
Organic Crop Production
- Land must have no prohibited substances applied to it for at least three years before the harvest of an organic crop.
- Use of genetic engineering, irradiation and sewage sludge is prohibited.
- Soil fertility and crop nutrients must be managed through tillage and cultivation, supplemented with animal and crop waste materials and allowed synthetic materials.
- Preference must be given to use of organic seeds and other plant stock, but a farmer can use non-organic seeds and plant stock under certain conditions.
- Crop pests, weeds and diseases must be controlled primarily through management practices including physical, mechanical and biological controls. When these practices are not sufficient, a biological, botanical or synthetic substance from a specific list of approved synthetics may be used.
Organic Livestock
- Antibiotics and synthetic hormones are prohibited.
- 100% organic-feed is required with some vitamins allowed.
- Animals for slaughter must be raised organically from birth, or no later than the second day of life for poultry.
- Vaccines are allowed.
- Access to outdoors, including access to pastures for ruminants, is required. Animals can be temporarily confined only for reasons of health, safety or to protect soil or water quality.
-Withholding treatment from sick animals is prohibited; animals treated with prohibited medication (e.g., antibiotics) must be removed from the organic operation.
Regulations quoted from "Dairy Foods," Jan, 2001, by Donna Berry.
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Photo credit: Magic Floating Organic Broccoli
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