Organic Standards for Crop Production: Highlights of the USDA's National Organic Program Regulations

1. Organic Standards
for Crop Production
ATTRA Highlights of the USDA’s National Organic Program Regulations
A Publication of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service • 1-800-346-9140 • www.attra.ncat.org
By Ann H. Baier This collection of excerpts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program provides
NCAT Agriculture the reader with key standards relevant to organic crop production. This publication should be used
Specialist together with excerpts for all certified organic operations, as well as with those for organic livestock
© 2008 NCAT production and handling of organic agricultural products, as applicable.
Highlights of the USDA’s National Organic Program Regulations include key standards for:
1) All certified organic operations
2) Crop production
3) Livestock production
Contents 4) Handling (including processing)
Introduction ..................... 1 Please use this publication in combination with the ATTRA publication Organic Standards for All
Excerpts ............................. 2 Organic Operations, and others, if relevant to your organic operations.
General .......................... 2
Land requirements ... 2
Soil fertility and Introduction This set of excerpts should also not be used
as a substitute for verifying points of com-
crop nutrient This publication provides easy reference
management .............. 2 pliance for organic production and handling
to the standards relevant to organic crop
Seeds and activities with an accredited organic certi-
production. This set of excerpts from the
planting stock ............ 4 fier. For a list of certifiers, click on Certifi-
USDA’s National Organic Program Final
Crop rotation .............. 4 ers under “I Want Information On” in the
Rule contains the general requirements for
Crop pest, weed NOP Web site index (above).
and disease land, soil fertility and crop nutrient manage-
management .............. 4 ment, seeds and planting stock, crop rota-
Using this guide:
Wild-crop tion, pest, weed and disease management,
harvesting .................... 5 wild crops, lists of allowed and prohibited This is a collection of verbatim excerpts from
Synthetic substances substances and definition of terms most key parts of the National Organic Program’s
allowed in organic Final Rule. Organic regulations are found
crop production ........ 5 applicable to crop production. While this
publication includes the key standards that under the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing
Non-synthetic sub-
stances prohibited directly address organic crop production, it Service 7 CFR Part 205. CFR stands for
in organic crop is not a complete collection of all the stan- Code of Federal Regulations. Part 205, the
production ................... 8 National Organic Program is found under
dards with which organic crop producers
Selected Title 7: Agriculture, one of 50 broad subject
terms defined ............ 8
must comply. It must be used in conjunction
with standards for all organic operations, areas that are subject to federal regulation.
organic livestock production, or handling of The Organic Foods Production Act was
organic agricultural products, as applicable. enacted under the 1990 Farm Bill. The Act,
This set of excerpts is not a substitute for as it is referred to in the text, authorized
ATTRA—National Sustainable reading the entire set of standards. The reg- creation of the USDA National Organic Pro-
Agriculture Information Service ulatory texts of the National Organic Pro- gram to set national standards for the pro-
is managed by the National Cen-
ter for Appropriate Technology gram standards are available on USDA’s duction, handling and processing of organi-
(NCAT) and is funded under a
grant from the United States
National Organic Program Web site, www. cally grown agricultural products. The NOP
Department of Agriculture’s Rural ams.usda.gov/nop/. To view the produc- oversees mandatory certification of organic
Business-Cooperative Service.
Visit the NCAT Web site (www.
tion and handling standards, click on “Reg- production. Producers who meet NOP stan-
ncat.org/sarc_current. ulations” under General Information. Under dards may label their products as “USDA
php) for more informa-
tion on our sustainable
Regulatory Text, click on “Electronic Code Certified Organic.” The subparts reference
agriculture projects. of Federal Regulations.” organization levels in each excerpt.

2. The following sections of Part 205 of the “100-percent organic,” “organic” or “made
National Organic Program are excerpted with organic specified ingredients or food
below: groups” must comply with the applicable
• § 205.200 General provisions of this subpart. Production
practices implemented in accordance with
• § 205.202 Land requirements this subpart must maintain or improve the
• § 205.203 Soil fertility and crop natural resources of the operation, includ-
nutrient management practice stan- ing soil and water quality.
dard § 205.202 Land requirements
• § 205.204 Seeds and planting stock
practice standard Any field or farm parcel from which har-
vested crops are intended to be sold,
• § 205.205 Crop rotation practice labeled or represented as “organic” must:
standard
(a) Have been managed in accordance
• § 205.206 Crop pest, weed and dis- with the provisions of §§205.203
ease management practice standard through 205.206;
• § 205.207 Wild-crop harvesting prac-
tice standard (b) Have had no prohibited substances,
as listed in §205.105, applied to it for
The National List of Allowed and a period of three years immediately
preceding harvest of the crop; and
Prohibited Substances
• § 205.601 Synthetic substances (c) Have distinct, defined boundaries and
allowed for use in organic crop pro- buffer zones such as runoff diversions
duction to prevent the unintended application
of a prohibited substance to the crop
• § 205.602 Non-synthetic substances
or contact with a prohibited substance
prohibited for use in organic crop pro-
applied to adjoining land that is not
duction.
under organic management.
• § 205.2 Terms defined [selected for
relevance to crop production]. § 205.203 Soil fertility and crop
nutrient management practice
standard
Note: e-CFR Data used in this publication is cur-
rent as of July 23, 2008. (a) The producer must select and imple-
Amendment dates are noted at the end of
ment tillage and cultivation practices
certain sections, such as Defined terms, the that maintain or improve the physical,
National List and also in some aspects of live- chemical and biological condition of
stock production. Changes may be the result of soil and minimize soil erosion.
legal actions, petitions to add or remove materi-
als or technical corrections. Most other sections (b) The producer must manage crop
of the Rule have not changed since their original nutrients and soil fertility through
version. To find the most current version avail- rotations, cover crops and the applica-
able, please go the electronic code of federal tion of plant and animal materials.
regulations. See instructions in paragraph two
of the Introduction. (c) The producer must manage plant
and animal materials to maintain or
improve soil organic matter content in
Excerpts a manner that does not contribute to
§ 205.200 General contamination of crops, soil or water
by plant nutrients, pathogenic organ-
The producer or handler of a production isms, heavy metals or residues of pro-
or handling operation intending to sell, hibited substances. Animal and plant
label or represent agricultural products as materials include:
Page 2 ATTRA Organic Standards for Crop Production

3. (1) Raw animal manure, which must (1) A crop nutrient or soil amendment
be composted unless it is: included on the National List of
synthetic substances allowed for
(i) Applied to land used for a
use in organic crop production;
crop not intended for human
consumption; (2) A mined substance of low
solubility;
(ii) Incorporated into the soil
not less than 120 days prior (3) A mined substance of high solubil-
to the harvest of a product ity, provided that the substance is
whose edible portion has used in compliance with the condi-
direct contact with the soil tions established on the National
surface or soil particles; or List of non-synthetic materials
prohibited for crop production;
(iii) Incorporated into the soil not
less than 90 days prior to the (4) Ash obtained from the burn-
harvest of a product whose ing of a plant or animal material,
edible portion does not have except as prohibited in paragraph
direct contact with the soil (e) of this section, provided that
surface or soil particles. the material burned has not been
treated or combined with a pro-
(2) Composted plant and animal hibited substance or the ash is not
materials produced though a included on the National List of
process that: non-synthetic substances prohib-
(i) Established an initial C:N ited for use in organic crop
ratio of between 25:1 and production; and
40:1; and (5) A plant or animal material that
(ii) Maintained a temperature of has been chemically altered by a
between 131 degrees Fahren- manufacturing process, provided
heit and 170 degrees Fahren- that the material is included on
heit for three days using an the National List of synthetic sub-
in-vessel or static aerated pile stances allowed for use in organic
system; or crop production established in
§205.601.
(iii) Maintained a temperature
of between 131 and 170 (e) The producer must not use:
degrees for 15 days using (1) Any fertilizer or composted plant
a windrow composting sys- and animal material that contains
tem, during which period the a synthetic substance not included
materials must be turned a on the National List of synthetic
minimum of five times. substances allowed for use in
(3) Uncomposted plant materials. organic crop production;
(d) A producer may manage crop nutri- (2) Sewage sludge (biosolids) as
ents and soil fertility to maintain or defined in 40 CFR Part 503; and
improve soil organic matter content in (3) Burning as a means of disposal
a manner that does not contribute to for crop residues produced on the
contamination of crops, soil or water operation except that burning may
by plant nutrients, pathogenic organ- be used to suppress the spread
isms, heavy metals or residues of pro- of disease or to stimulate seed
hibited substances by applying: germination.
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4. § 205.204 Seeds and planting stock § 205.205 Crop rotation practice
practice standard standard
(a) The producer must use organically The producer must implement a crop rota-
grown seeds, annual seedlings and tion including but not limited to sod, cover
planting stock, except that: crops, green manure crops and catch crops
that provide the following functions that
(1) Non-organically produced, are applicable to the operation:
untreated seeds and planting
stock may be used to produce an (a) Maintain or improve soil organic
organic crop when an equivalent matter content;
organically produced variety is not (b) Provide for pest management in
commercially available, except annual and perennial crops;
that organically produced seed
must be used for the production (c) Manage deficient or excess plant
of edible sprouts; nutrients; and
(2) Non-organically produced seeds (d) Provide erosion control.
and planting stock that have been § 205.206 Crop pest, weed and dis-
treated with a substance included ease management practice standard
on the National List of synthetic
substances allowed for use in (a) The producer must use management
organic crop production may be practices to prevent crop pests, weeds
used to produce an organic crop and diseases including but not limited
when an equivalent organically to:
produced or untreated variety is (1) Crop rotation and soil and crop
not commercially available; nutrient management practices,
(3) Non-organically produced annual as provided for in §§205.203 and
seedlings may be used to produce 205.205;
an organic crop when a tempo- (2) Sanitation measures to remove
rary variance has been granted in disease vectors, weed seeds and
accordance with §205.290(a)(2); habitat for pest organisms; and
(4) Non-organically produced plant- (3) Cultural practices that enhance
ing stock to be used to produce crop health, including selection
a perennial crop may be sold, of plant species and varieties with
labeled or represented as organi- regard to suitability to site-specific
cally produced only after the conditions and resistance to prev-
planting stock has been main- alent pests, weeds and diseases.
tained under a system of organic
management for a period of no (b) Pest problems may be controlled
less than one year; and through mechanical or physical meth-
ods including but not limited to:
(5) Seeds, annual seedlings and
planting stock treated with pro- (1) Augmentation or introduction of
predators or parasites of the pest
hibited substances may be used
species;
to produce an organic crop when
the application of the materials is (2) Development of habitat for natural
a requirement of federal or state enemies of pests;
phytosanitary regulations.
(3) Non-synthetic controls such as
(b) [Reserved] lures, traps and repellents.
Page 4 ATTRA Organic Standards for Crop Production

5. (c) Weed problems may be controlled organic must be harvested from a
through: designated area that has had no pro-
hibited substance, as set forth in
(1) Mulching with fully biodegradable
§205.105, applied to it for a period of
materials;
three years immediately preceding the
(2) Mowing; harvest of the wild crop.
(3) Livestock grazing; (b) A wild crop must be harvested in
a manner that ensures that such
(4) Hand weeding and mechanical harvesting or gathering will not be
cultivation; destructive to the environment and
(5) Flame, heat or electrical means; or will sustain the growth and production
of the wild crop.
(6) Plastic or other synthetic mulches,
provided that they are removed The National List of Allowed and Prohibited
from the field at the end of the Substances
growing or harvest season.
§ 205.601 Synthetic substances
(d) Disease problems may be controlled allowed for use in organic crop
through: production
(1) Management practices which sup- In accordance with restrictions specified
press the spread of disease organ- in this section, the following synthetic
isms; or substances may be used in organic crop
(2) Application of non-synthetic production, provided that use of such sub-
biological, botanical or mineral stances do not contribute to contamination
inputs. of crops, soil, or water. Substances allowed
by this section, except disinfectants and
(e) When the practices provided for in sanitizers in paragraph (a) and those sub-
paragraphs (a) through (d) of this stances in paragraphs (c), (j), (k), and (l)
section are insufficient to prevent or of this section, may only be used when
control crop pests, weeds and diseases, the provisions set forth in §205.206(a)
a biological or botanical substance or through (d) prove insufficient to prevent or
a substance included on the National control the target pest.
List of synthetic substances allowed for
(a) As algicide, disinfectants, and sani-
use in organic crop production may be
tizer, including irrigation system
applied to prevent, suppress or control
cleaning systems.
pests, weeds or diseases, provided that
the conditions for using the substance (1) Alcohols.
are documented in the organic system
(i) Ethanol.
plan.
(ii) Isopropanol.
(f) The producer must not use lumber
treated with arsenate or other prohib- (2) Chlorine materials— Except,
ited materials for new installations or That, residual chlorine levels in
replacement purposes in contact with the water shall not exceed the
soil or livestock. maximum residual disinfectant
limit under the Safe Drinking
§ 205.207 Wild-crop harvesting Water Act.
practice standard
(i) Calcium hypochlorite.
(a) A wild crop that is intended to be
sold, labeled or represented as (ii) Chlorine dioxide.
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6. (iii) Sodium hypochlorite. (2) Boric acid—structural pest con-
trol, no direct contact with
(3) Copper sulfate—for use as an
organic food or crops.
algicide in aquatic rice systems,
is limited to one application per (3) Copper sulfate—for use as tad-
field during any 24-month period. pole shrimp control in aquatic
Application rates are limited to rice production, is limited to one
those which do not increase base- application per field during any
line soil test values for copper over 24-month period. Application
a timeframe agreed upon by the rates are limited to levels which do
producer and accredited certifying not increase baseline soil test val-
agent. ues for copper over a timeframe
(4) Hydrogen peroxide. agreed upon by the producer and
accredited certifying agent.
(5) Ozone gas—for use as an irriga-
tion system cleaner only. (4) Elemental sulfur.
(6) Peracetic acid—for use in dis- (5) Lime sulfur—including calcium
infecting equipment, seed, and polysulfide.
asexually propagated planting (6) Oils, horticultural—narrow range
material. oils as dormant, suffocating, and
(7) Soap-based algicide/demossers. summer oils.
(b) As herbicides, weed barriers, as (7) Soaps, insecticidal.
applicable. (8) Sticky traps/barriers.
(1) Herbicides, soap-based—for use (9) Sucrose octanoate esters (CAS
in farmstead maintenance (road- #s—42922–74–7; 58064–47–
ways, ditches, right of ways, 4)—in accordance with approved
building perimeters) and orna- labeling.
mental crops.
(f) As insect management. Pheromones.
(2) Mulches.
(g) As rodenticides.
(i) Newspaper or other recycled
paper, without glossy or col- (1) Sulfur dioxide—underground
ored inks. rodent control only (smoke
bombs).
(ii) Plastic mulch and covers
(petroleum-based other than (2) Vitamin D3.
polyvinyl chloride (PVC)). (h) As slug or snail bait. Ferric phosphate
(c) As compost feedstocks—Newspapers (CAS # 10045–86–0).
or other recycled paper, without glossy (i) As plant disease control.
or colored inks.
(1) Coppers, fixed—copper hydroxide,
(d) As animal repellents—Soaps, ammo- copper oxide, copper oxychloride,
nium—for use as a large animal repel- includes products exempted from
lant only, no contact with soil or edi- EPA tolerance, provided that cop-
ble portion of crop.
per-based materials must be used
(e) As insecticides (including acaricides in a manner that minimizes accu-
or mite control). mulation in the soil and shall not
be used as herbicides.
(1) Ammonium carbonate—for use as
bait in insect traps only, no direct (2) Copper sulfate—Substance
contact with crop or soil. must be used in a manner that
Page 6 ATTRA Organic Standards for Crop Production

7. minimizes accumulation of copper iron, manganese, molybde-
in the soil. num, selenium, and cobalt.
(3) Hydrated lime. (7) Liquid fish products—can be pH
(4) Hydrogen peroxide. adjusted with sulfuric, citric or
phosphoric acid. The amount of
(5) Lime sulfur. acid used shall not exceed the
(6) Oils, horticultural, narrow range minimum needed to lower the pH
oils as dormant, suffocating, and to 3.5.
summer oils. (8) Vitamins, B1, C, and E.
(7) Peracetic acid—for use to control (k) As plant growth regulators. Ethylene
fire blight bacteria. gas—for regulation of pineapple
(8) Potassium bicarbonate. flowering.
(9) Elemental sulfur. (l) As floating agents in postharvest
handling.
(10) Streptomycin, for fire blight con-
trol in apples and pears only. (1) Lignin sulfonate.
(11) Tetracycline (oxytetracycline cal- (2) Sodium silicate—for tree fruit and
cium complex), for fire blight fiber processing.
control only. (m) As synthetic inert ingredients as
(j) As plant or soil amendments. classified by the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency (EPA), for use with
(1) Aquatic plant extracts (other than
non-synthetic substances or synthetic
hydrolyzed)—Extraction process
substances listed in this section and
is limited to the use of potassium
used as an active pesticide ingredient
hydroxide or sodium hydroxide;
in accordance with any limitations on
solvent amount used is limited
to that amount necessary for the use of such substances.
extraction. (1) EPA List 4—Inerts of Minimal
(2) Elemental sulfur. Concern.
(3) Humic acids—naturally occurring (2) EPA List 3—Inerts of Unknown
deposits, water and alkali extracts Toxicity allowed:
only. (i) Glycerine Oleate (Glyc-
(4) Lignin sulfonate—chelating agent, erol monooleate) (CAS #s
dust suppressant, floatation agent. 37220–82–9)—for use only
until December 31, 2006.
(5) Magnesium sulfate—allowed with
a documented soil deficiency. (ii) Inerts used in passive phero-
mone dispensers.
(6) Micronutrients—not to be used as
a defoliant, herbicide, or desic- (n) Seed preparations. Hydrogen chloride
cant. Those made from nitrates (CAS # 7647–01–0)—for delinting
or chlorides are not allowed. Soil cotton seed for planting.
deficiency must be documented (o)–(z) [Reserved]
by testing.
[65 FR 80637, Dec. 21, 2000, as
(i) Soluble boron products. amended at 68 FR 61992, Oct. 31, 2003;
(ii) Sulfates, carbonates, oxides, 71 FR 53302 Sept. 11, 2006; 72 FR
or silicates of zinc, copper, 69572, Dec. 10, 2007]
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8. § 205.602 Non-synthetic substances Annual seedling. A plant grown from seed
prohibited for use in organic crop that will complete its life cycle or produce a
production harvestable yield within the same crop year
or season in which it was planted.
The following non-synthetic substances may
not be used in organic crop production: Audit trail. Documentation that is sufficient
to determine the source, transfer of owner-
(a) Ash from manure burning. ship and transportation of any agricultural
(b) Arsenic. product labeled as “100 percent organic,”
the organic ingredients of any agricultural
(c) Calcium chloride, brine process is product labeled as “organic” or “made
natural and prohibited for use except with organic (specified ingredients)” or
as a foliar spray to treat a physiologi- the organic ingredients of any agricultural
cal disorder associated with calcium product containing less than 70 percent
uptake. organic ingredients identified as organic in
(d) Lead salts. an ingredients statement.
(e) Potassium chloride—unless derived Biodegradable. Subject to biological
from a mined source and applied in a decomposition into simpler biochemical or
manner that minimizes chloride accu- chemical components.
mulation in the soil. Buffer zone. An area located between a
(f) Sodium fluoaluminate (mined). certified production operation or portion
of a production operation and an adjacent
(g) Sodium nitrate—unless use is land area that is not maintained under
restricted to no more than 20% of the organic management. A buffer zone must
crop’s total nitrogen requirement; use be sufficient in size or other features (such
in spirulina production is unrestricted as windbreaks or a diversion ditch) to pre-
until October 21, 2005. vent the possibility of unintended contact
(h) Strychnine. by prohibited substances applied to adja-
cent land areas with an area that is part of
(i) Tobacco dust (nicotine sulfate). a certified operation.
(j)–(z) [Reserved] Claims. Oral, written, implied or symbolic
[68 FR 61992, Oct. 31, 2003] representations, statements or advertising
or other forms of communication presented
§ 205.2 Terms defined [selected for to the public or buyers of agricultural
relevance to crop production] products that relate to the organic certifi-
Agricultural inputs. All substances or cation process or the terms “100 percent
materials used in the production or han- organic,” “organic” or “made with organic
dling of organic agricultural products. (specified ingredients or food groups),” or,
in the case of agricultural products contain-
Agricultural product. Any agricultural com- ing less than 70 percent organic ingredi-
modity or product, whether raw or pro- ents, the term “organic” on the ingredients
cessed, including any commodity or prod- panel.
uct derived from livestock, that is marketed
Commingling. Physical contact between
in the United States for human or livestock
unpackaged organically produced and non-
consumption.
organically produced agricultural products
Allowed synthetic. A substance that is during production, processing, transporta-
included on the National List of synthetic tion, storage or handling, other than during
substances allowed for use in organic pro- the manufacture of a multi-ingredient prod-
duction or handling. uct containing both types of ingredients.
Page 8 ATTRA Organic Standards for Crop Production

9. Compost. The product of a managed pro- of appropriate varieties and planting sites,
cess through which microorganisms break proper timing and density of plantings,
down plant and animal materials into more irrigation and extending a growing sea-
available forms suitable for application son by manipulating the microclimate with
to the soil. Compost must be produced green houses, cold frames or wind breaks.
through a process that combines plant and
animal materials with an initial C:N ratio of Detectable residue. The amount or pres-
between 25:1 and 40:1. Producers using ence of chemical residue or sample compo-
an in-vessel or static aerated pile system nent that can be reliably observed or found
must maintain the composting materials in the sample matrix by current approved
at a temperature between 131 and 170 analytical methodology.
degrees Fahrenheit for three days. Produc- Disease vectors. Plants or animals that har-
ers using a windrow system must maintain bor or transmit disease organisms or patho-
the composting materials at a tempera- gens that may attack crops or livestock.
ture between 131 and 170 degrees for 15
days, during which time the materials must Drift. The physical movement of prohib-
be turned a minimum of five times. ited substances from the intended target
site onto an organic operation or portion
Control. Any method that reduces or limits thereof.
damage by populations of pests, weeds or
diseases to levels that do not significantly Emergency pest or disease treatment pro-
reduce productivity. gram. A mandatory program authorized by
a federal, state or local agency for the pur-
Crop. A plant or part of a plant intended to pose of controlling or eradicating a pest or
be marketed as an agricultural product or disease.
fed to livestock.
Employee. Any person providing paid or
Crop residues. The plant parts remaining volunteer services for a certifying agent.
in a field after the harvest of a crop, which
include stalks, stems, leaves, roots and Excluded methods. A variety of methods
weeds. used to genetically modify organisms or
influence their growth and development by
Crop rotation. The practice of alternat- means that are not possible under natural
ing the annual crops grown on a specific conditions or processes and are not consid-
field in a planned pattern or sequence ered compatible with organic production.
in successive crop years so that crops of Such methods include cell fusion, micro-
the same species or family are not grown encapsulation and macroencapsulation and
repeatedly without interruption on the recombinant DNA technology including
same field. Perennial cropping systems gene deletion, gene doubling, introducing a
employ means such as alley cropping, foreign gene and changing the positions of
intercropping and hedgerows to introduce genes when achieved by recombinant DNA
biological diversity in lieu of crop rotation. technology. Such methods do not include
Crop year. The normal growing season for the use of traditional breeding, conjugation,
a crop as determined by the Secretary of fermentation, hybridization, in vitro fertil-
Agriculture. ization or tissue culture.
Cultivation. Digging up or cutting the soil Fertilizer. A single or blended substance
to prepare a seed bed, control weeds, aer- containing one or more recognized plant
ate the soil or work organic matter, crop nutrient(s) that is used primarily for its
residues or fertilizers into the soil. plant nutrient content and is designed for
use or claimed to have value in promoting
Cultural methods. Methods used to
plant growth.
enhance crop health and prevent weed,
pest or disease problems without the use of Field. An area of land identified as a dis-
substances. Examples include the selection crete unit within a production operation.
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10. Handle. To sell, process or package agri- growth, moderate soil temperature or con-
cultural products, except such term shall serve soil moisture.
not include the sale, transportation or
Narrow range oils. Petroleum derivatives,
delivery of crops or livestock by the pro- predominately of paraffinic and napthenic
ducer thereof to a handler. fractions with 50 percent boiling point (10
Inert ingredient. Any substance or group mm Hg) between 415 and 440 degrees.
of substances with similar chemical struc- National List. A list of allowed and prohib-
tures if designated by the Environmen- ited substances as provided for in the Act.
tal Protection Agency other than an
active ingredient which is intentionally Natural resources of the operation. The
included in any pesticide product (40 CFR physical, hydrological and biological fea-
152.3(m)). tures of a production operation, including
soil, water, wetlands, woodlands and
Label. A display of written, printed or wildlife.
graphic material on the immediate con-
tainer of an agricultural product or any Non-synthetic (natural). A substance that is
such material affixed to any agricultural derived from mineral, plant or animal mat-
product or affixed to a bulk container con- ter and does not undergo a synthetic pro-
taining an agricultural product, except cess as defined in section 6502(21) of the
for package liners or a display of written, Act (7 U.S.C. 6502(21)). For the purposes
of this part, non-synthetic is used as a syn-
printed or graphic material that contains
onym for natural as the term is used in the
only information about the weight of the
Act.
product.
Organic. A labeling term that refers to an
Labeling. All written, printed or graphic
agricultural product produced in accor-
material accompanying an agricultural
dance with the Act and the regulations in
product at any time or written, printed or this part.
graphic material about the agricultural
product displayed at retail stores. Organic matter. The remains, residues or
waste products of any organism.
Lot. Any number of containers which con-
tain an agricultural product of the same Organic production. A production system
kind located in the same conveyance, that is managed in accordance with the
warehouse or packing house and which are Act and regulations in this part to respond
available for inspection at the same time. to site-specific conditions by integrating
cultural, biological and mechanical prac-
Manure. Feces, urine, other excrement and tices that foster cycling of resources,
bedding produced by livestock that has not promote ecological balance and conserve
been composted. biodiversity.
Market information. Any written, printed, Organic system plan. A plan of manage-
audiovisual or graphic information, includ- ment of an organic production or handling
ing advertising, pamphlets, flyers, cata- operation that has been agreed to by the
logues, posters and signs, that is distrib- producer or handler and the certifying
uted, broadcast or made available outside agent and that includes written plans con-
of retail outlets and are used to assist in the cerning all aspects of agricultural produc-
sale or promotion of a product. tion or handling described in the Act and
the regulations in subpart C of this part.
Mulch. Any non-synthetic material, such
as wood chips, leaves or straw, or any syn- Pasture. Land used for livestock grazing
thetic material included on the National that is managed to provide feed value and
List for such use, such as newspaper maintain or improve soil, water and vegeta-
or plastic, that serves to suppress weed tive resources.
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11. Pesticide. Any substance which alone, in Sewage sludge. A solid, semisolid or liquid
chemical combination or in any formula- residue generated during the treatment of
tion with one or more substances is defined domestic sewage in a treatment works. Sew-
as a pesticide in section 2(u) of the Federal age sludge includes but is not limited to
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act domestic septage, scum or solids removed
(7 U.S.C. 136(u) et seq.). in primary, secondary or advanced waste-
water treatment processes and a material
Planting stock. Any plant or plant tissue derived from sewage sludge. Sewage sludge
other than annual seedlings but includ- does not include ash generated during the
ing rhizomes, shoots, leaf or stem cuttings, firing of sewage sludge in a sewage sludge
roots or tubers used in plant production or incinerator or grit and screenings generated
propagation. during preliminary treatment of domestic
Practice standard. The guidelines and sewage in a treatment works.
requirements through which a produc- Soil and water quality. Observable indica-
tion or handling operation implements a tors of the physical, chemical or biological
required component of its production or condition of soil and water, including the
handling organic system plan. A practice presence of environmental contaminants.
standard includes a series of allowed and
prohibited actions, materials and condi- Split operation. An operation that produces
tions to establish a minimum level perfor- or handles both organic and non-organic
mance for planning, conducting and main- agricultural products.
taining a function, such as livestock health Synthetic. A substance that is formulated
care or facility pest management, essential or manufactured by a chemical process
to an organic operation. or by a process that chemically changes a
Producer. A person who engages in the substance extracted from naturally occur-
business of growing or producing food, ring plant, animal or mineral sources,
fiber, feed and other agricultural-based except that such term shall not apply to
consumer products. substances created by naturally occurring
biological processes.
Production lot number/identifier. Identifi-
cation of a product used for quality con- Tolerance. The maximum legal level of a
trol purposes and based on the production pesticide chemical residue in or on a raw
sequence of the product showing the date, or processed agricultural commodity or
time and place of production. processed food.
Prohibited substance. A substance that the Transplant. A seedling which has been
use of in any aspect of organic production removed from its original place of produc-
or handling is prohibited or not provided tion, transported and replanted.
for in the Act or the regulations of this part. Unavoidable residual environmental con-
Records. Any information in written, visual tamination. Background levels of naturally
or electronic format that documents the occurring or synthetic chemicals that are
activities undertaken by a producer, han- present in the soil or present in organically
dler or certifying agent to comply with the produced agricultural products that are
Act and regulations in this part. below established tolerances.
Wild crop. Any plant or portion of a plant
Residue testing. An official or validated ana-
that is collected or harvested from a site
lytical procedure that detects, identifies and
that is not maintained under cultivation or
measures the presence of chemical sub-
other agricultural management.
stances, their metabolites or degradations
products in or on raw or processed agricul- [65 FR 80637, Dec. 21, 2000, as
tural products. amended at 72 FR 70484, Dec. 12, 2007]
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 11

12. Organic Standards for Crop Production:
Highlights of the USDA’s National Organic
Program Regulations
By Ann H. Baier
NCAT Agriculture Specialist
© 2008 NCAT
Holly Michels, Editor
Robyn Metzger, Production
This publication is available on the Web at:
www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/nopstandard_crops.html
or
www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/nopstandard_crops.pdf
IP332
Slot 329
Version 112608
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