This site partially funded
by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Pennsylvania Certified Organic
106 School Street
Suite 201
Spring Mills, PA 16875		 phone: 814-422-0251
fax: 814-422-0255
E-Mail Us


Information on the New Pasture Rule
 

PCO will be holding training sessions on the new rule in August and September. Contact PCO to register for the below session in your area:

  • August 19, Spring Mills PA, Centre County

    •
  • September 1, Gap PA, Lancaster County

  • September 15, Troy PA, Bradford County

  • September 22, Somerset County

Click here for more information on each training session

The National Organic Program (NOP) has issued the Access to Pasture Final Rule that provides greater detail regarding NOP livestock regulations, especially as they relate to pasture and ruminant animals.

Under the New Pasture Rule, producers now applying for certification will have to be in compliance with those requirements in order to receive certification while currently certified operations will have until June 17, 2011 to become fully compliant.

To help you better understand the new rule, which parts of your Organic System Plan you will need to additionally address, and what additional record-keeping requirements you will need to satisfy in order to demonstrate your ability to comply with the new rule, we have included the following documents:

  • Access to Pasture Rule Guidance Document This guidance document contains the regulations of the new rule; explanations of how the requirements are to be addressed in the Organic System Plan and in record-keeping; and a step-by-step explanation of how to use PCO’s DMI calculation worksheets and Pasture Access Record, along with reference material you can use in your calculations.
  • Organic System Plan Supplement for Ruminant LivestockThis is an addendum that addresses the additional requirements of the new rule that must be completed in addition to your Organic System Plan Livestock/ Dairy.
  • Feed Ration Record/ DMI Calculation Worksheet This worksheet may be used to record your feed rations and also to calculate Dry Matter Intake (DMI) for each type/class of ruminant animal throughout the grazing season.
  • Average DMI Calculation for Grazing Season WorksheetThis worksheet may be used to calculate the average DMI from pasture for each type/class of ruminant animal for each feed ration throughout the grazing season.
  • Pasture Access Record This form may be used to record the access to pasture provided to your ruminant livestock during the grazing season.
  • Samples of Completed Worksheets The information on these samples of completed Feed Ration Record/ DMI Calculation Worksheets, Average DMI Calculation for Grazing Worksheet, and Pasture Access Record correspond with the examples and explanation in the guidance document.

    The downloadable, electronic worksheets are in Microsoft Excel format and will conveniently make the calculations for you when you enter information into the respective fields.

Additional Resources

Visit the NOP website on the Pasture Rule to view the following informational documents, or contact the PCO Office to receive a copy by mail:

  • Federal Register Notice: Final Rule National Organic Program Access to Pasture (Livestock)
  • Frequently Asked Questions on the Pasture Rule
  • Organic Livestock Fact Sheet
  • Training Presentation Slides on the Pasture Rule
  • Dry Matter Intake (DMI) Information

 

The Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance has created an informational website on the new Pasture Rule. Visit NODPA for information on trainings, resources and research.
 

EQIP Organic Initiative
 

Funds Still Available for Transitioning and Certified Organic Farmers in Pennsylvania

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 created a special provision for organic producers and those who are in the process of becoming organic producers. NRCS has designated over $750,000 in Pennsylvania in 2010 to be used to help these producers take care of their natural resources.

Pennsylvania farmers transitioning to organic agriculture or those who are certified organic are encouraged to apply for assistance to implement conservation practices on their land. The EQIP organic initiative is designed to provide financial assistance in the form of payments of 75 percent of the average cost of a conservation practice, or 90 percent of the average cost of a conservation practice if the producer is in a traditionally underserved group, such as limited resource, beginning, or minority farmers.

For more information about EQIP or to apply, click here.

For additional information on the EQIP program, click here.

 

Late Blight Information
 

The Northeast has been hit by the devastating vegetable disease known as Late Blight, (Phytopthera infestans) on tomatoes and potatoes. Normally late blight hits our region rarely, and late in the season, but this year it is widespread. Penn State reported it had been confirmed in at least 26 counties by the end of July. Tomato transplants grown in the south and shipped to “big box” stores all over the Northeast were apparently infected with late blight. The disease turned up in home gardens all over the region, and the cool wet weather this June enabled wide dispersal of the deadly spores.

Current OMRI approved copper products:
Champ WG by Nufarm
COC WP by Albaugh
Nu Cop 50WP by Albaugh
Concern Copper Soap Fungicide - by Woodstream
Cueva Fungicide Concentrate by Neudorff
Lilly Miller Cueva Copper Soap Ready to Use  by Lilly Miller
Nordox 75 WG by Nordox

PCO has also approved:
Soap-Shield Flowable Liquid Copper Fungicide by Gardens Alive
Liquid Copper Fungicide Concentrate by Bonide

For more information:
Click here for an article on Late Blight by PCO’s Policy Director, Emily Brown Rosen.
Also visit http://www.extension.org/article/18351 for an e-extension article on the blight.

back to top

This page last updated 7/16/2010
 


Copyright © Pennsylvania Certified Organic
Web design by Sharp Innovations, Inc.