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USDA Naonal Organic Program Agricultural Markeng Service September 2015
crops are harvested must have dened boundaries and buer
zones, such as hedgerows or crops, separang them from
convenonal crops and roadways. Prohibited materials
cannot be applied to land used for organic culvaon for 36
months prior to harvest of organic crops.
Livestock Living Condions and Facilies: Organic livestock
producers provide living areas that encourage the health and
natural behavior of their animals. Organic pracces reect
concerns for animal welfare and a desire to balance
producvity with both animal well-being and environmental
quality. Organic livestock must have access to outdoor areas,
shade, shelter, space for exercise, fresh air, clean drinking
water, and direct sunlight. Livestock shelters should give
animals protecon from extreme temperatures, adequate air
circulaon and venlaon, and space to exercise.
Grazing: Organic producers must give ruminant animals
(e.g., cale, sheep, and goats) access to pasture during the
grazing season. Livestock may not be connuously conned.
However, temporary connement is allowed under specic
circumstances, mostly regarding the health and safety of the
animal. By providing access to the outdoors, organic livestock
producers convert forage, legumes and grasses into meat,
milk, wool, and other products. Grazing livestock also provide
producers with manure, a very important source of ferlity in
organic farming systems and an excellent means of recycling
nutrients. Rotaonal grazing may improve forage quanty
and quality, while prevenng over-grazing.
Animal Health: Organic animal health, like organic crop
health, relies on preventave pracces and systems. Good
genecs are important, as organic livestock producers should
select breeds that are well adapted to their parcular
environment. Balanced nutrion, exercise, and a low-stress
environment also contribute to building strong immune
systems in animals. Vaccinaon and other preventave
measures are common; anbiocs and growth hormones are
prohibited. Organic livestock producers work to manage
exposure to disease and parasites through grazing
management, proper sanitaon, and prevenng the
introducon of disease agents.
Organic Feed: Organic livestock must eat cered organic
feed. Organic feed must be grown and processed by cered
organic operaons. Similarly, any pastures, forages, and plant
-based bedding (such as hay) accessible to livestock must be
cered as organically grown and processed. Certain
addives, such as vitamins and minerals not produced
organically, can be fed to organic livestock in trace amounts,
but others, including hormones used to promote growth, are
strictly prohibited.
Animal Origin: Organic livestock generally must be raised
organically since the last third of gestaon. Birds used for
poultry or egg producon, may come from any source, but
must be raised organically beginning the second day of life.
Organic Ingredients: Under USDA organic regulaons,
organic processors must use cered organic ingredients (for
a minimum of 95% of the product) and only approved non-
organic ingredient in products that are labeled
organic. Products labeled as “made with organic” specied
ingredients may include up to 30% non-organic agricultural
ingredients, but all other addives must be approved for
organic use. No ingredients or products may be produced
using genec engineering, sewage sludge, or ionizing
radiaon.
Commingling and Contact: To preserve the integrity of
organic ingredients and products, organic processors must:
Prevent commingling (i.e. mixing) with non-organic
ingredients and products throughout processing
Prevent contact between organic ingredients and non-
organic substances, including prohibited sanizers
Clean and sanize processing equipment when
changing from non-organic to organic products.; many
processors run organic products rst, aer their
cleaning with approved materials
Managing Pests: Similar to pest management on organic
farms, organic processing facilies must emphasize
prevenon over treatment. Organic processors may use
approved synthec substances if all other approaches have
failed but must ensure that these substances do not come in
contact with the organic products they handle.
For more informaon on organic pracces, visit USDA’s
Organic Agriculture page at www.usda.gov/organic or the
Agricultural Markeng Service, Naonal Organic Program’s
“Is Organic an Opon for Me?” page at www.ams.usda.gov/
organicinfo.
Organic Livestock Producon Pracces
Organic Processing Pracces
Addional Informaon
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