GETTING TO

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GETTING TO NOWThe History of Organic
Agriculture Its Regulation
George Kuepper The Kerr Center for Sustainable
Agriculture
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• Washington University Organic Farming Studies
• Mid- to Late 1970s
• Western Corn Belt States Illinois, Iowa, E.
  Nebraska, S. Minnesota, N. Missouri
• Agronomic Crop Livestock Farms
• Farms Comparable in Size to Neighbors about 20
  smaller on average
• Comparable Mechanization
• Minimum 5 Years in Organic Production
• Sales Into the Conventional Marketplace

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• Washington University Organic Farming Studies
• Major Findings
• Existence of commercial-scale organic farming in
  the Corn Belt, operating within the conventional
  marketplace.
• Organic farms used 2/5ths as much fuel to
  produce one dollars worth of crop as
  conventional farms.
• Organic Farms had 1/3rd less soil erosion than
  conventional farms based on crop rotations and
  diversity.
• Organic farms sequestered slightly more carbon
  in their soils no P or K depletion.
• Organic farms had lower yields of corn (about
  10), comparable yields of soybeans, and required
  about 12 more labor per dollar of crop produced.
• Lower organic yields and higher labor costs were
  offset by lower input costs resulting in
  generally similar net returns per acre.

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Washington University Organic Farming Studies
Selected Publications Locker
etz, Wm., G. Shearer, S. Sweeney, G. Kuepper, D.
Wanner, D.H. Kohl. 1980. Maize Yields and
Soil Nutrient Levels With and Without Pesticides
and Standard Commercial Fertilizers. Agronomy
Journal, Vol. 72, p. 6572. Shearer, G., D.H.
Kohl, D. Wanner, G. Kuepper, S, Sweeney,
Lockeretz. 1981. Crop Production Costs and
Returns on Midwestern Organic Farms 1977 and
1978. Amer. J. Agr. Econ., Vol. 63, No. 2, p.
264269. Lockeretz, Wm., G. Shearer, D.H.
Kohl. 1981. Organic Farming in the Corn Belt.
Science, Vol. 211, p. 540546. USDA Study Team
on Organic Farming. 1980. Report and
Recommendations on Organic Farming. USDA. July.
94 p. http//www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/USDAOrgF
armRpt.pdf
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The Organic Market is Booming

• 2007 US Organic Sales Estimated at 20 billion
• 20 Increase in Organic Sales from 2006
• Organics approaching 3 of total food sales in
  the U.S.
• OTA 2007 Manufacturer Survey

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Organic Market Growth Since 1994
Source Nutrition Business Journal, annual Nutr,
OTA 2007 Manufacturer Survey
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Evolution Of and the Influences On American
Organic Farming
J.I. Rodale
Wm. Albrecht
F.H. King
OFPANA/ OTA
NOP Standard Implemented
Pioneers Organizations Events
R. Steiner Anthroposophy
A. Howard
E. Balfour
Silent Spring
USDAs Organic Report
OFPA
L. Bromfield
E. Pfeiffer
USDA National Standard
Countercultural Influences Environmental
Consciousness Organic By Neglect
Organic Certification Industry Standards
Sustainable Practices from the Asian Continent
Certified Organic Production
Convertible Husbandry (America Mid-1800s)
Humus Farming
Organic Farming
Eco-Agriculture Integrated Production, etc.
High Farming (Europe 1800s)
Agroecology Permaculture
Demeter Certified Production
Biodynamics
? ?
? ? ?
? ?
? ?
? ? ?
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2006
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Feed the Soil, Not the Plant.
Organic Soil Management
An Old Saying among Organic Farmers
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The Soil Food Web
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The Law of Return
Organic Soil Management
In humus/organic farming, the Law of Return
refers to the return of organic materials to the
soil, not merely the replacement of chemical
nutrients.
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Plant Nutrition Under Natural Conditions
Source of plant nutrition - plant residues -
animal remains - animal wastes
Organic Matter
Digestive processes and nutrient recycling in
the Rhizosphere The Soil Food Web
Plant Roots
Parent Rock Material
Soluble Minerals
Organic Compounds Other Benefits
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Conventional Management
Organic Matter as Crop Residues
Conventional Soluble Fertilizers
?
Pesticides and some synthetic fertilizers are
toxic and weaken the soil food web
?
Digestive processes and nutrient recycling in
the Rhizosphere The Soil Food Web
?
Soluble Minerals
Parent Rock Material
Plant Roots
Soluble Minerals
Organic Compounds Other Benefits
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Humus Farming/Organic Management
Organic Materials and Methods Composts Crop
Residues Green Manures Livestock Manures Natural
Fertilizers Biological Inoculants Rotations w/
sod crops
Organic Matter
Digestive processes and nutrient recycling in
the Rhizosphere The Soil Food Web
Soluble Minerals
Parent Rock Material
Plant Roots
Soluble Minerals
Organic Compounds Other Benefits
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Because of its roots in humus farming, organic
farming is traditionally viewed as, and labeled
as, a soil-based production system.
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Conventional Crop Management Paradigm
Weed Management
Crop Nutrition
Disease Management
Insect Pest Management
Compartmentalized
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Pest Management Benefits
Soil Soil Fertility Benefits
Innate resistance/tolerance
N self-sufficiency
Induced resistance/tolerance
Access to native fertility
Nutrient banking
Disease suppression in the soil
Nutrient bioavailability
Biocontrol above ground
Reduced erosion
Pest life-cycle disruption
Reduced leaching
Weed seedbank reduction
Soil water retention
Shift in weed populations
Nutrient cycling
Ease of cultivation for weed control
Better tilth
SYSTEM ELEMENTS
Crop rotation
Sanitation
Soil-building crops
N-fixing crops
Resistant varieties
Reduced toxics
Soil/water conservation
Refugia
Manure/waste recycling
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HEALTHY SOCIETY
HEALTHY PEOPLE
HEALTHY FOOD

• HEALTHY SOIL

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Evolution Of and the Influences On American
Organic Farming
J.I. Rodale
Wm. Albrecht
F.H. King
OFPANA/ OTA
NOP Standard Implemented
Pioneers Organizations Events
R. Steiner Anthroposophy
A. Howard
E. Balfour
Silent Spring
USDAs Organic Report
OFPA
L. Bromfield
E. Pfeiffer
USDA National Standard
Countercultural Influences Environmental
Consciousness Organic By Neglect
Organic Certification Industry Standards
Sustainable Practices from the Asian Continent
Certified Organic Production
Convertible Husbandry (America Mid-1800s)
Humus Farming
Organic Farming
Eco-Agriculture Integrated Production, etc.
High Farming (Europe 1800s)
Agroecology Permaculture
Demeter Certified Production
Biodynamics
? ?
? ? ?
? ?
? ?
? ? ?
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2006
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Counterculture Vision of Organic
ORGANIC
Alternative Delivery Systems
Alternative Production Mode
Countercuisine
Adapted from Pollan, Michael. 2006. The
Omnivores Dilemma. Penguin Press, New York.
450 p.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF US ORGANIC INDUSTRY REGULATION
1960s1980s

• Mid 60s70s, budding organic industry
• Mid-70s First State Legislation CA OR
• 1973 First Private Certification Program CCOF
• 19751980 Washington University Studies
• 1980 USDA Study of Organic Ag Released
• Mid-80s OFPANA (later became OTA)
• 1989 Alar Scare
• 1990 OFPA Passed by Congress

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The Federalization of Organic Agriculture in the
U.S.

• 1990 Legislation Organic Foods Production Act
  (OFPA)
• Created the National Organic Program and the
  
• National Organic Standards Board
• The National Organic Program or NOP is the
  Federal body responsible for writing,
  interpreting and enforcing the Regulations
• The National Organic Standards Board or NOSB
  advises the NOP on interpretation of the
  Regulations and has statutory responsibility for
  the content of the National Listwhich details
  synthetic materials allowed and natural products
  prohibited in organic production and processing.
  The NOSB is comprised of 15 members from the
  organic community appointed by the Secretary of
  Agriculture.

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The Federalization of Organic Agriculture in the
U.S.

• 1997 Regulation First Draft of National
  Standard
• 2000 (spring) Revised Draft
• 2000 (winter) Final Rule/Standard Released
• 2002 (October) Full Implementation

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Equivalent Terms

• USDA Organic Regulation(s)
• Final Rule of the National Organic Program
• National Organic Standard
• 7 CFR Part 205

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National Organic Standard Addresses
v Production System v Handling/Processing Scale
of Production Food Miles Social Justice
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USDA Vision of Organic
ORGANIC
Alternative Delivery Systems
Alternative Production Mode
Countercuisine
Adapted from Pollan, Michael. 2006. Omnivores
Dilemma. Penguin Press, New York. 450 p.
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Organic by Neglect
Wild Harvest
Organic Hydroponics
Humus Farming
Biodynamics
Input Substitution
Systems Addressed by the National Organic
Standard
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ATTRA Resources
Organic Farm Certification the
NOP http//www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/organc
ert.pdf Organic Crop Production
Overview http//www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/o
rganiccrop.pdf Organic Crops Workbook http//www.
attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/cropsworkbook.pdf
Organic Materials Compliance http//www.attra.nca
t.org/attra-pub/PDF/organicmaterials.pdf Org.
Orchard, Vineyard, and Berry Crop Doc.
Forms http//www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/orch
ardforms.pdf Forms, Documents, and Sample
Letters for Org, Prod. http//www.attra.ncat.org/a
ttra-pub/PDF/producerforms.pdf
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The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education
ServicePO Box 339, Spring Valley, WI 54767Tel
715-772-3153Fax [phone]info_at_mosesorganic.o
rg www.mosesorganic.org
Guidebook for Organic Certification http//www.mos
esorganic.org/attachments/hwguidebook06.pdf
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Kerr Center Resources
Publications Small Organic Farms Local
Markets How to Assess Organic
Compliance Organic Foods What Do We Need to
Know About Them? Organic Production in Oklahoma
QA Information Packets OrganicIs It For Me?
Organics in the MidsouthWhat are the
Challenges? Organic Making the Transition The
Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, P.O. Box
588, Poteau, OK 74953 Tel [phone]
http//www.kerrcenter.com/
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Thanks for your attention!
George Kuepper The Kerr Center P.O. Box
588 Poteau, OK 74953 918-647-9123 gkuepper_at_kerrce
nter.com http//www.kerrcenter.com/