define organic

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
No, they cannot be caged.

The National Organic Plan is administered by the USDA. It is a marketing program and the USDA does not make any claims that organic food is any better for you than conventional food. The USDA took notice of a trend toward "value added" products with labels like "all natural" "organic" "free range" "cage-free". Products were being marketed at a premium to people who felt they were getting a better product. The USDA stepped in and started to regulate some of these labels, the biggest one being the "organic" label. They created rules for organic production and processing. It is an extensive program that governs the production of almost every agricultural product that a producer would want to market as organic.

The USDA accredits third party certification agencies that in turn certify the producers. You cannot use the organic label without certification from one of these agencies. Certification is as simple as contacting one of these agencies, showing them a written plan for organic management within the government regulations and keeping production records. Yes, there are fees involved, but it is usually based on annual gross receipts. The less you make, the less you pay to maintain the certification. The biggest hurdle, (well not really a hurdle), is that cropland and pasture has to be free from pesticides and organic fertilizers for three years. If you are converting CRP land or other fallow areas this may not be too hard, but if you are a conventional farmer converting to organic, it can be tough. You have to start following organic practices, which can mean reduced yields, but you cannot certify until the land has been managed organically for three years...

As far as the "you just don't know about that feed unless you've raised it yourself comments". All organic grains are issued lot numbers and certification certificates and have to be milled at certified mills. While there could be some scamming involved it is highly unlikely the way the program is setup.

What does this mean for backyard chickens? You cannot market your eggs as organic unless you have a certification. If you still want to follow the organic standards as set down by the USDA just for your own peace of mind it is much more than just feeding them organic feed. They must be fed ONLY organic feed from day one onward, nothing else. You could feed them kitchen scraps if they are from organically managed gardens, but any store bought, non-organically produced items would be outside the rules. Any bedding material that they could possibly eat must be certified organic. Any lawn or pasture must have been free from pesticides and synthetic fertilizers for three years. You can fertilize with manure from organically managed livestock. Yes, even manure is certifiable, you don't want to use cattle manure loaded with antibiotics on your organic pasture or garden. Only biological vaccines and natural treatments are allowed. No synthetic pharmaceuticals. If birds get sick you must treat them, even if it's a non organic treatment, but then they must be removed from the farm as they are no longer organic.

Is this practical for the backyard layer? No, but it goes to show why organic eggs and other products at the market command a premium price. There is a demand for these items, but they are more expensive to produce.

I'd point you to the National Organic Program regulations, but they are rather dry and not very easy to sort through. Instead, here is a link to Organic Valley, the nation's largest organic cooperative. The link lists their standards for egg producers, which are slightly more restrictive than the NOP standards:

http://www.farmers.coop/farmers-wanted/egg-pool/farm-requirements/

 

[rooster-red]

or-gan-ic (ôr gan'ik) adj.
1. noting or pertaining to a class of
chemical compounds that formerly
comprised only those existing in or
derived from plants or animals, but that
now includes all other compounds of
carbon. Compare INORGANIC (DEF. 3).
2. pertaining to, characteristic of, or
derived from living organisms.
3. of, pertaining to, or involving animals,
produce, etc., raised or grown without
synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or
drugs: organic farming; organic chicken.
4. of or pertaining to an organ or the
organs of an animal, plant, or fungus.
5. of, pertaining to, or affecting living
tissue.
6. caused by physical change or impairment:
organic disorder. Compare FUNCTIONAL
(def. 5).
7. characterized by the systematic
arrangement of parts; organized;
systematic.
8. of or pertaining to the basic
constitution or structure of a thing;
constitutional; inherent; fundamental.
9. developing in the manner of living
organisms: a view of history as organic.
10. Law. pertaining to the laws organizing the
government of a state.
n.
11. a substance, as a fertilizer or pesticide,
of animal or vegetable origin.
[1350-1400; ME: pertaining to an organ of the body
< L organicus by or employing a mechanical device,
instrumental < Gk organikós = órgan (on) ORGAN +
-ikos - IC]
Derived words
--or-gan'i-cal-ly, adv.
--or-ga-nic-i-ty(ôr guh nis'i tee), n.

 

[greyfields]

Quote:
I think the guy above me explained it very well. There are husbandry standards associated with organics, beyond feeding requirements, which do give the animals a higher quality of life than their traditional counterparts. Remember, however, organic broilers and egg production was around 2% of the total poultry/eggs consumed in the US. It's shocking becuase if you asked anyone, they'd probably estaimte at least 50% of the chicken they ate was raised humanely.

I'm all for organics and there are a lot of cynics to the program. But it is leaps and bounds better for the animals, sustainability and is an ethical product to seek and purchsae.

If you are doing this for yourself, though, you are better off developing your customer base and marketing natural. I have developed loyal customers who buy from me who will pay more than they could get it at Whole Foods. It's piece of mind, and they approve of how I raise my animals.