Organic Integrity Under Attack |
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June 11, 2002
What's wrong with this scenario? Fieldale Farms, a large poultry operation based in Baldwin, Georgia, has been trying to pressure Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman into granting an exemption to the requirement that organic livestock be fed organically grown feeds.
The basis for this exemption would be the alleged lack of commercially available organic feed at prices acceptable to Fieldale. Yet while Fieldale may have a hard time swallowing high costs, consumers would have an even harder time choking down a change in organic standards: Granting an exemption would severely compromise the integrity of the "organic" term, and it would provide a disincentive for the continued increase in production of organic feeds to keep up with rising demand—an important market for organic farmers producing feed grains.
Secretary Veneman is also looking at the option of suspending all livestock provisions in the national organic regulations or delaying their implementation, currently scheduled for October 21, 2002. The issue is not just about protecting organic integrity; it's also about a recurring pattern within the USDA, which puts into question its stewardship of national organic standards.
A letter from the National Organic Standards Board to Secretary Veneman explains the issue in greater detail. It is attached on the following page.
Taking Action Is Easy
Your action is needed to protect the integrity of organic standards. Please fax or call Secretary Veneman; Bill Hawks, the undersecretary of agriculture for marketing and regulatory programs; and your Congressional members, and tell them that you oppose a suspension of the 100% organic-feed rule for organic livestock.
Ask Secretary Veneman and Undersecretary Hawks:
- To stand fast with 100% organic feed for poultry and other organic livestock.
- To uphold current livestock rules. Dilution threatens the thriving organic feed industry.
- Not to bow to pressure that would undermine the value of the organic label in the marketplace.
- To keep the implementation date of October 21, 2002 for national organic standards.
Ask your Representative and Senators to put pressure on Secretary Veneman to maintain stringent organic standards.
Contact Information
Ann M. Veneman
Secretary of Agriculture
202-720-3631
Fax: 202-720-2166
Bill Hawks
Undersecretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
202-720-4256
Mail: United States Department of Agriculture
14th & Independence Ave. SW
Washington, D.C. 20250
Contacting Your U.S. Senators and Representative
To call your Senators or Representative, dial the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your member by name or tell them where you live (the operator will probably ask for your zip code), and they'll connect you. You'll be making three calls, but it's worth it! You can leave a detailed message, or if you prefer, you can ask for the fax number and fax them a letter.
For More Information
Want to know more about the issue? Below is an excerpt from a National Organic Standards Board letter to Secretary Veneman, which goes into more detail about the impact of weakening organic feed requirements.
May 30, 2002
The Honorable Ann Veneman
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Dear Madam Secretary:
I am contacting you on behalf of the National Organic Standards Board regarding the importance of maintaining the requirements for using certified organic feed in all certified organic livestock production, including poultry.
We understand that the Department is under mounting pressure from some members of Congress to grant a waiver on the organic feed requirement because of the alleged lack of commercially available supplies in Georgia. However, representatives of the company requesting the waiver testified publicly before the NOSB earlier this month that organic feedstocks are available, but are much more expensive than conventional feed. Following the NOSB meeting, I also had contact with two organic milling companies stating their ability to supply organic feed into the Georgia market. One of the milling companies reported that the Georgia firm had contacted them about supplying grain, but rejected the price offered for delivery.
A market-based economy will respond to supply and demand. The growing demand for organic poultry, and the price premiums on organic grain, will create new opportunities for farmers to grow and market organic feedstocks. Granting a waiver will undermine these market forces and severely compromise the honesty behind organic marketing.
Madam Secretary, the response to this issue is larger than simply providing a waiver in a regional production area. The Department's stance on this issue is critical to the integrity of the organic seal. To put it simply, we have one opportunity to make a good first impression with the American consuming public. Let's make sure we get it right.
The development of the organic industry is truly an example of a market-based agricultural model. The organic sector supported passage of the Organic Food Production Act in 1990 as a means to develop national standards that would protect the integrity of the marketplace. The difficult work of the past 12 years has been centered on the single issue of defining the "story" behind the new USDA organic seal. Organic producers and consumers alike made it very clear with more than 270,000 public comments in 1998, that the organic seal must represent products that are produced with the highest standards of inputs, management and processing.
The organic community is watching with concern the mounting pressure to compromise on the organic feed provisions. Again, we urge you to uphold the regulations carefully developed over the past 12 years.
Sincerely,
Dave Carter,
Chair, National Organic Standards Board
Related Links
Organic Still Means Humane
Local and Regional Food Systems
Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming
