Summer 2019 Organic Matters

Organic Matters Quarterly Newsletter • Summer 2019

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Hemp Growing and Permitting

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Designing a Rotational Grazing Plan

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Organic Week on Capitol Hill

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PA Farm Bill Update

PCO Strives to Support Membership through Collaboration and Evaluation

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ummer has begun and the team at PCO is hard at work with inspections and the certification review process.

We are in full implementation mode on many internal projects planned during the spring months. We are also enjoying the warmth and look forward to the delicious harvest that awaits us throughout the summer, literally in the form of produce from our gardens or at various markets or CSA’s, as well as figuratively as projects come to fruition and we see the results of our hard work.

PCO out and about PCO is beginning work around the High Performance Farms Initiative (HPFI) that began earlier this year. This initiative is to support sustainable processes that achieve environmental results, enhance economic value to farmers and communities, and improve protection of public health and community resilience. PCO is proud to partner with the Rodale Institute on transitioning farmers to become certified organic, which supports the initiative as well as PCO’s vision that all communities are enriched through organic food and farming. Do you know someone interested in transitioning?

Let us know! There is support available to aid them in the transition process including a dedicated Rodale Organic Crop Consultant ready to work with any and all producers. For more information visit Rodale’s website at: www.rodaleinstitute.org/ consulting/ or contact Sam Malriat (sam.malriat@rodaleinstitute.org, 610-683-1435).

The PA Department of Agriculture sought input on the PA Preferred Organic Initiative, which is a part of the Pennsylvania Farm Bill with possible funding of up to $1.6 million. PCO participated in an organic roundtable to explore how the administration can grow and support the organic industry through these funding dollars. Interested in getting involved?

Contact Kyla (info below) to provide your input.

PCO staff proudly represented our membership at the Organic Trade Association’s Organic Week, which was filled with advocacy on organic agriculture and initiatives to promote and protect the USDA organic seal, as well as delving into hot topics and issues that are facing the industry today. Read more on page 6.

We asked, you answered Thank you to everyone who provided input on the Organic Matters survey. Overall respondents found Organic Matters to be an informative publication and appreciate the frequency of 4 editions per year. We will continue that frequency and also continue our technical content focus. One way we would like to do this is by sharing what is happening on member’s farms

ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

and operations. Do you know someone who is doing something innovative within their operations? Or are you trying something new or letting go of a practice that didn’t work?

Nominate yourself or another PCO member to share their knowledge. Contact April Kocis at april@paorganic.org or 814422-0251.

If you didn’t have a chance to respond to the survey, please take 5 minutes to do so. We will keep the survey in the next few editions so we can continue to collect your valuable feedback.

Please take a moment to let us know how Organic Matters can continue to serve your needs. See page 27 for survey.

Overall I find Organic Matters Informative STRONGLY DISAGREE

2.3%

DISAGREE

11.2% STRONGLY AGREE

30.3% NEUTRAL

16.9%

AGREE

39.3%

Interested in providing more input? We are conducting an online and phone survey to a group of members to better understand why you chose to become certified, and why you chose PCO. If you are interested in providing this input please contact Diana (info below).

Please feel free to reach out to us anytime with questions, comments, and concerns. We wish you a successful start to the farming season.

Diana Underwood Interim Co-Executive Director Director of Operations 704-718-0058 Diana@paorganic.org

Kyla Smith Interim Co-Executive Director Certification Director 215-840-9640 Kyla@paorganic.org

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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

Summer 2019

ADVISORY BOARD

Kristy Borelli, Penn State University Ross Duffield, Canopy Growth Bob Eberly, Eberly Poultry Beth Gugino, Penn State Extension Betty Harper, Penn State University Ted LeBow, Kitchen Table Consultants Joe Miller, Trickling Springs Creamery Spencer Miller, Boyd Station, LLC Andrew Smyre, Anchor Ingredients/ Precizion Ag LLC Marketing and Consulting Mike Spangler, Proximity Malt

FFEEAT URREESS AT U

STAFF

leadership team director of operations & interim co-executive director Diana Underwood certification director & interim co-executive 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 specialist Justine Cook certification specialist Stephen Hobaugh certification specialist Cathy Jackson certification specialist Chelsea Johnson certification specialist Emily Newman certification specialist Colleen Scott certification specialist Craig Shroyer certification specialist Eastlyn Wright program assistant Lauren Lewis program assistant Aleisha Schreffler program assistant Kristin Shade inspections team

2 | Growing Hemp: A Good Fit for Organic Crop Rotations 4 | Planning & Refining Rotational Grazing Systems

6| PCO Meets with Policy Makers on Capitol Hill to Advance Organic Agriculture Initiatives

STORIES

inspections program manager Jenny Cruse inspection program coordinator Ashley Madea

3 | Hemp Permitting: What You Need to Know Before You Start To Grow

materials team materials program manager Jennifer Berkebile materials specialist Sabine Carey materials/outreach specialist April Kocis

8| Spring 2019 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting

quality team quality systems & it manager Angela Morgan it specialist Garrick McCullough

10 | Governor Wolf’s Vision for Longtime Prosperity for Pennsylvania Agriculture Comes to Fruition

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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Photo: Emily Decker

Photo: PA Department of Ag

C O LU M N S 1 2 President’s Message

20 New Members

1 5 Dear Aggy

22 Calendar

1 6 Transitions

26 PCO Order Form

1 8 Organic Updates Certification Materials Standards & Policy New Faces

27 Organic Matters Survey

On the cover: Goat by Sabine Carey, FreeRanging Photography

ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

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Growing Hemp: A Good Fit for Organic Crop Rotations

By Ross Duffield, Canopy Growth USA and Bonnie Blue Farm With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, the United States is well positioned to replace imported hemp products with domestically produced raw material.

Industrial hemp is a unique crop compared to the main agricultural crops grown; chiefly corn, soy beans, cotton; because of the diverse market streams it can provide. Industrial hemp is grown for three main uses of grain, fiber, and oil, that can be expanded to create over 20,000 different products. Hemp production grants farmers access to untapped markets, while serving as a useful crop in a small grain rotation. In addition growing hemp can provide quality income to farmers transitioning their land to organic production.

Cultivation Unlike its cousin Sunn hemp, Industrial hemp is not a legume and will deplete soil of nutrients. Due to its vigorous growth and low pest pressure, very few if any pesticides are needed to grow a quality crop. Hemp has a suppressing effect on not only weeds but the soil fungus Verticillium dahliae and the Columbia root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne chitwoodi).

It also suppresses the northern root-knot nematode (Meloidogye hapla), and full resistance has even been found for some breeds. Hemp is a host plant for nematodes from the Pratylenchus family. Older literature compared the propagation of this nematode to the propagation of Pratylenchus on potatoes (Source: Hempflax.)

Hemp is a terrific crop to plant as a summer annual that precedes a winter cereal grain. Hemp’s ability to supress weeds and build soil structure can increase yields for small grains and increase organic matter over time. Soils that are well to moderately drained and high in organic matter are ideal for hemp

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cultivation and should be rotated between every 3–4 years.

Hemp is very sensitive to flooding and thrives on a good soil structure. Compacting topsoil during tillage or at planting will inhibit growth and care must be taken not to plant when the soil is too wet or cold. A soil temperature of 55 degrees is the lowest hemp should be planted at and little is gained by planting hemp early or “mudding it in.” Planting before May 1st in the Northeastern US has seen little gains compared to planting after May 5th.

Hemp will grow in a ph range of 5–7 but will thrive in the ph range of 5.8-6.8. With this ability to grow in a range of soils, it is no surprise the plant earned the nickname “weed.”

Field Preparation and Planting Either fiber or row style production involves the use of tillage to prepare the seedbed. Residue from the prior crop or existing cover crops must be terminated ahead of planting. It’s recommended that vertical tillage (mull-board or chisel plow) takes place ten to fourteen days prior to planting. Fields that were in sod prior to planting hemp may need more time to “mellow” before the next field preparation. Plowing should be followed by a disk harrow and culti packer. A tip here is to not pack the ground too far ahead of planting the hemp. When you pack the soil, you start the weed growth cycle.

When prepared properly, the seed bed should be fine but firm, similar to how a field of sorghum should be prepared.

Recommended seeding depth is ¾–1¼ inches on 5–7 inch rows at 35–45 lbs per acre. Proper seedbed preparation is very important as the recommended seeding depth is shallow, and compaction and planting into wet soils can severely impact germination.

Fertility Although a vigorous and hardy plant when feral, cultivated hemp does require a fair amount of fertilization. Low yields and poor stands can result from poorly managed hemp crops.

The total N-P-K requirement per acre is 120 lbs of Nitrogen

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(N), 80 lbs of phosphate (P) and 150 lbs of potassium (K).

A low application of Nitrogen, for example 80 lbs N/acre, terminates growth prematurely and will limit yield potential.

As for the other extreme Nitrogen applied at 200 lbs/acre will result in the plants competing for light and could also lead to lodging. Larger plants will limit population and result in a lower yield. Best practices recommend 120 lbs of Nitrogen per acre excluding what the soil is holding. The use of a legume cover crop or hay crop prior to planting hemp is recommended as it will provide much of the needed Nitrogen therefore reducing applied input costs.

Present levels of Phosphate (P) and Potassium (K) in the soil will dictate the need for application. The implementation of a crop rotation including cover crops, as well as the application of compost or manure, will help reduce the quantities on P-K needed. Better than average yields are achieved with an application of 80 lbs P/acre and 140 lbs K/acre excluding what the soil is holding.

Crop Maintenance Hemp will emerge quickly and start growing vigorously if it received adequate rainfall and plenty of sunshine. At this point, the crop will require no further care. Hemp grows very quickly and will out compete even the most aggressive weeds. Good stands of hemp will outgrow troublesome summer annual weeds like Palmer amaranth, Johnson grass, ragweed, and horseweed. Because of its aggressive growth, hemp is a great plant to work into a transitioning or organic grain crop rotation as well as being a good “reset” crop for failing hay crops.

Grain Harvest The harvest of industrial hemp is unique compared to other cash crops as there are several ways success can be achieved depending on the variety grown. Hemp harvested for grain is different compared to harvest of CBD oils along with fiber.

Harvesting grain is usually accomplished using lower grow-

Hemp Permitting: What You Need to Know Before You Start To Grow

By Erica Stark, National Hemp Association and Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council The first step to grow hemp is to obtain a permit from the PA Department of Agriculture (PDA). While the application deadline for 2019 has passed, the applications for the 2020 growing season should be available this fall. The 2019 program is what the PDA has submitted to USDA for approval and while we don’t anticipate any changes to the 2020 program we won’t know for certain until the new applications are released. Currently the permit fee is $600 for up to 5 growing locations with additional fees for additional sites. There are no limitations on acreage for grow locations.

It is relatively easy to comply with the current regulations, although it is important to read them carefully. The permit holder must obtain an FBI criminal background check and submit a notarized attestation form that states that all employees or contractors that will be working with the crop have not had a felony drug conviction in the last 10

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years.

The PDA retains the right to inspect the property for 3 years after the end of the permit to check for any regrowth.

The information and forms can be found on the PDA website: www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/industrial_hemp/Pages/default.aspx Paper copies can be requested to be mailed by calling the Bureau of Plant Industry at 717-787-4843.

If you plan on cultivating for CBD there are several important things to take into consideration. The PDA states in the permit that it is up to the permit holder to ensure that they comply with all federal, state and local laws. This is important because while hemp and all its derivatives have been removed from the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), PA’s current hemp legislation (Act 92) does not remove these products from the state CSA. CBD products are being sold all across the state and the country, however the legality of these products does remain in a somewhat legal gray area. CBD products are also not currently approved or regulated by the FDA. The FDA held a public hearing on May 31st and we are all awaiting a decision on how FDA plans on handling CBD.

continued on page 25

There is currently legislation (SB335) introduced by State Senator Schwank that will authorize CBD as both a food ingredient and dietary supplement. This is an important piece of legislation for the PA hemp industry and all are encouraged to contact their legislators to support passage of this bill.

2019 has seen the number of hemp permits increase from around 30 to more than 300! There is still a lot to learn and for first time growers it’s recommended to start small. While hemp is said to ‘grow like a weed’, having it grow and having it be commercially successfully are not necessarily the same thing.

Starting small will allow you to gain experience and confidence to begin increasing acreage as the markets fully develop. It’s an exciting time as the hemp industry expands in PA and across the country. It is not too early to start planning for 2020!

Erica Stark is the Executive Director of the National Hemp Association and the Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council. Erica has years of experience in legislative advocacy, industrial hemp education, and non-profit administration. Erica was instrumental in enacting legislation in Pennsylvania which provided farmers the opportunity to grow hemp for the first time in 80 years.

ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

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Planning & Refining Rotational Grazing Systems

Photo: Emily Decker

By Aaron deLong, PASA Hameau Farm, a grazing dairy in Belleville, Pa., has a long tradition of working with beginners in agriculture. Owner Gay Rodgers (left) has operated a girls’ summer camp for over two decades, and a few years ago Hameau became a host farm for Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA), a federally accredited apprenticeship program dedicated to training new farmers in the art, science, and business of grassbased dairy. While Hameau’s summer camp has exposed a great number of young girls to farming that might have never experienced it otherwise, serving as a host farm for DGA apprentices has empowered Hameau to train adults who are ready to take the leap into farming as vocation.

On May 2nd, Gay and her apprentice Jessica Matthews (right) welcomed a diverse group of nearly fifty attendees — including beginning to experienced farmers, cheese makers, technical service providers, and students studying agriculture — to the farm to learn about Hameau’s rotational grazing system for their dairy herd, and how to design effective rotational grazing systems of their own.

Gay began the day by leading the group up a hill to a paddock beside the one in which the milking herd was grazing, and from which we could gaze down on the bulk of the farm and its permanently fenced paddocks. There, she discussed the components of her rotational grazing system, and grazing systems in general: cows, milk, soil, and grass. The logic behind adapting a rotational grazing system arose from these four interconnected factors on the farm.

Cows Begin with the cows. Hameau Farm is home to an all Ayrshire herd. Typically a bit smaller than many other breeds, with a wider body and shorter legs, the breed is built to graze. In their native Scotland, Ayrshires were known for

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their excellent components and being adept at making use of marginal pasture.

It’s no different at Hameau, where the herd subsists primarily on their dry matter intake from pasture during the grazing season, which extends from April to November. When they are milked, the herd also receives dry hay and a grain supplement — typically about one pound per five pounds of production.

During the winter, the herd is fed a mix of dry hay, grain, and baleage.

Gay’s family has ancestral roots in Scotland, and the adoption and promotion of the Ayrshire breed by her clan goes back to her father, John, who has been active in Pennsylvania dairy for many decades.

Milk From the cows comes the milk. Hameau is proud of the quality of the milk their cows produce, and in March 2019 the farm received a raw milk permit to sell some of their product on-farm directly to consumers. This effort to direct market some of the farm’s milk was spearheaded by Gay’s apprentice Jessica. New to dairy two years ago, Jessica has become an integral part of the Hameau operation — from milking to feeding, to developing new market opportunities.

At Hameau, the average production per day per milking cow is near 50 pounds. Gay’s goal for butterfat level in the milk is 4 percent, which, she noted, is easier to accomplish during the spring flush.

Soil & Grass A grazing dairy herd depends on quality forage, which in turn depends on farmers managing grazing skillfully. Over time, Gay has been able to develop pastures with over 7 percent organic matter and a diversity of forage species, primarily through management intensive rotational grazing practices.

Cows are given new breaks of grass twice a day after each milking, and a typical rotation around the farm is 30 days, depending on the weather. Gay rarely seeds her pastures, and demurred on the idea of “weeds.” Even thistles can be grazed, she said, particularly when in flower — though some of the attendees wondered if this view was in part linked to a general

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Field day attendees discussing Hameau's rotational grazing system at the farm in Belleville, PA. Photo: Emily Decker

Scottish affinity for the thistle!

Hameau’s Grazing System The basic structure of Hameau’s grazing plan consists of 26 paddocks, laid out side by side. Their system is simple and replicable: Moveable polywire separates each acre of pasture, which is plenty to support their stocking density of approximately 35 cows (a mix of cows in milk and dry cows).

All of the paddocks open toward the barn, so in the afternoon when it’s time to milk Gay and Jessica can simply open the polywire “gate,” let the cows march into the barn area to milk, then open the next paddock down the line. The cows are used to the routine — when they hear the sanitize cycle in the milk house kick on they are often waiting at the polywire gate to come in. Conversely, when milking is done, they can hardly wait to leave the barn and get a fresh break of grass.

The biggest puzzle in the grazing system at Hameau has become how to keep the herd watered when they are out on pasture. A laborious system of hoses is in the process of being replaced by a solar-powered well pump atop the hill. The pump fills a reservoir, which then gravity feeds down to hydrants installed in every other paddock. From the hydrant, they fill a water tub which can serve two paddocks; a job float prevents overflow.

The system — when it works — is “fantastic,” Jessica commented, “but there have been hiccups.” For instance, airlocks have occurred at dips in the topography of the paddocks, a cow bent one of the hydrants, and, in one instance, a snake seemed to have blocked the water flow. The project is ongoing, with the National Resources Conservation Service continuing to help Hameau iron out the issues on what promises to be an excellent asset in their grazing system.

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Grazing System Design After the morning session in the pasture, and a delicious lunch by chefs Lindsay Sollers and Lisa Sunderland, the group spent the afternoon indoors, listening to a presentation from grazing specialists Titus Martin and Suzette Truax from NRCS (the agency was instrumental in helping create Hameau’s grazing plan over 20 years ago).

Titus and Suzette focused on grazing system design. They used the grazing system of another local dairy and Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship host farm, Bear Meadows in Boalsburg Pa., as a case study in using existing infrastructure to increase grazing management intensity. Bear Meadows apprentice Amber Donaldson was present to discuss and ask questions of the two long-time grazing specialists about how Bear Meadows might optimize their pasture resources in order to create an even stronger operation.

Titus and Suzette discussed understanding the forage demand of grazing animals. For example, a grazing animal needs to have daily access to anywhere from 2 to 4 percent of their live body weight per day in pounds of forage dry matter, depending on species and lactation (a grazing cow requires about 3.5 percent). By estimating the amount of dry matter available within a given area and using this dry matter required figure, Titus explained, a grazing manager can then calculate grazing area required for a given herd.

Grazing paddocks for some species can be calculated to last multiple days, but for dairy herds, it was noted, quicker movement is optimal in order to keep production consistent and strong. Quicker, more frequent movement of the grazing herd, in general, will give the animals more regular access to high quality forage in-pasture and, when paired with adequate paddock rest periods, can lead to more productive pastures.

Current recommended rotational grazing strategies often emphasize considering shorter grazing periods for a given paddock, leaving taller residuals and recognizing that lower harvest per grazing event will give rise to more grazing events per season — amounting to a cumulative greater net harvest off pasture over the course of the year.

As the day wrapped up, apprentices Amber and Jessica talked further with Titus and Suzette about different ideas and strategies they might be able to try on their host farms, in the interest of furthering their own understanding of managed grazing systems. Attendees filtering out to their cars received grazing sticks, courtesy of NRCS and the PA Grazing Lands Coalition, to help them gauge dry matter available in their own pastures.

Gay left the dispersing group to begin running the sanitizer cycle in the milk house, and in the paddock on top of the hill the cows patiently waited at the paddock gate.

Check out PASA’s full calendar of farmer-to-farmer events and learn more about Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship at pasafarming.org.

PASA is a Pennsylvania-based sustainable agriculture association founded in 1992 working to build a more economically-just, environmentally-regenerative, and community-focused food system through education and research that directly supports farmers.

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PCO Meets with Policy Makers on Capitol Hill to Advance Organic Agriculture Initiatives

By Kyla Smith, Interim Co-Executive Director & Certification Director

PCO staff joined more than 140 organic stakeholders in May to inform members of Congress about organic priorities and the benefits of organic agriculture to the U.S. economy. Legislator meetings represented 43 states and the Virgin Islands; and comprised 100 Democrats, 85 Republicans and one independent.

Our day on Capitol Hill was part of Organic Week in Washington D.C. Organized by the Organic Trade Associ-

ation, Organic Week is an annual policy conference that creates an opportunity for industry stakeholders to ascend on our nation’s capital to learn, collaborate and advocate for integrity and advancement in organic standards.

When meeting with legislators, the top asks were wide-reaching, focusing on several topic areas including: • Climate change • Appropriations • Farm Bill implementation • Continuous improvement and accountability in advancing the organic standards The timing couldn’t have been better as the day we hit the hill the Senate Ag Committee was holding a hearing on climate change; a perfect opportunity to

explain the benefits that organic farming practices have on the environment. We asked for policy recommendations to develop a competitive grant program that provides technical services to organic and transitioning farmers while extending tax credits for landowners who have long-term leases under organic production.

The dairy industry continues to be challenged economically with growth slowing for the second year in a row, and sales increasing only .8 percent from 2017 to 2018. One contributing factor could be the inconsistent implementation and enforcement regarding origin of livestock of dairy animals. This part of the regulations dictate how dairy animals are allowed to enter into organic production whether during the initial transition or as replacement animals.

This inconsistency was addressed in 2015 through a proposed rule issued on this topic. However, it was never published as a final rule and eventually removed from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Unified Regulatory Agenda without explanation. Members of congress were asked during these

OTA Members meet with Rep. Fitzpatrick to discuss organic priorities. L to R: Alfred Torres, Clif Bar & Company; Chelsey Lenczyk, Bejo Seeds Inc; Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick [PA-01]; Emily Newman, PCO; Kyla Smith, PCO.

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hill meetings to add language to the Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations legislation that require the USDA immediately issue a final rule on the origin of livestock within 180 days of passage of the bill. On a positive note, it was announced the day after the hill meetings that the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee released and marked up its draft bill funding USDA and other agencies for Fiscal Year 2020 — including an increase of $4 million for the National Organic Program to protect the integrity of the organic label.

Now that the 2018 Farm Bill has been signed into law, USDA is charged with implementing the various components of the bill. The top asks related to the 2018 Farm Bill implementation pertained to oversight and enforcement include: • Fully funding the NOP at levels authorized by the Farm Bill • Ensuring that USDA completes the strengthening organic enforcement rulemaking by December 2019 • Ensuring that USDA annually reports on all domestic and international compliance activities The organic industry is unique in that it is a voluntary, opt-in program in which participants must adhere to the regulatory framework development through a public-private partnership.

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The development of standards is done through a collaboration between industry and private stakeholders and approved by consensus through the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Over the past 10 years, by following this process, the industry has moved forward 20 consensus recommendations from the NOSB for improvements to the organic standards.

USDA has not completed rulemaking on a single one of them.

The organic industry may be the only industry that voluntarily seeks to be regulated. In order for the standards to advance to keep up with industry trends a different approach may be needed than the process followed by programs with mandatory regulations. During meetings with congressional offices, we asked that: 1) NOSB consensus recommendations be included on the Unified Regulatory Agenda with a published timeline 2) Removal from the Unified Agenda would require notification and explanation 3) Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review would consider the costs when standards are inconsistent or not robust enough to meet the market demand and 4) OMB should not consider a consensus recommendation from NOSB a

“novel policy”, which deems it economically significant and lengthens the regulatory process.

Beyond the advocacy work with legislators, the policy conference hosted a wide range of speakers from a panel exploring access to organic food at all income levels to hemp production and certification. The OTA’s keynote address was given by David Wasserman of The Cook Political Report, in which he outlined the political landscape leading up to the 2020 presidential election.

Wasserman is one of the nation’s most influential political analysts and offered up his keen insight into today’s unpredictable political environment.

Also of note was the State of the Organic Industry session, presented by Laura Batcha, Executive Director/CEO of the Organic Trade Association. This session highlighted several bright spots and continued growth in the organic industry based on the OTA’s 2019 Organic Industry Survey. Organic sales hit an all-time high of $52.5 billion in 2018. This is a 6.5% increase over 2017.

Six percent of food sales in the US are organic. The largest growth areas are produce (6%), beverages (9%), and meat, poultry and fish (11%).

It was a great pleasure to represent our members and advance organic initiatives with policy makers.

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Spring 2019 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting Reprinted with permission by Organic Trade Association — www.OTA.com The Organic Trade Association’s Meeting Report On April 24–26, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) held its biannual public meeting in Seattle, WA. The primary purpose of NOSB meetings is to provide an opportunity for organic stakeholders to give input on proposed NOSB recommendations and discussion items. The meetings also allow NOSB to receive updates from USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) on issues pertaining to organic agriculture. The full agenda for the meeting as well as all meeting materials are available on the Organic Trade Association’s spring 2019 NOSB meeting website. Full text of our comments are included on the website.

The spring 2019 NOSB Resource Booklet contains background information on each topic and a summary of our position. Live coverage of the meeting is provided on our Twitter feed. Below is a full report on the NOSB discussions on each agenda item, the meeting outcomes and next steps, and a full list of upcoming work agenda items.

By the Numbers This was the 55th meeting of the National Organic Standards Board. Over the course of three days, NOSB voted on 10 proposals, considered 7 discussion documents, and discussed over 50 sunset materials. NOSB received 875 written comments prior to the meeting, and listened to nearly 14 hours of oral testimony received from approximately 114 commenters during two webinars and the in-person meeting. The public comment period was open for only 22 days.

Meeting Highlights The National Organic Standards Board meetings continue to be a democratic arena for organic standards devel-

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opment and continuous improvement.

The spring 2019 meeting was no exception. The meeting was productive, the dialogue between NOSB members was thoughtful and they were very engaged with the public, asking many insightful questions during the public comment period. The meeting resulted in numerous outcomes as detailed below. The Board hosted expert panels on several topics as a means to gather technical information to support its review on Celery Powder, Methionine, and Biodegradable Bio-based Mulch Film.

Notably, the Celery Powder Panel was largely made up of members from the Organic Trade Association’s Celery Powder Working Group. A representative from the National Agricultural Statistics Service presented highlights of the 2017 Census of Agriculture and next steps for the 2019 Organic Producer Survey. In addition to scheduled agenda items, public comments drew attention to the need for USDA action on Origin of Livestock rulemaking and the need for clear policy information from NOP about applying existing organic land and crop requirements to container-based production. See the Organic Trade Association’s recent letters to USDA requesting final rulemaking on origin of livestock and clarifying instruction to certifying agents on container-based production. The Organic Trade Association is highlighting 2 critical outcomes that are particularly important to the ongoing work of our organization and the organic sector: n Pullulan: The Organic Trade Association’s petition, as supported by its National List Innovation Working Group and the Dietary Supplements Council, passed unanimously by the Board. This decision will protect the ongoing production and availability of USDA-NOP certified encapsulated dietary supplements. NOP will need to

implement this decision through rulemaking. n Organic Seed Guidance:

After almost four years, NOSB finally passed a proposal to strengthen NOP Guidance 5029 for the required use of organic seed. This improved guidance, in combination with a previously recommended revision to the regulations, should make a huge impact on increasing the use of organic seed once implemented.

USDA National Organic Program Report Highlights

n Update on National List Rulemaking

• Final Rule published December 27, 2018, included 35 changes, most of which went into effect January 28, 2019 • Final Rule in clearance to implement fall 2017 NOSB Recommendation on sulfur (livestock) and potassium acid tartrate (handling) • Proposed Rule recently published to implement spring 2018 NOSB Recommendations on sulfur (crops), polyoxin D zinc salt (crops), and magnesium chloride (handling) • 2019 Sunset Material Renewals expected to be published in summer 2019 • 2019 Sunset Material Removals are under review: Vitamin B1 (crops), Procaine (livestock), and Konjac Flour (handling) • Proposed Rule in development to implement fall 2019 NOSB Recommendations on natamycin and tamarind seed gum to be published in fall 2019 n New Compliance Database:

In March, NOP launched a new database that will better tracking compliance issues, helps see patterns across compliance cases, and help support investigations and enforcement work.

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n NOP Staff Expansions: NOP has hired four new staff members: Associate Deputy Administrator; Trade Systems Director; Accreditation Manager; Quality Manager. NOP will post new positions: Livestock Compliance Specialists (multiple positions) and Remote Accreditation Auditors (multiple positions) n Oversight of Organic Imports:

NOP is working with the Office of Inspector General to conduct risk-based oversight of organic supply chains through the following initiatives: 1) Farm-Level Yield Analysis, 2) Supply Chain Research, 3) Fumigation Investigations with APHIS at ports, 4) Ship-Specific Surveillance, 4) Certifier Investigations, 6) CountryCommodity Studies. As a result of new directive on unannounced inspections and residue/GMO testing, 180 operations (60%) in the Black Sea Region have lost certification, and remaining operations are under continued scrutiny. The impact of reduced organic grain and oilseed imports from Black Sea Region represents 49% (dollar value of these imports) in 2016, and 21% (dollar value of these imports) in 2018. Increased importer awareness and partnership with APHIS have resulted in fumigated organic products re-labeled and not sold as organic. Additional noncompliance,

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proposed suspensions for certifiers and farms continued to be issued as needed to ensure integrity of organic imports. n Dairy Compliance Project: NOP working with AMS Auditors, NOP Compliance Specialists, APHIS Staff and Certifiers have been conducting unannounced inspections of organic dairy operations nationwide to verify compliance with dairy livestock standards. All operations have demonstrated at least 120 days of grazing and at least 30% dry matter intake. Investigations at some operations are ongoing, and a civil penalty has been levied against one operation. The inspections have identified areas where additional training is needed for certifiers and operators, which will be addressed through the NOP’s new Organic Integrity Learning Center. n Organic Integrity Learning Center —

now available! The new Learning Center will offer online training that supports the professional development and continuing education of organic certifiers, inspectors, reviewers, and other professionals working to protect organic integrity. n Farm Bill: New provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill cross all NOP’s Priority Areas (see graphic below)

n Strengthening Organic Enforcement

proposed rule to be published in fall 2019, and will address the following topics:

• Applicability & Exemptions from Certification (Excluded Handlers) • Imports to U.S. (Import Certificates) • Labeling of Nonretail Containers • On-Site Inspections (Unannounced) • Certificates of Organic Operations • Continuation of Certification (Certificate Expirations) • Paperwork Submissions to the Administrator • Personnel Training and Qualifications • Oversight of Certification Activities (Certified Office Oversight) • Accepting Foreign Conformity Assessment Systems (International Oversight) • Compliance — General • Noncompliance Procedure for Certified Operations • Mediation • Adverse Actions — General, Appeals • Producer Group Operations • Calculating the Percentage of Organically Produced Ingredients continued on page 24

ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

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Photo: PA Department of Agriculture

Governor Wolf’s Vision for Longtime Prosperity for Pennsylvania Agriculture Comes to Fruition Governor Tom Wolf ’s vision of a path to longtime prosperity for Pennsylvania agriculture came to fruition with the signing into law of new legislation establishing the Pennsylvania Farm Bill. e PA Farm Bill will make $23.1 million in strategic investments into the agriculture industry to grow opportunities and resources, remove barriers to entry, and cultivate future generations of leaders within agriculture. “e agricultural industry is the backbone of Pennsylvania’s economy. e PA Farm Bill is bold, aggressive, and necessary to protect our farming heritage and inspire the next generation of Pennsylvania farmers,” said Gov. Wolf.

“Our commonwealth flourishes when Pennsylvanians have access to highquality, locally sourced products — and when our farmers are competitive in a diverse range of markets. e historic investments made through the PA Farm Bill will improve the lives of all residents for years to come and create a pathway

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for a dynamic and prosperous farming economy in Pennsylvania.” e PA Farm Bill will provide support for and continued investments in the commonwealth’s agriculture industry. e bill was modeled aer Gov. Wolf ’s six-point plan, which he first presented publicly last August at Ag Progress Days.

“In my 20 years of public service, this is the largest investment I’ve ever seen made in Pennsylvania agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “anks to Governor Wolf, this is the beginning of a new era of opportunities for our state’s top industry, and we’re proud to be here to witness it.”

The PA Farm Bill will: Develop New Resources for Agriculture Business Development and Succession Planning n

• Invest $2 million to create the Agriculture Business Development Center to support business planning, marketing,

diversification, and transition planning services to Pennsylvania farmers.

• Create a realty transfer tax exemption for any transfer of preserved farmland to a qualified beginning farmer.

• Provide for the construction and use of a residence for the landowner or an employee and provides for the subdivision of preserved farmlands. n

Increase Opportunities for Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Workforce • Create the PA Farm to School Grant Program, funded at $500,000, for prekindergarten through fih grade students to support increased nutrition and agriculture education.

• Re-establish the Agriculture and Youth Development grant program with an investment of $500,000 to support workforce development initiatives for agriculture and youth organizations such as FFA and 4-H.

n

Remove Regulatory Burdens and

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Strengthen the State’s Agricultural Business Climate • Expand the allowable width for use of implements of agriculture husbandry from 16 feet to 18 feet.

• Allocate $500,000 to the Agriculture Linked Investment Program to provide low-interest loans for conservation practices.

• Support the Conservation Excellence Grant program with $2.5 million to fund best management practices in priority areas of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

• Expand Resource Enhancement and Protection Tax Credits by $3 million to raise the lifetime cap and increase availability. n Create More Processing Capabilities

• Expand Pennsylvania’s Dairy Investment Program, funded at $5 million, to support innovation, value-added processing, marketing, and organic transitions in the dairy industry.

• Utilize $500,000 to incentivize access to meat processing inspections for small farmers or butchers to reimburse costs

for federal inspection compliance to access new markets.

• Invest $1 million to create the Center for Animal Agriculture Excellence, which will assist with expanding processing capacity, providing technical assistance and resources for food safety compliance and establishing hemp as an approved animal feed. n Increase Market Opportunities andGrow the Organic Sector • Invest $500,000 to support a state-level Specialty Crop Block Grant program to invest in priority crops for Pennsylvania, such as hardwoods, hemp, and hops.

• Bolster enrollment in the Homegrown

by Heroes Program by providing an additional $1 million to the PA Pre-

ferred program.

• Improve agriculture infrastructure in urban areas by investing $500,000 in the Urban Agricultural Infrastructure Grant Program.

• Direct $1.6 million in funding to support PA Preferred and create the PA Preferred Organic Initiative to enhance the growth of the organic sector. n Protect Agriculture Infrastructure

• Continue the fight against the Spotted Lanternfly and create the Pennsylvania Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account, funded at $4 million, to provide a quick response to the next agricultural disaster, whether animal health, plant health, or foodborne illness.

STAY CONNECTED, VISIT:

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A Full-Service Certification Agency Now offering Transitioning Farmer membership!

814-422-0251 • paorganic.org www.paorganic.org

ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

11

President’s Message

Greeting to Summer and Planning for Success

By Luke R. Howard, PCO Advisory Board President Summer is finally here and all of our preparation in the spring is showing its results on our farm. We feel fortunate that we may have the healthiest corn crop we have ever grown on our farm.

While I don’t want to jinx myself with so much of the growing season left, we have worked hard to get it to this spot and the weather has cooperated perfectly — so far. Hopefully 2019 will be a better year than last year.

I know I don’t have to tell all of you that farming is a difficult business at times. It requires us to assess, prepare and execute a plan that most times we won’t have a second chance to deliver. It requires us to hope for good weather that we have no control over. So this is an

ever important reason that our planning is important. For example making sure we spread our compost, fertilizer and manure at the proper time to receive the nutrients and benefits is always important. Planting our seeds at the correct time, correct depth, and hoping for just the right amount of rain almost seems impossible to coordinate but with a little luck and good planning it can come together. And then hoping for the correct moisture all summer and finally hoping that harvest happens before a hurricane or snow storm adds to the worries. But planning is required, and a lot of it. And with careful planning a good crop can happen. Without careful planning nothing successful will follow.

At PCO we are planning for the future with the same seriousness that we plan for on our farms. We formed the Executive Director search committee

and at the April Board meeting and voted on hiring an executive search firm to help us find the next great leader for PCO. After interviewing many highly recommended firms, we choose the North Group Consultants from Lititz, Pennsylvania. They stood out among their peers as the leader in this process.

Part of their time-tested success involves holding focus group meetings with key stakeholders. Over the past month, the consultants have facilitated small focus groups with certified members, industry leaders, staff and board members to build the essential characteristics, skills and experience for the ideal candidate. Through these conversations they will identify the top priorities the new Executive Director should focus on to successfully guide our organization and advance PCO’s mission. We are grateful to the individuals who volunteered their time to share their vision for our success. We will keep you posted as we progress and get ready to post our opening. I look forward to the future of PCO; and having the most qualified Executive Director will make our future a planned success.

Finally, this year PCO’s annual meeting will be held on October 16th in Centre County. This will be a great time for you to get updated on the progress of PCO over the past year. We will have updates on all information as it relates to your organic operation, including updates about the Executive Director search. Please look for updates on location and times for this important meeting.

Good luck this summer and be safe, Luke R Howard, PCO President 410.708.3105

2020 PCO Calendar Photo Contest!

PCO would like to showcase your organic farm, and photography skills in our 2020 calendar. We are looking for pictures of your family and farm workers on your organic farm or handling operation, at work or at rest, throughout the seasons. We will accept high-resolution photos via submission on our website, by email, or on a CD. Please submit your entries for the photo contest by August 31, 2019 to: Pennsylvania Certified Organic 2020 Calendar Coordinator 106 School Street, Suite 201 • Spring Mills, PA 16875 calendar@paorganic.org • www.paorganic.org

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ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

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ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

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5

PA

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SPR

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Dear Aggy Readers’ Letters

1 6 87

Managing Flies on Organic Operations Dear Aggy, With the wet spring, the flies are really bothering my cows this year.

This is my first year that my herd is certified organic, and I just don’t know what I’m allowed to use. Do you care what kind of fly spray I use?

— Flustered by flies

Dear Flustered, Not only do excessive flies make cows uncomfortable, they also keep cows from grazing efficiently, resulting in lower milk production, and they can also play a part in spreading diseases such as pink eye.

Controlling fly populations takes more than just finding an acceptable fly spray that works; it requires a holistic farm approach. Remember, in organic systems, all cultural, biological, and mechanical methods of control should be used first. Here are a few key components: Cultural Controls: • Keep the barn and feed areas dry and clean. Fix all dripping water leaks promptly. Flies need damp areas to reproduce, so having constant soggy silage around the feed bunks is an invitation to flies.

Mechanical & Physical Controls: • Sticky fly tape — within 3 feet of the ground in sunlit areas to be attractive to the flies.

• Walk-through fly traps work well for reducing populations of biting horn flies. If placed in the cowlane between the pasture and the barn, the cows will be quickly trained to walk through them, dislodging and capturing horn flies. Plans are available on-line or from your local extension office.

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• Screens — having well-fitted screens in your milkhouse windows and keeping doors tightly closed will prevent flies from becoming a problem in this important area and is something the inspector regularly checks for.

• Fans — large fans moving air though the barn will prevent flies from taking up residence and will help dry out the facilities as well.

Biological Controls: • Release parasitic flies near manure areas on a consistent schedule, about every 1–2 weeks starting in spring. It’s important to start with a release program before the fly population becomes too high, to give the parasitic flies a chance at control, and then to schedule releases at recommended intervals.

• Barn swallows and Purple martins are excellent natural fly predators, and can be encouraged through the use of Martin house colonies.

Fly Sprays and Rubs: • Back rubbers soaked with soybean or vegetable oil are allowed. Using synthetics, diesel, or fuel oil for this use is

prohibited in organic production.

• Approved insect sprays can only be used after all other control options listed above are exhausted. Insecticidal control options for horn flies and face flies include repellents and animal sprays directed at the face and back.

• Insect sprays need to be reviewed and allowed by PCO before they can be used.

Livestock External Pest Control Here are some of the more common products that are PCO allowed: • Ecto Phyte by Agri-Dynamics • No Fly Repellant by Crystal Creek • Pyganic by MGK Company • Shoo Fly Spray by Dr. Sarah’s Essentials • Natural Fly Spray by Free Choice Enterprises • Fly Parasites from sources including, but not limited to: Spalding Labs, IPM Laboratories, Kunafin Insectary, and BioSwat.

Prohibited: • Fly Bait — scattering toxic fly bait in or near organic production areas is prohibited.

• Insecticidal Ear Tags • Synthetic Insecticides Resources: • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Guide for Organic Dairies — Cornell Cooperative Extension • University of Arkansas: Fly Control for Organic Dairies www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSA-7072.pdf

Got a question for Aggy?

• Email to: pco@paorganic.org • Fax to: 814-422-0255

ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

15

Transitions

Handler (Processor/Handler & Marketer/Broker/Trader) Inspections — Part 2 Making sure you are prepared for your handler inspection

By Colleen Scott, Certification Specialist

In our last Transitions: Handler Inspections article, we discussed how to prepare for your inspection, what to expect at inspection, verifying the status of materials in use at your operation, audit trail expectations, and legal status of individual operations. In this article, we will discuss the specific documents you should have available at inspection to ensure your inspection runs smoothly.

Documents to have available at inspection As a best practice, you should be keeping records of anything that happens in your organic facility. Some of the most common documents you should have available include: • Facility map — the inspector should have a copy, but you should also have a current legible facility map with any recent changes made to it.

• Process flow documentation — this may be in a hand-written, printed, or digital format, and may be in a narrative and/or diagram format.

• Batch/production records — this may include blending reports, production logs, and other applicable documentation.

• Sanitation records — this may include records of equipment rinses, residue testing logs, and other applicable documentation.

• Pest management records — this may include reports from your pest control operator and other applicable documentation. If you use any pest management materials that have a 205.271(d) restriction in any processing or storage areas, you may require a Synthetic Facility Pest Management Agreement.

This form will be verified on site if already in place.

• Materials documentation — this may include MSDS forms, technical data sheets, material labels, records of what materials were used, and records of where they were used. Be sure to have a current complete Materials Used form available.

Common materials used in processing facilities fall within the following categories: • Cleansers/Sanitizers — There are “Must Rinse” and “No

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Rinse” sanitizers. Potable water must be used for rinsing. If a material used on food contact surfaces contains quaternary ammonia, you may require a residue testing protocol. Be sure to clearly identify cleansers/sanitizers that are used on food contact surfaces on your Materials Used form. Having a label, MSDS, or other documentation for each Cleanser/Sanitizer will help ensure the materials on your Materials Used form are listed accurately and will allow your Certification Specialist to check each material in the PCO Materials Database.

• Processing Aids — These will be listed on both your Materials Used form and Product Profiles (if applicable). Examples include gas flushes, brines, defoamers, and antimicrobials.

Documentation may include a specification sheet, label, or other documentation that includes the full name and manufacturer information for the material.

• Pest Management Materials — There are a variety of restrictions for pest management materials. Placement/location within your facility and application method of each pest management material will be a factor used to determine whether a restriction is applicable. Labels, specification sheets, or other documentation for the individual products is helpful to have on hand. Having a pest management map, pest control company records, and SOPs (if available) are also needed to ensure the pest management practices on file match up with what is happening on-site.

• Non-Organic Ingredients — Non-organic ingredients will be submitted for review in the Materials Database, but will not be listed on your Materials Used form. Instead, these ingredients should be listed on individual Product Profiles.

You should keep current specification sheets on hand for any

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non-organic ingredients. Some non-organic ingredients have a commercial availability restriction which will be verified annually. If you make any changes to non-organic ingredients, be sure to notify your Certification Specialist prior to the change so the new material can be reviewed.

• Boiler Chemicals — You must be able to demonstrate that restrictions are adhered to. This may include documentation listing non-volatility of a chemical, or documentation showing that a boiler system is closed. If steam has food or foodfacing packaging contact, be sure this information is reflected on your Materials Used form.

• Product Profiles/Formulations — your inspector will verify that the Product Profiles on file are current and accurate. If there are any changes to suppliers or formulation percentages, your product profiles may be updated at inspection.

Note that some changes to your profiles may have to be reviewed prior to implementation, such as a new supplier not certified to non-NOP standards, a new non-organic ingredient, a new multi-ingredient ingredient, a change to the formulation (new ingredient), changes to the export section, addition of a processing aid, changes that may affect the organic claim, and any change that would potentially affect the final product label.

You must have adequate records for all current product formulations. The following information is needed for each product under your certification (as applicable): • Current Product Profiles

on your product profile. Your Certification Specialist will determine whether a processing aid is acting as an ingredient and whether it should be factored into your formulation percentage • Organic Ingredients — organic inputs must be individually listed on product profiles and you must have current organic documentation for each. If an ingredient is imported under a trade agreement, you must have applicable documentation available • Non-Organic Ingredients — All non-organic ingredients in a formulation must be listed on your product profile. If a non-organic ingredient is not in the PCO Materials Database, your Certification Specialist will request documentation for the non-organic ingredient.

• Formulation Percentages — Your formulation percentages must add up to 100%, excluding water and salt. Your Certification Specialist may request the formulation with water and salt added on a separate document in order to verify ingredient statement claims. Some items, such as juice concentrates, may require further information in order to determine the correct formulation percentage.

• Organic Content — There are 3 current product composition categories — 100% Organic, Organic, and Made WithOrganic.

For the 100% Organic claim, all ingredients must be certified to 100% Organic standards. Any processing aids must be Organic.

• Processing Aids — Any processing aids in use must be listed

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ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

17

Organic Updates

Certification Update

Materials Update

Marissa Evankovich, Certification Program Manager

Jennifer Berkebile, Materials Program Manager

We’ve all heard that April showers bring May flowers, but what does non-stop showers from April to June bring? Flooding, soggy fields, and damp conditions, for a start. The rain has produced several big challenges for producers that we have heard about, including flooded produce fields (please call us immediately if you have edible crops in a flooded field), delayed planting and/or harvesting of field crops, and, in the livestock sector: mud, health issues, and even limited access to certain pastures.

Last year we had taken several calls regarding concerns about meeting the pasture rule requirements due to pastures being flooded, and access to the outdoors being limited due to poor soil/field conditions. If you think or know you may have trouble meeting the pasture rule requirements (at least 120 days of grazing, obtaining 30% dry matter intake from pasture) due to circumstances beyond your control, such as flooding, drought, etc., call your certification specialist as soon as possible. Do *not* wait until next season to report these issues. The sooner PCO is aware of a potential problem, the sooner we can work with you in figuring out options.

In past years, PCO has been able to work with producers to request a “temporary variance” from the National Organic Program in regards to the pasture rule requirements. Producers in some counties declared as “natural disaster areas” (due to drought in 2016) were permitted to have 15% of pasture over 90 days instead of the required 120 days/30% DMI requirement. A temporary variance is not always guaranteed, and good evidence and justification must be presented in order to request a variance from the NOP. Please call PCO with questions or if you have any issues in meeting the pasture rule requirements prior to the season’s end.

One last item I would like to mention: in the “policy” updates section, you may have read about PCO’s policy on temporary confinement requests for organic poultry, which is a tool for keeping your organic flocks healthy. A key part to keeping your organic flocks healthy is good biosecurity. The PA Department of Agriculture recommends the following: All producers maintain a written biosecurity plan for their flocks and ensure that all people entering the premises follow these best management practices. Biosecurity plans should include handling of litter and mortalities, in addition to the other items suggested by the National Poultry Improvement Plan Program Standards. If you have a biosecurity plan and have not sent this to PCO, please consider doing so in order for us to ensure inspectors are the most up to date in your biosecurity requirements. If you do not have a written biosecurity plan, your local Department of Agriculture may be able to assist you in creating and implementing a plan.

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Important Notice: The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has released a statement advising consumers to discard Triple Action Neem Oil Broad Spectrum Fungicide, Insecticide, and Miticide by Southern Agricultural Insecticides Inc. Although this product is approved for use on organic operations by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), the PA Dept. of Ag. found that the product contains pesticide active ingredients not listed on the product label. During testing, the presence of malathion, chlorpyrifos, and permethrin were confirmed. These pesticides are included on the National Organic Program’s list of prohibited pesticides. Therefore, PCO certified operators must discontinue use of this product immediately. Full text of the notice can be found at www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Agriculture_details.aspx?newsid=79 9. Contact Jen at the PCO office for a hard copy, or with any questions or concerns.

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 • Charcoal Powder (Activated) by Starwest Botanicals is allowed as a livestock medical treatment • Fibrozyme OA by Alltech, Inc., is allowed as a feed additive/supplement • Keto Aid Drench by IBA, Inc., is allowed as a livestock medical treatment with the following restrictions: – Medical Treatment. Must not be administered in the absence of illness. Records must be kept documenting specific animal treated, treatment/dosage used, and duration of treatment. §205.238(b) – Propylene Glycol. Only for treatment of ketosis in ruminants. §205.603(a)(27) • Propylene Glycol by Aspen Veterinary Resources, Ltd., is allowed as a livestock medical treatment with the following restrictions: – Medical Treatment. Must not be administered in the absence of illness. Records must be kept documenting specific animal treated, treatment/dosage used, and duration of treatment. §205.238(b) – Propylene Glycol. Only for treatment of ketosis in ruminants. §205.603(a)(27) • Propylene Glycol U.S.P by Durvet, Inc., is allowed as a livestock medical treatment with the following restrictions:

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Organic Updates – Medical Treatment. Must not be administered in the absence of illness. Records must be kept documenting specific animal treated, treatment/dosage used, and duration of treatment. §205.238(b) – Propylene Glycol. Only for treatment of ketosis in ruminants. §205.603(a)(27) • Quick Hit by Animal Medic Inc. is allowed as a livestock medical treatment • Quick Hit by SSI Corporation is allowed as a livestock medical treatment for hoof care • Somato Check No 170 Organic by Hess Farm Supply is allowed as a feed additive/supplement • Super Booster for Adult Cattle by IBA, Inc., is allowed as a livestock medical treatment with the following restriction: – Medical Treatment. Must not be administered in the absence of illness. Records must be kept documenting specific animal treated, treatment/dosage used, and duration of treatment. §205.238(b) • Super Booster for Calves by IBA, Inc., is allowed as a livestock medical treatment with the following restriction: – Medical Treatment. Must not be administered in the absence of illness. Records must be kept documenting specific animal treated, treatment/dosage used, and duration of treatment. §205.238(b) n PROHIBITED — Operators must immediately discontinue use of these products unless otherwise indicated.

Crop Materials • Triple Action Neem Oil Broad Spectrum Fungicide, Insecticide, and Miticide by Southern Agricultural Insecticides Inc. is prohibited for use as a pesticide.

Standards & Policy Update Kyla Smith, Interim Co-Executive Director & Certification Director USDA Instructs Certifiers Regarding the Certification of Organic Crop Container Systems This memo outlines the applicable regulations that certifiers must use to determine the eligibility and compliance of container systems for organic crop certification. It clarifies that the three-year transition period applies to all container systems built and maintained on land.

Certifiers are responsible for verifying land eligibility and whether the system is compliant with the USDA organic regulations. Organic crops must have been produced and handled without the use of prohibited substances; and must have been produced on land to which prohibited substances have not been applied during the three years immediately preceding the harvest of agricultural crops.

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In order to determine land eligibility, certifiers must assess land use histories of container system cites, as is done for inground soil-based systems. If prohibited substances were applied to the land within the three-year period then the crops must not be sold, labeled or represented as organic until the three-year transition is complete.

Certifiers must continue to verify compliance of the overall system after the operation is certified, including maintaining or improving natural resources, supporting nutrient cycling, promoting ecological balance and conserving biodiversity.

This notice to certifiers was published in the National Organic Program Handbook available at the following link: www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/handbook. Hard copies are available by contacting the PCO office.

PCO Drafts New Policy on Temporary Confinement of Poultry Due to Infectious Disease PCO recently drafted a new policy to explain the circumstances under which temporary confinement due to infectious disease may be compliant with NOP regulations and detail the expectations for organic operators requesting temporary confinement (required information, terms of confinement, compliance with livestock living conditions).

PCO accepts written requests for temporary confinement due to confirmed cases of infectious diseases that jeopardize animal health, safety and well-being, such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza or Infectious Coryza. These requests will be reviewed based on the information submitted, including the proximity to the disease in question, information on how temporary confinement will protect the birds and the continued monitoring of disease risk during the confinement period. If it is determined that temporary confinement is justified based on the submitted information, PCO will approve periods of confinement up to 30 days, with the possibility of extensions as warranted by the operator’s monitoring. Extensions must be requested in writing.

To guide the submission of these requests, PCO has created a form, which can be requested from your certification specialist. Also, if you have questions or need more information, please contact your certification specialist.

New Faces PCO Welcomes New Inspections Program Manager Jenny Cruse joined the PCO team as Inspections Program Manager in the summer of 2019. She has been involved with organic certification and inspections since 2011 and has a strong appreciation for the effects of organic certification on small farms and rural communities. She lives in Southeast Minnesota with her husband Mike and their two children.

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New Members PCO Welcomes 2nd Quarter New Members!

Clinton County Organic Produce Loganton, PA

Erbie S. Stoltzfus Loganton, PA

Esle Yoder

COSMETIXER LLC

Kreamer, PA

Centreville, VA

Good Keeper Farm

David F. Beiler Loganton, PA

Gardners, PA

Handy Hills Farm St. Johnsville, NY

GRASSFED

Andrew & Dolores Wenger

David Lantz

Port Royal, PA

Coatesville, PA

Backenstoes Farms LLC

David M. Martin

Grantville, PA

Watsontown, PA

Banner Farm

David Ray Stoltzfus

Watsontown, PA

Dornsife, PA

Barren’s Edge Organic Farm

Deer Creek Poultry

Michael Geiser Mansfield, PA

Queensboro Farm Products, Inc. Canastota, NY

Steuben Foods Inc

Geneva, NY

John Reiff Millmont, PA

John Troyer Little Falls, NY

Martinsburg, PA

Elma, NY

Big Bear Organics Timothy Stoltman

James W. Weaver

Stevens, PA

North Bangor, NY

Douglas Wetzel Gettysburg, PA

Conesus, NY

John Zimmerman Farm Narvon, PA

Jonas J. Hershberger New Berlin, NY

Brian & Barbara Shively Family Farm

Eli King

Joseph Garrant

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

Millmont, PA

Homer City, PA

Champlain, NY

Amos H. Fisher

Burkholder Family Farm

Eli L.A. Shetler

Keenan Family Farms

Copenhagen, NY

Fort Covington, NY

Canton, NY

Greensburg, PA

Amos Stoltzfus

Clabaugh Homestead

Enos Wengerd

Keystone AgriScience LLC

Lewisburg, PA

Gettysburg, PA

Port Royal, PA

East Earl, PA

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ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

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Linda Grove

Vincent Metzler

Thomasville, PA

Peach Bottom, PA

Linus Martin

Wild Acres

Mifflinburg, PA

Branchport, NY

Locals Grow Smart

Wolfgang Operations LLC

Washington, DC

York, PA

M&K Family Farms

Wonder Garden

Catawissa, PA

Breinigsville, PA

Marcus P. Strubhar

Zook Hill Farms

East Berlin, PA

Mifflintown, PA

McIntire Turkey Farm Upper Strasburg, PA

BUSINESS Miller Farm West Edmeston, NY

Mud College Farmstead Gettysburg, PA

Alltech Essex Jct, VT

Best Veterinary Solutions Ellsworth, IA

N.J. Mushroom, Inc. Cedarville, NJ

Eberly Poultry Denver, PA

Norman Hoover Selingsgrove, PA

Excel Dairy Nutrition Stephenville, TX

Paul K. Fisher

Justa Farm

Kinzers, PA

Oxford, PA

Pete & Gerry’s Organics LLC (Pleasant View Farm) Monroe, NH

Tyson Hill Excavating Mifflintown, PA

Robin Hill Organics LLC Newtown Square, PA

SUSTAINER

Roy Shank

Commodity Blenders LLC

Chambersburg, PA

West Salem, OH

Ryan Kessler

Betty Harper

Baker, WV

State College, PA

SK Organic Grain LLC

Patriot Farms LLC

Spring Glen, PA

Lenhartsville, PA

Sun Rich Fresh Foods

Tasunka Farm Organics

Reading, PA

Birchrunville, PA

Supreme Vinegar LLC

Walnut Creek Farm

Bensalem, PA

Laceyville, PA

The Cotyledon LLC Derwood, MD

TRANSITION

Therapy Lane

Wade Hilton

LaGrange, IN

Prattsburgh, NY

STAY CONNECTED, VISIT:

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ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

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AUGUST 13–15 Ag Progress Days Russell E. Larson Agricultural Resource Center Pennsylvania Furnace, PA agsci.psu.edu • 814.865.2081 PCO Booth J309

Calendar

JULY JULY 31 • 2–3PM Webinar: Utilizing Industrial Hemp to Address Weed Issues and Enhance Soil Health Rodaleinstitute.org

AUGUST 14 • 3–5:30PM Raising Organic Pastured Poultry PCO-Certified Carversville Farm Foundation Mechanicsville, PA Pasafarming.org • 814-349-9856 x709

AUGUST AUGUST 7 • 9AM–1PM Soil Health Field Day Stroud Preserve West Chester, PA Stroudcenter.org • 610-268-2153 x 310

SEPTEMBER 11 • 3–5:30PM Introduction to CBD Hemp Production Wild Fox Farm & Provisions Barto, PA Pasafarming.org • 814-349-9856 x709 SEPTEMBER 19 • 10AM–3PM Regenerative Grazing From the Ground Up PCO-Certified Spring Creek Farm Wernersville, PA Pasafarming.org • 814-349-9856 x709

OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2 Labor Day PCO Office closed

AUGUST 13 • 5:30–8PM Packhouse Design & Post-Harvest Handling PCO-Certified Blackberry Meadows Farm Natrona Heights, PA Pasafarming.org • 814-349-9856 x710

SEPTEMBER 7 • 6–9PM Organic Pioneer Awards Rodale Institute Kutztown, PA Rodaleinstitute.org • 610-683-1400

Save the Date for PCO’s Annual Meeting OCTOBER 16 Centre County, PA More info to come soon!

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ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

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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 • SUMMER 2019

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Spring 2019 NOSB Meeting continued from page 9

• Supply Chain Traceability and Organic Fraud Prevention At-A-Glance Meeting Outcomes n PROPOSALS:

NOSB considered 10 proposals at this meeting. Of the proposals, 5 PASSED and 5 FAILED. PASSED (referred to USDA for approval and implementation)

• Excluded methods determinations — proposed updates to NOP Guidance are accepted • Strengthening Organic Seed Guidance — proposed updates to NOP Guidance are accepted • Oxalic acid — petition to allow in livestock production is accepted • Pullulan — petition to allow in processing/handling (“made with” only) is accepted • Collagen gel — petition to allow in processing/handling is accepted FAILED

• Silver dihydrogen citrate — petition to allow in processing/handling is rejected • Allyl isothiocyanate — petition to allow in crop production is rejected

NOSB Members from left to right: Emily Oakley (producer), Steve Ella (Vice Chair, producer), Sue Baird (public interest), Jesse Buie (producer), Scott Rice (Secretary, certifier), Dan Seitz (public interest), Harriet Behar (Chair, resource conservationist), A-dae RomeroBriones (public interest), Asa Bradman (environmentalist), Dave Mortensen (Scientist), Tom Chapman (handler), Lisa de Lima (retailer), Ashley Swaffar (producer), Rick Greenwood (resource conservationist). Photo: Organic Trade Association

• Calcium acetate — petition to allow in crop production is rejected n DISCUSSION DOCUMENTS:

NOSB discussed the following topics with the intent of bringing forward a proposal at a future meeting.

• Ammonium citrate — petition to allow in crop production is rejected

• Excluded methods: Induced mutagenesis and embryo transfer in livestock

• Ammonium glycinate — petition to allow in crop production is rejected

• Marine materials in organic crop production

• Genetic integrity transparency of seed grown on organic land • Assessing cleaning and sanitation materials used in organic crop, livestock and handling • Oversight improvements to deter fraud • Use of excluded methods vaccines in organic livestock production • Paper (Plant Pots and Other Crop Production Aids) n SUNSET REVIEWS: NOSB discussed over 50 National List inputs that are scheduled for Sunset Review this year.

NOSB will vote on whether these substances should remain on the National List at the fall 2019 meeting. n LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FALL

Do you shop online at Amazon?

Support PCO through the program AmazonSmile!

The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to PCO at no additional cost to you. To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from your web browser. Then select “Pennsylvania Certified Organic” using your existing Amazon.com account. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it easy to return and start your shopping and supporting!

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ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

2019 NOSB MEETING: The next NOSB meeting will take place October 23–25, 2019, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh City Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Notable work agenda topics will include Marine Materials in crop production, Embryo Transfer in livestock, Research Priorities, petitions for Paper Pots, Potassium Hypochlorite, and Fatty Alcohols, and votes on 2021 sunset materials.

www.paorganic.org

Growing Hemp: A Good Fit for Organic Crop Roatations continued from page 3

ing varieties that mature earlier than fiber varieties. Grain hemp is typically able to be harvested using a common combine where only the top of the plant, including the leaf is harvested. The top is cut from the stem with a combine-jaw and subsequently processed in the combine, separating the seed from the rest. It’s also possible to catch the leaves from the rear on the combine with a wagon. Attachments are available that will process this material at another time. General settings for the combine can be found below. It’s important that the combine is cleaned properly during the threshing of hemp as the hemp oils tends to cake on.

Combine Settings for Grain Harvest: Dual Fiber Oil Harvest The hemp stem or the entire plant is harvested by means of a chopper or combine that is suitable for hemp. The length at which the hemp is cut is about 24 inches (2 feet); the cutterhead should be set for this in combination with the feed rollers.

The hemp then ends up on a windrow.

After the mowing, the biomass should remain in a windrow for 10 to 14 days for drying and retting. Leaving the hemp in the field to rett allows for easier processing when sent to the factory. Harvested product should be turned twice during the drying period by using an over the top tedder, straw walker, or other hay conditioning machine. This separates the crop at a low speed, drying it evenly. It’s important that the PTO shaft speed does not exceed 350 rpm. It is also important to make sure that the swath does not gets too wide because driving over

the harvested crop repeatedly will effect quality at de-cordication. Additionally, turning the fiber at high speeds can result in yield loss.

The biomass can be raked into a larger windrow when the hemp is dry enough in order for more efficient baling. Check to see if the hemp is dry enough by breaking its stem. Take a tuft of hemp stems and break it. The hemp is dry enough when the hemp truly breaks (actual separation). If the hemp just cracks, the product is still too damp.

The hemp is then pressed into square bales each weighing approximately 400 kg. It’s important that the cutting device is disabled when baling to prevent damage to the machine.

At the moment, there is not enough hemp in the marketplace to allow for price premiums for certified organic hemp as opposed to conventional hemp. Niche markets and several processors are eager to purchase hemp that has been grown organically. This new old crop presents significant opportunities to famers looking to add to their crop rotation or for those wanting to add a new stream of revenue to their operation.

Industrial hemp Is not going away from the American farming scene and once processing infrastructure is established, hemp has the potential to rival major commodity crops for its overdue piece of the market.

As Director of Farm Relations for Canopy Growth USA, Ross oversees farm relations, guides agronomic initiatives, and coordinates all aspects of Canopy Growth hemp cultivation. Ross’ background growing upon a dairy farm and managing farms at the Glasbern Inn and the Rodale Institute, has provided him with keen insight and experience into working hemp into just about any farming operation

Advertise in Organic Matters Organic Matters is the quarterly newsletter of Pennsylvania Certified Organic, a non-profit organization serving growers, processors and handlers of organic products. Issues contain articles on the latest news and research in the organic industry, often highlighting our certified members. Approximately 1,500 copies of each publication are distributed directly to members and those requesting information about organic agriculture, and made available to the public at conferences, exhibits and educational programs in the Mid-Atlantic region.

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The above rates refer to a single-issue ad placement and a subscription for ad placement in four consecutive issues.

A 15% discount is granted for the purchase of the 4-issue subscription.

For more information, please contact newsletter@paorganic.org or call the PCO Office at 814-422-0251.

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Membership/Certification Order Form Contact Information Name

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Billing

Applications

Organic Matters

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Transitioning Farmer .......................................... $200*

Advocate Member ................................................. $50

Receive Sustainer Membership benefits plus: phone access to certification specialist to answer all your transition questions, application and paperwork review, materials lists and guidance, and more. * Farm visit available upon request at additional cost.

Receives Organic Matters newsletter, workshop notices, discounts on PCO materials, invitations to meetings, and one free 30-word classified in Organic Matters per issue.

New Applicant .................................................. $100** New applicants will receive the following: PCO Certification Manual, NOP Standards Manual, PCO Materials List, and OMRI Materials List. ** $100 new applicant fee plus $695 basic certification fee due prior to processing.

Please send me applications for the following categories (free): Crops/Produce Dairy/Livestock

PCO 100% Grassfed Certification Gluten Free

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Sustainer Member ................................................ $100 Same benefits as the Advocate Member, plus you may request a free copy of the PCO Certification Manual, NOP Standards Manual, PCO Materials List, OMRI Materials List, and Record Keeping Systems. In addition, you may vote on PCO standards and policies. If you decide to apply for certification during your membership year, the $100 New Applicant Fee is waived.

Business Member ................................................. $150 Receives the same benefits as a Sustainer Member, plus a 10% discount on ads in Organic Matters.

Checks: Payable to PCO Pay Online: www.paorganic.org /orderform Pay via Phone: (814)-422-0251

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2020 PCO Calendar Photo Contest!

PCO would like to showcase your organic farm, and photography skills in our 2020 calendar. We are looking for pictures of your family and farm workers on your organic farm or handling operation, at work or at rest, throughout the seasons. We will accept high-resolution photos via submission on our website, by email, or on a CD. Please submit your entries for the photo contest by August 31, 2019 to: Pennsylvania Certified Organic 2020 Calendar Coordinator 106 School Street, Suite 201 • Spring Mills, PA 16875 calendar@paorganic.org • www.paorganic.org

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ORGANIC MATTERS • SUMMER 2019

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Organic Matters Survey We are asking for just a few moments of your time to make sure we hear your opinions and suggestions so Organic Matters can best serve your interests. By answering these questions, you’re helping us gain a clear understanding of what you expect to see in these pages, which will help us produce a publication that is a true reflection of interests in our organic community. Please complete the survey and return it to PCO. Thank you for your time and support in completing this survey.

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