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Southern Tier NY | Hi Ross,
Well, my answer to your question about backlash is purely speculative. I doubt most consumers would approve the practice of using conventional manure on organic farms, and that's why I think someday the practice will be prohibited. For now, I think organic consumers will continue to buy organic food regardless. There are too many other factors involved, and when they look at the alternatives, based on the reasons they purchase organic food to begin with, they are unlikely to stop buying organic.
With regard residue testing, crops, compost, and raw manure can be and are tested. If there is any concern about residues in an allowable input, certifiers can require producers to prove that the input falls below the limits set by the NOP before the material can be applied. Certifiers also have the right to randomly test, without notice, any feed, crop, or input.
In 2010, the NOP issued a statement regarding the use of compost containing residual pesticide levels in organic production (the case involved bifenthrin) in CA. They set allowable limits because once again politics reared its ugly head and they were forced to. The correct position would have been to not allowed any compost where a known prohibited substance was applied to one of the component materials, and require testing if there was any doubt.
Corruption in politics has the potential to do more harm to organic agriculture than any other factor.
Kevin | |
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Going organic
