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Pennsylvania Certified Organic Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2016 Planning for Grazing Success page 2 Forest Botanicals Workshop page 4 Conservation Activity Plans: Funding for Farmers! page 5
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Pennsylvania Certified OrganicQuarterly NewsletterWinter 2016

Planning for Grazing Success page 2

Forest Botanicals Workshop page 4

Conservation Activity Plans: Funding for Farmers! page 5

sions were held where people from all sec-tors of agriculture gathered to create avision for the future of food and farmingin Pennsylvania. It is our expectation thatorganic production will hold an increas-ingly larger place in that future, for thesake of better health and a cleaner envi-ronment in the Commonwealth.

Ballots are out — due February 1Don’t forget to vote in the current

election for PCO Advisory and ManagingBoard Members. These special volunteersguide our organization’s future as they setstrategic goals pursuant to our mission.Enjoy the quiet and beauty of our win-

ter season and rest up for spring planting.It will be here before you know it!

Organically SpeakingOrganically Speaking

As we close out our 19th certificationseason and look forward to the start ofPCO’s 20th anniversary year, we have somuch to be grateful for. The seed that wassown by a few central Pennsylvania farm-ers in 1997 has grown and flourished intoa sturdy, mature organization, remainingtrue to our original mission of ensuringorganic integrity. Next year PCO expectsto serve 1,000 certified operations in tenstates! In 2010 our board wrote a visionstatement, stating that we should strive toposition ourselves to certify 1,000 mem-bers within the next five years. At thetime, I think we all expressed doubtsabout having set ourselves such a loftygoal, but now, here we are!With growth comes change. As you

work through this year’s certification cycleyou may meet or talk to some of ournewest office staff and inspectors. Pleasewelcome them and wish them well as theyintegrate into the PCO team. In additionto new staff and inspectors, we also wel-comed more than 200 newly certifiedmembers to our ever-expanding PCOfamily this year. As always, our volunteerboard and committee members workedhard in their roles, guiding PCO towardssuccess. I appreciate everyone’s effortstowards making 2015 such an amazingyear, and am honored to be a small part ofsuch a great team.

And speaking of change... After twodecades of certifying organic productswith PCO’s “sun and keystone” logo,we’ve decided it’s time to update. 2016will see the unveiling of our brand new“leaf” logo (pictured below left), whichutilizes “PCO” instead of the longer ver-

sion of our name. Keep an eye on yourmailbox, as we will be sending a letter inJanuary that details the logo change andwhat it may mean to your operation. Aswe continue to grow and expand logoupdates like these ensure that we not onlystay relevant in the marketplace, but represent the full scope of operations wecertify. As always, the PCO staff is happyto answer any questions you may haveabout our new logo. We hope you are asexcited about it as we are!

Tis the season for conferencesIt has been a whirlwind conference sea-

son so far and we’ve had the pleasure toconverse with PCO members at the fol-lowing conferences: Pennsylvania FarmersUnion Annual Convention, PennsylvaniaWomen in Agriculture Network Sympo-sium, FarmLink’s Growing Pennsyl -vania’s Organic Farms Conference andAcres USA Conference. Look for us at theKeystone Farm Show, Pennsylvania FarmShow “Know Your Farmer” arena, andPASA’s Farming for the Future Confer-ence.

Planning ahead for PennsylvaniaPCO was invited to participate in

building a “Blueprint for PennsylvaniaAgriculture: The Next Ten Years,” beingconducted by the Pennsylvania Depart-ment of Agriculture (PDA). Several ses-

www.paorganic.orgOrganic Matters • Winter 2016

Left: Pennsylvania Department of Agricul-ture Deputy Secretary, Hannah Smith-Brubaker, with PCO Executive DirectorLeslie Zuck at Pennsylvania Farmers UnionAnnual Convention.

Sabine Carey, left, Materials Specialist, wasrecognized for 15 years of service to PCO.Marissa Pyle, right, Certification ProgramManager, was named PCO Employee of theYear for 2015. Congratulations!

[email protected], 814-404-6567

Happy New Year from the PCO Staff!

columns7 President’s Message

9 Recipe Corner

10 Organic Updates

Certification

Legislative

Materials

Standards & Policy

Staff Updates

17 Calendar

19 New Members

21 Organic Marketplace

22 Employment Opportunities

24 PCO Membership/Certification Order Form

Organic MattersWinter 2016

OFFICERS

PRESIDENTDavid JohnsonProvident Farms

TREASURERTony MarzolinoMarz Farm

SECRETARYChris FirestoneDCNR, Bureau of Forestry

MANAGING BOARD CHAIRJeff MattocksThe Fertrell Company

ADVISORY BOARD

Mary BarbercheckPenn State University

Tina EllorPhillips Mushroom Farms

Dave HartmanPenn State Extension

Clifford HawbakerHamilton Heights Dairy Farm &Emerald Valley Farm

Ciro Lo PintoConservationist

Brian MagaroIndependent Organic Inspector

Mathew MooreAg Choice Farm Credit

Cadie PrussEwe Win Farm

Ken RiceOrganic Unlimited

Charlie WhitePenn State University

STAFF

Leslie ZuckExecutive Director

ADMINISTRATIVE TEAMDiana UnderwoodDirector of Operations

Elizabeth LeahStaff Accountant

Lia SandovalAdministrative Assistant

CERTIFICATION TEAMKyla SmithCertification Director

Marissa PyleCertification Program Manager

Heather DonaldSenior Certification Specialist

Justine CookCertification Specialist

Stephen HobaughCertification Specialist

Emily NewmanCertification Specialist

Laura NunziataCertification Specialist

Colleen ScottCertification Specialist

Tess WeigandCertification Specialist

Reva BayletsProgram Assistant

Sandie ElderProgram Assistant

EDUCATION & OUTREACH TEAMAmanda BirkDirector of Education & Outreach

Nicole Lawrence McNeilMembership & Development Specialist

April FixPublic Relations Coordinator

INSPECTIONS TEAMLiz AmosInspections Manager

MATERIALS TEAMSabine CareyMaterials Specialist

QUALITY TEAMGarrick McCulloughIT Specialist

OUR MISSION: To ensure the integrity of organic productsand provide education, inspection, and certification serv-ices that meet the needs of our members. PCO providesservices to operations based in Pennsylvania, Delaware,District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York,Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

feature story

Cover photo: Kendra Swartz, wife of Todd Swartz from PCO-certfied Broad AcresEnterprises.

Mail: 106 School Street, Suite 201Spring Mills, PA 16875

Phone: 814-422-0251

Fax: 814-422-0255

Email: [email protected]

Web: paorganic.org

facebook.com/PAorganic

twitter.com/PAorganic

5 What is a Conservation Activity Plan? And how can itbenefit organic farmers?

4 Forest Botanicals WorkshopFocuses on PCO Forest GrownVerification Program

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2016 1

2 Planning for Grazing SuccessTips on cow nutrition, forage quality,ruminant digestion and animal healthcourtesy of Dr. Silvia Abel-Caines

High tunnels are one of many conservationpractices with potential for NRCS fundingthrough Conservation Activity Plans. Easy tobuild, maintain and move, high tunnels providean energy-efficient way to extend the growingseason and provide fresh food for local commu-nities. Photo: NRCS by Michelle Banks.

A patch of ginseng grown by a landowner inwestern Pennsylvania. American ginseng isnative to the East and Midwest. Photo: Eric Burkhart

cess. Dr. Silvia stressed the importance offorage testing; two forage samples har-vested off the same field can have very dif-ferent composition, so visual assessmentof your pasture is not always the best wayto determine forage quality. Forage quality is influenced by count-

less factors, from environmental condi-tions to cutting time, and any number ofthings in between. If you don’t know thenutritional value of your forage how canyou be certain your cows are meeting alltheir dietary needs when grazing? The Concentration of Carbohydrates

in Feed chart located on page 3 comparesNeutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) to Starchand Sugar content in a variety of feedtypes. NDF, compared to starch andsugar, is difficult or even sometimesimpossible cows to digest. The level ofNDF in rations influences a cow’s intakeof dry matter and the time of rumination.According to UGA Extension offices,“NDF concentration is negatively corre-

On a chilly fall day in Mifflintowndozens of people gathered to learn aboutgrazing. Covering a range of grazing-related topics, from cow nutrition, to for-age quality and quantity, ruminantdigestion, and overall animal health, theOrganic Valley-run conference provided aone-stop-shop in Grazing 101.

Not all herds have the same needs. Dr. Silvia Abel-Caines, a staff veteri-

narian with Organic Valley, declared thatwe essentially talk about two different ani-mals when comparing the needs of beefcattle and dairy cattle. Considering thelifespan of the two types of cattle (roughly24 months for beef versus 6–15 years for adairy cow), it’s not hard to recognize thatthe two herds, calorically and nutrition-ally, have different requirements whengrazing. Dairy cows producing roughly15,000 pounds of milk per year demandhigher caloric intake, around 30Mcal/day. Beef steer require approxi-mately 16 Mcal/day for peak nutrition.The chart below refers to the generalizedrelationship between the output of energyduring milk production, and the amout ofenergy garnered through dairy feeds.

The two Q’s of forageBeyond defining caloric needs based

on classification of cattle, forage qualityand quantity are integral to grazing suc-

lated with dry matter intake (i.e., as NDFin the forage increases, animals will con-sume less forage).”While quality is vital for successful

grazing, forage quantity also plays a keyrole. Did you know that energy is typi-cally the limiting factor for milk produc-tion in lactating cows? Carefully analyzingthe quantity of forage can help you over-come the gap between how much a coweats, and how much energy she puts out.Understanding this energy intake can helpyou determine when to cut, and when tograze.When thinking about extending your

grazing season to increase overall intakequantity, remember:

• Think ahead: know where the cows aregoing to be three weeks in advance, andplan accordingly!

• The goal of a grass plant is to reproduce.It is the farmer’s job to stop grass growthat the ideal nutrient point for the cows.

Grazing dairy herds? [The Two Q’s of Forage]In a recent Grazers Conference, Dr. Silvia Abel-Caines, Organic Valley Staff Veterinarian, examined the idea that good cowsaren’t just what they eat — they are what they can digest.

Graphic: Organic Valley

www.paorganic.org2 Organic Matters • Winter 2016

Nicole Lawrence McNeil, Membership and Development Specialist

Dr. Silvia utilized this chart to highlight how important it is to know the nutritional quality anddigestibility of your feed. She advocated for whole beets with roots, as they contain a high proportionof sugar and fiber.

Think you’ve got a quantityof quality forage knowledge?

Take our grazing quiz and see how you measure up!

Concentration of Carbohydrates in FeedsRemember, you can always make hay ifyour cows aren’t keeping up with pas-ture growth.

• And… always take your cows off earlyenough in the fall to allow for pasturegrowth next year.

Consistency is key.Ruminant animals need a very steady

flow of digestible materials to maintaintheir comfort, health, and energy levels. Infact, the biology inside the rumen affects,among other things, the amount of ureaor high pH in the cow, which in turnaffects cows overall comfort and health. During grazing season, when you

know a cow will be exposed to a lot ofavailable protein, farmers should managetheir herd so cows do not go to the fieldon empty stomachs. Dr. Silvia recom-mends providing some digestible carbspre-grazing to help cows process the pro-tein they will soon ingest. During non-grazing season it is important toremember that cows crave consistency;consistency creates a stable rumen envi-ronment that leads to easy and steadydigestion.

The relationship between animal health and nutrition.

Dr. Silvia asserted the connectionbetween a healthy herd and good grazingpractices. After talking about differingcaloric needs forage quality and quantity,and consistency in digestion, she touchedupon the idea that healthy animals benefitfrom good grazing because plants- tocows- are both food and medicine. Farm-ers job, she asserted, is to learn to balancewhat their animals are consuming to keepthem in peak health. Dr. Silvia’s Grazers Conference talk

was filled with quick tips and takeawaysfor farmers looking to incorporate bestgrazing practices into their rotation. Atthe end of the day, however, each farmneeds to identify forages that maximizenot only milk production, but also farmprofit.

Sources:

UGA Extension, http://extension.uga.edu/publi-cations/detail.fm?number=B1367

University of Florida Extension, http://articles.extension.org/ pages/25322/feeding-sugar-to-ruminants

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2016 3

1. The ideal dairy cow forage is:a. Very high in fiber, starch, andsugar

b. Very low in fiber, but high instarch and sugar

c. Very high in fiber and sugar, butlow in starch

d. Very high in fiber, but low insugar and starch

2. Cows prefer —, to create a —rumen environment.

a. consistency; stableb. diversity; changeablec. protein; fulld. only one type of feed; bland

3. Do lactating cows have different forage needs than drycows?

a. Yesb. No

4. At what grass height shouldyou stop grazing? (How much cover would you want to have on the ground overwinter?)

a. at least 6 inches b. less than 2 inchesc. 8–10 inchesd. at least 4 inches

5. Quality forage tastes —to the cow (and they will wantto continue to eat and eat).

a. saltyb. sweetc. savoryd. bitter

AnswersQuestion 1–c; 2–a; 3–a; 4–d; 5–b

past models of marketing ginseng andother botanicals, and talked about recentattempts at improving the profitability offorest farming by utilizing marketing andprocessing tools. Eric Burkhart, from Penn State Uni-

versity, discussed the economic situationof forest botanicals. Specifically, Burkhartdiscussed a newly formed program, onebacked by support from the USDA NewFarmers and Ranchers Grant, that will aidin organizing producers around both eco-nomically and ecologically sustainableproduction of forest botanicals grownwithin their native range.Burkart next introduced the PCO For-

est Grown Verification Program, whichhad been developed in conjunction withresearch and resources at Penn State Uni-versity. Launched in 2014, the ForestGrown Program certifies ecologically sus-tainable production of ginseng. Based offthe ever-increasing interest in forest farm-ing, this program is set to expand its veri-fication services. In the near future PCOhopes to be able to verify ecologically sus-tainable production of: black cohosh, bluecohosh, goldenseal, ramps, and the like.

The Appalachian Mountains of theEastern USA and Canada have long beenhome to an active but somewhat disor-ganized industry focused around the col-lecting and marketing of forest botanicals.Ginseng is the most famous of these“wild” crops but blue cohosh, blackcohosh, goldenseal, and many others arealso widely collected. These products aremostly used in traditional herbal medi-cine, but are also increasingly used inmodern medicine, and one- the ramp, isalso part of the regional diet.These plants have traditionally been

harvested from the wild, in many cases inan unsustainable manner leading to theirelimination from many parts of theirnative range, and restrictive regulationscontrolling extraction and sale. As part ofan effort to protect “at-risk” species in thewild as well as help the people who havetraditionally depended on these botanicalsfor income PCO developed its ForestGrown Verification program in collabora-tion with Penn State, and with supportfrom the United Plant Savers.A group of researchers, policy makers,

and other stake holders have been organ-izing to develop the cultivation of thesespecies and to work toward creating a sus-tainable supply chain that protects andrewards the producers who chose to workwith forest grown botanicals in a sustain-able manner. As part of this processUnited Plant Savers collaborated withPCO, Penn State, Virginia Tech, andMountain Rose Herbs to hold two meet-ings in Front Royal and Abingdon, Vir-ginia on the 13th and 14th of November.Jeanine Davis from North Carolina

State University gave an overview on thehistory of the marketing of forest botani-cals in the Appalachian Mountains. Dur-ing the talks she provided a perspective on

Forest Botanicals: Working Together to Build a New Supply Chain Workshops Focus onPCO’s Forest Grown Verification PorgramExperts in the field provide insights into ‘conservation through cultivation’ as a solution of sustainability, quality and ethics

Joshua Bogart, Organic Inspector

Two representatives from PCO, LeslieZuck, Executive Director, and Josh Bog-art, PCO Inspector, were available at themeetings to explain the standards and theinspection process for forest grown verifi-cation. Jennifer Gerrity and Jacob Lauch,

from Mountain Rose Herbs, talked aboutthe process of buying herbs from the per-spective of a large herbal supply company,including pricing and expectations ofquality. Mountain Rose Herbs is alreadybuying PCO-verified ginseng and is inter-ested in other forest grown verified prod-ucts.The more than 100 participants in the

workshops included traditional harvesters,local herbalists, producers of forest grownbotanicals, personnel from Kentucky, Vir-ginia and Maryland state departments ofagriculture in charge of ginseng harvestand export, as well as people interested inproducing forest grown botanicals.Visit unitedplantsavers.org/forest-

botanicals for more details on the event,including powerpoint presentations inPDF format.

Susan Leopold, Eric Burkhart, Jeanine Davis, Leslie Zuck, Jennifer Gerrity, Joshua Bogart, Jacob Lauch,Tiffany Brown. Photo: United Plant Savers

www.paorganic.org4 Organic Matters • Winter 2016

the East Aurora, New York NRCS office.Whitney mentioned that producers cansign up at any time through their localNRCS offices. The application processmost efficiently starts with a visit to thelocal NRCS field office. Whitney said it ispossible to work through the applicationprocess remotely but, especially for newoperations that may not already haverecords established with the USDA, it ismuch easier to make an appointment tohave NRCS staff help with the applicationprocess. Once the farm receives approval for

CAP funding, an approved TSP is con-tracted to complete the plan with thefarm. The TSP visits the farm to deter-mine current practices as well as obtainany type of samples and informationregarding erosion potential required tocomplete the plan. He or she also inter-views the farmer’s long term goals. With

Protecting the natural environment isan integral part of organic farming. Find-ing better ways to conserve and enhancenatural resources on their land is naturallyof interest to organic farmers and thosewho want to farm organically. One sourceof help for farmers is the ConservationActivity Plan — CAP 138 — offeredthrough the Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service (NRCS). This program helpsnon-organic and transitional farms imple-ment conservation practices that will helpthem to become certified organic. Farmerswho already hold organic certification,but wish to transition additional acreageinto certification or implement conserva-tion practices to their current organic sys-tem plan, are also eligible.The CAP provides funding for a qual-

ified Technical Service Provider (TSP) toconduct personal on-site consultation inassessing the farm’s individual circum-stances, resources, and goals. With thisinformation, your TSP will make conser-vation practice recommendations thathave the potential to be partially fundedthrough the NRCS. Each recommendedconservation practice correlates to achiev-ing full organic certification through theUSDA’s National Organic Program(NOP). Possible conservation recommen-dations can include buffers, cover crops,strip cropping, mulch, conservation coverfor wildlife habitat, grassed waterways,fencing, irrigation, compost facilities, sea-sonal high tunnels or microirrigation.

How does the CAP program work?“Both established and beginning farm-

ers can potentially benefit from participa-tion in the USDA Natural ResourcesConservation Services’ EnvironmentalQuality Incentives Program (EQIP) orother USDA conservation programs” saidJohn Whitney, District Conservationist in

What is Conservation Activity Plan 138?And how can it benefit organic farmers?

Rachel Myers, Organic Inspector

continued on page 6

this information the TSP is able to createa plan that fits the individual farm inorder to facilitate future endeavors. Oncethe plan is submitted and approved by theNRCS, the applicant becomes eligible toreceive funding to implement the conser-vation plans recommended through theCAP

What are the Farmer’s saying?Falkimmer Farms Organic Growers

were recipients of CAP 138 funding fortheir farm. Here is what they have to sayabout their experience. “As beginningfarmers, to obtain our goal of creatinghigh quality, nutrient rich produce, wehad to make many decisions. With lim-ited previous farming experience, not hav-ing the basis for some of these criticaldecisions made some choices seem almostrandom at times. We knew we wanted to

Grassed waterways, one of many conservation practices with potential for NRCS funding, are broad,shallow channels designed to move surface water across farmland without causing soil erosion. Thevegetative cover in the waterway slows the water flow and protects the channel surface from rill andgully erosion. Photo: NRCS

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2016 5

PCO’s partnership with the Gluten Fee Certification Organization (GFCO) provides youwith a streamlined inspection process that…

• Simplifies the inspection process — PCO andGFCO will coordinate the scheduling of a simultane-ous inspection for both gluten-free and organic cer-tifications.

• Saves time —one inspector conducts a combinedinspection of both gluten-free and organic products.

• Saves money —the amount of inspection fees and travel expenses incurred is reduced by having a combined inspection.

Contact PCO about becoming certified gluten-freeunder the dual-inspection process.

814-422-0251 • [email protected]

learn from, but we are better prepared.”Arden Farm also participated in the

CAP 138. Arden Farm is primarily a veg-etable operation that markets it producethrough a CSA and farmer’s markets.Daniel Roelof, owner and manager,appreciated how the opportunity allowedhim to formulate long term goals regard-ing the sustainability of his operation. HisTSP was able to help him focus on themost effective ways to increase crop healthand soil fertility, such as a compostingfacility, cover crops, crop rotation, andmulching. He especially valued the waythe plan integrated livestock into his veg-etable production through practicalimplementation recommendations suchas fencing, water lines, livestock walkways,and forage/pasture planting conservationpractices.Information about USDA NRCS pro-

grams is available on the USDA-NRCSweb page: nrcs.usda.gov. A new “Step-by-Step” How to Get Assistance Youtubelink may be of particular interest to neweroperations, particularly those who haven’ttraditionally worked with USDA pro-

grow organically, but it wasn’t exactlyclear to us what mistakes would prolongthe certification process. Working withthe NRCS, we were able to work with anexperienced guide, to help us with theOrganic System Plan and help make someof the early decisions which were criticalto our operation.”“The conservation plan introduced us

to concepts we hadn’t previously consid-ered. For instance, based on the erosionstudies conducted by our TSP, we wereable to see actual soil loss numbers relatedto our topography and row orientation.Using actual numbers to qualify this prac-tice, we are assured of the correct choice.This, along with other recommendedpractices, will significantly reduce ourtopsoil loss. We still have a steep learningcurve to overcome, but with the technicaldata accumulated from the conservationprogram, this has enabled us to makeinformed decisions. We still have manymore choices to make, and mistakes to

grams (youtube.com). Our “Get Startedwith NRCS” link is also a great place tobegin: nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. Thislink also includes an office locator optionas well more detailed descriptions of pro-grams and assistance options.

www.paorganic.org6 Organic Matters • Winter 2016

Producers interested in applying mustsubmit applications through their localUSDA Service Center, which can belocated online at offices.usda.gov. Addi-tional information is available online atpa.nrcs.usda.gov or by contacting the areaNRCS offices:

• Harrisburg .................. 717-237-2218• Bloomsburg ................ 570-784-4401 x 6• Clarion ........................ 814-226-8160 x 4• Lebanon ...................... 717-274-2597 x 5• Somerset .................... 814-445-8979 x 6

CAP 138continued from page 5

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2016 7

After experi-encing our firsttaste of winterthe weekend ofOct 16–17, thesnow squallswere a reminderit’s getting timeto put the land

to bed for the winter.As a crop farmer in the northern tier, I

am realizing that providing that soil coverwith cover crops is an important but chal-lenging task. Harvest is often well intoOctober and November (sometimes evenlater) for corn, soybeans and sunflowers,and the colder, cloudy days and nightsprovide little incentive for even hardycereal rye to grow. In our row crops, wehave tried to seed cover crops at last culti-vation so there is some green soil armorgoing into the fall. Crops like soybeansprovide little residue, so selecting a shorterseason variety, while sacrificing someyield, is often the better choice to providethat window we need to do a light passwith the disk and seed rye.

Besides the cover crop advantages ofweed control and disease suppression thatorganic vegetable farmers know so well,some very farmer friendly research fromour advocates like Charlie White at PennState is revealing the important role covercrops play in capturing, releasing, andsupplying nitrogen for the next season.It’s the kind of university research that caneven get a reluctant-to-pay-their-taxes-farmer like me excited. Read about someof the interesting things they are learningabout the uses and mixes of cover crops tohelp make the soil biology on your farmreally sing. It is also encouraging to seesome chemical row crop farmers are dis-covering the value of diversity and covercrops.When it comes to green manure and

cover crops, I must confess that it is hardto get the 18 years as a grass farmer men-tality out of me. It almost seems criminalto leave a 15” stand of red clover alonewhen the weather for making some prettyfine hay comes around that first week ofOctober. My son Caleb keeps remindingme that we now need to feed our livestock

below the ground more than cash in onthat last cutting of hay.For you grass farmers out there, may I

encourage you to give those plants andsoil the same fall rest and not just grazeevery last blade. I confess succumbing tothe temptation to harvest everything aslate as possible with the hooves, but I alsolearned that falling into that temptationcan set you behind on feed the next year.Honor the need for all of creation to restand go to sleep for a season, including thatlush green sward. They need to accumu-late sugars and store up energy reserves fornext years sprint. These shorter days suretrigger my hibernation instincts!PCO is continuing rapid growth in

farms seeking organic certificates, andsometimes the growing pains hurt. Thehard working staff is doing their best toanswer your questions on materials, andcompleting your farm plan reviews andinspections. Just offering a friendlyencouragement to be patient if you don’tget your answer instantly. A recent trip out through Ohio, Indi-

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dave Johnson, PCO Advisory Board President

continued on page 23

www.paorganic.org8 Organic Matters • Winter 2016

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2016 9

RECIPE CORNER Debra Deis, Product Manager & Organic Program Coordinator at Seedway, LLC

HalushkiFried cabbage and noodles… howcan something so “white on white”taste so good? Butter combined withbacon fat answers that question!While I don’t generally like to messwith traditional recipes, this variationdoes add a bit of color and crunch.Halushki can be very fast to make.

Ingredients

12 strips of bacon (I used PCO member Conklin Farmsdelicious uncured bacon)

Olive oil (Optional, see note)

1 onion, coarsely chopped

1 small 2–3 lb cabbage — Use a head that isn’t packedtight, you‘ll get a bit more green to the outer leaves.

1 red pepper, diced

4 handfuls of flat, medium wide egg noodles

Salt and pepper

1⁄4 cup butter

1 cup crumbled feta cheese, or, for a milder flavor,large curd cottage cheese

Smoked paprika

Parsley

Directions

• Put a pot of salted water on to boil for the noodles.

• In a large, deep pan, cook the bacon carefully over lowheat until crisp. Remove and reserve bacon.

•Meanwhile, quarter and core the cabbage. Sliceacross the head into strips 3⁄4-inch wide.

• Add noodles to boiling water.

• If the bacon wasn’t fatty, add some olive oil to the panand raise the heat to medium-high. Add the onion, stira minute, and then stir in the cabbage and red pepper.Salt lightly and pepper generously. Half cover the pan.Stir as needed. Cook just a minute past the pointwhere the cabbage has wilted, then turn off the heat.

• Drain the noodles and stir together with the cabbagein whichever pot is the largest. Stir in butter, cheeseand parsley. Transfer to a serving bowl, top withcrumbled bacon and the smoked paprika, and serve.

www.paorganic.org10 Organic Matters • Winter 2016

• adding new land;

• adding a scope to your certification (e.g. certified for cropsin 2015 but adding livestock in 2016);

• adding new products where the process is different fromwhat you’ve previously been inspected and certified for (e.g.certified for cookies and adding ice cream); or

• any other changes that significantly affect your organic sys-tem plan or are needed for your business to conduct organictransactions.

Our PCO community continues to grow. We are hiring newstaff in order to keep up with and then be able to stay ahead ofthe growth trend, which has exponentially increased over thepast 2 years. We appreciate your patience during this transition.

New food safety rule is publishedKyla Smith, Certification Director

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recentlypublished final rules implementing the Food Safety Moderniza-tion Act (FSMA). After the original publication of these regula-tions the FDA sought additional stakeholder feedback.The Produce Safety Rule was of particular interest to the

organic industry. It is evident that the FDA listened to the feed-back from organic producers and handlers and revised the regu-lations to meet the unique requirements of the organic system.The following sections have been revised.

Legislative Update

Kyla Smith, Certification Director

The Certification Team is hard at workwrapping up the 2015 certification and inspec-tion cycle and preparing for the 2016 cycle tobegin. Our goal is always to complete oneannual cycle prior to the start of a new one,which typically corresponds with the calendar

year. However, due to a record number of new applicants thisyear (PCO saw a 46% increase in new applicants so far this yearcompared to last year) and some staff vacancies, the Certifica-tion Team is a little behind schedule in completing the inspec-tion report review and generating certification reports to send toour certified operations. Our new target is to complete all certification reports by the

end of the first quarter of 2016. We are also gearing up for nextyear and we plan to send annual update packets in early Janu-ary. We acknowledge that not receiving your certification reportfor the previous cycle may impact the completion of your 2016annual update paperwork and are committed to working withyou to ensure a timely and complete submission of your paper-work despite not having yet received your 2015 certificationreport. Please do not hesitate to contact your Certification Spe-cialist with any questions you feel may need to be addressedfrom your previous inspection prior to completing your 2016annual update paperwork.Additionally, it is always a best practice to notify your Certi-

fication Specialist if you are in need of an early inspection in2016 for:

Certification Update

Organic Updates

n Manure and compost — The FDA’s Produce Safety Ruleeliminates the waiting time for properly produced compost anddefers the proposed 9-month minimum interval requirement foruntreated manure. The FDA intends to conduct research intodetermining an appropriate science-based application interval.In the meantime, organic operations should continue to followthe established National Organic Program (NOP) regulationsfor application of raw manure with 90- and 120-day applicationintervals.

n Water testing requirements — The water quality regula-tion adopts a more general and risk-based approach, which hasless potential to impose economic hardship on organic farmers,while still supporting safe food standards.

n Packing and distributing provisions — The final regula-tion supports a collaborative approach to local and regional agri-culture and reduces unwarranted burdens for operations thatpack and distribute produce on their own farms as will as pro-duce from neighboring farms.

n Biodiversity and the use of domesticated and wild ani-mals — The FDA incorporated new language that explicitlystates that carrying out the new regulations will not requirefarmers to exclude animals from outdoor growing areas, destroyanimal habitat or clear borders around growing or drainageareas. This change in language is more in line with the organicregulations requirement to maintain and improve the natural

resources and biodiversity of their farms.The new rules affect growers of produce intended to be con-

sumed raw. Growers who produce less than $25,000 a year areexempt. Compliance dates depend on the size of the farm withthe largest farms required to comply in two years and smallest infour years. For more information regarding these regulations visit the

FDA’s FSMA webpage at www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegula-tion/FSMA/ucm334114.htm or contact Kyla Smith, PCO Cer-tification Director at [email protected] or 814-422-0251.

Kyla Smith, Certification Director

Electrolyzed WaterThe NOP recently published a policy memo (PM 15-4),

which updates the status of electrolyzed water under the USDAorganic regulations at 7 CFR Part 205. The memorandum clar-ifies that electrolyzed water is a type of chlorine material that isallowed in organic production and handling. This memoreplaces PM 14-3 that had prohibited this material. You mayaccess this memo in the NOP Program Handbook atams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/handbook/ or by call-ing the PCO office for a paper copy.The 2016 Annual PCO Approved Materials List will be

Materials Update

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2016 11

continued on page 12

published and sent to members along with annual updates inearly January. Please reference this upcoming publication forany status changes made to materials as a result of this memo.You may also contact PCO at anytime to check a status on aparticular material.

Fall 2015 National Organic Standards Boardmeeting summary

Meeting Highlightsn PUBLIC COMMENTS: Over the course of the four-daymeeting, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) heardcomments from approximately 110 members of the public on anumber of issues. Including the public comment webinars heldprior to the in-person meeting, there were 145 total commentersand 14 hours of oral comments. NOSB discussed these andother testimony from 2,955 pages of written comments.

nMAINTAINING THE NATIONAL LIST: Keeping in linewith a no-growth trend to the National List since 2008, the netresult from this meeting was the removal of 11 inputs from theNational List, the DENIAL of 2 petitions to add synthetic cropinputs to the National List, and the approval of one petition tofurther restrict the use of natural flavors in organic processedproducts.

n 2017 SUNSET REVIEW: The final decision was toREMOVE 1 crop input, 1 livestock input and 9 processinginputs (see OTA’s FINAL NOSB DECISIONS for the complete listof Sunset votes):

• Lignin Sulfonate as a post-harvest flotation aid in organiccrop production

• Furosemide used to treat pulmonary edema and hypercal-cemia in livestock

• Non-organic ingredients allowed in organic processing:

–Synthetic: Magnesium Carbonate

–Agricultural: Whey Protein Concentrate, Chipotle ChiliPeppers, lnulin, Dillweed oil, Chia Seed, Frozen Galangal,Frozen Lemongrass, and Turkish Bay Leaves.

Attention Manufacturers! Manufacturers that would like to advertise products asapproved for use in organic production are encouraged toregister products with the Organic Materials Review Insti-tute (OMRI) (www.omri.org, 1-541-343-7600). Suppliers oflivestock and processing products can use the PCO DiscountCode APP410346 to receive both a free OMRI ApplicationKit and a 15% discount on their first product application fee.(Crop materials are not eligible for this pro

Standards & Policy Update

n PETITIONS TO ADD OR CHANGE NATIONAL LISTITEMS: NOSB discussed and voted on 5 petitions for changesto the National List:

PASSED — will be FINALIZED following NOP approval and rulemaking

• OTA petition to REMOVE Lignin Sulfonate from theNational List as a post-harvest flotation aid in organic pro-duction

• OTA petition to REVISE the annotation on Natural Flavorsto require organic when available

FAILED — will continue to be PROHIBITED in organic production and handling

• Petition to ADD Sulfuric Acid to the National List for use inorganic crop production

• Petition to ADD Brown Seaweed Extract to the NationalList for use in organic crop production

TABLED — Back to Subcommittee for further review(revisit at spring 2016 meeting)

• Petition to add Sodium Lactate and Potassium Lactate tothe National List for use as microbial agents only in organicmeat processing

n EPA LIST 4 INERTS: NOSB voted 10-4 in favor of mod-ernizing how inerts used in organic pesticide products are eval-uated and approved. The change will eliminate an outdatedallowance for inerts classified by EPA to be of minimal concern(EPA List 4), and, instead, indicate three mechanisms by whichinert ingredients can be allowed in organic pesticide products:inclusion on EPA’s 25(b) inert ingredient list, review andapproval by EPA’s Safer Choice Program, and individual peti-tion and NOSB review to include on the National List. TheSafer Choice Program is EPA’s current mechanism for review-ing substances to strict environmental and human health crite-ria.

n ETHYLENE GAS (for regulation of pineapple flowering):NOSB voted 9-3 (2 abstain) in favor of renewing ethylene forcontinued use to regulate pineapple flowering. Organic pineap-ple growers, producer coops, and exporters from Costa Ricagave compelling testimony to NOSB on how necessary limitedand judicious use of ethylene gas is for them to supply pineap-ples to foreign markets.

n PARASITICIDES FOR LIVESTOCK: NOSB weighed thecontinued need for three synthetic parasiticides (ivermectin,moxidectin, and fenbendazole), which are allowed for emer-gency use only in dairy livestock. A number of commentersindicated that ivermectin was no longer necessary because mox-idectin and fenbendazole provide adequate control of parasites,and raised concerns about the toxicity of ivermectin to soil biol-ogy. Compounding the issue, however, is that both moxidectinand fenbendazole carry strict additional annotations that mayundermine a producer’s ability to treat their animals quicklyenough if ivermectin was no longer allowed. NOSB decided to

www.paorganic.org12 Organic Matters • Winter 2016

continued from page 11

of tractors driven by organic farmers and about 50 protestorsconverged at the meeting site to protest against crops grownwithout soil in hydroponic greenhouses being allowed to carrythe organic label. These farmers were speaking out for theirbeliefs and making their views heard. NOSB has established atask force to study hydroponic growing methods and reportback to the Board in a year. NOSB Officer Elections and Out-going Board MembersOfficer elections were held at the end of the four-day meet-

ing. Tracy Favre (Resource Conservation Seat) was elected toserve as the new Chair, Tom Chapman (Handler Seat) waselected to serve as the new Vice-Chair, and Lisa de Lima(Retailer Seat) was elected to serve as the new Secretary. OTAthanks Jean Richardson for her excellent leadership as Chair ofthe last three NOSB meetings, and we extend our thanks to out-going Board members Mac Stone (Certifier Seat), ColehourBondera (Producer Seat), Calvin Rueben Walker (ConsumerInterest Seat) and Jennifer Taylor (Consumer Interest Seat) fortheir five years of service and dedication to the or

Plan to attend the Spring 2016 NOSB meeting!The next NOSB meeting will take place April 25–27, 2016, inWashington, D.C. Stay tuned, with more information

Reprinted with permission from OTA

renew all three substances at this Sunset Review with the indi-cation that a recommendation would come forth at the springmeeting to remove ivermectin and modify the annotations ofmoxidectin and fenbendazole, to better accommodate the reali-ties organic livestock producers face with emergency health sit-uations.

n PREVENTION STRATEGY FOR GMO CONTAMINA-TION: NOSB voted 13-0 (1 abstain) in favor of passing a rec-ommendation for NOP to develop guidance on precautionsthat organic producers and handlers should take to prevent andminimize contact with GMOs in organic production and pro-cessing. Certified operators are already extensively carrying outsuch practices, but organic stakeholders and NOSB membersfelt it would be a stronger point in future prevention strategiesand policy efforts if it were spelled out in formal guidance fromUSDA’s National Organic Program. This recommendation isone of many critical actions NOSB is taking to keep the inad-vertent introduction of GMOs out of organic livestock feed,crops and food. The Materials Subcommittee will now turn itsattention back to the ongoing discussion of establishing a seedpurity standard and the data needed to explore the feasibility ofsetting an appropriate threshold level.

n FRIENDLY FARMER PROTEST: As with any meetingthat is open to the public, there are many unscripted and unex-pected moments to every NOSB meeting. This year a handful continued on page 15

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2016 13

www.paorganic.org14 Organic Matters • Winter 2016

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2016 15

Staff Updates and New StaffAmanda Birk, Director Education and Outreach

Amanda isn’t a stranger to PCO or the greaterorganic community. She worked as a PCO StaffInspector for four years, and as an independentinspector since 2010, and now serves as PCO’sDirector of Education and Outreach. Lee Rine-hart previously held the position and is now refo-

cusing his professional efforts toward agricultural productionconsulting. He’ll be working with farmers and organizations inPennsylvania and the region in the capacity of providing technicalassistance and education in organic and sustainable agriculture. Amanda operated a PCO certified organic farm with her hus-

band, Chris Lent, for 7 years. Together, they raised vegetables,grass-fed beef and pastured poultry for a 50-member CSA.Amanda has served on various committees and agricultural

groups including the Boards of Directors for the InternationalOrganic Inspectors Association, and ShickshinnyForward, a localcommunity development group, and has also participated inPCO’s Education and Outreach Committee, and the CentralSusquehanna Organic Crop Growers Network.Amanda lives with her husband and baby boy just outside the

small river town of Shickshinny. In her spare time, Amanda enjoysbuilding community with family and friends, and working on hersolar-powered straw bale house.

Marissa Pyle, Certification Program ManagerMarissa Pyle joined the PCO team in June of

2009, as a Certification Specialist and eventuallytook on the position of Compliance Manger aswell. She now has serves as PCO’s CertificationProgram Manager. Born and raised in Karns City, PA some of

Marissa’s earliest memories are making trips to the barn to visit herfamily’s small herd of Hereford cattle. Although she didn’t domuch more than sit on the wheel well of the tractor beside her dadwhile he was baling hay, she found agriculture to be exciting andended up finding her way to Penn State, where she graduated in2009 with a degree in Agroecology and a minor in Agronomy… Although these days Marissa and her husband Zach along with

their feisty black Labradors Scarlett and India live in Springboro,she loves getting back to the farm whenever possible.

Justine Cook, Certification SpecialistJustine is a New Jersey native who loves farm-

ing practices that build vibrant soil environments.She has a B.S. in Environmental Studies fromStockton University and a M.S. in Agronomyfrom Penn State, where she studied soil nutrientcycling and cover crops. After spending three

years exploring soil ecology and organic matter dynamics, shemoved to New Mexico to experience the practical application ofsustainable farming techniques at the Seeds of Change organicresearch farm. For the past five years, Justine has been working

Staff Updatescontinued from page 13 with NOFA-NJ to provide technical assistance to organic farmers

and, in conjunction with the USDA-NRCS, to support naturalresource conservation on certified organic farms. She joined thePCO certification team in January 2016.

Laura Nunziata, Certification SpecialistLaura joined the PCO team in January, 2016,

as a Certification Specialist. After studying Land-scape Development and Ornamental horticultureat a small college in Vermont she left the North-east to bounce around the country. She hasworked in many organic vegetable fields, green-

houses, and nurseries, orchards, sugarhouses, and barns. Mostrecently, she was the Processing and Handling Certification Spe-cialist for Vermont Organic Farmers, an organic certifier inNorthern Vermont. Laura lives and plays in Vermont enjoying thewoods, a good potluck, studying traditional nutrition, supportingsustainable agriculture, and exploring with her family.

Emily Newman, Certification SpecialistEmily, who is from Abbottstown, PA, joined

the Certification Team in January of 2016. Shewill graduate from Penn State University with anEnvironmental Resource Management degree inMay 2016, focusing in soil science. During hertime at Penn State, she enjoyed working with a

local farmer who started growing in 2013 and donates all his pro-duce to the State College area food banks. In her spare time, sheenjoys gardening, hiking, reading and cooking.

www.paorganic.org16 Organic Matters • Winter 2016

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2016 17

Calendar

JanuaryKeystone Farm ShowJanuary 5-7York, PAKeystonefarmshow.com800-218-5586

Pennsylvania Farm ShowJanuary 9–16Harrisburg, PAFarmshow.state.pa.us717-787-5373

Future Harvest CASA’s Cultivate the Chesapeake Foodshed ConferenceJanuary 14–16Hyattsville, MDFutureharvestcasa.org410-549-7878

Organic Valley Open MeetingJanuary 20Loganton, PA 888-809-9297

FebruaryPASA’s Farming for the FutureConference February 3-6State College, PAConference.pasafarming.org814-349-9840

PASA Webinar — Agricultural Marketing 101February 10, 11am–1pmpasafarming.org814-349-9856 x17

Organic Valley Open MeetingFebruary 9, 9:30am–3:00pmSprings, PA888-809-9297

Using QuickBooks to ManageYour Farm Business WebinarSeriesFeb. 22, 29 & Mar. 7, 14, 21Extension.psu.edu/events

Lancaster Ag Real Health ConferenceFebruary 138am–3pmRonks, PAlancasterag.com717-687-9222

PASA Webinar — Finding New Markets: Wholesale, Cooperatives &BeyondFebruary 1711am–1pmpasafarming.org814-349-9856 x17

PASA Webinar — Direct Sales Marketing: Expanding the Current & Findingthe NewFeburary 2411am–1pmpasafarming.org814-349-9856 x17

MarchPCO Inspector’s MeetingMarch 4PCO OfficeSpring Mills, PApaorganic.org

PASA Webinar — Using theInternet to Drive Farm SalesMarch 2, 11am–1pmpasafarming.org814-349-9856 x17

Transition to Organic Field CropProduction Study CircleMarch 10, 10am–2pmShady Maple Banquets andConference CenterEast Earl, [email protected]

Box 361, 119 Hamilton PlacePenn Yan, NY 14527315-531-1038

Certified Organic Feed, Seed & Livestock Products from Northeast organic farmers

for Northeast organic farmers❖

www.lakevieworganicgrain.com

www.paorganic.org18 Organic Matters • Winter 2016

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2016 19

PCOWelcomes 4th Quarter New Members!

SUPPORTING MEMBERS

Jason BurketTwo Acre FarmLatrobe, PA

Anthony OberholtzerBethel, PA

NEW APPLICANT

Benuel LappHouse of BricksDornsife, PA

NEWLY CERTIFIED

Peter SiwikSiwik Produce FarmFelton, PA

Harlan MartinKeuka Valley ConstructionPenn Yan, NY

John McVeySafePacPhiladelphia, PA

Farideh SoltaniFsconeMcLean, VA

Andrew ZookMyersdale, PA

Loretta BriedeThe Briede Family Vineyards, LLCWinchester, VA

Action Pak Inc.Bristol, PA

Matthew B. StoltzfusMillwood FarmGap, PA

Matthew SensenigPenn Yan, NY

Harold R. KreiderHarold Kreider DairyThompsontown, PA

Joseph DeCarle Jr.Sweet OriginsNew York, NY

Ivan PeacheyK.V. FarmBelleville, PA

Leroy CubbageSilver Creek FarmStanley, VA

Willard ShowalterDayton, VA

Jerald GingerichMillersburg, OH

Mike and Barb DietrichOley Valley OrganicsOley, PA

Jeff FoustMilton, PA

Alexis KonownitzineLa Pasta, Inc.Silver Springs, MD

David M. LappParadise, PA

Brad HelmMillerstown, PA

Stephen MaganCentury Grass Farm LLCPittsburgh, PA

Jeff StoltzfusLancaster Vegetable CoopLeola, PA

Gideon S. EshEsh-Lea FarmElizabethville, PA

Nelson R. MartinCluncker FlattsMcAlisterville, PA

John T. Petersheim Manheim, PA

Benjamin HelselThree Springs, PA

Mike ShankCarlisle, PA

Stevie FisherLykens, PA

Frank ReedManheim, PA

Cindy DivegliaWinterspring FarmEast Berlin, PA

John Z. SmokerMillville, PA

Christian S. BeilerMontgomery, PA

Ed EvansSmicksburg Community CheeseDurall Valley, PA

Merlin SensenigSensenig Turkey FarmLititz, PA

Jodi & Tony ForresterChambersburg, PA

Solomon ZookMcClure, PA

Ephraim ZookShamokin, PA

Joseph M. StoltzfusLoganton, PA

John AnstineAg Source LLCMifflintown, PA

Henry EshRebersburg, PA

Aaron K. FisherCanajoharie, NY

Merlin MartinLoyesville, PA

Brownstone Mushrooms FarmAvondale, PA

Tim StreightiffWalnut Springs LLCThree Springs, PA

Kevin DelaneyTo-Jo MushroomsAvondale, PA

Richard RorherHideaway FarmHinton, VA

Glen KooglerSingers Glen, VA

Mark GlickBridgewater, VA

www.paorganic.org20 Organic Matters • Winter 2016

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2016 21

WANTEDOrganic Raw Milk ACF Organics, LLC, d/b/a Amish CountryFarms located in Totowa, NJ is looking to procure certified organicraw milk from farmers in PA. Ken Tensen: 800-990-3447 x202.

JOBSExtension Educator (Sustainable Agriculture Educator) The Col-lege of Agricultural Sciences is seeking an individual to specializein sustainable and organic vegetable and berry production trainingas part of the Penn State Extension Horticulture Team. He or shewill work with commercial growers, organic growers and begin-ning growers. This individual must have a background in horticul-ture including vegetable, berry or tree fruit production. Experiencesupporting new grower education and Spanish language profi-ciency preferred. This individual will work as part of the State-wideHorticulture Team serving vegetable, berry, tree fruit and winegrape growers in Northampton, Lehigh Counties and collaboratingwith colleagues to serve Southeastern PA. Visithttp://apptrkr.com/680104 for details and to apply.

SERVICESManure management plans, Ag erosion and settlement plans, andmanure brokering. Government certified. Contact Ned Fogleman717-994-4630.

Ag plastic recycling — I can use black and white bunker covers,bale wrap, plastic twine, clear stretch film, greenhouse covers,flats, and pots. For details: 717-658-9660. Franklin County, PA.

FOR SALECROPSOrganic alfalfa/ grass round bale baleage, 4’x4’, pre-cut, somevery good quality. Forage tested. near Milton, Pa. Bucky- 570-412-3094. Montour County.

Dairy quality Organic baleage, corn & Organic soybeans. OEFFACertified. Forage test results available, we can do local deliveries.We custom dry and store Organic grain. Call 570-412-1392. UnionCounty.

PCO Certified Organic baleage. Individually wrapped. 4x4 mixedhay. $40 dollars a bale for 1st and 2nd cutting. Jim Hepp: 570-746-1651. Bradford County.

Organic Baleage for sale. Individually wrapped round bales. 2nd,3rd, and 4th cutting. Alfalfa and mixed hay. 717-471-9438. 1 Mileof I78 in northern Berks County.

Organic roasted soy beans, $1000 per ton in totes. Delivery avail-able contact Ned Fogleman- 717-994-4630. Central Pa. JuniataCounty.

Organic Dry Hay, Baleage and Straw in 4x4 wrapped round bales.High energy and digestibility, Priced based on forage test results.Trucking available. Organic grains and seed also available, call foravailability. Provident Farms, Dave Johnson 570-324-2285. TiogaCounty.

REAL ESTATEFARM FOR SALE — 69-acre certified organic grass fed beef farm.Owners are looking for someone to pick up the soul of this farmand improve on it as only a younger person/s can do. Lots ofpotential here. Included is a 23.5 KW Solar system, a full line offarm machinery, and a closed herd (for 20 years) of 55 beef cattlethat have been acclimated, bred, and thrive on this farm. Thirdparty certifications on this farm are PCO, AWA and AGA. A 5-bedroom brick/frame house, barn and out buildings are situatedon this Central Pennsylvania Conservancy preserved farm. Ownerfinancing as well as mentoring can be negotiated, so that this farmcan continue to provide nourishing food to a growing group of loyalcustomers. Owners make hay on some 80 acres of certifiedorganic hay fields nearby for winter forage. Contact:[email protected] or 717-536-3618. Perry County.

Historic 1847 brick home in rural Juniata Co. sits on 14 PA Certi-fied Organic acres! Features wood floors, 4 bedrooms, 6 fire-places, front & rear stairways, open foyer. Potential for large familyor a B&B! $235,000. MLS#10253973 http://3857rt35s.c21.com/Ask for Kristen 717.994.6627. Juniata County.

Organic Marketplace

TO ADVERTISEContact the PCO Office for information on advertising in the Market-place. Call 814-422-0251 or email [email protected].

Fest, held July 29-30, 2016 at the GrangeFairgrounds in Centre Hall, PA.FarmFest is a community-building eventthat fosters knowledge of organic agricul-ture and sustainable living through educa-tional opportunities, local foods, livelyentertainment, and interactive familyactivities.

The successful contractor will possessstrong organizational and time manage-ment skills with demonstrated work expe-rience in event and volunteermanagement. We seek a highly competentindividual with proficiency in soliciting/securing sponsors, vendors, andexhibitors. Successful candidate will alsoexhibit aptitude with databases, computernetworks, volunteerism, and social media.

Contract Compensation and Schedule:

This contracted position is offered at$8000 plus a percentage of sponsorshipsales. Regular communication duringagreed-upon scheduled work hours isrequired. We expect the contracted posi-tion to fill approximately 10 hours perweek, and all day Thursday, Friday, Sat-urday, and half a day Sunday during theweek of the event. Additionally, some postevent communications and evaluation isrequired. The planned start date for thisposition is February 1, 2016.

ance and organic certification, knowledgeof organic standards. We are looking for awell-organized and self-motivated personto join our team-oriented environment inSpring Mills, Pennsylvania; telecommut-ing will be considered.

This is a full-time, exempt position.

Salary range: $45,000–55,000, dependingon experience.

Benefits: health, dental, vision, disabilityand life insurance; Simple IRA, generousholiday, vacation and paid time off.

All above positions will remain open untilfilled. Full job descriptions are available atpaorganic.org.

n FarmFest CoordinatorPennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO) isseeking a FarmFest Coordinator to servein coordination with our Education andOutreach Team. The part time contractedposition will be responsible for planningand management, with guidance from thePCO, of the Pennsylvania Organic Farm-

Come join the PCO Team!Want to work with people committed to ensuring the integrity of organic products? For a full description of duties and qualifications, visit paorganic.org/jobs.

Employment Opportunities

n Certification SpecialistThe ideal candidate will have educationand / or experience in the following areas:familiarity with regulatory complianceand organic certification, knowledge oforganic standards and food science/pro-cessing. We are looking for a well-organ-ized and self-motivated person to join ourteam-oriented environment in SpringMills, Pennsylvania. Remote considera-tion will be given to applicants with previ-ous certification experience.

This is a full-time, exempt position.

Salary range: $38,000 to $48,000,depending on experience.

Benefits: health, dental, vision, disabilityand life insurance; Simple IRA, generousholiday, vacation and paid time off.

n Quality Systems and Infor-mation Technology ManagerThe ideal candidate will have educationand experience in quality systems, infor-mation or business management, includ-ing but not limited to: auditing,document control, and quality and IT sys-tems. We are looking for a well-organizedand self-motivated person to join ourteam-oriented environment in SpringMills, Pennsylvania.

This is a full-time, exempt position.

Salary range: $45,000 to $55,000,depending on experience.

Benefits: health, dental, vision, disabilityand life insurance; Simple IRA, generousholiday, vacation and paid time off.

nMaterials Program ManagerThis position will oversee PCO’s materialreview program, including the publicationof PCO Materials Lists, developing poli-cies relevant to material review under theorganic regulations, and will actively per-form material review. The ideal candidatewill have education and experience in thefollowing areas: knowledge of materialsused in organic production and process-ing, familiarity with regulatory compli- continued on page 23

www.paorganic.org22 Organic Matters • Winter 2016

How to apply for these positions:Please submit a resume and coverletter to (electronic submissions

preferred):Lia Sandoval

[email protected] • 814-422-0251

To apply, please complete our Request for Proposals from, whichcan be found by visiting our website, paorganic.org/jobs.

n Interested in volunteering?PCO relies on its outstanding volunteers to help with organicoutreach and education. Volunteers have assisted by participatingin one of PCO’s committees: Finance, Standards, staffing anexhibit, FarmFest; and much more. Support Pennsylvania Certi-fied Organic by volunteering to contribute to our organization’smission; email: [email protected] or call 814-422-0251 formore information.

ana, Illinois and Missouri during fall harvest time brought to lightjust how big the Midwest corn and bean machine really is. Fromrail cars to fertilizer mountains, to convoys of trucks to dustclouds from combines, thousands of acres with every inch of tillable ground between the cities and suburbs revolves aroundthese two commodities. At first it made me think I am justdreaming, playing around farming 350 acres with 25-year-oldworn out machinery. But when I regained consciousness, I real-ized that the superior quality foods that each of us produce in ourtiny corner of the world makes such a grand difference. Thediverse agriculture represented by PCO members makes waymore sense than the big commodity machine I saw in the Mid-west, which, if a piece of that fragile machine fails, those poorfolks will have nothing to eat but field corn and soybeans. PCOfolks, we have it so good.

President’s Messagecontinued from page 7

Employment Opportunitiescontinued from page 22

Organic Matters is the quarterly newsletter of PennsylvaniaCertified Organic, a non-profit organization serving growers,

processors and handlers of organic prod-ucts. Issues contain articles on the latestnews and research in the organic indus-try, often highlighting our certifiedmembers. Approximately 1,500 copiesof each publication are distributeddirectly to members and those request-ing information about organic agricul-ture, and made available to the publicat conferences, exhibits and educa-tional programs in the Mid‐Atlanticregion.

PRICINGAd size Single 4�Issue Sub.* Dimensions (in)

Back cover (in color) $572 na 8.5 µ 9

Full Page $362.50 $1,232 8 µ 10

Half Page $242.50 $824 7 µ 4.5 (horizontal)3.25 µ 8.75 (vertical)

Quarter Page $152.50 $518 3.25 µ 4.5 (vertical)

Eighth Page $112.50 $382 3.25 µ 2.25 (horizontal)

*Includes a complimentary full color calendar ad.The above rates refer to a single-issue ad placement and a subscription for adplacement in four consecutive issues.A 15% discount is granted for the purchase of the 4-issue subscription.For more information, please contact [email protected] or call thePCO Office at 814-422-0251.

Advertise in Organic Matters

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2016 23

2017 PCO Calendar Photo Contest!PCO would like to showcase your organic farm, and photographyskills, in our 2017 calendar. We are looking for pictures of your family and farm workers on your organic farm or handling operation, at work or at rest, throughout the seasons. We’ll display allsubmitted photos at FarmFest for in person voting and prizes. We will accept high-resolution photos via submission on our website, by email, or on a CD. Please submit your entries for the photo contest by July 15 to:

Pennsylvania Certified Organic2017 Calendar Coordinator106 School Street, Suite 201 • Spring Mills, PA 16875 [email protected] • www.paorganic.org

www.paorganic.org24 Organic Matters • Winter 2016

Name

Address City State ZIP

Phone Email

Use postal mail for: Billing Applications Organic Matters Use my email for: Billing Applications Organic Matters

Membership

Advocate Member ............................................... $40Receives Organic Matters newsletter, workshop notices, dis-counts on PCO materials, invitations to meetings, and one free30-word classified in Organic Matters per issue.

Sustainer Member ............................................... $75Same benefits as the Advocate Member, plus you may requesta free copy of the PCO Certification Manual, NOP StandardsManual, PCO Materials List, OMRI Materials List, and RecordKeeping Systems. In addition, you may vote on PCO standardsand policies. If you decide to apply for certification during yourmembership year, the $75 New Applicant Fee is waived.

Business Member .............................................. $150Receives the same benefits as a Sustainer Member, plus a 10%discount on ads in Organic Matters.

Certification

Transitioning Farmer ......................................... $100Receive the same benefits as Sustainer Membership plus:One free farm visit per year by a PCO staff member to answerquestions and discuss certification and organic production,phone access to certification specialist to answer questions,access to farmer mentors, and receives quarterly transitionsnewsletter.

New Applicant ................................................... $75*New applicants will receive the following: PCO Certification Manual, NOP Standards Manual, PCO Materials List, and OMRIMaterials List.

*$75 new applicant fee plus $695 basic certification fee dueprior to processing

Please send me applications for the following categories (free):

Checks: Payable to PCOPay Online: www.paorganic.org/orderformPay via Phone: (814)-422-0251

Crops/Produce

Dairy/Livestock

Poultry

Mushrooms

Maple Products

On-Farm Processing/ Handling

Processor/Handler

Broker/Handler

PCO 100% Grassfed Certification

PCO Forest Grown Verification

Gluten Free

Kosher

Other

.....................................

Membership/Certification Order Form

Contact Information

Card No.

CVV Code Exp. Date Billing ZIP Code

Cardholder Name

Signature

106 School Street, Suite 201

Spring Mills, PA 16875

Non-Profit Org

US POSTAGE PAID

CENTRE HALL, PA

PERMIT NO. 33


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