Organic?

[PinchersAndShells]

In my experience organic is typically labelled as being organic by USDA. Organic means that it hasn't been exposed to pesticides, GMOs, or fertilizers right? Not that it's the "100%" thing? Could someone with knowledge help me out? I feel like me and a few other people on here need clarification

[GotButterflies]

Good question!

Organic means that pesticides, GMO's, antibiotics, growth hormones, fertilizers are NOT allowed!! Organic looks out for environment & animal welfare also. There are certifications that have to be met for this. They are regulated by the USDA.

Natural. No certifications required. No regulations. Pesticides, GMO's,antibiotics, growth hormones, fertilizers, damage to the environment, animals not allowed to roam on pastures. A lot of things are "natural". High fructose corn syrup is considered natural. Cyanide is natural.

Which do you prefer? Lol


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[Kermie16]

Omg, GB


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[sabrinamae12]

I've been raised around agriculture and have studied agriculture for right around 10 years now. I am engaged to a farmer and we will be taking over the family farm that has been in his family for over 100 years. I have a Bachelor's of Science from Ohio State in Environmental Science with a specialization in Soil Resource Management and Environmental Sustainability. I work for the USDA Farm Service Agency in my hometown.

Most people don't know this, but USDA Organic Certification DOES allow for the use of many non-synthetic (not manmade, i.e. organic), as well as some synthetic (manmade) pesticides and fertilizers in the production process. There is a complete, complex, and very wordy list of what is and isn't allowed by the USDA at this link: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c= ... 2.7&idno=7

You'll notice that copper sulfate, ethanol, chlorine products, and even several acids are all allowed to be used in organic crop production. There are sections for crop production, livestock production, and food processing. The USDA Organic label means that 95% of the ingredients meet the standards for USDA Organic certification. That means that 5% may not. The 100% USDA Organic label means that 100% of the individual ingredients have been certified organic by the USDA. The organic certification process does NOT allow for GMOs.

GB is correct in that the "All Natural" label is unregulated, overused, and often means literally nothing. It's a marketing tool that way too many people unfortunately fall for.

I would like to point out that soil health and animal welfare is not specific only to organic producers, and there is no standard for practices that organic farmers have to do on their farms (with the exception of no antibiotics or artificial hormones in animal production. But in the U.S., producers are no longer allowed to use antibiotics for growth-promotion in any food-animal production. Additionally, the FDA prohibits the use of growth hormones in any pork or poultry production - regardless of organic status. So, all pork and poultry in the United States is already produced without growth hormones or non-prescribed antibiotics). Most conventional producers utilize the same basic conservation practices on their farms for the simple fact that years of use and research have shown that practices such as crop rotation, tillage changes, waterways, and cover crop use have decreased soil erosion and increased soil quality. That, in turn, leads to years of higher success in farming. Each farmer has to find a balance of practices that best suit themselves, their animals, and their land. Our Wooster and Pewamo Silt Loams are nothing like the heavy clays of the south and our management practices HAVE to reflect those differences.

For me, the only way I know that something is 100% pesticide-free is to grow it myself or to get to know the farmer that produced it. In a perfect world, we wouldn't need pesticides or fertilizers. In reality, nobody wants to walk 100 acres of vegetable and fruit fields and pick all of the bugs off by hand. Nobody wants to walk 100 acre fields in the hot sun and pull weeds by hand or hoe them.

Although I personally do not purchase organic products for myself due to my personal alignments, I do wish there was a better way for me to make sure everything is 100% safe for my hermies.

I know that was a novel, and this can be a heated topic, so I don't want to start anything. However, there is a lot of misinformation surrounding the topic, and I felt I needed to chime in.

[PinchersAndShells]

I've been raised around agriculture and have studied agriculture for right around 10 years now. I am engaged to a farmer and we will be taking over the family farm that has been in his family for over 100 years. I have a Bachelor's of Science from Ohio State in Environmental Science with a specialization in Soil Resource Management and Environmental Sustainability. I work for the USDA Farm Service Agency in my hometown.

Most people don't know this, but USDA Organic Certification DOES allow for the use of many non-synthetic (not manmade, i.e. organic), as well as some synthetic (manmade) pesticides and fertilizers in the production process. There is a complete, complex, and very wordy list of what is and isn't allowed by the USDA at this link: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c= ... 2.7&idno=7

You'll notice that copper sulfate, ethanol, chlorine products, and even several acids are all allowed to be used in organic crop production. There are sections for crop production, livestock production, and food processing. The USDA Organic label means that 95% of the ingredients meet the standards for USDA Organic certification. That means that 5% may not. The 100% USDA Organic label means that 100% of the individual ingredients have been certified organic by the USDA. The organic certification process does NOT allow for GMOs.

GB is correct in that the "All Natural" label is unregulated, overused, and often means literally nothing. It's a marketing tool that way too many people unfortunately fall for.

I would like to point out that soil health and animal welfare is not specific only to organic producers, and there is no standard for practices that organic farmers have to do on their farms (with the exception of no antibiotics or artificial hormones in animal production. But in the U.S., producers are no longer allowed to use antibiotics for growth-promotion in any food-animal production. Additionally, the FDA prohibits the use of growth hormones in any pork or poultry production - regardless of organic status. So, all pork and poultry in the United States is already produced without growth hormones or non-prescribed antibiotics). Most conventional producers utilize the same basic conservation practices on their farms for the simple fact that years of use and research have shown that practices such as crop rotation, tillage changes, waterways, and cover crop use have decreased soil erosion and increased soil quality. That, in turn, leads to years of higher success in farming. Each farmer has to find a balance of practices that best suit themselves, their animals, and their land. Our Wooster and Pewamo Silt Loams are nothing like the heavy clays of the south and our management practices HAVE to reflect those differences.

For me, the only way I know that something is 100% pesticide-free is to grow it myself or to get to know the farmer that produced it. In a perfect world, we wouldn't need pesticides or fertilizers. In reality, nobody wants to walk 100 acres of vegetable and fruit fields and pick all of the bugs off by hand. Nobody wants to walk 100 acre fields in the hot sun and pull weeds by hand or hoe them.

Although I personally do not purchase organic products for myself due to my personal alignments, I do wish there was a better way for me to make sure everything is 100% safe for my hermies.

I know that was a novel, and this can be a heated topic, so I don't want to start anything. However, there is a lot of misinformation surrounding the topic, and I felt I needed to chime in.

Interesting read and thank you for the information!

[mool]

I tried to get my little chicken egg production business certified as organic but I was denied because I did not build the coop form organic materials. I bought the wood from Home Depot.

The chickens had free range and only consumed 100% organic foods and were never medicated but because I didn't build the structure from organic wood I was denied the USDA label. So I sold my eggs as having been produced with organic practices since I wasn't about to tear down my $5000.00 chicken coop and rebuild it with organic materials.

[mool]

I also see a lot of produce listed as "transitional." That means that the farm has gone to organic practices, but there are still residual chemicals in the soil from when it wasn't organic. I think it takes an apple orchard like 8 years to transition from conventional to organic.

[GotButterflies]

Very interesting! I'm always wanting to learn more, and I greatly appreciated hearing the information! Thanks! Great subject! For our garden we try organic things for keeping the bugs away~ egg shells, netting, etc. I personally don't feel it's a heated topic, but that's me


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