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In its final Organic Rule of March 2000, the USDA did not adequately define for organic dairy producers how organic dairy cows should be raised, stating only that they must have “access to pasture.” In light of this vague standard, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB – an advisory Board to the USDA on organic standards) repeatedly raised the issue of defining more meaningful and enforceable standards for dairy farms. In November 2005, NOSB developed recommendations detailing pasturing practices that would be necessary in organic dairy farming, including that animals graze pasture for at least 120 days per year (except during birthing or up to 6 months of age), and that organic operations must not prevent dairy animals from grazing pasture during lactation (currently, organic producers are allowed to temporarily confine dairy animals under vague “stage of production” temporary confinement standards. This language has been used by some dairies to confine animals that are lactating, deeming lactation a “stage of production.” Given that dairy cows are raised to produce milk, this “stage of production” could be used to confine them indefinitely). The November NOSB recommendations followed several years of input and recommendations from the Board. As the group noted last year, “The NOSB has received thousands of comments in support of its draft recommendations. The preponderance of supportive comments have been submitted by dairy producers and consumers, stressing the environmental, animal health, and nutritional benefits derived from pastured ruminants.” More Information and New Releases: Center for Food Safety: Organic Milk Market Threatened by Lack of Adequate Pasture Requirement Joint press release from the Center for Food Safety and Consumers Union Read the November 17, 2005 NOSB Draft Recommendation on Pasture Requirements for Ruminants (pdf) Read the USDA’s Federal Register Notice on Public Comment Period (pdf document) Read the Polling Data from CFS (pdf) Read the Cornucopia Institute’s Dairy Report and Scorecard “Maintaining the Integrity of Organic Milk.” |
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The
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The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) is debating guidelines and amendments to its regulations requiring organic dairy cows access to pasture. Under the existing USDA enforcement policy, producers of organic milk are not clearly required to raise their organic cows on pasture. The lack of a stringent enforcement standard has placed the organic dairy industry under scrutiny and led to complaints that industrial-style, confined dairy feedlots are selling milk under the organic label. The public comment period ends June 12th – make your voice heard today! 