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Let Them Eat Grass! NODPA's Pasture Rule Resource Page
- The Pasture Rule & Nothing But The Pasture Rule: 14 pages of language in the Final Rule that amends and revises Section 205
- Frequently Asked Questions: A quick summary by NOP of what is in the Final Rule
- Full NOP Pasture Rule: The 148 pages of preamble and justification in the Final Rule for the changes to the Section 205.
- Main components of the Pasture Rule
February 12, 2010
Final Access to Pasture Rule is announced by
USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan
February 17, 2010
Final Rule published on the Federal register
June 16, 2010
Final rule is effective. All new operations
certified on or after June 17 are required to have
an Organic Systems Plan (OSP) that shows
how they can meet the new regulations.
Operations that are already certified have
an implementation period of 1 year.
June 17, 2011
All organically certified dairy operations are
required to have OSP’s that show how they will
meet the new regulations and their operation
will need to be in compliance.
"This is the biggest deal in the organic community for many years."
Miles McEvoy
Head of the USDA NOP
"I am still pinching myself to be sure that this is all real--after all these years it seems almost too good to be true."
Kathie Arnold
New York producer
"This is a sound and commendable pasture rule clarification that eliminates all the loopholes of the past and puts controversy behind us."
Michael Sligh of the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA
"The rulemaking is long overdue, and producers and processors need the clarity in the rule to plan for the future and to continue ensuring the integrity of organic certification for the consumer."
Tony Azovedo, California Producer and President of the Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (WODPA)
"This Final rule is great as it has the specificity and detail that we need to have a level playing field across the country."
Darlene Coehoorn, Wisconsin producer and President of the Midwest Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (MODPA)
"Well Done! Thanks and Congratulations to all who have worked so long and hard getting to this point."
Steve Morrison
Maine producer and NODPA past President
Updated March 8, 2010. After many years of work and consensus building an Access to Pasture Final rule was released by the USDA on February 12, 2010.
We dedicate this page to de-mystifying the Rule and providing resources that are easy to understand and very accessible. As we learn and receive more information we will post it and explain how it might impact producers in the future.
The Pasture Rule Arrives!
Trainings/Resources:
- Webinar, March 17:
In this webinar, Dr. Kerry R. Smith of the USDA AMS National Organic Program, will give an overview of the main components of the Pasture Rule. The webinar will end with instructions for submitting comments viewers may have on the new Rule to the NOP, as well as taking suggestions for further webinars on this topic.
Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/169941112
- Pasture Rule Trainings: Three Pasture Rule trainings are being offered in March and April, taking place in New York, Colorado and California. Producers, certifiers and resource professionals are encouraged to attend. Registration required. Please go to the NOP site for more details.
- Pasture Rule Training Highlights ... click here for an article by Lisa McCrory.
Resources produced by NODPA, VOF, MOSES and USDA Agricultural Research Station:
- Moses Fact Sheet
- New NOP Pasture Regulation Meets Expectations of Organic Community, by Harriet Behar
- Day by Day Pasture Records Worksheet
- VOF Pasture Dry Matter Calculation Worksheet
- Dry Matter calculation by Kathy Soder, USDA ARS
- Walking Energy requirements by Kathy Soder, USDA ARS
- Pasture consumption calculation by Lisa McCrory
- VOF Dairy Supplement, Organic System Plan
Other Related Resources:
- USDA press release on the Final Rule on Friday February 12, 2010.
- FOOD Farmers celebrates the release of the Final Rule.
- Thumbs Up on the Access to Pasture Final Rule from the National Organic Coalition.
- Pasture Rule Draws Bright Line Benefiting Cows & Consumers ... a commentary by Sam Fromartz
- Interview with Kathie Arnold about her farm and the Pasture Rule
Historical Documentation:
- Federation of Organic Dairy Farmers (FOOD Farmers) Report Document following the 1st Summit Meeting of organic dairy producers and processors, June, 2007, in Boulder, Colorado.
- NODPA Pasture Rule Comments, Dec 23, 2008
- The National Organic Program has a good history of the pasture rule progress and all the documents, transcripts and comments. Click here to view it.
- CCOF Inspection Program: In mid-2008, CCOF instituted an unannounced inspection program focused on livestock operations. This was done to address concerns about pasture availability, grazing access and other concerns of non-compliance. You can see details of their program by clicking here. CCOF has been pouring resources into ensuring the ongoing compliance of all CCOF certified organic dairies to ensure fair competition in the marketplace.
- Pastureland Cooperative interviewed Ed Maltby on the proposed new pasture rule. To read the interview, go to: http://www.pastureland.coop/Ed+Maltby.
