Organic farming proponents are hailing a ruling by the USDA that clarifies the steps dairy farmers must follow in order to obtain organic certification. The update could make it much more difficult for large scale dairy farming operations to maintain organic certification.
Opponents of those large scale dairy operations maintained that cattle were not being provided adequate access to pasture – diminishing the value of organic certification. While the USDA's standards had required grazing, there had been little threat of action against farmers who failed to meet the guidelines. With clear guidelines now in place, enforcement ought to be easier to implement.
"Clear and enforceable standards are essential to the health and success of the market for organic agriculture," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The final rule published today will give consumers confidence that organic milk or cheese comes from cows raised on pasture, and organic family farmers the assurance that there is one, consistent pasture standard that applies to dairy products."
For an announcement from the USDA, click here
According to the USDA press release:
The main components of the rule include:
- Animals must graze pasture during the grazing season, which must be at least 120 days per year;
- Animals must obtain a minimum of 30 percent dry matter intake from grazing pasture during the grazing season;
- Producers must have a pasture management plan and manage pasture as a crop to meet the feed requirements for the grazing animals and to protect soil and water quality; and,
- Livestock are exempt from the 30 percent dry matter intake requirements during the finish feeding period, not to exceed 120 days. Livestock must have access to pasture during the finishing phase.
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