USDA Publishes Organic Grazing Rules

WASHINGTON - Feb 15/10 - SNS -- The USDA published its final regulation regarding access to pasture for organic livestock operations, amending National Organic Program (NOP) regulations to clarify the use of pasture in raising organic ruminants.

The main components of the rule, which takes effect June 17, 2010, include:

- Animals must graze pasture during the grazing season, which must be at least 120 days per year;

- Animals must obtain a minimum of 30 percent dry matter intake from grazing pasture during the grazing season;

- Producers must have a pasture management plan and manage pasture as a crop to meet the feed requirements for the grazing animals and to protect soil and water quality; and,

- Livestock are exempt from the 30 percent dry matter intake requirements during the finish feeding period, not to exceed 120 days. Livestock must have access to pasture during the finishing phase.

Operations which are already certified organic will have one year to implement the provisions. Operations which obtain organic certification after the effective date will be expected to demonstrate full compliance.

Although this is a final rule, comments on the exceptions for finish feeding of ruminant slaughter stock may be submitted before April 19, 2010. This 60-day comment period pertains to the finish feeding provisions only. The specific questions to consider and instructions for submitting comments are available on the NOP website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOP