[Terrapreta] USDA organic certification standards

[Douglas Clayton]

Tom,

No no no I don't think "mined" has anything to do with coal!  Organic  
people are thinking of stuff like greensand and rock phosphate which  
are mined.  Saturday night this reference came up when I did a google  
for "charcoal soil organic compliance" looking for the USDA organic  
rules.  I learned that a book listing allowed and prohibited materials  
and practices costs $30.  This hit was some summary page (not complete)  
.  .  .  .  .  here it is:
http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/Organic/Certificate/2006/NOPSummary2006.pdf

Doug


On Mar 26, 2007, at 9:31 PM, Tom Miles wrote:

> What’s the intent of (6)? Does it allow coal with low volatile matter?
>  
> Tom Miles
>  
>  
> From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org  
> [mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of David  
> Yarrow
> Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 12:57 PM
> To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] USDA organic certification standards
>  
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Douglas Clayton
>> Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2007 6:49 PM
>> Subject: USDA organic certification standards
>>  
>> David,
>> Ran across this last night:
>>  §205.203 Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice  
>> standard.
>> 1. Standards require organic producers to select tools (e.g.,  
>> tillers, plows) and practices that maintain
>>  improve soil quality and minimize soil erosion.
>>  2. Producers are required to utilize crop rotations, cover crops and  
>> plant and animal materials
>>  maintain or improve soil organic matter content in a manner that  
>> does not contribute to contamination
>>  of crops, soil, or water by plant nutrients, pathogens, heavy  
>> metals, or residues of prohibited substances.
>>  3. Prohibits the use of raw manure unless it is incorporated into  
>> the soil more than 120 days prior
>>  harvest for crops for human consumption whose edible portion is in  
>> direct contact with the soil
>>  particles; or 90 days prior to harvest for crops whose edible  
>> portion does not contact soil or soil
>>  4. Defines compost as material that has an initial C:N ratio of  
>> between 25:1 and 40:1. Requires
>>  to reach specific temperature parameters for specific time periods.  
>> If produced according to requirements,
>>  compost can be applied at any time.
>>  5. Allows use of uncomposted plant materials.
>>  6. Allows mined substances of low solubility.
>>  7. Allows the use of fertility inputs on the National List.  
>> Prohibits the use of synthetic fertilizers
>>  National List.
>>  8. Prohibits the burning of crop residues, except to prevent disease  
>> or to stimulate seed germination.
>>  9. Ash from the burning of plant or animal material is allowed, but  
>> manure ash is prohibited.
>>  10. Micronutrient trace minerals may be used when soil deficiency is  
>> documented by testing.
>>  Micronutrients must not be used as defoliants, herbicides, or  
>> desiccants. Nitrate and chloride
>>  prohibited.
>>
>>  Douglas Clayton
>>  50 Bullard Road
>>  Jaffrey, NH 03452
>>  H. 603-532-7321
>>  W. 603-532-1120
>>  Fax. 603-532-4581
> so then, by an initial reading of the USDA NOP statute, pyrolysis  
> charcoal is not defined within the language of the law.  so charcoal  
> may not be automatically approved for use by certified organic farms.
>  
> we ran into a similar issue in inquiring about the NOP status of sea  
> minerals, since they are not a "mined substance of low solubility."   
> sea minerals are mined minerals of high (total)  
> solunbility.  fortunately, no one challenged sea minerals on the basis  
> of solubility, and we are recommending only low levels of application,  
> so the sea minerals are accepted as a natural mined mineral that is  
> non-synthetic.
>  
> gaining approval for pyrolysis charcoal under the USDA NOP may involve  
> some careful crafting of language. 
>  
> for one, the charcoal must be from organic wastes, where "organic"  
> must be clearly worded for precise definition   what sorts oif organic  
> materials are acceptable; which are not?  certainly not highly  
> synthetic paper and cardboard, or sewerage.
>  
> for two, the definition must specify the process used to create the  
> charcoal.  we should be careful to use lanfuage that includes high  
> tech, controlled combustion and emission steel tanks, without  
> excluding more traditional methods to create charcoal in earthen  
> kilns, heaps and smouldering piles.
>  
> for three, the definition should specify "low temperature" pyrolysis,  
> since this preserves the microscopic pore structure of the  
> biological-created carbon-based molecules.  in contrast, high  
> temperatue pyrolysis destroys and "melts" this micro-pore organic  
> structure, degrading its value as a soil condiioner favorable to  
> micro-organisms, plus soil aeration, water retention and nutrient  
> conservation.
>  
> just a few preliminary thoughts.
>  
> David Yarrow
>  "If yer not forest, yer against us."
>  Turtle EyeLand Sanctuary
>  44 Gilligan Road, East Greenbush, NY 12061
>  518-330-2587
> dyarrow at nycap.rr.com
> www.championtrees.org
> www.OnondagaLakePeaceFestival.org
> www.citizenre.com/dyarrow/
> www.SeaAgri.com
>   
>  "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times,
>  if one only remembers to turn on the light." 
>  -Albus Dumbledore
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Douglas Clayton
50 Bullard Road
Jaffrey, NH 03452
H. 603-532-7321
W. 603-532-1120
Fax. 603-532-4581
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