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FAQ's

Q. Who are some nutritionists that can help me reduce dependence on grain while maintaining animal health and productivity?
A. The following is a list of Dairy Nutritionists who assured me that they are familiar with Pasture and High Forage diets. The goal of this resource list is to help organic dairy farmers reduce their dependence on additional grain and to maintain the health and productivity of their animals. If there are others feel free to contact me (Fay Benson, afb3@cornell.edu) so that I can add them to the list.

Renascence Minerals consultants:

Q. Where can I find suppliers of organic grain?
A. There are many organic grain suppliers for farmers in NY. The following are three major suppliers:
Lakeview Organic Grain
Box 361 119 Hamilton Pl.
Penn Yan, NY, 14527
315-531-1038 phone/FAX
kandmhfarm@sprintmail.com

Cold Springs Farm
Sumner Watson and Family
379 Slate Hill Rd.
Sharon Springs NY. 13459
csfarm@capital.net

Cargill has 2 NE locations where you could source organic grain: Winfield, PA and Fort Ann, NY. Pennfield also has organic grain but I am not sure what their capabilities are. If you want more information or contacts at Cargill, e-mail Rick Canfield @ rick_canfield@cargill.com

Lowville Farmers Coop
5512 Shady Avenue
Lowville NY 13367
315-376-4452

Q. How do you find where your organic milk comes from?
A. Each Milk Carton is stamped with a number that identifies it's state of origin. Click here to view the FDA's web site with the State Codes for Milk Cartons.

Q. Can dairy manure, liquid or otherwise, that is not composted be applied to an organic field without that field losing its organic accreditation?
A. It is okay to use manure from another farm even if it isn't certified, providing that: 1) you have indicated on you yearly organic Farm Plan application that you plan to do so, and have it approved by the certification committee. OR 2) you have contacted your certifier and asked for permission to amend your Farm Plan to apply the manure.

Q. How many years does it take to certify dairy cattle for organic milk production?
A. There is a one time opportunity for a farm to transition their entire herd by feeding 100% certified feed for a year. After the transition only animals that were treated organicly three months from birth can be certified. This rule is for dairy animals. For beef animals only the second option is allowed.

Q. It takes 36 months from the time of application, I believe, for crop land to be certified organic. However I understand this process can be expedited if the person seeking the certification can go back in the field's history and "testify" that the land has not received organic inputs in the form of seed, fertilizer, etc. Is this correct?
A. Yes, the term is an organic field affidavit. It can be used to bring in fields that have been under organic standards for 3 years or more. Whoever has been managing the fields for the preceding three years needs to sign and have notarized a statement stating that. It helps to have FSA records to show what crops have been grown on the fields. Or some other records
about the production.

Q. We are thinking of certifying the hay we grow as organic. We heard there was a deadline this fall and are worried we will miss it. Is there a change in the regs that is coming that makes applying now urgent?
A. There is no deadline for applying. The sticky point is whether or not you hope to sell this year's harvest as organic. There's often a lapse of anywhere from a few weeks to a few months between when you apply and when the agency can send out an inspector. NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) would prefer to have an inspector visit before the hay is harvested. Other certifiers may have a different take. You should contact different certifiers to find out how they handle the issue. A list of USDA-approved organic certifiers is available here.

Q. What is involved in raising dairy heifers organically? Specifically, how long do they have to be on the organic system to be sold as organic heifers?
A. The key here is the certifier. This is one of the grey areas of the standards, so different certifiers treat it differently. Some will demand that the animal be organic from 3 months prior to birth. Others will allow transition of the animal with one year of being treated as organic. I knew a retired extension person who had his farm certified organic and then received permission from NOFA to buy one group of heifers and then transition them for one year. He bred the heifers so they were springing at the end of the year. He was only able to do this once since the certifier looked at it as a one-time conversion of an existing herd. This was before the 80/20 rule change so now if you received permission from a certifier to do this, the heifers would need to be fed 100% organic feed and pasture for one year.

Always check with your potential certifier to see whether they would view these animals as organic.

The reason the standards make this so difficult is that one of the indicators of a well managed dairy is the ability to produce all their replacements. Generally it isn't a good sign if a dairy needs to buy replacements.

Q. Where can I locate the organic rules that pertain to an organic dairy that wants to import liquid manure from a conventional dairy?
A. Here are the rules that cover your question:
1) The certifying agency is the final authority on all questions like this. Not all certifiers read the Standards the same. That is why a producer must set up a "Farm Plan" on how they will operate their farm. This "Farm Plan" must then be ok'd by the certifier. A request for a deviation from the plan must be made by the producer to the Certifier. Here are the sections that would pertain to this:

§ 205.201 Organic production and handling system plan.
(a) The producer or handler of a production or handling operation, except as exempt or excluded under § 205.101, intending to sell, label, or represent agricultural products as "100 percent organic," "organic," or "made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))" must develop an organic production or handling system plan that is agreed to by the producer or handler and an accredited certifying agent. An organic system plan must meet the requirements set forth in this section for organic production or handling. An organic production or handling system plan must include:

(1) A description of practices and procedures to be performed and maintained, including the frequency with which they will be performed;

(2) A list of each substance to be used as a production or handling input, indicating its composition, source, location(s) where it will be used, and documentation of commercial availability, as applicable;

(3) A description of the monitoring practices and procedures to be performed and maintained, including the frequency with which they will be performed, to verify that the plan is effectively implemented;

(4) A description of the recordkeeping system implemented to comply with the requirements established in § 205.103;

(5) A description of the management practices and physical barriers established to prevent commingling of organic and nonorganic products on a split operation and to prevent contact of organic production and handling operations and products with prohibited substances; and

6) Additional information deemed necessary by the certifying agent to evaluate compliance with the regulations.

2) Using raw manure from a non certified dairy would be a grey area and depend on the certifier. I used raw chicken manure on a certified field 10 years ago. My certifier didn't have a problem with it but only allowed me to spread 2 tons/acre. Again the producer needs to check with their certifier.

Here are the standards that cover Soil Fertility:
§ 205.203 Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standard.

(a) The producer must select and implement tillage and cultivation practices that maintain or improve the physical, chemical, and biological condition of soil and minimize soil erosion.

(b) The producer must manage crop nutrients and soil fertility through rotations, cover crops, and the application of plant and animal materials.

(c) The producer must manage plant and animal materials to maintain or improve soil organic matter content in a manner that does not contribute to contamination of crops, soil, or water by plant nutrients, pathogenic organisms, heavy metals, or residues of prohibited substances. Animal and plant materials include:

(1) Raw animal manure, which must be composted unless it is:

(i) Applied to land used for a crop not intended for human consumption;

(ii) Incorporated into the soil not less than 120 days prior to the harvest of a product whose edible portion has direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles; or

(iii) Incorporated into the soil not less than 90 days prior to the harvest of a product whose edible portion does not have direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles;

e) The producer must not use:

(1) Any fertilizer or composted plant and animal material that contains a synthetic substance not included on the National List of synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production;

This last one is the grey area that will cause differences among certifiers.

3) When it comes to nutrient and land management the Standards quite often defer to the Whole Farm Plan that is on file with FSA. Such as CAFO, Highly erodible, and land.If your producer wants this practice to be a main part of their nutrient management, they may want to ask this question before they choose a certifier.

Q. Is there a website that exists with current regs. that answers the questions I have asked you here?
A. MOSES - Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service has published an Organic Dairy checklist, a new Organic Dairy Transition fact sheet, and the Organic Transition Workbook, which are both available for download in PDF format. MOSES can also be contacted by phone at 715-772-3153.

Information about regulations and the organic dairy industry is also available on the website of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA).

Answers provided by Fay Benson, coordinator of the NY Organic Dairy Initiative. If you have more questions, contact Fay at afb3@cornell.edu.