NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC provides the USDA's National Organic Program's National Organic Standards and NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC's Guidance & Policy Manual.  These contain the requirements for the organic certification of Farm Crops, Dairy Farming and Handling Operations. Under the National Organic Program, which officially went into effect 10/21/02, dairy farms must transition (manage organically) their animals for one year prior to shipping organic milk.  The majority of your land should be certifiable at the beginning of the Transition process.    Before Starting the Transition Process BE SURE YOU HAVE A MARKET FOR YOUR MILK AT THE END OF YOUR TRANSITION PERIOD!!   Organic certification does not guarantee a market for your milk. There are currently four companies buying organic milk in New York State:  Organic Valley, Horizon, H.P. Hood and Upstate Farms.  Contact information for these companies can be found in the dairy brochure. Dairy animals must be transitioned (managed 100% organically) for one year.  This is a one-time, whole herd conversion to organic.  All animals must be managed organically from the date your transition starts, which is the date we receive your application in our office, provided you are in compliance with NOP standards by that date.  All animals that you plan to transition must be on your farm when your transition period starts. From the beginning of transition on, no more animals may be brought to the farm until the end of transition.  Once the one-year transition is completed and certification is granted, all purchased animals must be from a certified organic source. Transition is a one-time opportunity for an existing conventional dairy herd to make the transition to organic production.  A herd is considered to be the animals on the farm at the beginning of transition.    Basic Land Requirements We recommend that at least 90% of your land be certifiable before starting the transition process. Land must not have had any prohibited substances, i.e. synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, treated seeds, sewage sludge, GMO seeds or inoculants, etc, applied for at least 36 months (3 years) prior to the harvest of an organic crop.  You must be able to provide receipts for seed used and any other inputs applied to the land for the past three years. If you have not owned or managed your land for at least the past three years, you will need to have a notarized affidavit from the prior owner or manager that shows land usage and applied amendments for that period of time. Leased or rented land may be included in your Organic Farm Plan as long as you are managing the land.  If you include leased or rented fields in your Organic Farm Plan, you will own the certification on those fields, and only you can sell organic crops from them.  If the owner wants to sell organic crops, he/she will need to certify the land in their own name. If some fields dont qualify for organic certification the first year, they may be transitioned to organic production.  All fields must be included in your Organic Farm Plan, including a three-year history of each field showing what crops have been grown and what substances have been applied over the past three years.  If exact dates of planting or application of substances are known, please include them.  We will determine the date each field is eligible for organic certification. Crops harvested from transitional fields must be completely segregated from organic crops.  Whenever possible, it is recommended that non-certified crops be sold directly from the field.  Non-Certified Harvest records and sales records must be kept for all non-certified crops. If using lime or gypsum, it must be from a natural, mined source.  Some lime products are by-products of concrete and asphalt production, and some gypsum products are by-products of dry-wall manufacturing.  You must obtain a letter or other documentation from your supplier showing that lime or gypsum is from a mined source.  Keep documentation on file. This information must be provided for the prior three years for any field entering the certification program. Feed Requirements Dairy animals in transition must be fed 100% organic feed for a full year.  This may be from fields that qualify for certification that are included in your Organic Farm Plan.  Any feed purchased to meet the 100% organic feed requirement must be certified organic.  Any purchased feed must be documented on a Purchased Feed Log and all receipts must be kept on file.  Certification certificates must be obtained for all purchased feed. Feed harvested from fields in their third year of transition, that are included in the Organic Farm Plan, may be used to meet the 100% organic feed requirement.  The beginning of the dairy herd transition should be timed so the land will be eligible for certification at the end of the one year transition.  This will allow producers to transition their dairy herd along with the last year of their land transition. All feed supplements, including minerals and salt blocks must be approved.  Antibiotics, GMO-derived products, animal by-products, urea, manure and synthetic preservatives are not permitted in any feed products.  Mineral supplements must not contain prohibited ingredients (such as mineral oil and artificial flavors & colors).  Please refer to National Organic Standards, Section 205.237  Livestock Feed for more information.   In Addition to the Feed Requirements, Farms Preparing for Transition Should: Implement organic management practices for fields, including crop rotation requirements.  Two consecutive years of the same row crop is prohibited. (corn following corn, etc).  If the same row crop is planted two years in a row, the rotation must be broken with a cover crop and it must be documented through pictures.  Organic producers are required to build soil structure and fertility, not deplete it. Develop an ID system for all fields, including pastures. Establish buffer zones between organic fields and conventional fields.  We recommend a minimum of 50 if the field adjoins conventional land.  If there is a hedgerow or other barrier, a lesser distance will probably do. If planting corn, you must know what your neighbor is planting.  If he is planting corn next to a field you plan to put in corn, you must verify that his corn is non-GMO.  If unable to do that, it is recommended that you do not plant corn next to conventional corn.  Buffer zones will be looked at very closely during your inspection.  Crops harvested from buffer zones must be sold as conventional.  Non-Certified Harvest and sales records must be kept for crops harvested from buffer areas. Discontinue using treated seeds.  Treated seeds are considered a prohibited substance and will disqualify a field from organic certification for three years.  Organic seeds are required to be used if commercially available.  You must check with at least three companies that sell organic seeds. (Attempts to locate organic seed must be documented.)  If unable to locate the variety, quantity or quality of seed that you need as organic, you may then use untreated seeds as a last resort.  If untreated seeds are used, you must obtain a non-GMO statement for each variety.  All seed receipts and tags must be kept on file. If using inoculants on your seeds or harvested crops, be sure they are allowed under organic standards.  Some inoculants contain genetically modified bacteria, which will disqualify a field from certification for three years. Develop a pasturing plan.  All animals six months and older are required to be on pasture during the grazing season.  Animals must get a significant amount of their forage from pasture during the grazing season.  NOFA NY recommends at least .75 acre of pasture per 1000# animal. ***NOSB Guidance document recommends that ruminant animals be on pasture for the entire grazing season, but not less than 120 days per year.  They should get at least 30% of their dry matter from pasture for a minimum of 120 days per year. Pasture must be managed in a way that prevents erosion or water quality problems.  In addition, access to streams and rivers must be restricted/managed in order to prevent these problems.  Fenced riparian buffer zones are recommended along waterways to stabilize banks and reduce runoff and erosion. Develop a permanent ID system for all animals.  Ear tags (non-insecticidal only) or tattoos are required.  Neck chains may be used in conjunction with one of the above systems, but not as the sole identification source.  An animal list showing the ID# and birth date is required and must be updated each year. Develop appropriate housing for dairy animals, including young stock. Animals over 6 months old must have daily access to the outdoors (including winter), and access to pasture during the grazing season. Hay, straw or corn stalks used for bedding must be organic.  Wood shavings and sawdust are allowed as long as they are from untreated wood and have no additives. Calves must be fed whole organic milk.  Milk replacer is not allowed. Search out an approved mineral source.  The mineral mix must not contain prohibited substances, like mineral oil, artificial colors or flavors, or prohibited flowing agents in salt sources.  The use of prohibited substances will delay your transition. Discontinue the use of antibiotics, hormones, and dry cow treatments.  You must maintain a detailed dairy medication log.  All treatments must be documented, even natural ones. Oxytocin is only allowed in emergency post-calving emergencies.  It is not allowed for routine milk let down.  Check with your milk company to see if they allow its use.  Most companies purchasing organic milk do not allow the use of Oxytocin. Ivermectin is only allowed after natural wormers are documented to have been ineffective.  There is a 90-day withhold on milk and the use of Ivermectin will disqualify animals from slaughter status.  Check with your milk company to see if they allow its use. Any animal treated with a prohibited substance must leave the herd.  You must document what they were treated with, what they were treated for, and the date they left the herd.  If you have an animal that will die without treatment, you are required to treat her, but that animal must leave the herd and will never be considered organic again. Tail docking is prohibited.  Herds with docked tails may enter the certification program, but by the start of transition, tail docking must be discontinued. Dehorning is allowed, but must be done as early and humanely as possible. Research and implement the use of alternative health care practices.  Homeopathy and Herbs are allowed. Vaccinations are allowed.  Most vitamins and minerals are allowed.  Most iodine-based teat dips are allowed.  Always check with the office BEFORE using any new products. Regular cleaning products are allowed as long as the active ingredient is on the National List.  This includes most chlorine products and phosphoric acid products.  If the active ingredient is not on the National List (Section 205.603 of the National Organic Standards), the product is not allowed.  If you have any questions, please contact the certification office. Once the one year transition period is over, all animals must be managed organically from the last third of gestation.  This includes any replacement heifers purchased from outside sources.   What Does all of this Mean to You? All animals, including calves must be fed 100% certified organic feed.  Feed harvested from first (T1) and second (T2) year transitional fields is not allowed.  Your entire herd must be managed 100% organically from the transition start date.  By the time you send in your application to begin the transition process, you must be managing your entire herd organically.  If your practices are not in compliance by the date your application is received, your transition start date will be adjusted to the date you come into compliance.   HOW DO YOU BEGIN TRANSITION??? The first step is to purchase a Dairy Application ($30.00) and fill it out. The application is pretty straightforward, but if you have any questions when filling it out, the office staff will be happy to assist you. The cost to apply for transition status is:  $300.00 Transition Fee, which covers all paperwork and office support; and $225.00 Inspection Deposit.  The farm will be billed for the actual cost of inspection.  If it is less than $225.00, you will receive a refund.  If it is more, you will be billed for the balance.  The transition fee and inspection deposit must be received with the application or the application will not be processed. The date your application is received in the office is your official transition start date, provided you are in compliance on that date.  By this date you must be following organic practices.  If you apply for transition status in November, December, January or February, an inspection of your facilities, animals, paperwork and fields will likely be done in the winter.  If you have a winter inspection, you will need a field inspection during the growing season.  This extra inspection will be billed to you.  Your transition status approval will be contingent on a successful Inspection and Review process. When received in the certification office, your application will be reviewed by a staff member for completeness. If we have any questions, we will call you or write to you for clarification.  All information will be entered into the computer.  When your application is determined to be complete, it will be sent to an Inspector.   You will be notified by letter when this occurs. The Inspector will contact you directly to set up an appointment to come to your farm.  During the farm visit, the Inspector will want to review all of your records and see all of your fields and animals, as well as all barns and your milking facility. Following the inspection, the Inspector will write up an Inspection Report, which will be included in your file.  Your file will then be returned to the certification office. (Spot inspections can occur at any time.  They are usually unannounced.  NOFA NY is planning to conduct more random, unannounced spot inspections in the future to assure compliance.) When your file is received from the Inspector, it will be sent to a Final Reviewer for  determination of transition status.  The Final Reviewer will review all of your paperwork and the Inspection Report, and will make their determination based on this information.   That is where the final determination for approval of transition status (or in subsequent years, full certification) is made.  Once your file is approved by the Final Reviewer, it is returned to the certification office for finalization.  The office staff will send you a Determination Letter, which will list anything you need to clarify or change. You must address any questions the Final Reviewer has in writing and send to the certification office by the date indicated in the letter. About six months before the end of your transition period you will receive an application for full certification.  With this application, you will estimate what your gross organic sales will be for the number of months you will be certified in the calendar year you become certified. One half of this fee will be due with your application and the balance will be due upon finalization of your certification.  Your file will be reviewed again in the office, you will have another inspection and will go through the Final Review process again.  The Final Reviewer will make the final decision on certification.   By starting the process about six months in advance, it allows ample time to get you through the final process for certification and allows time for questions to be answered without delaying your certification.  If your application is not received by the due date, there is a chance that your certification may be delayed.  Please pay close attention to due dates. Certification is an annual process.  You must reapply and pay a fee each year and your farm must be inspected at least once a year to maintain certification.  Certification fees for renewing applicants are based on gross organic income from the previous year.  Certification Fee Reimbursement Program The USDA is providing financial assistance to farmers in 15 states (including New York) to help offset their costs for organic certification.  Payments are currently limited to 75% of a producers certification costs, up to a maximum of $750.  Funds are being distributed through NYS Ag and Markets.  This will not apply to your transition fees, but will apply to regular certification fees.  NYS Ag & Markets, PA State Dept of Ag or Connecticut State Dept of Ag will send you an application which must be filled out and returned to them by the deadline.   NOFA NY Certified Organic, LLC will automatically update NYS Ag & Markets with all necessary information once certification is approved.   Organic Beef Requirements If you wish to certify your animals for dairy and beef: Animals must be managed organically from the last third of gestation. The mother cow must be fed 100% certified organic feed for the last third of her pregnancy.  The calf must be fed 100% certified organic feed from birth.  (no milk replacer)  It must be documented.   No antibiotics, hormones or chemical wormers are allowed.  There are no exceptions. Animals that are transitioned from conventional production will never qualify for organic slaughter, but their offspring will if the mother animal is managed 100% organically for at least the last third of her pregnancy. Once a dairy herd is certified, all animals born on the farm will qualify for slaughter, providing the mother cow has been managed organically from the last third of her pregnancy.  If third-year transitional feed was used during the transition period, animals born three months after 100% certified organic feed was started will qualify for organic slaughter. To market certified organic meat, the slaughterhouse must be certified organic.  This does not mean that they can only handle organic meat.  They must have a plan in place that prevents co-mingling of conventional and organic products. Producers may certify a slaughterhouse under their farm certification.  They are billed only for inspection costs. If planning to sell individual cuts of organic meat, the slaughterhouse is also required to be USDA inspected.  If you have further questions, please contact the certification office. Costs for One-Year Transition Process Transition Application Packet $30.00 Transition Application Fee $300.00 Deposit for Inspection Costs $225.00 All Transition fees are due at the time of application. Dairy Certification Fees Once the Transition process is completed, the fees in the Chart below are those for the full Certification process.  These fees include the inspection costs.  The full certification process is begun 6 months prior to the end of the one-year Transition period.  One half of the Certification Fee is payable at the time of new application; the balance is due upon finalization of certification. Please CLICK HERE to review the current Fees and Financial Policies and Procedures schedule from the Certification Policy Manual.     The Certification Standards The National Organic Program's National Organic Standards and the NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC's Guidance & Policy Manual provide complete guidelines for the Program. A copy of the current NOP Standards is required when applying for Certification. It is recommended that if you are not seeking certification this year that you still obtain the Standards in order to prepare for future certification and contact NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC about our Transitions Program.   The National Organic Program's National Organic Standards, the NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC's Guidance & Policy Manual, and the Certification Application are available as follows: Complete Application Packet (Standards, Manual & Application) $30.00 plus 8% tax NOP Standards Only $20.00plus 8% tax Certification Application Only $10.00plus 8% tax Cornell Dairy Transition Book $10.00 plus 8% tax List of Certified Organic Farms $  5.00 plus 8% tax

Name: Farm Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: County: Email: Date of Orientation Workshop You Will Attend (if applicable):______________   Send Form with Payment To: NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC 840 Upper Front St Binghamton, NY 13905

Products that you will be seeking certification for this year:     Dairy Farm  On-Farm Handling Total Enclosed:______________   Please make check payable to: NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC, or   Charge my Credit Card: ______________________________ Exp. Date:______  Signature:__________________________ If billing address is different than mailing, please list billing address: All prices  are in U.S. currency.  Additional postage will need to be added for purchases outside the continental United States.  Please call to arrange prior to sending payment.