By: NewNaturalista
After two years of investigation, the USDA has finally released its new pasture standards for organic dairy production. Friday the agency released the details of those changes, they are as follows:
- 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.
Good news for mid-size and smaller dairies…maybe not so much for larger corporations. According to the USDA, ”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.”
Thoughts?
