Cultural Practices Organic Certification
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Organic agriculture is based on the use of practices and inputs that enhance the physical, biological and chemical aspects of the soil and its ability to sustain crop and animal production in an environmentally safe manner. In general, the use of synthetic substances for pest management or to supply nutrients is prohibited. Organic agriculture relies on cultural practices and natural based materials for pest management and on-farm or locally available sources of nutrients as much as possible. This guide includes information on many materials and inputs approved by the National Organic Program in the following section, Guidelines For Organic Fertilization. See information on sources for crop nutrients. Compost is discussed in the previous section. In the pest management section approved methods of managing weeds, insects and diseases are noted including approved materials and other techniques such as floating row covers for insect exclusion, weed management using the stale seedbed technique and flame weeding. Organically accepted practices are also included in the recommendations for specific crops. The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) lists products it finds suitable for certified organic production. These products are generally allowed, but some are regulated and subject to restrictions. In some cases, certain formulations of a product are permitted and others are not. The list of substances approved by the OMRI is subject to change. Be sure to check with your certifier in advance to be certain that the materials and practices you plan to use are approved by your certifier. Some materials labeled as organic by the manufacturer may not actually be allowed by the National Organic Program. This publication designates materials as "OMRI listed" if they are listed as of June 2009. For the most up-to-date list, visit the OMRI web site at: www.omri.org. Some vegetable growers choose organic production methods for personal and/or marketing reasons. Consumers of organic produce represent a growing market. This market is increasingly looking for certification to substantiate product claims. Federal legislation now requires certification of food products that are labeled as organic except for producers whose gross sales of organic products is under $5,000. These small producers must follow the same practices as certified growers. The following is a list of certifying organizations currently accredited by USDA. CTSee Massachusetts. MABaystate Organic Certifiers Don Franczyk (Main Office)1220 Cedarwood Circle N. Dighton, MA 02764 E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Phone: (774) 872-5544 Fax: (774) 872-5545 MEMOFGA Certification Services 294 Crosby Brook Rd. NHVictoria M. Smith RIMatt Green VTVermont Organic Farmers, LLC |
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