What the Standards say
Let's review some key elements of certified organic production:
1. Organic producers must manage soil fertility through the use of rotations, cover crops and the application of plant and animal materials or low- solubility natural minerals.
2. These practices must maintain or improve soil organic matter content, manage deficient and excess plant nutrients, and control erosion.
3. Producers must use preventive practices to manage crop pests, weeds and disease.
4. Certified organic seed and annual planting stock must be used if available.
5. Organic livestock must have access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, exercise areas, fresh air and direct sunlight as appropriate for the type of animal and the local climate.
6. Organic livestock may not be given antibiotics or hormones and must be fed 100% organically grown feed. Ruminants must have access to pasture offering significant feed value.
7. Organic products (crops and livestock) must be kept separate from non- organic products and handled without the use of prohibited materials.
8. An independent organic inspector will visit the farm annually to review both production operations and recordkeeping systems.
For annual crops or a perennial livestock feed crop such as hay, a period of three years is required for the transition from conventional to organic production, calculated from the date of application of the last prohibited material or practice to the harvest of the first organic crop. NOP Standards make no provision for marketing products as "transitional"—any crops and livestock sold during the transition years must be represented as non-organic.
Land free of prohibited materials for three or more years can often be immediately put into certified organic production upon approval by the certifier. A signed affidavit verifying that there's been no use of prohibited substances on that specific land is needed from the person responsible for the land's management during that period.
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