October/November 2010 - Midwest Organic Services Association

VOL. 8 ISSUE 6 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2010
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CRANBERRIES
RELISH ‘EM THIS FALL
By Holly Born, Certification Specialist
A delivery from the cranberry truck!
Photo courtesy of Don Kane
Cranberries are an All-American fruit -- along with blueberries
and the Concord grape, they are the only fruits native to the
United States and Canada. Native Americans used cranberries
for food, as medicine, and in ceremonies. The Pilgrims are
thought to have named the plant“craneberry”since the flowers
reminded them of cranes’heads. Cranberries were all picked wild
until Henry Hall established the first commercial cranberry planting in Massachusetts in 86. Hall also pioneered the method by
which cranberries are grown today. He noticed that his cranberries grew much better where sand had blown into the bogs, and
began adding sand to cover the runners that plants send out.
When settlers, some of whom knew the berry from Massachusetts, moved west to Wisconsin, they discovered cranberries
growing wild in the marshes. Edward Sacket of Berlin was the
first settler, in 860, to harvest Wisconsin cranberries.
TOR
Today, according to the Cranberry Institute, there are about
0,000 acres of cranberries in the northern United States and
Canada. Cranberries are grown on 8,000 acres in 9 counties in central and northern Wisconsin, with a total of over
80,000 acres of support land where a network of dams,
reservoirs, and dikes supplies the water for the cranberries.
Central and northern Wisconsin have ideal conditions for
cranberry production so it’s no surprise that Wisconsin dominates US production and cranberries are Wisconsin’s most
valuable fruit crop. In fact, Wisconsin accounts for more than
half of the world's supply of cranberries. No wonder the cranberry is the Wisconsin State Fruit! (See chart on page .)
Cranberries are grown in low lying areas with acidic, peat soil
and abundant water and sand. While berries are not actually
grown under or in standing water, water is used for irrigation,
protection from frost and winter’s cold temperature, and in harvest. Sand is used to rejuvenate vines and to encourage new
growth, just as Henry Hall did back in 86. While it takes 3 to 5
years to produce a harvestable crop, an established bed will continue to produce for several decades. After plants flower about
the end of June, green berries can be seen by August. Berries
continue to ripen until fall, and when they reach their bright red
peak, the beds are flooded for harvest. Fruit destined for the
fresh market is gently removed from the vine and cleaned, dried,
and cooled before being sent to market. Berries for processed
products are floated on the water’s surface, removed and taken
to receiving stations where they are quickly cleaned and frozen.
Cranberries, according to theWisconsin State Cranberry Growers
Association, have been found to have several important health
benefits and new benefits continue to emerge. Probably the best
known benefit is cranberries’ability to fight urinary tract infections
(UTIs). Cranberries contain compounds called condensed tannins
that inhibit bacteria from sticking to the bladder walls and causing infection. These compounds, unique to cranberries, are also
beneficial for stomach ulcers and gum disease. Research is now
also showing that the extremely high levels of antioxidants in
cranberries can help to protect from heart disease and cancer.
Please turn to Relish Cranberries on page INSIDE
THIS ISSUE FROM THE DIRECTOR = 2 COSTSHARE: LAST CALL! = 3
GROWING ORGANICS = 5 HANDLING ORGANICS = 6 WELCOME NEW ASSOCIATES = 10
CLASSIFIED ADS = 12 EVENTS CALENDAR = 13 MOSA BOARD NOMINATIONS = 15
2
The Organic CULTIVATOR | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2010
FROM THE DIRECTOR
BONNIE WIDEMAN
Crops recommendations
The crops committee is recommending renewal of the following allowed synthetics on the National List for the indicated purposes:
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) fall 200
meeting will be held October 25-28 in Madison at the Best
Western InnTowner Motel on University Avenue. If you’re interested in getting a closer look at the workings of the National Organic Program (NOP) and the NOSB, the body that
makes recommendations to the Program, here’s an opportunity. For those who aren’t familiar with what happens at
these meetings, here’s a synopsis: on the first day, the head
of the NOP, Miles McEvoy, will give an address to the Board
and the audience to summarize what the NOP has been and
will be working on. The various committees of the NOSB
come to these meetings with their recommendations and
the audience comes ready to take full advantage of the opportunity to make public comment. Public comment will
take up Monday afternoon and all day Wednesday. On Tuesday the committees will discuss the recommendations and
on Thursday they’ll make their votes.
Algicide, Disinfectant, and Sanitizers hydrogen peroxide,
soap-based algicide/demossers
Herbicides, Weed Barriers soap-based herbicides
Animal Repellants ammonium soaps
Insecticides ammonium carbonate, boric acid, elemental
sulfur, lime sulfur, horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps, sticky
traps/barriers, sucrose octanoate esters
Plant Disease Control hydrated lime, hydrogen peroxide,
lime sulfur, horticultural oils, potassium bicarbonate, elemental sulfur;
Plant or Soil Amendments aquatic plant extracts, elemental
sulfur, humic acids, micronutrients, liquid fish products, vitamins B, C, and E
It’s usually a pretty big audience, full of certifiers who talk
about how the various issues at hand will have an impact
on them and their clients, organic industry representatives
who come to give opinions on materials and issues, and a
minority of folks representing farms or relatively small handling operations. What’s always been interesting to me is
how the Board listens most attentively when the more
“grassroots” folks show up to make public comment. What
I’m suggesting here is that if you are a producer or a handler
and you have a comment to make to the National Organic
Standards Board and/or the National Organic Program and
you’re willing to make the effort to travel to Madison to
stand up there and use your 5 minutes of comment time,
they’re really going to listen to you!
Algicide, Disinfectant, and Sanitizers ethanol, isopropanol,
calcium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite
Herbicides, Weed Barriers mulches (newspaper or other recycled paper and plastic mulch and covers)
Compost Feedstocks newspaper or other recycled paper
Insect Management pheromones
Rodenticides sulfur dioxide, vitamin D3
Plant Disease Control fixed coppers, copper sulfate, streptomycin
Plant or Soil Amendments lignin sulfonate, magnesium sulfate
Plant Growth Regulator ethylene gas
Steve Walker’s writing about the issues for handlers in this
issue, and I’ll summarize what’s on the agenda affecting crop
and livestock producers. Go to the NOP website to get details on the agendas on the various days and how to submit
written comment or sign up for oral comment. If you’re not
a computer user but are interested in any of this, get in
touch with us at MOSA and we’ll help you meet your objectives or satisfy your curiosity.
There will also be a fun event to go along with the many
hours of sitting: on Tuesday night from 6:30 to 9 there will be
an NOSB Reception at Monona Terrace. MOSA, MOSES and
Organic Valley have collaborated to put together this free
event—good food, beverages, music and good company!
They are recommending deferring vote on the following allowed synthetics until updated technical information is obtained:
Also recommended for renewal as prohibited are the following nonsynthetics: ash from manure burning, arsenic,
lead salts, potassium chloride (unless natural and applied in
a manner that minimizes chloride accumulation in the soil),
sodium fluoaluminate, strychnine, tobacco dust. The vote
on allowance of sodium nitrate (prohibited unless use is restricted to no more than 20 % of the crop’s total nitrogen requirement) is recommended for deferral.
The crops committee is not recommending addition of the
following petitioned materials to the National List because
they believe that either alternatives already exist or that the
use of these materials would have a negative environmental impact: ethylene glycol, ethylene DDS, tall oils, and
tetramethyl-decyne-dials.
3
The crops committee had recommended deferral of vote on
the relisting of list inerts at the April meeting and now they
have a recommendation to relist.
Livestock recommendations
The livestock committee is recommending renewal of the
following on the National List:
Disinfectants, sanitizers and medical treatments as applicable ethanol, isopropanol, aspirin, calcium hypochlorite,
chlorine dioxide, sodium hychlorite, fuorsemide, glucose,
glycerine, magnesium sulfate
Topical treatment, external paraciticides or local anesthetics
as applicable copper sulfate
Synthetic inerts in pesticide ingredient formulations EPA List
—Inerts of Minimal Concern.
The committee is also presenting a recommendation that a
petitioned material, formic acid, be added to the National
List specifically for use as a pesticide in honeybee hives. One
of the recommendations of the livestock committee will
clarify that preventatives and pain relief medications are not
prohibited by the organic standards. This has previously
been an issue of confusion among certifiers and producers.
Livestock committee animal welfare discussion
documents The livestock committee has presented two
discussion documents concerning animal welfare. One,
entitled “Animal Handling, Transport and Slaughter” and
another, “Stocking Rates”. They are too lengthy to print
in entirety here, so I encourage you to seek out the
entire documents on the NOP website or contact MOSA.
We are sending out the document on humane slaughter
to our certified meat processors to make sure they are
aware of this and see what impact it would have on their
operations. Some of the major points out of the
“stocking rates” document follow and are also part of
the chart on page which shows the committee’s
proposals for space.
Basic outcome standards for hygiene, locomotion,
body condition, lesions and injury would be expected
in addition to the minimum space requirements. No
more than 5% of ruminant animals should have an
extremely low body condition score, be obviously
lame, or have lesions or injuries. No more than 2% of
non-ruminant animals should have an extremely low
body condition score, be obviously lame, or have
lesions or injuries. No animals should have broken tails.
There are many welfare groups writing standards with
numbers and consumers are demanding animal
welfare certification. Ultimately, the Livestock
Committee will need to include numbers with the
outcome based standards. The less space provided per
animal the more labor intensive it may be to keep
them clean and in good health. Animals must be
managed in a manner that lameness does not become
a common and routine occurrence as a result of diet or
housing. If routine hoof trimming due to lameness is
required, adjustments to diet or environment are
indicated. Outdoor access allows exercise to enhance
muscle tone and relieve boredom. Bison are not
domesticated animals and therefore indoor bedded
space would be an added stressor.
Temporary confinement proposal §205.239
Livestock living conditions. (Mammalian section) The
producer of an organic livestock operation may provide
temporary confinement for an animal for allowed
reasons. If only one animal requires treatment another
animal of the same species should be within visual
proximity as a lone animal experiences increased stress.
Temporary confinement may last no longer than
necessary to safely perform the procedure, or address
the condition. Ventilation in confined housing must be
adequate to prevent buildup of ammonia. Ammonia
level testing must be documented and ammonia levels
must be at or below 25ppm.
COSTSHARE INFO
Act quickly to apply for reimbursement of certification
and inspection fees! Deadlines have already passed in some
states. You may still be able to get applications in to the following states’Departments of Agriculture: Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska,
Ohio, and Wisconsin. If you have questions about your fees,
get in touch with the contact person for your state. In August,
MOSA sent out a list of contact people and deadlines for each
state in which we certify.
CERTIFICATION STATISTICS
AS OF SEPT. 15, 2010
2010
2009
39
27
Inspections Completed
825
883
Final Reviews Completed
New Operations - Farm
- Transitional
- Handlers
Application Packets
7
227
2
9
68
57
23
5
29
Applications Rec’d to Date
4
The Organic CULTIVATOR | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2010
Livestock
Indoor Bedded Outdoor Runs &
Space / Animal Pens
Poultry
Indoor Bedded Outdoor Runs &
Space / Animal Pens
The space allowances listed below are to be considered minimums
205.239 Livestock living conditions. (Avian section)
when animals cannot be provided pasture access. Young may be
Outdoor access should be provided at the rate of 2 square feet per
kept indoors when there is danger of frostbite.
bird. This would allow for rotation of paddock, re-growth of any vegetation, and reduced parasite load.
Bison wt (lbs)
Square feet
Square feet
Ventilation must be adequate to prevent buildup of ammonia. AmUp to 220
NA
70.0
monia level testing must be documented and ammonia levels must
220-0
NA
20.0
be at or below 25ppm.
0-770
NA
90.0
Poultry housing must be sufficiently spacious to allow all birds to
Over 770
NA
00.0
move freely, stretch their wings and engage in natural behaviors.
Beef cattle wt (lbs)
Perching areas and nest boxes may not be used in the calculation of
Up to 220
5.0
0.0
floor space. Salted/grated floors may be considered floor space.
220-0
25.0
20.0
0-770
0.0
30.0
770-00
Square feet
50.0
Square feet
0.0
Over 00
2.0
0.0 sq ft/220 lbs 8.0 sq. ft/220 lbs live wt
Laying hens
.5
Dairy cattle wt (lbs)
.2 / birds w/6 in
Up to 220
5.0
perch space/bird
0.0
220-0
25.0
Pullets
.0 / bird w/6 in
20.0
0-770
0.0
perch space/bird 2.0
30.0
770-00
2.0
50.0
Breeders
.5 / bird
0.0
Over 00
0.0 sq ft/220 lbs 8.0 sq. ft/220 lbs live wt
.2 / bird w/6 in
Sheep & goats (lbs)
perch space/bird
Adults up to 230
sq ft/3 lbs
6.0
Broilers
sq ft/6 lbs
0.0
Doe with one kid
sq ft/7 lbs
22.0
Turkeys and Geese - sq ft/7 lbs
2.0
Kid: up to 75
.0
breeding, laying, or
2.0
Swine
meat birds (lbs)
Sows and piglets
3.0
8.0
Ducks-meat
.0
0.0
Sows
6.0
30.0
Ducks-laying hen
2.5
30.0
Boars
6.0
6.0
Ducks-breeder
.5
85.0
Growing pigs (lbs)
Max. # of birds / acre
Mobile Poultry
Square feet
Up to 22
.0
0.5
Units
22-
2.0
.0
-0
3.0
Laying hens
.0/bird
800/acre
.0
0-5
.0
Broilers
.0/bird
000/acre
2.0
5-220
5.0
Turkeys
7 lbs/sq foot
50/acre
2.5
220-265
6.0
Geese
7 lbs/sq foot
50/acre
3.0
Rabbits
Doors, at least inches high, should be spaced uniformly over the
Adult rabbits
3.0
20.0
length of the poultry house. There must be direct access to outdoor
Pregnant does
5.0
20.0
areas. The total door opening available must be 6 ft. / 000 hens.
Doe and litter
8.0
20.0
Poultry
areas are to be managed in a manner that allows birds to
Young rabbits 5-2 wks .0
NA
perform natural behaviors which minimize stress and aggressive
acts. Poultry mortality lessens when perches are provided beThe indoor bedded space allowance is to be considered a
cause they encourage natural behaviors; strengthen bones via
minimum for housed animals. Outdoor runs for cattle are to be
exercise, and reduce aggression. Perches also allow for maximum
considered a minimum during the non-grazing season when
use of vertical space. Two square feet of outdoor space is required
weather allows animals to leave the indoor bedded area. Cattle
because paddocks need to be rotated to minimize parasite load
pastured during the non-grazing season may not require an
for the birds and protect the soil. Outcome based standards reindoor bedded area. Piglets and chicks must be protected from
quire that birds be in good body condition, have good feather
freezing weather, so outdoor runs would not be necessary.
cover for stage of life, no more than 2% with impaired gait, poor
Calves, lambs, kids, and other young animals require protection
hygiene, lesions or other injuries. Like ruminants, poultry would
from frostbite.
not need to be scored unless a problem is obvious.
5
GROWING ORGANICS
CERTIFICATION NEWS
FOR FARMERS
METHIONINE USE HAS BEEN EXTENDED
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) has announced an amendment to the National
List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The amendment
extends the use of methionine in organic poultry production.
Published in the Federal Register on Aug. 2, 200 as an interim rule with request for comments, it extends the allowance for methionine in organic poultry production until
Oct. , 202, with the following maximum allowable limits
of methionine per ton of feed: pounds for layers, 5 pounds
for broilers, and 6 pounds for turkeys and all other poultry.
This interim rule is based upon a recommendation by the
National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on April 2, 200.
Methionine is an essential amino acid necessary in poultry
diets for proper cell growth and feather development. While
methionine is naturally present in organic poultry feed, the
amount is not sufficient to maintain the optimal health of
PROTECT ORGANIC INTEGRITY
CLEAN EQUIPMENT PROPERLY
BY JIM RIDDLE
ORGANIC OUTREACH COORDINATOR, UNIV. OF MN
Organic farmers do a great job of growing organic crops while
improving soil health, balancing a variety of weed and pest
management strategies, and using approved inputs. During
the inspection, however, I often find that they haven’t
thought about what happens to their organic crops during
and after harvest. You may have your grain harvested by a
custom operator, or share a combine with your neighbor. You
may borrow gravity wagons and trucks from a neighbor or
relative to transport your grain to storage units. Any of these
practices may compromise the integrity of your organic crop.
Commingling is defined as “physical contact between unpackaged organically produced and nonorganically produced
agricultural products during production, processing, transportation, storage or handling…” This can occur when equipment used for harvesting conventional crops is used to harvest
organic crops. Equipment, such as swathers, combines, and
the birds. The NOSB determined that the loss of the use of
synthetic methionine would disrupt the organic poultry
market and cause substantial economic hardship to organic
poultry operations.
The interim rule will become effective Oct. , 200, and is currently available for comments. Comments must be submitted
by Oct. 25, 200. All comments received by this date will be
considered prior to the issuance of the final rule. The interim
rule and public comments may be viewed at http://www.
regulations.gov, filed as document AMS-NOP-0-005.
REVIEWING FILES
Our farm certification crew is working to review files as
quickly as possible to get you your updated certificate. We
are doing final reviews first on those files that have added
products, but if you don’t have your review done as quickly
as you would like – for whatever reason- get in touch with
us and we’ll do what we can to accommodate your needs.
Remember that the National Organic Standards section
205.0(c) states that once a production or handling operation is certified, that certification remains in effect until surrendered, suspended or revoked. The certificate that you
have currently is active and in good standing.
Jackie Von Ruden
Farm Certification Manager
balers; transport units such as augers, conveyor belts, elevators,
wagons, trucks; and storage units including bins, tote bags, and
shipping containers, all have the potential to commingle your
organic crops with conventional crops left in the equipment.
A study done by engineering specialists at Iowa State University evaluated contamination of a grain crop by another
crop left in the combine with a 5-minute “farmyard intensive cleaning” and less intensive “field cleaning.” They concluded that “it’s not unrealistic to remove about 60 pounds
or more of grain, vegetative matter, and dirt from the combine after the grain tank had been apparently emptied.”
The National Organic Program (NOP) rule §205.20 requires that
organic farmers and handlers must describe, in their Organic System Plans (OSP), the management practices and physical barriers they’ve established to prevent commingling. This includes
contamination of packaging materials, storage containers, and
bins by synthetic fungicides, preservatives, or fumigants.
In your OSP, provide information on how your crops are harvested, the type of equipment and storage units used, if
Please turn to Integrity page 9
6
The Organic CULTIVATOR | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2010
HANDLING ORGANICS
CERTIFICATION NEWS
For Processor/Handlers
As Bonnie notes on page 2 , the next meeting of the National
Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is October 25th through
28th in Madison, WI. It’s nice to see this opportunity to affect
organic standards come closer to home for so many
MOSA-certified producers and handlers. MOSA will be
strongly represented at this meeting. (And as Bonnie
mentioned, we’re helping to throw a party!)
The following meeting agenda items will be of most interest to
handlers. Consider how these issues may affect your business.
Your input is sought, and certainly may be influential. The sign
up deadline for making public comments is October 2th.
Meeting details, including written recommendations and
discussion
documents,
can
be
found
at
www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?te
mplate=TemplateJ&page=NOSBMeetings.
“Made With Organic…” Label Claim The “made with
organic…” (MWO) labeling category continues to grow.
However, current marketplace labeling practices, some
questionable, have created confusion in this labeling
category. At the last NOSB meeting, the Compliance,
Accreditation, and Certification Committee (CACC) proposed
enabling USDA Organic Seal use, with limitations, in the MWO
category. Resulting feedback ranged from concern to
outright disapproval. Now, “in order to communicate the
merit of the MWO category of products to consumers, further
the recognition of the growth of the full spectrum of USDA
organic products, and strengthen the position for increased
NOP funding through greater shelf presence,” the CACC is
recommending an optional “Certified to USDA guidelines”
label statement.
Limitations on Exclusions for Brokers, Traders, Distributors
Since the inception of the NOP, the activities of many traders
and distributors have been considered to be excluded from a
requirement for certification under Standards §205.0(b).
The CACC says this gap in the supply chain from producers to
consumers provides opportunities to game the system. Chief
among concerns is the misrepresentation and sale of
non-organic goods sold with an organic claim, often using
otherwise valid organic producer certificates to support the
sale. This is aided by the often unclear relationship between
seller, transporter, and buyer, where the transporter takes
some form of title and sells goods to multiple buyers.
The CACC clarifies that brokers of commodities such as
grains, hay, or cattle are not excluded from the NOP
requirements, including organic certification, unless they
only sell organic agricultural products packaged or
otherwise enclosed in a container prior to being
received/acquired by the operation; and remain in the
same package/container and are not otherwise processed
while in the operation’s control. Hay is typically sold baled,
without packaging. Cattle are sold on the hoof. And
commodities like grains are typically not packaged and
are received from one container or vessel and transported
in another. The CACC says such sales and transport
activities are required to be certified, and says regulatory
language already exists to enforce the requirement. The
CACC recommends that the NOP issue guidance clearly
articulating the limitations of §205.0(b)() and the need
for operations involved in such handling activities to
immediately (no grace period) seek organic certification
or be subject to appropriate enforcement activity.
Nutrient Vitamins and Mineral In 995 the NOSB
recommended that nutrient vitamins and minerals appear
on the National List as a class or category of allowed
synthetic materials, and that this class should not be static,
but be inclusive of materials receiving independent
assessment and recognition as supplementing the human
diet or supporting optimal health. However, the eventual
National List publication included a new annotation, “in
accordance with 2 CFR 0.20, Nutritional Quality
Guidelines for Foods.” That referenced an FDA guidance
document first drafted in the 970s and transformed the
995 NOSB recommendation into a fixed list of vitamins,
and restricted even their use to supplementation for the
purpose of restoring nutrients lost during processing.
Since 995, there’s been significant development in
human nutrition science and in the legal framework
regarding the inclusion of supplemental nutrients in food
products. A Handling Committee document poses
questions to consider these changes and check current
thinking on this category of materials.
Natural Colors In March 2007, the NOSB recommended
9 natural colors for listing at National List §205.606. That
allowed specific nonorganic color materials to be used
only if organic equivalents were not available. However,
there’s been some confusion as to whether synthetic
solvents may be used to extract some of these colors. The
Handling Committee believes the use of synthetic solvents
for extraction did not fall within the original review, and
also believes that synthetic solvent extraction is not
necessary. As such, the Committee recommends that the
7
annotation for Colors on §205.606 be changed to specify that
such colors must not be produced using synthetic solvents
and carrier systems or any artificial preservative. This is
identical to the annotation for flavors listed on §205.605(a).
In the meantime, colors are now up for their sunset review to
see if they need to remain on the List. Eighteen of the 9 are
recommended to remain as currently listed. However, liquid
annatto extract color is stated to now be available in sufficient,
form, quantity and quality and is recommended to no longer
be listed on §205.606. The powdered annatto form is
recommended to remain listed at .606.
Natural Flavors Most materials used by handlers are now up
for sunset review, and have Committee recommendations to
remain on the National List. However, the natural flavors
recommendations had lengthier comments. Flavors include
everything from simple herbal extracts to complex compound
flavors, and there are organic alternatives for some individual
flavors, or classes of flavors, within the category. However,
since “Flavors” as a large category is listed among
nonagricultural materials .605(a), there is no requirement that
the organic alternatives must be used when available. The
NOSB acknowledged this issue in 2007, but chose to relist the
category as a single listing, since the complexity of the
category and proprietary nature of most flavor formulas and
processes was such that it was impractical to list individual
flavors. The current Handling Committee believes there’s a
possibility of dividing the flavor category into rational
subparts which could then be listed on the appropriate
National List section. The Committee recommends the broad
relisting of flavors on .605(a), but says that the full category
should not be relisted at the next sunset review. They call for
establishment of a Flavors Task Force to appropriately divide
flavors into rational classes, composed of flavors which shared
similar sources and processes.
Yeast and Pectin reclassification as agricultural materials
A petitioner requests that yeast be moved from National List
§205.605 to .606. This would re-define yeast as an agricultural
material and would require organic forms to be used if
available. However, this could cause hardship to livestock
producers, required to use organic agricultural materials with
no commercial availability option. As the question of yeast’s
agricultural nature is also controversial, the Handling
Committee crafted a compromise that keeps yeast on the list
of allowed nonagriculturals at §205.605(a) but adds an
annotation that requires organic forms, if available, for human
consumption.
Another petition requests that pectin (low-methoxy) also be
moved from .605 to .606, tightening requirements for its use.
Pectin (high-methoxy) is already listed at .606. These two
pectins have different food processing uses but are
manufactured using essentially the same process. The main
difference is the degree of esterification that results only from
a longer extraction period. The longer extraction process
does not result in chemical change, so the material is not
synthetic. The main difference in pectin products is whether
or not they are amidated (chemically modified with ammonia
after the extraction process). The Handling Committee
supports these petitioner’s points and proposes that pectin
(low-methoxy) be moved to .606, combined with pectin
(high-methoxy) into one listing with a new annotation to
read “Pectin (non-amidated forms only).”
Nanotechnology There is overwhelming agreement within
the organic industry to prohibit nanotechnology in organics.
However, there’s confusion over the nanotechnology
definition and disagreement over how to prohibit it. A
Materials Committee document offers guidance to the NOP
on how the area of most concern about this technology may
be regulated within the current regulations. The document
requests cooperation with the NOP to help the NOSB make
further recommendations to more clearly regulate
nanotechnology, and also requests the NOP allow the NOSB
to host a symposium to better understand this technology.
Included is a proposed definition for Engineered
Nanomaterials: “substances deliberately designed,
engineered and produced by human activity to be in the
nanoscale range (approx -300 nm) because of very specific
properties or compositions (e.g. shape, surface properties, or
chemistry) that result only in that nanoscale. Incidental
particles in the nanoscale range created during traditional
food processing such as homogenization, milling, churning,
and freezing, and naturally occurring particles in the
nanoscale range are not intended to be included in this
definition. All nanomaterials (without exception) containing
capping reagents or other synthetic components are
intended to be included in this definition.”
The Materials Committee believes all substances that would
fall under this definition are synthetic and therefore should
be prohibited in organics unless specifically added to the
National List.
Stephen Walker, Processing Certification Manager and
Compliance Manager
8
The Organic CULTIVATOR | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2010
9
Integrity
Continued from page 5
equipment and storage units used for organic crops only,
and if crops are custom harvested. Describe your post harvest handling procedures and equipment used. These questions are designed to help you identify potential problems
and develop strategies to comply with the NOP.
for about 5 minutes. Sweep the hopper and use an air compressor or vacuum cleaner to remove leftover grains, vegetative
matter, and dirt from “hard to clean”areas. Manipulate the sieves
to shake out residues. Purge any leftover grains by running three
to five bushels of organic grains through the combine before
beginning the actual harvest of your organic crop. (The purged
grain cannot be sold as organic or used for organic feed.)
What You Can Do
The first thing to do is to identify all areas where commingling
with nonorganic crops or contamination by prohibited substances may occur. List all pieces of equipment. If they’re only
used for organic crops, commingling is prevented. For equipment that is also used for nonorganic crops, determine what
type of “thorough cleaning” is needed to prevent commingling. Develop a written protocol or list of actions needed to
clean a particular piece of equipment. This will help you or your
employees remember each step. This may be submitted as
part of your OSP or you may simply show it to your inspector.
In addition to old grain, all harvesting and handling equipment and transport and storage units should be cleaned to
remove bird droppings, rodent feces, insects, dust, and dirt.
Ideally, equipment, transport and storage units should be
cleaned soon after being used or emptied. This prevents future pest, moisture, rust, and mold problems, and makes
cleaning before use much easier.
Some pieces of equipment will only need hand cleaning. Others
may need to be pressure washed or blown out with pressurized
air before organic use. Gravity boxes, truck beds, and other transportation units, and storage bins and hoppers may need to be
swept, vacuumed, or blown out with compressed air.
Records
Records are an integral requirement for organic certification. Keep an equipment-cleaning log on a clipboard or
notebook in the machine shed or other convenient location
to record the date, piece of equipment cleaned, and methods used. Keep a record of equipment purges. The following
information should be included in all logs: Date cleaned,
Type of equipment, Methods used to clean, Quantity of
crop purged (if applicable), How was purged crop used?
For combines, open all trap doors and run the combine empty
Good luck, and have a safe and bountiful harvest!
10
The Organic CULTIVATOR | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2010
WELCOME TO MOSA NEW
IOWA
Ortrude K. Dial - Three Sisters Farm, Inc. - Williams, IA
Joni Yoder -Yoder Organics - Edgewood, IA
Olin Beachy - Hazelton, IA
Katie Gingerich - Cresco, IA
Robert D. Mast - Fairbank, IA
Ervin Jay Mast - Bloomfield, IA
Roger Verhoef - Premium Iowa Pork LLC - Hospers, IA
David Sieck - Fayette, IA
Ura Gingerich - Upper Iowa Produce - Cresco, IA
Amy Krasne - Cat’s Paw Farm - Council Bluffs, IA
Emanuel D. Borntreger - Murray, IA
Michael Koopmann - Epworth, IA
Daniel Sheetz - Garwin, IA
Michael Bollinger - River Root Farm - Decorah, IA
Michael Ryan - Middle Sattre Farm - Decorah, IA
Jamie Anderson - Decorah, IA
ILLINOIS
Rusty Packer - Fenton, IL
Roger Witzig - Witzig Farms - Gridley, IL
Lindsey Morris Carpenter - Grassroots Farm, LLC - Gurnee, IL
INDIANA
Jerry Whetstone - Sunset Farms - Topeka, IN
Erv Hilty - E & R Seed LLC - Monroe, IN
MICHIGAN
Jason Detweiler - Whitetail Run Farm -Charlotte, MI
Raymond E. Troyer - Snover, MI
Harry J. Buhalis -Krow Acres - Marine City, MI
Jerry Martin - J.E.M. Farm - Sandusky, MI
Andrew Stutzman - Kuntry Gardens - Homer, MI
Ron Buckholtz - Creative Co-Packing Solutions - Scottville, MI
Bill Adams - Adams Farms - Covert, MI
Gary Shaffer - Cedar Creek Farm & Nursery - Marquette, MI
Adam M . Mitchel - Beautiful Earth Family Farm - Chelsea, MI
Joe Audia - Kilwin’s Quality Confections -Petoskey, MI
MINNESOTA
Bryan Lips - Faribault, MN
Dennis Johnson - West Ctrl Resrch & Outreach Ctr, U of MN - Morris, MN
Rudy L. Gingerich - Harmony, MN
Freeman S. Yoder - Harmony, MN
Harvey D. Gingerich - A 2 Z Organics - Harmony, MN
Kim Pronschinske - Do Over Dairy - Rollingstone, MN
Mahlon M. Miller - MMM Farms - Utica, MN
Bob & Anita Kalmes - Kalmes Farms, Inc. - Rollingstone, MN
Jon Luhman - Goodhue, MN
Mark Sand - Avon, MN
Patrick Kreidermacher - Altura, MN
Eric Kreidermacher - Altura, MN
Trent Froemming - TFC Poultry - Ashby, MN
Tad & Michelle Ellinghuysen - Peterson, MN
Michael Schumacher - Laporte, MN
Joshua Reinitz - Henderson, MN
Paul Wymar - Kalliroe - Montevideo, MN
Dale Krystosek - Chill Creek Ridge - Shevlin, MN
Bradley Schrandt - St. Charles, MN
Nolan Lenzen - Silver Shade Dairy - Eagle Bend, MN
John Torgrimson - Lanesboro, MN
Kelly Haws - Bannockburn Farm - Cold Spring, MN
Dan J. Borntreger - Hilltop View Farm - Harmony, MN
Ronald Kettler - Sauk Center, MN
Julie Geiger - Prairie Sun Farm, LLC - Watertown, MN
ASSOCIATES
Dean Walz - Mahnomen, MN
Chuck Will - Willolea Holsteins - Underwood, MN
Steve Colvin - Albert Lea, MN
Benjamin Penner - Penner Farms - St. Peter, MN
Bill Ladwig - Ladwig Acres - Hartland, MN
MONTANA
Louis P. Lizotte - Ashley-Martin Mfg LLC - Arlee, MT
NORTH CAROLINA
Gale Walton - Earth Fare, Inc c/o Harris Teeter, Inc. dba Hunter Farms High Point, NC
OHIO
Henry Kempf - Breezy Knoll Farm - Millersburg, OH
Henry S. Mast - Fresno, OH
William W. Detweiler - Middlefield, OH
Daniel Hochstetler - Pebble Run Acres - Dundee, OH
PENNSYLVANIA
Samuel A. Fisher - Eastbrook Produce - Smoketown, PA
Aaron F. Zook - Leola, PA
Amos K. Stoltzfus - Healthy Harvest Acres - Parkesburg, PA
Daniel L. Stoltzfus Jr. - White Swan Acres - New Holland, PA
Elmer F. Stoltzfus - Railroad Organics - New Providence, PA
Ben Stoltzfus - Plum Hill Organics - Peach Bottom, PA
Amos L. King - Autumn Blend Organics - Christiana, PA
Christian King - Maple Arch Farm - Cochranville, PA
Leroy L. Esh - Hollow Road Organics - Quarryville, PA
Samuel M. Lapp - Noble Herbs - Kirkwood, PA
Joseph S. Stoltzfus - Soaring Eagle Acres - Christiana, PA
Aaron L. Esh - Hidden View Organic - Quarryville, PA
Abner Glick - Maple Valley Organics - Manheim, PA
Daniel S. Beiler - Sweetaire Farm - Nottingham, PA
Isaac F. Stoltzfus - Friends Road Organics - Nottingham, PA
Daniel F. Stoltzfus Jr. - Rolling Ridge Farm - Kirkwood , PA
Omar Fisher - Outback Farm - Drumore, PA
Abner Stoltzfus - Buck ‘N’ Bird Farm - Nottingham, PA
Stephen E. Beiler - Sunrise Ridge Organics - Kirkwood , PA
Samuel G. Fisher - Misty Meadow Acres - Peach Bottom , PA
Amos S. Beiler - Christiana, PA
Jonas Esch - New Providence, PA
Daniel K. Stoltzfus - Bird-in-Hand, PA
Daniel K. Glick - Quarryville, PA
Benjamin S. Stoltzfus - Singing Meadow Farm - Airville, PA
Moses Stoltzfus - Green Pastures - Christiana, PA
Levi Jay Stoltzfus - Taste of Nature - Strasburg, PA
Levi Fisher - Liberty Branch - Nottingham, PA
Raymond Zeiset - Millersburg, PA
Stephen S. Stoltzfus - Goshen View Organics - Peach Bottom , PA
SOUTH DAKOTA
Kristianna Gehant - Prairie Coteau Farm - Astoria, SD
WISCONSIN
Mark Cummings - Mint Creek Organic Farm - Cashton, WI
Phineas A Yoder - Tomah, WI
Kristen Kordet - Blue Moon Community Farm - Stoughton, WI
Robert Keune - Seymour, WI
Jody Larson - Eleva, WI
Mose L. Borntreger - Borntregers Diamond Valley Organic - Augusta, WI
Yvonne Virtues - Little Suamico, WI
David L. Yoder - Westfield, WI
Wilmer A. McCoic - McCoic Acres - Mauston, WI
Lloyd Doers - Red Brush Camp - Warrens, WI
James Ideker - Ideker Brothers Farm -Taylor, WI
Ray Boughton - Lakeland Farm - Colfax, WI
Adolph Braun - Sinn Fein Farm - Cashton, WI
11
WELCOME TO MOSA NEW
WISCONSIN - Continued
Toby R. Gingerich - Augusta, WI
Ruben Yoder - Ross Farm - Hillsboro, WI
Jane Stevens - Natures Acres - No. Freedom, WI
Larry Johnson - Elm Lawn Farm - Hixton, WI
Alan Kraus - Wild Creek Dairy Farm, Inc - Stratford, WI
Bill Foster - Foster’s Organic Acres - Little Suamico, WI
LaVern Zeiset -Withee, WI
Robert Kroll - Thorp, WI
Robert W. Schwartz - Schwartz’s Organic Acres -Rice Lake, WI
Michael Polich - Polich Farms - Sturgeon Bay, WI
Rich Huber -Alma, WI
John E. Hilgart - Arpin, WI
Kolby Walker - Otter Creek Organic - La Farge, WI
Trevor Buckley - G.C.B. Farm - Menomonie, WI
Renee & Scott Vandenberg - County Line Farm - De Pere, WI
Thomas Hanson - Hanson Farm - Rockland, WI
Bruce Caygill - Caygill Farm - Dodgeville, WI
Robert L. Meier - RL Meier Farms - Monroe, WI
John Shea - Chaseburg, WI
Vince Heiman - Marshall, WI
Christopher J. Parker - La Farge, WI
Jamie L. Guttenberg - Taylor, WI
Dan Hershberger - Stitzer, WI
Stan Gros - Viroqua, WI
Kevin Nuttleman - Nuttleman’s Custom Grain Cleaning, LLC - Bangor, WI
Jill Jacquinot - Small Family CSA Farm - La Farge, WI
John Brodtke - Homestead 80 Organic - Whitelaw, WI
Gilbert Williams - River Valley Seed and Grain - Spring Green, WI
Nicholas Hicks - Hicks Dairy - Arcadia, WI
Ora Bontrager - Hillsboro, WI
LeRoy Yoder - L & L Greenhouse - Hillsboro, WI
James Mazelin - Scenic Ridge Farm - Hillsboro, WI
Karen Thompson - Willow Valley Organics, LLC - Cazenovia, WI
Walter Mazelin - Sunny Ridge - Hillsboro, WI
Ken Mandley - Deedon Lake Orchard - Turtle Lake, WI
David Chupp - Hillsboro, WI
Amos E. Borntreger - Valley Fresh Produce -Kendall, WI
John N. Lee - Lee Farm - Hillsboro, WI
David H. Kauffman - Sunny Side Produce - Wilton, WI
Eli A. Borntreger - Wilton, WI
Greg Gitto - Gitto Family Farm - Watertown, WI
Melvin Mishler - Hillsboro, WI
Jim W. Yoder - Hillsboro, WI
Orla E. Bontrager - Halcyon Hollow - Hillsboro, WI
LaVern C. Miller - Valley View - Hillsboro, WI
Jacob Byler - Dach Ridge Produce - Viroqua, WI
Ernest Graber - Hillsboro, WI
Deirdre Birmingham - Regan Creek Orchard -Mineral Point, WI
Edwin Dunham - Strum, WI
Howard Miller - Miller Farms - Hillsboro, WI
William Yutzy - Cottonwood Acres - Hillsboro, WI
Levi A. Borntrager -Augusta, WI
James Otto - Hill Top Farm - Hillsboro, WI
Aaron Herrfort - Hillsboro, WI
David Showalter - Gleason, WI
Joas Bontrager - Blooming Glory - Hillsboro, WI
Derek Obday - Hillsboro, WI
Toby A. Miller - Hillsboro, WI
Elmer L Lambright - Hillsboro, WI
Benjamin Bontrager - Hillsboro, WI
Wilbur Miller - Hillsboro, WI
Larry Osegard - Neillsville, WI
Omer Bontrager - Family Farm Produce - Hillsboro, WI
Ivan Bontrager - La Farge, WI
ASSOCIATES
Jim Deutsch - Osseo, WI
Mervin Miller - Country Hilltop Farm - Hillsboro, WI
Allen Miller - Hillsboro, WI
Jonathan D. Byler - Hillsboro, WI
Sherman Shrock - Hillsboro, WI
Sam Borntreger - Borntreger & Sons - Tomah, WI
Gideon Zook - G & L Farm - Hillsboro, WI
David W. Miller - Hillsboro, WI
Daniel A Schrock - Hillsboro, WI
Titus Miller - Organic Ridge Harvests - Hillsboro, WI
Laura Walters - Clover Meadow - Shell Lake, WI
Karen Fischbach - Hillsboro, WI
Paul Zimmerman - Hillsboro, WI
Ivan C. Yoder - Willow Drive Organics - Hillsboro, WI
Daniel H. Lambright - Hillsboro, Wi
William Larson - William Larson Farms, LLC - Brodhead, WI
Jacob Zook - Black River Falls, WI
Anna Hill - Oak Ridge Farm - Oregon, WI
Eli J. Yoder - Pleasant Valley Farm - Hillsboro, WI
Samuel C. Yoder - La Farge, WI
Carol Zimmerman - Oconto, WI
Jacob A Yoder - Whispering Pine - Hillsboro, WI
Andy Jaworski - Jaworski Farms - Green Bay, WI
Daniel O. Yoder - Spring Valley Produce - Hillsboro, WI
Jolyn Rasmussen - Hancock Ag Research Station - UW Madison - Hancock, WI
Christy Miller - Hillsboro, WI
Kenneth McAdams - Weathered Wood Farms - Ettrick, WI
Bill McNulty - McNulty Farms - Black River Falls, WI
Dale Johnson - Century Sun Oil LLC - Pulaski, WI
Jonas Brenneman - Black River Falls, WI
Joni D. Schrock - Locust Vista - Hillsboro, WI
Torkel Leum - Edgewood Dairy - Westby, WI
Ezra Bontrager - La Farge, WI
Dale Syse - UW Provision Co., Inc. - Middleton, WI
Caleb C. Lambright - Hillsboro, WI
Eli W. Yoder - Wilton, WI
Caroline Reiter - Washington Island Organics, LLC - Washington Island, WI
Doris Priesgen - Country Blossoms Homestead - Lomira, WI
Daniel Coblentz - Spruce Grove Farm - Hillsboro, WI
Arleigh Schroeder - A-Schroeder Farm - Almond, WI
Benjamin Mitchell - Pine Valley Organic Farm - Richland Center, WI
Link Buckles - Viroqua, WI
Orva Miller - Hillsboro, WI
Keith Ashley-Wright - Ewetopia Farm - La Farge, WI
Jim Schweigert - Gro Alliance LLC - Cuba City, WI
Tim Mika - Marengo, WI
Terry Hoyum - Premier Meats - Viroqua, WI
Eric Hansen - Hillsboro, WI
Fred Kaltenberg - Diversified Seed Producers - Middleton, WI
Stan Ford - Agricultural & Energy Resource Center - Marengo, WI
Mark Edwards - Antigo, WI
Levi Miller - Fairview Farm - La Farge, WI
Melvin G. Miller - Norwalk, WI
Henry Hochstetler - Kendall, WI
Dennis Dochnahl - Scenic Heights - Dodgeville, WI
Samuel M. Lapp - Belmont, WI
Daniel Olson - Olson’s Organic Enterprise - Lena, WI
James Horning - Cashton, WI
Allan Hass - West Salem, WI
Leroy Gulich - Sheldon, WI
Kendra Lewis - Wisconsin River Cranberry - Nekoosa, WI
James Goodman - Northwood Farm - Wonewoc, WI
Kenneth Bontrager - Rainbow Gardens - Hillsboro, WI
Matthew Messa - Messa Menagerie - Downsville, WI
Mark Giraud - Putnam Valley Paradise - Sparta, WI
12
The Organic CULTIVATOR | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2010
ORGANIC CLASSIFIEDS
LIVESTOCK/MEATS
For Sale: organic heifers, 2 Jersey, 2 Jersey milking shorthorn cross.
6 months, ready to breed. 75-232-8785.
For Sale: Milking shorthorn heifers, fresh or springing. Call 608-625265.
For Sale: Two butcher steers. Grassfed, ready to butcher, MOSA-certified. $ per pound. Call Marianne at Freedom Dairy: 75-533-576.
FEED/SEED
For Sale: Certified organic roasted soybeans. Also buying organic feed
grade soybeans. Andersen Feeds, Inc. Galesville, WI 5630. 608--582-2595.
For Sale: Organic alfalfa hay. Small sq. & big rd. st & 2nd cutting,
possibly 3rd. O’Neill, NE. Call 02-336-78 or email [email protected].
For Sale: 50 ac MOSA-certified corn & 30 ac Transitional corn. Could
be harvested as silage for someone nearby. Bill Larson, Brodhead, WI
53520. 608-36-90. [email protected].
For Sale: MOSA-certified organic 2nd, 3rd, th cutting. Very good
quality alfalfa & alfalfa grass. Available in small sq. 920-27-6663.
For Sale: Certified organic high quality corn & soybeans. 920-27-6663.
For Sale: 500-800 bushel GOA certified organic corn. 2009 crop.
Central MN. $.00/bushel. 320-25-27.
For Sale: Approximately 50 bushel Transitional spring hard red
wheat. La Farge, WI. Make an offer. 608-386-78.
For Sale: Organic grass hay. Round bales, 5x5, has not been rained
on, stored inside. Osseo, WI 75-597-85.
For Sale: Hay, alfalfa timothy mix, 03 RFV. x5 net-wrapped bales.
250 bales. $0/bale or $00/ton. Central MN. 62-805-0.
For Sale: 2500 bushel of oats, tested at 39 lbs, %. Last year’s crop.
Central MN. 62-805-0.
For Sale: st crop x5 rd bales. MOSA-certified organic hay, alfalfagrass mix, stored inside. Medford, WI. 75-78-6863 or 75-965-23.
For Sale: Certified organic oat straw bales. x5 round. $30.00. Avon,
MN. 320-85-5. [email protected].
For Sale: Widest independent selection of certified organic & nonGMO seeds & related products at lowest possible prices. All main
brands handled. Serving all WI & SE MN. Order early for best selection
& price. Your # certified organic seed source. Golden Grains, Sparta,
WI. 608-269-550.
Wanted: Organic wheat, barley & oat straw, clean & in good condition. Large sq. or rd. bales. Year round demand for outdoor organic
pig operation in Dyersville, IA. Contact Jude Becker at 563-53-53.
For Sale: MOSA-certified x5 net wrapped st crop. 75-879-5572.
For Sale: Untreated alfalfa seed for sale. Contact Bob: 608-63-727.
For Sale: 200 crop MOSA-certified organic barley & oat straw. Small
sq. bales stored inside. Also 00 x st crop alfalfa rd. bales, approximately 700#, also stored inside. Dunn-Hill farms, Westby, WI.
608-63-5065. [email protected].
For Sale: MOSA-certified organic corn. Special price paid if paid for
in 200. Can deliver or will store for future delivery. Eau Claire, WI.
Tim at Damar Farms. 75-797-39.
For Sale: MOSA-certified organic hay. Wrapped big squares or round
bales. Special price paid if paid for in 200. Can deliver or will store for
future delivery. Eau Claire, WI. Tim at Damar Farms. 75-797-39.
Buy and Sell: Quality certified organic grains and proteins. Custom
feed milling and soybean roasting. Bulk auger delivery in WI. Golden
Grains, Sparta, WI. 608-269-550.
MISCELLANEOUS
For Sale: John Deere 956 MoCo discbine, hydraulic tilt, impeller,
field ready. Very good condition. $,500. 920-27-6663.
For Sale: IH 700 plow. 6 and field ready. $800 OBO. 920-27-6663.
For Sale: Yetter chisel plow. 9 shank, heavy duty. Very good condition. $600 obo. 920-27-6663.
For Sale: 0 acre farm in Loyal, WI. Contact David E. Yoder, W269
Rockcreek Rd., Loyal, WI 56.
For Sale: NI 708 Uni-System w/ Perkins diesel, cab, heater, hydro,
with 838 husking unit, NI 8 -row corn head and NI 8 feeder
house. $500.00. Richland Center, WI. Sam. 608-536-3567.
13
EVENTS
CALENDAR
October 2010 - March 2011
Winona &
St. Joseph, MN
Farm Beginnings Program: Land Stewardship Project's successful beginning farmer training program, Farm Beginnings,
will be held this fall in both Winona and St. Joseph, MN. Registration deadline is Sept. , 200. Early registration is recommended as space is limited. Farm Beginnings is a farmer-led
initiative that provides opportunities for beginning and transitioning farmers to learn firsthand about values clarification &
goal setting, whole farm planning, enterprise development &
low-cost, sustainable farming methods. Contact Karen Benson
at 507-523-3366 or [email protected].
October 15, 2010
Osceola, WI
Draft Horse Farming: Join MOSES and Dan Guenthner, owner
of Common Harvest Farm, for this field day afternoon showcasing draft horse equipment for small scale vegetable production. This is a unique opportunity to witness the hitching,
CUSTOM SPRAYING
WITH OUR
PRODUCTS IN MOST
OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
PRODUCTS AND
SERVICE INCLUDED.
$30/ACRE
FISH, CALCIUM, AND
SEAWEED.
adjusting and use of various horse-drawn implements, including a plow, disk, manure spreader, mower, tine weeder, various
harrows, various cultivators. The focus is on identifying what
equipment can be useful for market garden operations and
how to use these implements most effectively on smaller
acreages. To register, please contact MOSES at 75-778-5775
or [email protected]. Time: :00 - 5:00pm
October 16, 2010
Chetek, WI
Christianson Dairy: The Christiansons own an Organic Grazing
Dairy and use no grain in the cows' diet. They’ve had great success growing high energy spring and fall annuals to extend the
grazing season. For details contact Brian Brezinski 75-579232. Time: 0 am - 2 pm. 732 9th Avenue, Chetek WI.
Nov. 10, 17, 18 2010 Various locations, WI
Women in Farming: Are you a woman interested in launching or
already running your own farm or food-based business? As the
number of women-owned businesses and farms continue to
grow, opportunity abounds for women of all interests to craft a
livelihood that blends meaning with stewarding the planet and
transforming our food system. Various grants, business ideas,
trends will be discussed. Facilitated by the Rural Women’s Project,
Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) in
collaboration with the Wisconsin Farmers Union, Madison Area
Community Supported Agriculture Coalition (MACSAC) and
Willy Street Co-op. Contact MOSES: 888-55-769
Liquid
Fish, Inc.
WE HAVE FISH AND MIXED PRODUCT
AVAILABLE IN
BULK, 55 GAL DRUMS, 5 GAL PAILS
AND GALLONS.
For more information about
our company or products please contact us.
Liquid Fish, Inc.
Post Office Box 99
Bonduel, WI 54107
715-758-2280
Fax: 715-758-2600
Selling fish since 1988.
On the OMRI list.
Great products at a great price.
FISH HAS BEEN PROVEN TO PROTECT HAY FROM FREEZE-OUT OVER THE WINTER!
We can custom spray your organic products - please call for pricing!
14
The Organic CULTIVATOR | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2010
Organic Cranberries
Continued from page Cranberry consumption in the US remained stable from the
90s to the 990s, and was limited to the holiday season.
With discovery of cranberries’ health properties, especially
cranberry juice, and marketing by the industry, cranberry
consumption has risen. Contributing to this increase are rising
sales overseas. Tom Lochner,
executive director of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers
Association, says that 25% of
the U.S. cranberry crop is exported, up from 5% ten years
ago .
In the late 990s, increased cranberry demand led to soaring
prices. Many new marshes were
put into production, and the market collapsed in 2000 with prices plummeting to a tenth of their
998 levels. Prices recovered until hitting record highs in 2008.
Recently record harvests have saturated the market again and
prices for processed fruit have dropped dramatically.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service’s report on the upcoming 200 cranberry season released Aug. 7 forecasted
an overall crop of “7.35 million barrels, up 6 percent from
2009. If realized, this will be the second-largest production
on record. Production in Wisconsin is forecast at .35 million
barrels, up 0 percent from 2009. If realized, this will be the
second-largest production level on record for Wisconsin.”
Today about 95% of cranberries are processed into juice,
sauces and relishes; dried, powdered or frozen. Recently producers have begun switching away from fruit for processing
toward fresh fruit, since fresh fruit prices have risen while
processed fruit prices dropped, according to David Farrimond, executive director of the Cranberry Marketing Committee. Tom Lochner said that about 3 to 5 percent of the
state’s cranberry crop will go to fresh markets.
Organics
According to the University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin also
dominates organic cranberry production in the USA, with
about 00 acres. In 2008, according to National Agricultural
Statistics Service, sales of Wisconsin organic cranberries totaled $2,365,988. MOSA certified producers include Jonjak
Cranberry Farm, Nekoosa Marsh, Sandhill Cranberry,
Ruesch Century Farm, James Lake Farm, and Kismet Fruit
Farm. MOSA certified cranberry processors include Sno Pac
Foods, WR Cold Storage, Cranberry Partners, Badger State
Fruit Processing, Copper Road Receiving Station, and Wisconsin River Cranberry. Oregon and Massachusetts have
over 30 acres each, and Maine produces a few acres. Quebec has about 00 acres.
It can be challenging to produce and market organic cranberries. Weeds, insects, and fruit rot are the main problems faced
by organic growers. Organic
growers are mostly able to
control weeds using methods
such as vinegar injection. Insect pests include black
headed fireworm and fruit
worm. Control methods include timing bog flooding,
and the use of organically-acceptable products. Finally, the
slow acting nature of organic
fertilizers may have an impact
on yield. While yields as high as
250 barrels/acre have been reported, typical organic yields
range from 60 to 20 barrels/acre (considerably less than the
Wisconsin average which exceeds 200 barrels per acre). These
factors combine for high production costs for organic cranberries. Producers have found it difficult to get prices that cover
these higher costs.
The market for organic cranberries is also feeling the effects
of the downturn in prices, according to Don Kane of the Copper Road Receiving Station in Warrens. Organic cranberry
producers are hit even harder by declining prices, since the
higher costs of organic production make profitable production difficult. Kane expects the market for all cranberries to
eventually improve, but in the short term, oversupply coupled with the lingering economic recession mean cranberry
growers will have less to be thankful for this holiday season.
15
NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED FOR
MOSA BOARD
MOSA Associates are welcome to nominate qualified candidates for the MOSA Board of Directors. Each member serves
a term of two years and is eligible to serve two terms. Board
members may not be certified by MOSA and must have excellent communication, interpersonal and organization skills,
organic production or industry knowledge, and knowledge
of the USDA National Organic Program. Please contact the
MOSA office for the Candidate Petition form or go to our
website: www.mosaorganic.org. Completed nomination
forms must be submitted to the Nominating Committee no
later than January 7, 200.
Nominating Committee Members
Peter Brandt, Director
Elroy, WI 53929
608-62-5922
[email protected]
Bob Scharlau, MOSA Associate
S&S Grains
207 Riverview Drive
S76 Lewis Rd
Arcadia, WI 562
608-323-7297
Organic
Or
ganic cr
crops
ops star
startt
with the seed.
Bob Schmidtknecht, Director
W26857 Mesa Lane
Arcadia, WI 562
608-323-2069
[email protected]
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POLICY & BYLAWS
CHANGE PROPOSALS
TTo
o locate a dealer go to www.blueriverorgseed.com
www.blueriverorgseed.com
or call 800-370-7979.
MOSA Associates have the right to review and make suggestions for changes to MOSA policies as described in the
Program Manual and in the Bylaws - before November (Program Manual) and December (Bylaws). The process of
submitting proposals for change is decribed in the Program
Manual on pages 55-56. A copy of the MOSA Bylaws will be
provided upon request to the MOSA office. Proposals are reviewed by the Advisory Committee before presentation to
the Board of Directors.
Corn | Soybeans | Alfalfa | Red Clover | Sudangrass
PO Box 821
Viroqua, WI 54665
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT No. 588
LA CROSSE,WI
VOL. 8 ISSUE 5 | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2010
The Organic
CULTIVATOR is published bi-monthly by Midwest Organic Services Association, Inc. (MOSA)
located at 22 W. Jefferson St., Viroqua, WI 5665
PHONE: (608) 637-2526
E-MAIL: [email protected]
FAX: (608) 637-7032
HOURS: Mon.-Fri., 8am- 5pm
MOSA’S MISSION STATEMENT
MOSA provides reliable and efficient verification and certification services to producers and processors primarily in the upper
Midwestern United States. MOSA is committed to maintaining a timely, courteous, accurate, transparent and consistent approach
throughout the program and on a day-to-day basis.
Visit the web! www.mosaorganic.org
MOSA DISCLAIMER
MOSA does not guarantee that all products advertised in this newsletter are certified organic, and MOSA is not responsible for the
accidental purchase of non-organic products through the use of this newsletter. Always check to guarantee the certification status
of any product before purchasing or using.
SEND CLASSIFIED ADS
to MOSA, PO Box 82, Viroqua, WI 5665, or email to [email protected]. Ads run free for MOSA Associates. Please observe a 00word combined limit per issue for your ads. The next deadline is November 15th for the December/January issue.