The Organic Consulting Firm http://www.theocf.com evaluation.development.training.verification Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:15:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Pink Slime in your Hamburgers? http://www.theocf.com/2012/03/pink-slime-in-your-hamburgers/ http://www.theocf.com/2012/03/pink-slime-in-your-hamburgers/#comments Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:13:19 +0000 admin http://www.theocf.com/?p=452 ABC just did a story on USDA approving Pink Slime as a filler in beef products.  This can now be used in the school food system.  The pink slime is the stuff close to the hide of the animal where the most possability of contamination is, so they  use things like ammonia to “Make it safe”.   The pink slime used to be use for oil manufactueres and dog food, not for human consumption.

The article states the only way to verify your hamburger does not have PINK SLIME is to buy organic.

Read the article and be informed: http://tinyurl.com/6sxlbhv

]]> http://www.theocf.com/2012/03/pink-slime-in-your-hamburgers/feed/ 0 Canada and United States move toward full equivalency http://www.theocf.com/2012/02/canada-and-united-states-move-toward-full-equivalency/ http://www.theocf.com/2012/02/canada-and-united-states-move-toward-full-equivalency/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:39:45 +0000 admin http://www.theocf.com/?p=404 Canada and the United States are working towards full equivalency of their organic standards. Canada recognizes the U.S. organic pasture regulations as equivalent to the Canadian standard for organic ruminant stocking rates. There is no longer a variance for ruminant animals or ruminant products traded under the U.S./Canada Organic Equivalency Arrangement. Both the US National Organic Program and the Canadian Organic Regime have put in great efforts to synchronize standards and move toward full equivalence with one another. This will create a better import and export availability for organic producers and processors.  This is a great achievement between two countries.  This will make organic certification easier for the organic certification company and the certified organic operation seeking to sell in either country.

]]> http://www.theocf.com/2012/02/canada-and-united-states-move-toward-full-equivalency/feed/ 0 Proposed Rule Would Reduce Limits of Synthetic Methionine in Organic Poultry Production http://www.theocf.com/2012/02/proposed-rule-would-reduce-limits-of-synthetic-methionine-in-organic-poultry-production/ http://www.theocf.com/2012/02/proposed-rule-would-reduce-limits-of-synthetic-methionine-in-organic-poultry-production/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:37:11 +0000 admin http://www.theocf.com/?p=398 Review the proposed rule regarding Methionine and organic livestock production at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5096902

If you raise organic poultry, you should read the proposed rule change.  The comment period for changing the  National Organic Program rules ends April 6, 2012.

Contact The Organic Consulting Firm to help you prepare your comments to the proposed rule change.

]]> http://www.theocf.com/2012/02/proposed-rule-would-reduce-limits-of-synthetic-methionine-in-organic-poultry-production/feed/ 1 National Organic Program Draft Guidance on Handling Bulk, Unpackaged Organic Products http://www.theocf.com/2012/02/national-organic-program-draft-guidance-on-handling-bulk-unpackaged-organic-products-2/ http://www.theocf.com/2012/02/national-organic-program-draft-guidance-on-handling-bulk-unpackaged-organic-products-2/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:47:39 +0000 admin http://www.theocf.com/?p=411 National Organic Program Draft Guidance on Handling Bulk, Unpackaged Organic Products

What does this mean to the organic milk tanker trucking companies, organic livestock haulers, organic citrus juice trucking companies, rail car transporters and all other transporters of non-packaged organic products?  If this draft guidance passes through public comment, it means being certified organic or at the very least being a part of a certified operations Organic Systems Plan (OSP).  There are issues with going with the customer’s OSP, as you can only haul for customers that list you as part of their OSP.  If you get certified on your own, then you can haul for any customer that has organic products.  The main reason this is happening is that there is direct organic food contact with the transport vehicle.

This draft guidance is open for public comment, so if you haul unpackaged organic products,  make sure to get your comments in before it becomes a part of the organic regulation.

For more details on this new guidance please visit: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5096871

If you are interested in making a comment prior to this guidance being considered law, send comments to
USDA AMS National Organic Program
1400 Independence Avenue SW
2646-South Building
Washington, DC 20250
Make sure to reference NOP 5031

The Organic Consulting Firm is available to assist in writing comments to the NOP.  If this guidance does become rule, let The Organic Consulting Firm guide you through the certification process.

]]> http://www.theocf.com/2012/02/national-organic-program-draft-guidance-on-handling-bulk-unpackaged-organic-products-2/feed/ 1 National Organic Program Draft Guidance on Handling Bulk, Unpackaged Organic Products http://www.theocf.com/2012/02/national-organic-program-draft-guidance-on-handling-bulk-unpackaged-organic-products/ http://www.theocf.com/2012/02/national-organic-program-draft-guidance-on-handling-bulk-unpackaged-organic-products/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:45:46 +0000 admin http://www.theocf.com/?p=412 What does this mean to the organic milk tanker trucking companies, organic livestock haulers, organic citrus juice trucking companies, rail car transporters and all other transporters of non-packaged organic products?  If this draft guidance passes through public comment, it means being certified organic or at the very least being a part of a certified operations Organic Systems Plan (OSP).  There are issues with going with the customer’s OSP, as you can only haul for customers that list you as part of their OSP.  If you get certified on your own, then you can haul for any customer that has organic products.  The main reason this is happening is that there is direct organic food contact with the transport vehicle.

This draft guidance is open for public comment, so if you haul unpackaged organic products,  make sure to get your comments in before it becomes a part of the organic regulation.

For more details on this new guidance please visit: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5096871:

If you are interested in making a comment prior to this guidance being considered law, send comments to USDA AMS National Organic Program

1400 Independence Avenue SW
2646-South Building
Washington, DC 20250
Make sure to reference NOP 5031
]]> http://www.theocf.com/2012/02/national-organic-program-draft-guidance-on-handling-bulk-unpackaged-organic-products/feed/ 0 USDA Surveys Certified Organic Producers http://www.theocf.com/2011/12/usda-surveys-certified-organic-producers/ http://www.theocf.com/2011/12/usda-surveys-certified-organic-producers/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:55:13 +0000 admin http://www.theocf.com/?p=426 The USDA is looking for input from certified organic farmers.   This survey will be used to determine rates for crop insurance and to develop new approaches to crop insurance.  For the full article, visit The Packer at http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/USDA-surveys-certified-organic-producers-136272638.html

Growers can respond online at http://www.nass.usda.gov/Online_Response/Attention/index.asp

]]> http://www.theocf.com/2011/12/usda-surveys-certified-organic-producers/feed/ 0 National Organic Program (NOP) National List Sunset Dates http://www.theocf.com/2011/12/national-organic-program-nop-national-list-sunset-dates/ http://www.theocf.com/2011/12/national-organic-program-nop-national-list-sunset-dates/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:30:17 +0000 admin http://www.theocf.com/?p=437 Items on the National List that are allowed in organic production and as ingredients in organic and made with organic products are coming to the Sunset clause date.  Many of these listed ingredients and materials may be coming off the National List of Allowed Materials.  These items may be allowed to remain on the National List depending on the National Organic Standards Board recommendations, public comments, and the National Organic Program.  If you use any of the items coming due for re-review, be a part of the public comment process.  The Comment deadline for 2012 sunset materials is February 13, 2012.  For more information on what items are coming under re-review and the sunset date, go to: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5096045

Let The Organic Consulting Firm help you write the public comments needed to keep your ingredient(s) allowed in organic production and/or processing.

]]> http://www.theocf.com/2011/12/national-organic-program-nop-national-list-sunset-dates/feed/ 0 USDA National Organic Program (NOP) Continues the Cost Share Program for 2012 http://www.theocf.com/2011/12/usda-national-organic-program-nop-continues-the-cost-share-program-for-2012/ http://www.theocf.com/2011/12/usda-national-organic-program-nop-continues-the-cost-share-program-for-2012/#comments Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:01:19 +0000 admin http://www.theocf.com/?p=433 The USDA announced that organic operations can apply for a 75% (up to $750.00) refund on certification costs.  To see if your state is a part of the organic certification cost share program, visit: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOPCostShareProgramParticipants

If you are located in California, you can find the forms for the organic costs share program at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/pdfs/costshareapplicationOrganic.pdf If in California, you will also need to fill out this form to obtain your organic cost share funds! http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/pdfs/std204_1.pdf

Let The Organic Consulting Firm help you navigate through the organic cost share program forms.

]]> http://www.theocf.com/2011/12/usda-national-organic-program-nop-continues-the-cost-share-program-for-2012/feed/ 0 USDA National Organic Program (NOP) Continues the Cost Share Program for 2012 http://www.theocf.com/2011/12/usda-national-organic-program-nop-continues-the-cost-share-program-for-2012-2/ http://www.theocf.com/2011/12/usda-national-organic-program-nop-continues-the-cost-share-program-for-2012-2/#comments Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:30:24 +0000 admin http://www.theocf.com/?p=432 http://www.theocf.com/2011/12/usda-national-organic-program-nop-continues-the-cost-share-program-for-2012-2/feed/ 0 Over 4.1 Million Acres of Organic Land http://www.theocf.com/2011/11/over-4-1-million-acres-of-organic-land/ http://www.theocf.com/2011/11/over-4-1-million-acres-of-organic-land/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:53:45 +0000 admin http://www.theocf.com/?p=362 The USDA provided the results of a 2008 survey in February of 2010 that showed more than 4.1 million acres of organic land in the US and this number is growing.  This was the first large scale survey specific to organic farming done by the USDA.  The USDA found that there are organic farms in all 50 states with California having 20% of the total organic farming land in the US.  For more information on the survey of organic farming visit:

http://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2010/02_03_2010.asp

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