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Can a non-organic carrier, not present on the PSL, be used with a non-organic enzyme to make cheese?
By Cesar Cartagena
Organic cheese production is a complex process involving specific inoculations of microbes and enzymes at several stages. These additions...
I would like to formulate a foliar spray or ground application crop pesticide that will include a synthetic inert ingredient from EPA List 3. Are List 3 inerts allowed in pesticides used in organic production?
By Doug Currier
Yes and no. As with all allowed synthetic materials, synthetic inerts allowed for use in pesticide formulations are listed at §205.601 of the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. For foliar or ground application pesticides, the NOP rule at §205.601(m)(1) currently only allows...
What are common ketosis and milk fever treatments?
By Phoebe Judge
Milk fever (parturient paresis) and ketosis are two common yet life-threatening disorders affecting cows, goats and sheep. Milk fever occurs due to low levels of calcium in the blood. The cause of ketosis is not well understood, but it occurs in animals when they rapidly mobilize fat and need high levels of glucose. Both of these disorders can occur during early lactation. A speedy remedy is often all that stands between an animal’s death and its return...
A guest article from SaskOrganics
Deb Tuchelt, Programs Coordinator, SaskOrganics
Myriam Fernandez, Research scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current Research & Development Centre
Over the last two years, grasshoppers have been wreaking havoc on many parts of the Canadian Prairies. When these voracious pests descend on an area, they can severely damage plants, in some cases devouring crops so thoroughly as to leave previously green fields brown and barren. They have even been known to...
Why can’t OMRI Listed® ingredients be blended and marketed as OMRI Listed without undergoing review?
By Amanda Kerr
Only products reviewed by OMRI and determined to be allowed for use in organic production may market themselves as “OMRI Listed.” The OMRI Listed seal assures the suitability of products for certified organic production, handling and processing under the...
Is heptane or pentane allowed in organic hemp processing and handling?
By Cesar Cartagena
Since the state of California legalized the sale and medical use of cannabis in 1996, organic hemp certification has been a topic of particular interest to farmers and operators. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, which directed the USDA to establish a national regulatory framework for hemp production,...
How does OMRI review chelates under the COR standards?
By Maddie Nagy
In general, chelation of crop nutrients and production aids is allowed under the Canada Organic Regime (COR), with some exceptions. There are several entries on Canada’s Permitted Substances List (PSL, CAN/CGSB-32.311-2020) that specify that...
By Lindsay Fernandez-Salvador
Methionine (MET) is an essential amino acid that supports complex metabolic processes in poultry, including the synthesis of body proteins that make up muscles, organs and feathers. A lack of methionine nutrition in poultry can lead to reduced immune function and may result in poor feathering, feather pecking, cannibalism and mortality. While birds can obtain methionine from dietary sources such as fish, sunflower meals and insects, it can be difficult to ensure they have sufficient amounts from their...
Does OMRI restrict compost tea products?
By Annie Amos
Compost tea is made by steeping compost in water. Typically, manufacturers aerate the tea during the steeping process, and then filter it to get a liquid product that will not clog irrigation or spray lines. Manufacturers may add other ingredients such as molasses or yeast to increase microbial growth. Crop producers use compost tea for a variety of purposes, including plant disease control and soil fertility. Because it is a liquid, the microbial biomass, fine...
This article describing our policy position on Corn Steep Liquor (CSL) was reposted to our website on January 13, 2011, after originally appearing in our spring 2010 OMRI Materials Review newsletter. Subsequent to reposting, the NOSB met again in April 2011 to further discuss CSL. While our position did not substantively change following the April 2011 NOSB meeting, we are amending the article to include additional details that resulted from the discussion.
This article describes OMRI’s position regarding CSL,...
