[compost_tea] Re: NOP compliance

From: Kirk Leonard <kirk_at_oregonatural.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 15:01:36 -0800

A delayed reply from your local USNOP nut...

> Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 10:25:41 -0700
> From: "John Cowan" <vivax_at_northlink.com>
> Subject: NOP compliance
>
> To those working under certified organic programs,
> how are you dealing with
> the use of aerated compost tea?
> Is it being used but not acknowledged to
> certifiers? It is still not permitted officially, right?
>
> Just curious what the producer attitudes are.
>
> John Cowan

Boy it would be nice to have a better understanding of "dealing with the use
of aerated compost tea" by NOP, too. They are almost completely silent on
that, and the only guidance they've written down (Tom J May/03 letter in
list
archives, I think) in twelve years is that compost tea is raw manure!

John is right. ACT is not permitted officially. It's being "looked at" by
a secret task force, which hasn't produced anything in the 1 1/4 years it's
been authorized or nine months of deliberations. Thankfully, there's a big
gap between what USDA is doing (or NOT doing - like a compost tea record?)
and what certifiers are ruling.

No CT, ACT or AACT or otherwise, is recognized by USNOP, other than as raw
manure. Compost tea is the
same thing as "manure tea." BD preps, plant teas, all manner of water
extracts are likewise invisible.

Many certifiers are certifying, nonetheless. What certifiers were doing
(this info needs updating) was approving aerated compost teas under various
conditions... Outright, as in Washington state - GO WA! - and
conditionally, as in NOFA's plant compost only. Other certifiers, MOFGA is
one, Oregon Tilth another, were using 4/02 NOSB compost task force
recommendation. ACT scuttlebutt is if you want to be sure to certify with
compost tea, use plant compost only and no molasses. Any manure has to be
certifiably composted. (Duh? Really?)

Upshot is USNOP would still prefer to bash and ban compost tea today, imo.
I have heard about more certifier approvals including compost tea than
denials, though, so there's hope, hmm? It'd be nice if producers, CTIA and
ICTC would speak up. It would also be nice to hear of others' experiences
in certifying or not being able to certify with compost tea, per John's
query. I look forward to being blown away by new cert info here, good or
bad, we'll get some insight.

Early on here, Tom J made an analogy of making compost tea and playing golf
blindfolded. We all laughed and recognized that, I'm sure. Not true
anymore, thanks to what's been happening here... Got one eye clear,
anyway... What feels blindfolded now is understanding what USDA is doing.

NOP "compliance" on compost tea is a lesson on the distance between good
practice and good propaganda. NOSB and certifiers are closer to correct, to
be sure. The USNOP position on compost tea is not biologically sensible or
ecologically defensible. Certifiers are doing the right things. How do we
get USDA to understand that?

-- Kirk L












 

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Received on Fri Jan 23 2004 - 23:46:12 EST

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