[Terrapreta] USDA organic certification standards

[Tom Miles]

Well , it got your attention!:-)

 

Thanks

 

Tom

 

 

From: Douglas Clayton [mailto:dnclayton at wildblue.net] 
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 6:51 PM
To: Tom Miles
Cc: 'David Yarrow'; terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] USDA organic certification standards

 

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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