now is the time for farmers to take advantage of this program, to take advantage of the premium they receive for organic products, and to recognize the groundswell of consumer support for farming methods that regenerate the land and its natural resources. We’re incredibly excited about this initiative and the value it can provide Pennsylvania farmers, and we’re committed to making a swift impact,” stated Malriat. Using this model for other states, Rodale announced the opening of three new Regional Resource Centers to serve as extensions of the Rodale Institute in Iowa, Georgia, and California. PCO was honored to host such an amazing event, which would not have been possible without contributions from our sponsors: Cherry Valley Organics, Cropp Cooperative, Danone North America, Frankferd Farms, Heritage Poultry Management Services, Maple Hill Creamery, Pete & Gerry’s, Phillips Mushrooms Farm, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Rodale Institute, Stonyfield and Wigle Whiskey.
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President’s Message PCO Extends Fond Farewell to Outgoing Board President, Luke Howard, and a Warm Welcome to Incoming Board President, Tina Ellor
Luke R. Howard, Outgoing PCO Advisory Board President
Tina Ellor, Incoming PCO Advisory Board President
As we enter this winter season it makes me think of transitions. We are transitioning to a new season, a new year and a new decade. There are a lot of other transitions happening in our world. For me personally we are starting the process of transitioning the day to day operations of our farm to the next generation. I am certainly not ready to give up the hard work of the farm but our children are young adults and enthusiastic about organic agriculture. How fortunate we are to have this new level of excitement coming into our farm. It seems like there is new life in the farm. It is ready for a long future with excitement for tomorrow. Sometimes this transition is uncomfortable because it is new. The normal routine is broken and there are extra people to communicate with. This is a lot of extra work, but when I think of the benefits it certainly will be worth the challenge. I could talk about farm transitions for this whole article but we have other exciting transitions happening at PCO. You may have read the update that the PCO Board has hired a new Executive Director for the interim. We are pleased to announce that Katherine DiMatteo from Wolf, DiMatteo & Associates has agreed to work with PCO as the Interim Executive Director and help us search for a permanent Executive Director. Katherine brings many years of expert leadership in the organic industry, from working as the Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association to providing consulting advice to organic farmers and businesses. We feel that with Katherine in this leadership role, PCO will continue to grow and provide the great service we are known for while finding the best person to fill the Executive Director role permanently. Welcome Katherine. Finally on this point I want to mention what a great job Diana Underwood and Kyla Smith have done. With no notice they both rose to the occasion and masterfully executed the leadership of PCO. Well done to both of you and to your teams at PCO. The final transition is that PCO will have a new board president with Tina Ellor. Tina has been a strong member of the board for many years. She was part of the founding members of PCO and has been a leader not just at PCO but within the broader organic community. She has served on the NOSB and the OMRI boards as well as several terms on the PCO board. PCO will be served well by your new board president. She brings the compassion and leadership that any organization
First of all I would like to express how humbled and honored I feel at being elected to lead the PCO Board of Directors. I haven’t been president of anything since I was president of the Brattleboro, Vermont chapter of The Future Homemakers of America in high school. And that will give anyone who’s been inside my home a laugh. Luke Howard is a hard act to follow — as president his leadership has been inspirational and he has steered PCO through a time of change firmly and kindly and with a great sense of humor. Anyway, please take some time to go to the PCO website and get to know your Board of Directors — they are an extraordinary group of people not just because of their many accomplishments, but also because of their dedication to our organization and to our organic community (paorganic.org/staff). Better yet, come to the PCO Annual Membership Meeting, which will be held during the PASA conference in Lancaster and meet us in person. You can also meet our new Interim Executive Director, Katherine DiMatteo, catch up with PCO Staff, and mingle with other PCO members. We value your ideas and input; this is, after all, your organization. When you get a survey or ballot from PCO, please take the time to fill it out with due attention and care as this is one of the ways we gather ideas and information from members on what we are doing well and how we can improve. PCO board and staff are always looking at continuous improvement and ideas for how to make PCO even better and these surveys are one of your opportunities to help PCO in that process. I can’t have access to media and an audience without a shout out to PCO Staff. Once again, I direct your attention to the PCO website (paorganic.org/staff) — take a look and be prepared to be impressed. A special thanks to Kyla Smith and Diana Underwood who stepped up and served as Co-Interim Executive Directors for more than a year. Due to their leadership, commitment and experience, PCO’s talented and dedicated staff has continued to deliver on its vision that “all communities are enriched through organic food and farming” and that its member farmers, producers, and processors receive the best quality attention and certification services. We are excited to welcome Katherine DiMatteo aboard to continue the good work and to help lead us through our next growth phase, help us to move forward with our strategic initiatives that members who attended our October membership meeting helped to formulate, and to aid us in the search for a perma-
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ORGANIC MATTERS • WINTER 2020
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Dear Aggy Readers’ Letters 5
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The Nitty Gritty on Organic Single Ingredient Agricultural Feed Additives and Supplements Dear Aggy, I’d like to start supplementing my cows with
Policy: The producer of an organic livestock operation must provide livestock with a total feed ration composed of agricultural products, including pasture and forage, that are organically produced and handled by operations certified to the NOP, except as provided in §205.237(a)(2)(i), except, that, synthetic substances allowed under §205.603 and non-synthetic substances not prohibited under §205.604 may be used as feed additives and feed supplements, Provided, That, all agricultural ingredients included in the ingredients list, for such additives and supplements, shall have been produced and handled organically. Single ingredient agricultural feed additives and supplements must be certified organic. Handling of organic single ingredient agricultural feed additives and supplements, including but not limited to repackaging and relabeling, must only occur under an operation’s organic certificate. — Best, Aggy
some molasses, and my local feed dealer has a large tote of certified organic molasses that he’s willing to split into smaller buckets for me.
Organic Marketplace
What kind of records do I need? — Thanks, Moses M.
CROPS Hi Moses, Thanks for checking on this. For those producers that are using organic molasses or vinegar as feed additives and buying them broken down from larger containers, compliance can be a bit confusing. Organic single ingredient agricultural feed additives and supplements, such as molasses and vinegar, may be repackaged or relabeled on your own farm under your certification. They may be dispensed at an off-site location as long as that location is certified as well. It is not in compliance to repackage or relabel these products off-site by an uncertified operation at an uncertified location. For example, having a non-certified local dealer distribute organic molasses from a large tote into smaller totes in his store is not allowed. This molasses cannot be fed to organic livestock. Examples of approved instances: • Non-certified manufacturer distributes organic molasses from a large tote into buckets while they are on-site at a certified farmer’s operation. The smaller buckets do not get relabelled. Make sure you have an invoice that indicates how much you purchased, as well as a copy of the certificate for the molasses you purchased. • Certified farmer buys a large tote of organic molasses and fills up smaller buckets for their certified neighbors. The smaller buckets do not get re-labelled. Make sure you have an invoice that indicates how much you purchased, as well as a copy of the certificate of the certified producer you bought the molasses from.
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• 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.
EQUIPMENT • 13 FootS-tine harrow like-new condition. Excellent for seed prep. $3,000.00. • 642 Ford Combine “Class” 14-foot grain head, 4 row corn head. 2,000 hours — excellent condition. • 1710 John Deer 11 shank chisel plow, excellent condition. Contact Ron Gargasz (landline) 724530-7220, (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
OR RENT • 200 acres of prime farm land for rent in Southern Centre County. Some ready for organic production, others are 3 years away. Mostly class 2 land of Heagerstown, Hublersburg and Morrisons soils. Some of the best farmland in the area. Contact 814-321-6078
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NOSB Meeting Recap continued from page 10
• Fenbendazole — petitioned for in poultry production as parasiticide for laying hens Officer Elections: NOSB elected Steve Ela (Chair), Scott Rice (Vice Chair), and Jesse Buie (Secretary). The Pittsburgh meeting was the last meeting for four members. PCO extends a hearty thank you to outgoing NOSB members Harriet Behar (environmental protection and resource conservation seat), Tom Chapman (handler seat), Ashley Swaffar (farmer seat) and Lisa de Lima (retailer seat). PCO is grateful for their service, commitment and dedication to the organic industry. The Secretary of Agriculture also recently appointed five new members to the Board to begin their five-year terms in January 2020. Welcome to: • Nathaniel Powell-Palm (farmer seat) • Kimberly Huseman (handler seat) • Gerard D’Amore (handler seat) • Mindee Jeffery (retailer seat) • Wood Turner (environmental protection and resource conservation seat) The next NOSB meeting will be held in Crystal City, VA, on April 29–May 1, 2020. For more information visit the NOSB Spring 2020 Meeting webpage (ams.usda.gov/event/nationalorganic-standards-board-nosb-meeting-crystal-city-va) or call the PCO office.
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Transitions Inspiration for Organic: A Q & A with Transitioning Farmers
Anastasiya Konopitskaya and Drew Oberholtzer own and operate Maidencreek Farmette, a hemp/fiber farm, in Blandon, PA on approximately 6 acres. They use their crop to make hemp building materials, and have built the first Hemp House on Wheels out of hempcrete (instagram.com/explore/tags/hemphouseonwheels/).
1. Can you tell us a little bit about your operation (location, history, etc.)?
Maidencreek Farmette is located in Berks County. The farm is 10 acres — 6 acres for agricultural use. The previous farmer grew corn and soybeans conventionally with Roundup. We are the first owners to farm without chemicals. Our intention for the farm is to really rebuild the soil so we can create a healthy ecosystem and produce organic crops. Last year we got a permit to grow hemp to experiment with, suppress weeds and help mitigate the soil. We are rotating the hemp through with various cover crops. We planted 2 acres of industrial hemp, kenaf (another fiber crop), rye grass and white clover. Throughout the year we’re conducting soil tests to see how our soil changes so we can better understand what we need to do. I have never been a farmer, but I have a lot of relatives that are dairy farmers in Pennsylvania. My wife is an architect. I am a television producer and editor. Prior to moving to the farm we had lived in New York City, Los Angeles and Philadelphia for the last 25 years. We purchased the farm with my brother Erik who is a chef and owner of a fast casual restaurant business called Tender Greens. Believing in preserving seed diversity he hopes to grow heritage varieties as well as flowers for a new flower business based in Philadelphia. As a first year farmer it was very important to us to work with experts in the field. When the opportunity to work with Rodale Institute to transition our farm to regenerative organic we were overjoyed to participate.
2. Is farming in your background?
3. What was your inspiration to become certified organic? We don’t believe in chemicals. We think there are enough toxins in the environment and if we can do our little part to 18
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Mother and Daughter, Ana and Aria, of Maidencreek Farmette enjoy a daily walk in the field.
mitigate some of that by certifying and growing organically we want to do it. It’s healthy for the soil, healthy for the environment and healthy for anyone who consumes the food that we produce.
4. What has been the biggest stumbling block to certification and how are you working to overcome it?
Surprisingly, I feel like it’s been easy. Hemp is low maintenance so once it’s planted you can pretty much walk away and watch it grow. The biggest obstacle was to make sure that all of the equipment that we used to plant and harvest was clean and to make sure we documented each step.
5. What advice would you give another farmer considering transition and interested in growing hemp?
If you are growing for industrial purposes and if you incorporate hemp into your rotation- over time I think we’ll see it as a weed suppressant- it will limit how many weeds you have over time. For CBD varieties a lot of people are planting cover crops between the rows and that is helping with weed suppression. And just talking with other farmers that are growing hemp, they really haven’t had many pest issues.
6. Farming is difficult work. What motivates you to keep it up?
After years of working inside behind a computer it’s refreshing to be outside all the time. For our farm it’s not as much work for someone who has animals or more labor intensive crops, but it’s still hard work. The immediacy of seeing www.paorganic.org
President’s Message: Luke continued from page 14
would benefit from. Along with that is the passion for our organic industry. For me it has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the President of the PCO Board of Directors. I am always humbled by the dedication and hard work of my fellow board members. Serving on the board has been a very special time in my life that I will always remember. Serving our members and our industry was a great joy and a lot of hard work. Best wishes Tina. — Luke R. Howard 410.708.3105 cell • lukerichardhoward@gmail.com Planting time at Maidencreek Farmette, a hemp/fiber farm that utilizes their crop to make hemp building materials.
things grow is such a great feeling. Knowing that we are contributing something positive to rebuilding the soil and the land is part of the reason why we’re farming organically.
7. Is there anyone who has influenced you on your farming journey that you would like to tell us about? We’ve been influenced by the dedicated farmers that have been stewards of their land for generations and are dedicated to bringing the best and healthiest products to market. The community support of other farmers, friends, family, and neighbors has been pretty incredible. New Holland came out and harvested our hemp and Erica McBride of PAHIC and NHA helped us acquire the right hemp seed. It’s been a real community effort.
8. Are there any fundamental farming lessons that you have learned that you would like to share? Or any parting words? Being a farmer is a real testament to hope and a positive spirit — maintaining that spirit is important. If you treat your land well it will treat you well.
President’s Message: Tina continued from page 14
nent Executive Director for PCO. Finally, I would like to take a moment to remind everyone of our organization’s mission and values which you can see here: paorganic.org/vision-mission-and-core-values. Our vision as stated above is backed up by our mission “To ensure the integrity of organic products and serve our farming community” and further by our core values which “keep people at the center of action, interaction, and decision”, “promote restorative practices that improve the world for future generations”, and “embrace transparency and integrity in all of our work”. I look forward to serving PCO as President of the Board and hopefully meeting as many of you as possible in the upcoming year. If you want to get a hold of me, my e-mail is tellor@phillipsmushroomfarms or you can call or text me at 610-656-7250. Please leave me a message if I don’t answer so I know your calls are not telemarketers.
PCO is Hiring! Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO), is seeking an Executive Director to further its mission to “Ensure the Integrity of Organic Products and Serve our Farming Community”. The Executive Director will provide strategic direction and leadership for the organization. The ideal candidate will possess a passion for the organic industry and a vision for its future. A successful candidate will have an established track record of ensuring efficient operations while driving organizational growth, development, and results. In addition, PCO is seeking an individual who has managed and nurtured teams. A proven history of excellent communication skills and the ability to build, cultivate and steward relationships in a variety of settings are essential to the role. For more information visit: www.paorganic.org/openings or email Stacey Budd at sbudd@paorganic.org
Hemp seedlings starting to grow in the field at Maidencreek Farmette in Blandon, PA.
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Organic Updates Below are some key highlights from the Interim Rule:
Certification Update Marissa Evankovich, Certification Program Manager The end of the year is always a good time for review and reflection. This past year, our certification team was hard at work completing file reviews and working with our producers to ensure that the certification process went smoothly, with a high level of integrity and quality. As a team, over 1700 initial reviews were completed, and almost all of those inspections have been performed before the end of the year as well. This past year we had two long time file reviewers move on to other positions outside of PCO, but we hired two excellent certification specialists to help keep moving things along. Our overall goal as a team is to provide high quality reviews in a timely manner for the our producers. We have switched gears into writing certification reports, and have completed about 30% so far. We are striving to complete our reports by March 1, 2020, which also happens to be the due dates for your annual updates. Please keep an eye out for both of these mailings (if you have not yet received your certification report). I cannot stress enough that if you don’t understand something we are requesting on your certification report, please call the office. Sometimes it can be much easier to discuss over the phone what the issues are instead of trying to decipher technical language (although we do strive to make your reports as readable as possible with the relevant information). We are here to help, so please reach out regarding your certification reports, annual updates, or anything in between!
Legislative Update Kyla Smith, Certification Director
USDA Publishes Hemp Production Interim Rule The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program through an interim final rule published in October 2019. This rule responds to a directive outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill, which required USDA to create provisions to approve plans submitted by States and Indian tribes for the domestic production of hemp. It also establishes a Federal plan for producers in States or territories of Indian tribes that do not have their own USDA-approved plan. A list summarizing the status of submitted State and Tribal hemp production plans is maintained on the following webpage: www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/ hemp/state-and-tribal-plan-review.
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n Hemp Definition The 2018 Farm Bill’s definition of hemp remains the same. However, the interim rule does define “Acceptable hemp THC level” as follows: When a laboratory tests a sample, it must report the delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol content concentration level on a dry weight basis and the measurement of uncertainty. The acceptable hemp THC level for the purpose of compliance with the requirements of State, Tribal, or USDA hemp plans is when the application of the measurement of uncertainty to the reported delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol content concentration level on a dry weight basis produces a distribution or range that includes 0.3% or less. For example, if the reported delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol content concentration level on a dry weight basis is 0.35% and the measurement of uncertainty is +/¥0.06%, the measured delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol content concentration level on a dry weight basis for this sample ranges from 0.29% to 0.41%. Because 0.3% is within the distribution or range, the sample is within the acceptable hemp THC level for the purpose of plan compliance. This definition of ‘‘acceptable hemp THC level’’ affects neither the statutory definition of hemp, 7 U.S.C. 1639o(1), in the 2018 Farm Bill nor the definition of ‘‘marihuana,’’ 21 U.S.C. 802(16), in the CSA. n Licensing: The Interim Rule requires that “any person producing or intending to produce hemp must have a valid license prior to producing, cultivating or storing hemp. States or tribes with approved plans or in the process of developing a plan are responsible for approving a producer’s licensing application under the state hemp program. Applications for a new license may be submitted until October 31, 2020, after which time, the annual renewal period will be between August 1 to October 31 each year.
n Crop Sampling: Prior to harvest, all hemp production sites must be sampled by an approved Federal, State or local law enforcement agency or other USDA designated person. n Laboratory Testing: All testing must be conducted at a DEA-registered laboratory using a reliable methodology for testing the THC level and meet other specific requirements outlined in the rule. n Harvesting after Testing: All hemp crops must be harvested within 15 days of the laboratory testing date in order to endure that the THC levels do not rise above compliant levels. Failure to harvest within the 15 days will require subsequent testing. n Non-compliant hemp plants: The Interim Rule states “Cannabis plants exceeding the acceptable hemp THC level constitute marijuana, a schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and must be disposed of in accordance with CSA and DEA regulations.” Producers must inform USDA of their intent to dispose and submit the
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Organic Updates required documentation form to USDA within 30 days of disposal. n Negligent violations: The Hemp Rule recognizes that even producers who take great care to grow hemp with an acceptable level of THC may produce hemp with higher than anticipated levels. Therefore, the USDA will not find a producer negligent if the THC level is up to 0.5%, so long as the producer has made reasonable efforts to be compliant. Negligent violations include: (1) failing to provide an accurate legal description of the hemp locations; (2) producing hemp without a license; and (3) producing hemp with THC levels above 0.5% (making it prohibited marijuana). The USDA will issue Corrective Action Plans to producers with negligent violations, which will stay in place for two years. The USDA also may suspend producer licenses. n Producer Reporting: The following information is required to be reported: all addresses and location where hemp will be grown, including indoor growing facilities, along with the acreage of that land. Producers must submit an annual report by December 15th each year, which provides USDA with producer information, land information and test result reports. n Record-keeping: All records related to hemp production, handling, disposal and plans acquired must be maintained for 3 years. n Audits: Hemp producers are subject to USDA audits once every three years, which may include review of records and documentation as well as site inspection visits of farms, fields, or storage locations.The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended the comment period for the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program interim final rule for an additional 60 days to allow stakeholders additional time to provide feedback.
Congress Passes Spending Bill Congress released a final bill to fund the government through the end of Fiscal Year 2020. The massive bill was a compromise between the House- and Senate-passed appropriations bills to fund various agencies and government programs, including $16 million for USDA’s National Organic Program, an increase of $2 million from 2019. The Organic Transitions Research Program received $6 million, the same amount as last year. The final bill also includes language requiring the National Organic Program to issue a final rule on the Origin of Livestock Standards for organic dairy within 180 days.
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Materials Update Jennifer Berkebile, Materials Program Manager The PCO Materials Team started the year with the publication of our 2020 Approved Materials Lists. You may have noticed something a little different about the list this year. We published four separate lists — Crops, Livestock, Processing, and Facility. You were sent the applicable lists depending on what scopes you are certified for. They were included with your annual update paperwork and are available in both paper and electronic versions. If you received paper copies but would like electronic versions, or vice-versa, please contact the PCO office, 814-422-0251. If you would like to use a material but you don’t see it on the 2020 lists for this use, you can add it to your Materials Used Form. For a quicker review, call the PCO office and ask for a materials specialist. Make sure you have the name of the product and the name of the manufacturer. Be sure to update your Materials Used Form completely. Please remove any materials from your list that you no longer use, and note any materials that have had a change in name or manufacturer. 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. Livestock Materials • Grazier’s Choice by The Fertrell Company is permitted as an OPT grass-fed feed additive/supplement with the following restrictions: –OPT: Grain and Grain-derived Carriers. Livestock must not consume more than 8 ounces of grain or grain-derived carrier per animal in a twenty-four hour period, or no more than 16 ounces of the complete product (assuming 50% carrier, unless otherwise specified) per animal in a twenty-four hour period. Must not be used to circumvent the prohibition on the use of grain in the certified animal’s diet. OPT Memo No. 006 –OPT: Restricted Feedstuff. Feed additive or supplement must not be fed above the combined daily limit on a dry matter basis (alfalfa pellets, 5 lbs.). OPT V.E. n PROHIBITED — None continued on page 23
ORGANIC MATTERS • WINTER 2020
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Enos & Jemima Weaver Farm
New Members Josh Grossnickle
Swampy Hollow Farm
Walkersville, MD
Elizabethville, PA
Justin Sensenig Farm
Terry Mullet
Shiloh, OH
Sugarcreek, OH
Kevin Gayman
Toy Cow Creamery LLC
Orrstown, PA
Williamsport, PA
Laverne Rohrer
US Farm Processing
East Berlin, PA
Salisbury, MD
Leroy Mast
Paul Van Amburgh Family Farmstead Dairy, LLC
Cobleskill, NY
Worcester, NY
Peeter's Farms Worcester, NY
Finnerty Farm Gouverneur, NY
Amos Smucker Dornsife, PA
Fleetwood, PA
Fort Plain, NY
Reinholds, PA
Raymond Beachy Burke, NY
Grazeland Jerseys Holland Patent, NY
Brandon Barry
Prayerview Farm
Gilson Eby Fairplay, MD
Bernell Eby
Nichols, NY
Jordanville, NY
PCO Welcomes 4th Quarter New Members! NEWLY CERTIFIED ORGANIC
Moore Farm
Roger Zeller Hammond, NY
Green Meadow Dairy Stanley, NY
Rufus Fox Middleburgh, PA
Farmville, VA
Apple Creek, OH
ORGANIC PLUS TRUST CERTIFIED
Clyde Martin
Leroy Yoder
4B Farm
Bangor, NY
Wooster, OH
Keymar, MD
Commodity Blenders LLC
Levi S. Beiler
Aaron K. Fisher, Jr.
West Salem, OH
Danville, PA
Canajoharie, NY
Custom Processing Services, Inc.
Lewis Hoover
Aaron L. Lantz
Mifflinburg, PA
Bird-in-Hand, PA
Lloyd Zimmerman
Abner Riehl
Mansfield, OH
Fort Plain, NY
Maple Lawn Organic Farm
Adam Rusweiler
Dean R. & Dena-Marie Bruno
Quarryville, PA
Shelburne, NY
Lenhartsville, PA
Matt J. Miller
Allen Miller
Fredericksburg, OH
Burke, NY
Mervin Martin #1 & # 2
Autumn Valley Farm
Jeff Stauffer and Luke Ray Stauffer
Worcester Creameries
Mt Joy, PA
Worcester, NY
Branchport, NY
Roxbury, NY
Mrs. Ressler's Food Products Company
Byrne Hollow Farm
JJS Farm LLC
ADVOCATE
Cortland, NY
Columbia Cross Roads, PA
Clover Bliss Farm
John Hershberger
South New Berlin, NY
Norwich, NY
Cumberland Dairy
John P. Scanlon
BridgetonNJ
Little Falls, NY
Dancing Deer Farm
Joseph P Stutzman
Cedar Meadows Farm
Reading, PA
CW Harting Convoy, OH
District Farms Frederick, MD
Hamilton Heights Dairy Farm
Spring Wood Organic Farm
Chambersburg, PA
Kinzers, PA
Henry Stoltzfus
St. Alban's Creamery LLC
Ovid, NY
St. Albans, VT
High Sky Farms
Ultra Dairy LLC
Mount Vision, NY
East Syracuse, NY
Jake Byler
Valley of Hope Farms LLC
Fort Plain, NY
Oakland, MD
James and Tina Haman
Wade Farms
Fort Plain, NY
Jasper, NY
James R. Slicer
Wildflower Farm Organics, LLC
Jefferson, NY
Delhi, NY
Doug Poling Convoy, OH
Family Farmstead Dairy, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
Worcester, NY
Mt. View Farm
Peter D. Miller
Monroe, NH
Gladys Stelfox York Springs, PA
Rachel Martin
BUSINESS
Penn Yan, NY
Henry D. and Elsie D. Yoder Randall L. Voris & Tari Shae Voris
McDonough, NY
Burke, NY
Ivan Byler
Halfway, MO
David C. Weaver
Karl Brown
Richfield Springs, NY
Eaton, NY
Donald MacIntosh
Lappin Farm LLC
Norwich, NY
Taberg, NY
Duane Mercer
Maple Hill Creamery LLC
Middleburgh, NY
Kinderhook, NY
Eli L. Kurtz
Mark Plaisted
Fort Plain, NY
Hammondsport, NY
Emerald Valley Dairy Farm
Marlin Spicher
Red Hill Farms Inc Jacob F. Esh
Pitman, PA
Glen Rock, PA Paradise, PA
Pavilion, NY
John Lehman Jonestown, PA
West Chester, PA
Jay Wells Alexandria, VA
Pam Erb
Samuel S. Fisher John Winand #2
Sprakers, NY
Selinsgrove, PA Chambersburg, PA
Honey Grove, PA
John Winand #3
St. Luke's Rodale Institute Organic Farm
End of the Lane Farm
Michael George
Gettysburg, PA
Easton, PA
Cornwallville, NY
Arcade, NY
Gettysburg, PA
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ORGANIC MATTERS • WINTER 2020
Longeueil, Quebec Canada
Dale Frens
Ruhl Farm Mount Gilead, OH
TGWT Clean Technologies
SUSTAINER
Rocky Ridge Farm Jemgo, LLC
Denise Farms LLC Frisco, TX
Berlin, PA
Halifax, VA
Milheim, PA
Ted Lebow Bala Cynwyd, PA
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Organic Updates continued from page 21
Standards & Policy Update Jennifer Berkebile, Materials Program Manager
Final Rule Amends the National List for Organic Crops and Handling The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a final rule in the Federal Register on Oct. 23, 2019, to amend the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) based on public input and the April 2018 recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board. This final rule: • Allows elemental sulfur to be used as a slug or snail bait to reduce crop losses • Allows polyoxin D zinc salt for plant disease control • Reclassifies magnesium chloride from a synthetic to a nonsynthetic substance The final rule is effective November 22, 2019. Final Rule Amends the National List for Organic Crops, Livestock, and Handling The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a final rule in the Federal Register on December 27, 2018, to amend the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) based on public input and recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board. The final rule was effective January 28, 2019, except for the following amendments, which were implemented on December 27, 2019: • Ivermectin is now prohibited for use as a parasiticide in organic livestock production • Organic flavors are required when commercially available • The annotation for cellulose was revised, specifying types of cellulose permitted • Glycerin was reclassified as agricultural and organic versions must be used when commercially available • Carnauba wax was reclassified as agricultural and organic versions must be used when commercially available Proposed Changes to the National List for Organic Crops and Handling On October 18, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to amend the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) based on public input and the October 2018 recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board.
soil amendment • Prohibit the use of natamycin in organic crop production • Allow tamarind seed gum to be used as a nonorganic ingredient in organic handling when an organic form is not commercially available Organic Hemp Instruction Updated The National Organic Program updated NOP 2040: Instruction on Organic Certification of Industrial Hemp. The updated instruction applies to all USDA-accredited certifying agents and replaces the August 2016 version of NOP 2040. The revised policy allows hemp produced in the United States under the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program to be certified as organic under the USDA organic regulations. USDA accredited certifiers and farms should direct questions about the status of their State or Tribal hemp program to State and Tribal officials. For imported hemp, existing regulations and guidelines continue to govern whether products may be certified as organic.
New Faces PCO Welcomes New Program Assistant to Team Diana Dombrowski, Program Assistant Diana joined PCO as a Program Assistant in 2019. She holds dual B.A.s from the University of Florida in Environmental Science and History. Diana’s family roots go deep in Central Pennsylvania, and she is gratified to be part of PCO’s mission supporting environmental health and sustainability. Diana has extensive experience in social sciences research and public history, specializing in oral history, and also currently works with the Southern Foodways Alliance. She lives in Bellefonte with her family, including a happy pack of rescue dogs, and enjoys yoga and home cooking.
STAY CONNECTED, VISIT:
paorganic.org
This proposed rule would: • Allow blood meal made with sodium citrate to be used as a
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ORGANIC MATTERS • WINTER 2020
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Reedsville, PA 717-935-2413 — Registration through Alvin Peachy
Calendar
FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 5–8 PASA 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Conference Lancaster, PA pasafarming.org/conference FEBRUARY 13–15 OEFFA 41st Annual Conference A Climate for Change Dayton, OH www.oeffa.org/conference2020.php FEBRUARY 15–17 NOFA–VT 38th Annual Winter Conference Celebrating our Interdependence Burlington, VT https://nofavt.org/conference FEBRUARY 20 Central PA Grazing & Soil Health Conference 7:30 am–4:00 pm The Londonderry Restaurant
FEBRUARY 28 Organic Study Circle Penn State Extension New Columbia, PA https://extension.psu.edu/organic-studycircles
MARCH MARCH 11–12 23rd Annual Western PA Spring Grazing Conference PA Headwaters Clairon, PA headwaterspa.org 814-503-8653 MARCH 26 Webinar: Organic Disease Management in Cucurbit Crops 2:00–3:00 pm EST Rodale Institute rodaleinstitute.org 610-683-1400
APRIL APRIL 4 Tomato Grafting 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT Rodale Institute rodaleinstitute.org 610-683-1400 APRIL 18 Compost like a Pro! 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT Rodale Institute rodaleinstitute.org 610-683-1400 APRIL 23 Webinar: Innovations in Cover Crop-Based Organic No-Till Systems 2:00–3:00 pm EDT Rodale Institute rodaleinstitute.org 610-683-1400 APRIL 25 Hobby Beekeeping 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT Rodale Institute rodaleinstitute.org 610-683-1400
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 • WINTER 2020
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Non-Profit Org US POSTAGE PAID CENTRE HALL, PA PERMIT NO. 33
106 School Street, Suite 201 Spring Mills, PA 16875