usda organic livestock pasture rules comparison old rules versus final pasture rules (2010.02)

8/14/2019 USDA Organic Livestock Pasture Rules Comparison Old Rules Versus Final Pasture Rules (2010.02)

1/17

NationalOrganicProgramFinalRuleAccesstoPasture:

Asidebysidecomparisonbetweentheoriginal,proposedandfinalrule*

*Redtextindicatesnewprovisionsorchangestotheexisting(2000)regulations.Strikethroughindicates

7CFRPart205 ProposedRuleAccesstoPasture,

73FR63584

FinalRuleAccesstoPasture

205.2Termsdefined. 205.2Termsdefined. 205.2Termsdefined.

Crop.Aplantorpartofaplant

intendedtobemarketedasan

agriculturalproductorfedto

livestock.

Pasture.Landusedforlivestock

grazingthatismanagedtoprovide

feedvalueandmaintainorimprove

soil,water,andvegetative

resources.

[Theexistingregulationsdonot

definedrymatter,drylot,feedlot,

graze,grazing,growingseason,

inclementweather,killingfrost,

residualforage,sacrificialpasture,

shelter,stageoflife,temporaryand

temporarilyoryards/feedingpad.]

Crop. Pastures,sod,covercrops,

greenmanurecrops,catchcrops,

andanyplantorpartofaplant

intendedtobemarketedasan

agriculturalproduct,fedto

livestock,orusedinthefieldto

managenutrients

and

soil

fertility.

[Intheproposedrule,pastureis

includedwithinthedefinitionof

crop;thedefinitionofpastureis

unchanged].

Drymatter. Theamountofa

feedstuffremainingafterallthe

freemoistureisevaporatedout.

[Theproposedruledidnotdefine

drymatterdemandordrymatter

intake.]

Drylot. Aconfinedareathatmay

becoveredwithconcrete,butthat

hasnovegetativecover.

Classofanimal. Agroupof

livestockthatsharesasimilar

stageof

life

or

production.

The

classesofanimalsarethosethat

arecommonlylistedonfeed

labels.

Crop. Pastures,covercrops,

greenmanurecrops,catch

crops,oranyplantorpartofa

plantintendedtobemarketed

asanagriculturalproduct,fed

tolivestock,orusedinthefield

tomanage

nutrients

and

soil

fertility.

[Inthefinalrule,pastureis

includedwithinthedefinitionof

crop;thedefinitionofpastureis

unchanged].

Drymatter. Theamountofa

feedstuffremainingafterallthe

freemoistureisevaporatedout.

Drymatterdemand.The

expecteddrymatterintakefora

classofanimal.

Drymatterintake.Totalpounds

ofallfeed,devoidofall

moisture,consumedbyaclass

ofanimalsoveragivenperiod

oftime.

Drylot. Afencedareathatmay

becoveredwithconcrete,but

thathaslittleornovegetative

textintheproposedrulethatwasdeletedinthefinalrule.Explanatorynotesappearbracketedinitalics.


2/17

Feedlot. Aconfinedareaforthe

controlledfeedingofruminants.

Graze. (1) Theconsumptionof

standingforagebylivestock. (2) To

putlivestocktofeedonstanding

forage.

Grazing. Tograze.

Growingseason. Theperiodof

timebetweentheaveragedateof

thelastkillingfrostinthespringto

theaveragedateofthefirstkilling

frostin

the

fall

or

early

winter

in

thelocalareaofproduction. This

representsatemperaturethreshold

of28degreesFahrenheit(3.9

degreesCelsius)orlowerata

frequencyof5yearsin10. Growing

seasonmayrangefrom121daysto

365days.

Inclementweather.

Weather

that

isviolent,orcharacterizedby

temperatures(highorlow),that

cankillorcausepermanentphysical

harmtoagivenspeciesoflivestock.

cover.

Feedlot. Adrylotforthe

controlledfeedingoflivestock.

Graze. (1) Theconsumptionof

standingorresidualforageby

livestock. (2) Toputlivestock

tofeedonstandingorresidual

forage.

Grazing. Tograze.

[Theproposeddefinitionof

growingseasonwasdeletedand

replacedwithgrazingseasonin

thefinalrule.]

Grazingseason. Theperiodof

timewhenpastureisavailable

forgrazing,duetonatural

precipitationorirrigation.

Grazingseasondatesmayvary

becauseofmidsummer

heat/humidity,significant

precipitationevents,floods,

hurricanes,droughtsorwinter

weatherevents. Grazingseason

maybe

extended

by

the

grazing

ofresidualforageasagreedin

theoperationsorganicsystem

plan. Duetoweather,season,

orclimate,thegrazingseason

mayormaynotbecontinuous.

Grazingseasonmayrangefrom

120daysto365days,butnot

lessthan120daysperyear.

Inclementweather.

Weather

thatisviolent,orcharacterized

bytemperatures(highorlow),

orcharacterizedbyexcessive

precipitationthatcancause

physicalharmtoagivenspecies

oflivestock. Productionyields

orgrowthratesoflivestock

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3/17

Livestock.Anycattle,sheep,goat,

swine,poultry,orequineanimals

usedforfoodorintheproduction

offood,

fiber,

feed,

or

other

agriculturalbasedconsumer

products;wildordomesticated

game;orothernonplantlife,

exceptsuchtermshallnotinclude

aquaticanimalsorbeesforthe

productionoffood,fiber,feed,or

otheragriculturalbasedconsumer

products.

Killingfrost. Afrostthattakesplace

attemperaturesbetween25

degreesand28degreesFahrenheit

(2.2and 3.9degreesCelsius)fora

periodsufficientlyseveretoendthe

growingseasonordelayits

beginning.

Livestock. Anybee,cattle,sheep,

goats,swine,poultry,equine

animalsusedforfoodorinthe

productionoffood,fiber,feed,or

otheragricultural

based

consumer

products;fishusedforfood;wildor

domesticatedgame;orother

nonplantlife.


residualforage.]

Sacrificialpasture. Apastureor

pastureswithinthepasturesystem,

ofsufficientsizetoaccommodate

allanimalsintheherdwithout

crowding,whereanimalsarekept

forshortperiodsduringsaturated

soilconditionstoconfinepasture

damagetoanareawherepotential

environmentalimpactscanbe

controlled.This

pasture

is

then

deferredfromgrazinguntilithas

beenrestoredthroughactive

pasturemanagement. Sacrificial

pasturesarelocatedwheresoils

havegoodtrafficability,arewell

drained,havelowriskofsoil

erosion,havelowornopotentialof

lowerthanthemaximum

achievabledonotqualifyas

physicalharm.


killingfrostwasdeletedfrom

thefinalrule.]

Livestock. Anycattle,sheep,

goats,swine,poultry,orequine

animalsusedforfoodorinthe

productionoffood,fiber,feed,

orother

agricultural

based

consumerproducts;wildor

domesticatedgame;orother

nonplantlife,exceptsuchterm

shallnotincludeaquaticanimals

fortheproductionoffood,

fiber,feed,orotheragricultural

basedconsumerproducts.

Residualforage. Foragecutand

lefttolie,orwindrowedandleft

tolie,

in

place

in

the

pasture.


sacrificialpasturewasdeletedin

thefinalrule.]

3


4/17

manurerunoff,aresurroundedby

vegetatedareas,andareeasily

restored. Asacrificialpastureis

landusedforlivestockgrazingthat

ismanagedtoprovidefeedvalue

andmaintainorimprovesoil,

water,andvegetativeresources;it

isnotadrylotorfeedlot.


shelterorstageoflife.]

Temporaryand

Temporarily.

Occurringforalimitedtimeonly

(e.g.,overnight,throughouta

storm,duringaperiodofillness,

theperiodoftimespecifiedbythe

Administratorwhengrantinga

temporaryvariance),not

permanentorlasting.


yards/feedingpad.]

Shelter. Structuressuchas

barns,sheds,orwindbreaks;or

naturalareassuchaswoods,

treelines,largehedgerows,or

geographiclandfeatures,that

aredesignedorselectedto

providephysicalprotectionor

housingtoallanimals.

Stageoflife. Adiscretetime

periodinananimalslifewhich

requiresspecificmanagement

practicesdifferentthanduring

otherperiods(e.g.,poultry

duringfeathering).Breeding,

freshening,lactationandother

recurringeventsarenotastage

oflife.

Temporaryand

Temporarily.

Occurringforalimitedtimeonly

(e.g.,overnight,throughouta

storm,duringaperiodofillness,

theperiodoftimespecifiedby

theAdministratorwhen

grantingatemporaryvariance),

notpermanentorlasting.

Yards/Feedingpad. Anareafor

feeding,exercising,andoutdoor

accessforlivestockduringthe

nongrazing

season

and

ahigh

trafficareawhereanimalsmay

receivesupplementalfeeding

duringthegrazingseason.

205.236OriginofLivestock 205.236OriginofLivestock

(a)Livestockproductsthatareto

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besold,labeled,orrepresentedas

organicmustbefromlivestock

undercontinuousorganic

managementfromthe

lastthirdofgestationorhatching:

Except,That:...

(2)Dairyanimals.Milkormilk

productsmustbefromanimalsthat

havebeenundercontinuous

organicmanagementbeginningno

laterthan1yearpriortothe

productionofthemilkormilk

productsthataretobesold,

labeled,orrepresentedasorganic,

Except,

(i)That,cropsandforagefrom

land,included

in

the

organic

system

planofadairyfarm,thatisinthe

thirdyearoforganicmanagement

maybeconsumedbythedairy

animalsofthefarmduringthe12

monthperiodimmediatelypriorto

thesaleoforganicmilkandmilk

products;and

(ii)That,whenanentire,distinct

herdisconvertedtoorganic

production,the

producer

may,

providednomilkproducedunder

thissubparagraphentersthe

streamofcommercelabeledas

organicafterJune9,2007:

(a)Forthefirst9monthsofthe

year,provideaminimumof80

percentfeedthatiseitherorganic

orraisedfromlandincludedinthe

organicsystemplanandmanaged

incompliancewithorganiccrop

requirements;and

(b)Provide

feed

in

compliance

with

205.237forthefinal3months.

(iii)Onceanentire,distinctherd

hasbeenconvertedtoorganic

production,alldairyanimalsshall

beunderorganicmanagement

fromthelastthirdofgestation.

(iii)Once

an

operation

has

been

certifiedfororganicproduction

usingtheexceptioninparagraph

(a)(2)(i)or(ii)ofthissection,all

dairyanimalsbroughtontothe

operationshallbeunderorganic

managementfromthelastthirdof

gestation.

[Thereproposedamendmentto

236(a)(2)(iii)wasdeletedinthe

finalrule.Theissuespertaining

tothissectionwillbeaddressed

inaseparaterulemaking].

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205.237LivestockFeed. 205.237LivestockFeed.

(a)Theproducerofanorganic

livestockoperationmustprovide

livestockwithatotalfeedration

composed

of

agricultural

products,

includingpastureandforage,that

areorganicallyproducedand,if

applicable,organicallyhandled:

Except,That,nonsynthetic

substancesandsynthetic

substancesallowedunder

205.603maybeusedasfeed

additivesandsupplements.

(a) Theproducerofanorganic

livestockoperationmustprovide

livestockwithatotalfeedration

composed

of

agricultural

products,

includingpastureandforage,that

areorganicallyproducedby

operationscertifiedtotheNOP,

exceptasprovidedin

205.236(a)(i)),and,ifapplicable,

organicallyhandledbyoperations

certifiedtotheNOP: Except,That,

syntheticsubstancesallowedunder

205.603andnonsynthetic

substancesmaybeusedasfeed

additivesandsupplements,

Provided,That,

all

agricultural

ingredientsinsuchadditivesand

supplementsshallhavebeen

producedandhandledorganically.


livestockoperationmust

providelivestockwithatotal

feed

ration

composed

of

agriculturalproducts,including

pastureandforage,thatare

organicallyproducedand

handledbyoperationscertified

totheNOP,exceptasprovided

in205.236(a)(2)(i),Except,

That,syntheticsubstances

allowedunder205.603and

nonsyntheticsubstancesnot

prohibitedunder205.604may

beusedasfeedadditivesand

feedsupplements,

Provided,

That,allagriculturalingredients

includedintheingredientslist,

forsuchadditivesand

supplements,shallhavebeen

producedandhandled

organically.

(b)Theproducerofanorganic

operation

mustnot:

(1)Useanimaldrugs,including

hormones,topromotegrowth;

(2)Providefeedsupplementsor

additives

inamountsabovethoseneededfor

adequatenutritionandhealth

maintenanceforthespeciesatits

specificstageoflife;

(3)Feedplasticpelletsfor

roughage;

(4)Feedformulascontainingurea

or

manure;

(5)Feedmammalianorpoultry

slaughterbyproductstomammals

orpoultry;or

(6)Usefeed,feedadditives,and

feedsupplementsinviolationof

theFederalFood,Drug,and

CosmeticAct.

(7) Providefeedorforagetowhich

anyone,atanytime,hasaddedan

antibiotic;or

(8) Prevent,withhold,restrain,or

otherwiserestrictruminantanimals

fromactivelyobtainingfeedgrazed

frompastureduringthegrowing

season,exceptforconditionsas

describedunder205.239(c).

[205.237(b)(1)(6)areretained

withoutrevisionfromthe

originalregulation].

(7) Providefeedorforageto

whichanyantibioticincluding

ionophoreshasbeenadded;or

(8) Prevent,withhold,restrain,

orotherwiserestrictruminant

animalsfromactivelyobtaining

feedgrazedfrompastureduring

thegrazingseason,exceptfor

conditionsasdescribedunder

205.239(b)and(c).

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7/17

[Originalregulationsdonotcontain

provisionswhichspecifythe

minimumdrymatterintakefrom

pastureforruminantsandhowto

documentcompliancewiththat

minimumasinProposedRule

205.237(c)].

(c) Duringthegrowingseason,

producersshallprovidenotmore

thananaverageof70percentofa

ruminantsdrymatterdemand

fromdrymatterfed(drymatterfed

doesnotincludedrymattergrazed

fromvegetationrootedinpasture).

Producersshall,onceamonth,ona

monthlybasis:

(c) Duringthegrazingseason,

producersshall:

(1) Providenotmorethanan

averageof70percentofa

ruminantsdrymatterdemand

fromdrymatterfed(drymatter

feddoesnotincludedrymatter

grazedfromresidualforageor

vegetationrootedinpasture).

Thisshallbecalculatedasan

averageovertheentiregrazing

seasonforeachtypeandclass

ofanimal. Ruminantanimals

mustbegrazedthroughoutthe

entiregrazingseasonforthe

geographicalregion,whichshall

benotlessthan120daysper

calendaryear.

Due

to

weather,

season,and/orclimate,the

grazingseasonmayormaynot

becontinuous.

(2) Providepastureofa

sufficientqualityandquantity

tograzethroughoutthegrazing

seasonandtoprovideall

ruminantsundertheorganic

systemplanwithanaverageof

notlessthan30percentoftheir

drymatter

intake

from

grazing

throughoutthegrazingseason:

Except,That,

(i)Ruminantanimalsdenied

pastureinaccordancewith

205.239(b)(1)through(8),and

205.239(c)(1)through(3),shall

beprovidedwithanaverageof

notlessthan30percentoftheir

drymatterintakefromgrazing

throughouttheperiodsthat

theyareonpastureduringthe

grazingseason;

(ii)Breedingbullsshallbe

exemptfromthe30percentdry

matterintakefromgrazing

requirementofthissectionand

managementonpasture

requirementof205.239(c)(2);

Provided,That,anyanimal

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8/17

(1)Document

each

feed

ration

(i.e.,foreachtypeofanimal,each

classofanimalsintendeddailydiet

showingallingredients,daily

poundsofeachingredientper

animal,eachingredients

percentageofthetotalration,the

drymatterpercentageforeach

ingredient,andthedrymatter

poundsforeachingredient);

(2) Documentthedailydrymatter

demandof

each

class

of

animal

usingtheformula:

AverageWeight/Animal

(lbs).03=lbsDM/Head/Day

NumberofAnimals=TotalDM

Demandinlbs/Day;

(3) Documenthowmuchdry

matterisfeddailytoeachclassof

animal;and

(4) Documentthepercentageof

drymatterfeddailytoeachclassof

animalusingtheformula: (DMFed

DM

Demand

in

lbs/day)

100

=%

DMFed.

maintainedunderthis

exemptionshallnotbesold,

labeled,used,orrepresentedas

organicslaughterstock.

[Inthefinalrule,thefeed

documentationrequirements

arelessprescriptivethanthose

oftheproposedruleintermsof

frequencyofdocumentationand

mandatingspecificformulasfor

drymatterdemandanddry

matterintake.Also,the

documentationrequirements

aremovedtoparagraph(d)in

finalrule.]

(d)Ruminant

livestock

producersshall:

(1) Describethetotalfeed

rationforeachtypeandclassof

animal. Thedescriptionmust

include:

(i) Allfeedproducedonfarm;

(ii) Allfeedpurchasedfromoff

farmsources;

(iii) Thepercentageofeach

feedtype,includingpasture,in

thetotal

ration;

and

(iv) Alistofallfeed

supplementsandadditives.

(2) Documenttheamountof

eachtypeoffeedactuallyfedto

eachtypeandclassofanimal.

(3) Documentchangesthatare

madetoallrationsthroughout

theyearinresponsetoseasonal

grazingchanges.

(4) Providethemethodfor

calculatingdrymatterdemand

anddry

matter

intake.

205.239Livestockliving

conditions

(a)Theproducerofanorganic

livestockoperationmustestablish

andmaintainlivestockliving


livestockoperationmustestablish

andmaintainyearroundlivestock



establishandmaintainyear

8


9/17

conditionswhichaccommodatethe

healthand

naturalbehaviorofanimals,

including:

(1)Accesstotheoutdoors,shade,

shelter,exerciseareas,freshair,

anddirectsunlightsuitabletothe

species,its

stage

of

production,

the

climate,andtheenvironment;

(2)Accesstopastureforruminants;

(3)Appropriateclean,drybedding.

livingconditionswhich

accommodatethehealthand

naturalbehaviorofanimals,

includingthoselistedinparagraphs

(a)(1)through(a)(3)ofthissection.

Further,producersshallnot

prevent,withhold,restrain,or

otherwiserestrictanimalsfrom

beingoutdoors,exceptas

otherwiseprovidedinparagraph(b)

and(c)ofthissection.[Thislast

sentenceismovedto205.237(b)(8)

infinalrule].Producersshallalso

provide:

(1) Yearroundaccessforall

animalstotheoutdoors,shade,


waterfor

drinking

(indoors

and

outdoors),anddirectsunlight,

suitabletothespecies,itsstageof

life,theclimate,andthe

environment.

(2) Forallruminants,continuous

yearroundmanagementon

pasture,exceptasotherwise

providedinparagraph(c)ofthis

section,for:

(i)Grazing

throughout

the

growingseason;and

(ii) Accesstotheoutdoors

throughouttheyear,including

duringthenongrowingseason.

Drylotsandfeedlotsare

prohibited.

(3) Appropriateclean,dry

roundlivestocklivingconditions

whichaccommodatethehealth

andnaturalbehaviorofanimals,

including:

(1) Yearroundaccessforall

animalstotheoutdoors,shade,


cleanwaterfordrinking,and

directsunlight,suitabletothe

species,itsstageoflife,the

climate,andtheenvironment:

Except,that,animalsmaybe

temporarilydeniedaccessto

theoutdoorsinaccordancewith

205.239(b)and(c). Yards,

feedingpads,andfeedlotsmay

beusedtoprovideruminants

withaccess

to

the

outdoors

duringthenongrazingseason

andsupplementalfeeding

duringthegrazingseason.

Yards,feedingpads,and

feedlotsshallbelargeenough

toallowallruminantlivestock

occupyingtheyard,feeding

pad,orfeedlottofeed

simultaneouslywithout

crowdingandwithout

competitionfor

food.

Continuoustotalconfinement

ofanyanimalindoorsis

prohibited. Continuoustotal

confinementofruminantsin

yards,feedingpads,and

feedlotsisprohibited.

(2) Forallruminants,

managementonpastureand

dailygrazingthroughoutthe

grazingseason(s)tomeetthe

requirementsof205.237,

exceptas

provided

for

in

paragraphs(b),(c),and(d)of

thissection.

(3) Appropriateclean,dry

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10/17

Ifthebeddingistypicallyconsumed

bytheanimalspecies,itmust

complywiththefeedrequirements

of205.237;

[Subparagraph(a)(3)oftheoriginal

ruleisamendedinthisfinalrule.]

(4)Shelterdesignedtoallowfor:

(i)Naturalmaintenance,comfort

behaviors,andopportunityto

exercise;

(ii)Temperaturelevel,ventilation,

andaircirculationsuitabletothe

species;

and

(iii)Reductionofpotentialfor

livestock

injury;

bedding. Whenhay,straw,ground

cobs,orothercropmattertypically

fedtotheanimalspeciesisusedas

bedding,itmustcomplywiththe

feedrequirementsof205.237.

bedding. Whenroughagesare

usedasbedding,theyshallhave

beenorganicallyproducedin

accordancewiththispartbyan

operationcertifiedunderthis

part,exceptasprovidedin

205.236(a)(2)(i),and,if

applicable,organicallyhandled

byoperationscertifiedtothe

NOP.

[206.239(a)(4)oftheoriginal

regulationisretainedinthis

finalrule].

(5) Theuseofyards,feeding

pads,feedlotsandlaneways

thatshall

be

well

drained,

kept

ingoodcondition(including

frequentremovalofwastes),

andmanagedtopreventrunoff

ofwastesandcontaminated

waterstoadjoiningornearby

surfacewaterandacross

propertyboundaries.

(b)Theproducerofanorganic

livestockoperationmayprovide

temporaryconfinement

for

an

animalbecauseof: ...

(2)Theanimalsstageof

production;

(3) Conditionsunderwhichthe

health,safety,orwellbeingofthe

animalcouldbejeopardized;or

(4) Risktosoilorwaterquality.

(b) Theproducerofanorganic

livestockoperationmay

temporarilydeny

anon

ruminant

animalaccesstotheoutdoors

becauseof:

(1) ***

(2) Theanimalsstageof

life;

[Subparagraphs(3)and(4)ofthe

originalregulationareretainedin

theproposedandfinalrule.

Subparagraphs(5)(8)wereadded

inthefinalrule.]

(b) Theproducerofanorganic

livestockoperationmayprovide

temporaryconfinement

or

shelterforananimalbecause

of:

(1) ***

(2) Theanimalsstageoflife:

Except,Thatlactationisnota

stageoflifethatwouldexempt

ruminantsfromanyofthe

mandatessetforthinthis

regulation;

(3) Conditionsunderwhichthe

health,safety,orwellbeingof

theanimal

could

be

jeopardized;

(4) Risktosoilorwaterquality;

(5) Preventivehealthcare

proceduresorforthetreatment

ofillnessorinjury(neitherthe

variouslifestagesnorlactation

is anillnessorinjury);

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11/17

(6) Sortingorshippinganimals

andlivestocksales:Provided,

That,theanimalsshallbe

maintainedundercontinuous

organicmanagement,including

organicfeed,throughoutthe

extentoftheirallowed

confinement;

(7) Breeding: Except,That,

bredanimalsshallnotbedenied

accesstotheoutdoorsand,

oncebred,ruminantsshallnot

bedeniedaccesstopasture

duringthegrazingseason;or

(8) 4H,FutureFarmersof

Americaandotheryouth

projects,fornomorethanone

weekprior

to

afair

or

other

demonstration,throughthe

eventandupto24hoursafter

theanimalshavearrivedhome

attheconclusionoftheevent.

Theseanimalsmusthavebeen

maintainedundercontinuous

organicmanagement,including

organicfeed,duringtheextent

oftheirallowedconfinement

fortheevent.

[Thisprovision,205.239(c),is

retainedandamendedas

205.239(e)inthefinalrulesee

below].

(c) Theproducerofanorganic

livestockoperationmay

temporarilydenyaruminantanimal

pastureunderthefollowing

conditions:

(1) Whentheanimalissegregated

fortreatmentofillnessorinjury

(thevariouslifestages,suchas

lactation,arenotanillnessor

injury);[Thisexceptioninthis

subparagraphis

included

under

(b)(5)inthefinalrule.]

(2) Oneweekpriortoparturition

(birthing),parturition,andupto

oneweekafterparturition;

(3) Inthecaseofnewbornsforup

tosixmonths,afterwhichthey

mustbeonpastureandmayno

(c) Theproducerofanorganic

livestockoperationmay,in

additiontothetimespermitted

under205.239(b),temporarily

denyaruminantanimalpasture

oroutdooraccessunderthe

followingconditions:

(1) Oneweekatthe

endofalactationfordryoff(for

denialofaccesstopasture

only),three

weeks

prior

to

parturition(birthing),

parturition,anduptooneweek

afterparturition;

(2) Inthecaseof

newborndairycattleforupto

sixmonths,afterwhichthey

mustbeonpastureduringthe

11


12/17

longerbeindividuallyhoused;

(4) Inthecaseofgoats,during

periodsofinclementweather;

(5) Inthecaseofsheep,forshort

periodsforshearing;and

(6) Inthecaseofdairyanimals,for

shortperiodsdailyformilking.

Milkingmustbescheduledina

mannertoensuresufficientgrazing

timetoprovideeachanimalwithan

averagedry

matter

intake

from

grazingofnotlessthan30percent

throughoutthegrowingseason.

Milkingfrequenciesorduration

practicescannotbeusedtodeny

dairyanimalspasture.

grazingseasonandmayno

longerbeindividuallyhoused:

Provided,That,ananimalshall

notbeconfinedortetheredina

waythatpreventstheanimal

fromlyingdown,standingup,

fullyextendingitslimbs,and

movingaboutfreely;

(3) Inthecaseoffiberbearing

animals,forshortperiodsfor

shearing;and

(4) Inthecaseofdairyanimals,

forshortperiodsdailyfor

milking. Milkingmustbe

scheduledinamannerto

ensuresufficientgrazingtimeto

provideeachanimalwithan

averageof

at

least

30

percent

DMIfromgrazingthroughout

thegrazingseason. Milking

frequenciesorduration

practicescannotbeusedto

denydairyanimalspasture.


provisionsforfinishfeeding].

(d) Ruminantsmustbeprovided

with:

(1) Alyingareawithwell

maintainedclean,drybedding,

whichcomplies

with

paragraph

(a)(3)ofthissection,duringperiods

oftemporaryhousing,provideddue

totemporarydenialofpasture

duringconditionslistedin

paragraphs(c)(1)through(c)(5)of

thissection;

(2) Yardsandpassagewayskeptin

goodconditionandwelldrained;

(3) Shadeandinthecaseofgoats,

shelteropenonatleastoneside;

(4) Wateratalltimesexceptduring

shortperiods

for

milking

or

sheeringsuchwatermustbe

protectedfromfouling;

(5) Feedingandwatering

equipmentthataredesigned,

constructed,andplacedtoprotect

fromfoulingsuchequipmentmust

becleanedweekly;and

[Proposedparagraph(d)was

deletedbecauseallofthe

requirementsarefound

elsewhereinthefinalrule;

exceptthat

(d)(6)

was

eliminatedinthefinalrule.]

(d) Ruminantslaughterstock,

typicallygrainfinished,shallbe

maintainedonpastureforeach

daythatthefinishingperiod

correspondswiththegrazing

seasonforthegeographical

location: Except,That,yards,

feedingpads,orfeedlotsmay

beusedtoprovidefinish

feedingrations.

During

the

finishingperiod,ruminant

slaughterstockshallbeexempt

fromtheminimum30percent

DMIrequirementfromgrazing.

Yards,feedingpads,orfeedlots

usedtoprovidefinishfeeding

rationsshallbelargeenoughto

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13/17

(6) Inthecaseofnewborns,hayin

arackofftheground,beginning7

daysafterbirth,unlessonpasture,

andpastureforgrazingin

compliancewith205.240(a)not

laterthansixmonthsafterbirth.

allowallruminantslaughter

stockoccupyingtheyard,

feedingpad,orfeedlottofeed

simultaneouslywithout

crowdingandwithout

competitionforfood. The

finishingperiodshallnotexceed

onefifth(1/5)oftheanimals

totallifeor120days,whichever

isshorter.

(c)Theproducerofanorganic

livestockoperationmustmanage

manureinamannerthatdoesnot

contributetocontaminationof

crops,soil,orwaterbyplant

nutrients,heavymetals,or

pathogenicorganisms

and

optimizesrecyclingofnutrients.

(e)Theproducerofanorganic


manureinamannerthatdoesnot

contributetocontaminationof

crops,soil,orwaterbyplant

nutrients,heavymetals,or

pathogenicorganisms

and

optimizesrecyclingofnutrients.

(e) Theproducerofanorganic


managemanureinamanner

thatdoesnotcontributeto

contaminationofcrops,soil,or

waterbyplantnutrients,heavy

metals,or

pathogenic

organisms

andoptimizesrecyclingof

nutrientsandmustmanage

pasturesandotheroutdoor

accessareasinamannerthat

doesnotputsoilorwater

qualityatrisk.

[Thisprovisionisamendsand

movesparagraph205.239(c)of

theoriginalregulation].


aprovisioncomparabletoProposed

Rule205.239(f)].

(f) Theproducerofanorganic


outdooraccessareas,including

pastures,inamannerthatdoesnot

putsoilorwaterqualityatrisk;this

includestheuseoffencesand

bufferzonestopreventruminants

andtheirwasteproductsfrom

enteringponds,streams,andother

bodiesofwater. Bufferzonesize

shallbeextensiveenough,infull

considerationofthephysicalfeaturesofthesite,topreventthe

wasteproductsofruminantsfrom

enteringponds,streams,andother

bodiesofwater.

[Thefirstpartofthisproposed

paragraphwasmovedto

paragraph(e)inthefinalrule.

Theremainderofparagraph(f)

wasdeletedinthefinalrule.]

205.240PasturePractice

Standard

13


14/17

[Existingregulationsdonotcontain

aPasturePracticeStandard].

Theproducerofanorganic

livestockoperationmust,forall

ruminantlivestockonthe

operation,demonstratethrough

auditablerecordsintheorganic

systemplan,afunctioning

managementplanforpasturethat

meetsallrequirementsof

205.200 205.240.

(a) Pasturemustbemanagedasa

cropinfullcompliancewith

205.200through205.206.

(b) Theproducermustdevelopand

annuallyupdateacomprehensive

pastureplanforinclusioninthe

producersorganicsystemplan.

Theproducerofanorganic

livestockoperationmust,forall

ruminantlivestockonthe

operation,demonstratethrough

auditablerecordsintheorganic

systemplan,afunctioning

managementplanforpasture.

(a) Pasturemustbemanaged

asacropinfullcompliancewith

205.202,205.203(d)and(e),

205.204,and205.206(b)

through(f). Landusedforthe

productionofannualcropsfor

ruminantgrazingmustbe

managedinfullcompliancewith

205.202

through

205.206.

Irrigationshallbeused,as

needed,topromotepasture

growthwhentheoperationhas

irrigationavailableforuseon

pasture.

(b) Producersmustprovide

pastureincompliancewith

205.239(a)(2)andmanage

pasturetocomplywiththe

requirementsof:

205.237(c)(2),to

annually

provideaminimumof30

percentofaruminantsdry

matterintake(DMI),on

average,overthecourseofthe

grazingseason(s);

205.238(a)(3),tominimizethe

occurrenceandspreadof

diseasesandparasites;and

205.239(e)torefrainfrom

puttingsoilorwaterqualityat

risk.

[Paragraph(b)

in

the

final

rule

is

anamendedversionof

proposedparagraph240(e).]

(c) Apastureplanmustbe

includedintheproducers

organicsystemplan,andbe

updatedannuallyinaccordance

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Whenthereisnochangetothe

previousyearscomprehensive

pastureplanthecertifiedoperation

mayresubmitthepreviousyears

comprehensivepastureplan.

(c) Thecomprehensivepasture

planmustincludeadetailed

descriptionof:

(1) Cropstobegrowninthe

pastureandhaymakingsystem;

(2) Culturalpractices,includingbut

notlimited

to

varying

the

crops

and

theirmaturitydatesinthepasture

system,tobeusedtoensure

pastureofasufficientqualityand

quantityisavailabletograze

throughoutthegrowingseasonand

toprovideallruminantsunderthe

organicsystemsplanwithan

averageofnotlessthan30percent

oftheirdrymatterintakefrom

grazingthroughoutthegrowing

season;

(3) Thehaymakingsystem;

(4) Thelocationofpastureand

haymakingfields,includingmaps

showingthepastureand

haymakingsystemandgivingeach

fielditsownidentity;

with205.406(a). The

producermayresubmitthe

previousyearspastureplan

whennochangehasoccurredin

theplan. Thepastureplanmay

consistofapasture/rangeland

plandevelopedincooperation

withaFederal,State,orlocal

conservationoffice: Provided,

That,thesubmittedplan

addressesallofthe

requirementsof205.240(c)(1)

through(8). Whenachangeto

anapprovedpastureplanis

contemplated,whichmayaffect

theoperationscompliancewith

theActortheregulationsinthis

part,the

producer

shall

seek

the

certifyingagentsagreementon

thechangepriorto

implementation. Thepasture

planshallincludeadescription

ofthe:

(1) Typesofpastureprovided

toensurethatthefeed

requirementsof205.237are

beingmet.

(2) Culturalandmanagement

practicesto

be

used

to

ensure

pastureofasufficientquality

andquantityisavailableto

grazethroughoutthegrazing

seasonandtoprovideall

ruminantsundertheorganic

systemplan,exceptexempted

classesidentifiedin

205.239(c)(1)through(3),with

anaverageofnotlessthan30

percentoftheirdrymatter

intakefromgrazingthroughout

thegrazing

season.

(3) Grazingseasonforthe

livestockoperationsregional

location.

(4) Locationandsizeof

pastures,includingmapsgiving

eachpastureitsown

identification.

15


16/17

(5) Thetypesofgrazingmethodsto

beusedinthepasturesystem;

(6) Thelocationandtypesoffences

andthelocationandsourceof

shadeandwater;

(7) Thesoilfertility,seeding,and

croprotationsystems;

(8) Thepest,weed,anddisease

controlpractices;

(9) Theerosioncontroland

protectionofnaturalwetlands,

riparianareas,andsoilandwater

qualitypractices;

(10) Pastureandsoilsustainability

practices;and

(11)Restoration

of

pastures

practices.

[Proposedsubparagraphs(7)(9)

wereamended/deletedinthefinal

ruletopreventduplicationof

reportingrequirements.]

[Proposedsubparagraph(10)was

deemedunnecessaryanddeletedin

thefinalrule.]

(d) Thepasturesystemmust

includeasacrificialpasture,for

grazing,toprotecttheother

pasturesfromexcessivedamage

duringperiodswhensaturatedsoil

conditionsrenderthepasture(s)

toowetforanimalstograze. The

sacrificialpasturemustbe:

(1) Sufficientinsizeto

accommodateallanimalsinthe

herdwithout

crowding;

(2) Locatedwhere:

(i) Soilshavegood

trafficability;

(ii) Welldrained;

(iii) Thereisalowriskof

soilerosion;

(iv) Thereisloworno

(5) Thetypesofgrazing

methodstobeusedinthe

pasturesystem.

(6) Locationandtypesof

fences,exceptfortemporary

fences,andthelocationand

sourceofshadeandwater.

(7) Soilfertilityandseeding

systems.

(8) Erosioncontroland

protectionofnaturalwetlands

andriparianareaspractices.

[Proposedsacrificialpasture

requirementsweredeletedin

thefinalrule.]

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17

potentialofmanurerunoff;

(v) Surroundedby

vegetatedareas;and

(vi) Easilyrestored.

(3) Managedto:

(i) Providefeedvalue;and

(ii) Maintainorimprove

soil,water,andvegetative

resources.

(4) Restoredthroughactive

pasturemanagement.

(e) Inadditiontotheabove,

producersmustmanagepastureto

complywithallapplicable

requirementsof205.236

205.239.[Thisparagraphisretained

in205.240(b)

of

the

final

rule.]

usda organic livestock pasture rules comparison old rules versus final pasture rules (2010.02)

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