If you’re involved in certified organic livestock–or thinking about starting–you’ll want to read this.
This proposed new rule–published by the USDA–focuses on certified organic livestock operations.
According to the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, the move is significant because the USDA’s proposed rule goes “far beyond anything the organics community had requested.”
You can read the full text of the proposed rule here.
There has been great interest by many in the organics community for the USDA to address the problem of “organic” factory dairy farms denying the cows access to pasture.
Organizations such as the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance and the Cornucopia Institute are concerned that newly released rule is too long and complicated and “contains several provisions that could cause problems for small family farms that are certified organic.”
Comments on the proposed rule–on parts you support and the parts you believe are problematic–are welcome.
The deadline to comment is December 23, 2008.
You may submit your comments online, in person (December 4 in California and December 8 in Texas) or by mail.
Read more about “going organic.”
Curious about food labels? Click here>>
Related background on the organics proposals>>
Here’s How to Comment: ONLINE If you wish to request an comment period extension, email a copy of the request to Secretary Ed Schafer at agsec@usda.gov IN PERSON CALIFORNIA: December 4, 2008, 1:30-4:30 p.m.; California State University, Chico University Farm Pavilion, 311 Nicholas C. Schouten Lane, Chico, CA 95928 TEXAS: December 8, 2008, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.; Extension Research Facility, 6500 Amarillo Boulevard West; Amarillo, TX Mail Written comments must be received (not postmarked) by Dec. 23, 2008. They must be identified with, “Docket Number AMS-TM-06-0198; TM-05-14.” Mail written comments to: Richard H. Mathews |