National Organic Program -- Access to Pasture -- USDA Proposed Rule
The Department of Agriculture, on October 24, 2008 (73 F.R. 63584) issued a proposed rule amending existing rules concerning organic livestock production. The rule would specify that producers are to provide livestock and "ruminant animals" with pasture, it recognizes pasture as a crop, and requires that pasture be incorporated into producers' organic plans. The proposed rule is premised upon the belief that consumers expect that ruminant livestock animals graze pastures during the growing season.
Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted to the Department of Agriculture by December 23, 2008, to Richard H. Matthews, Chief, Standards Development and Review Branch, National Organic Program, Transportation and Marketing Programs, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 4008-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250. Comments should be identified with the docket number AMS-TM-06-0198; TM-05-14. Comments can be submitted online at http://www.regulations.gov.
We have developed a detailed summary of the proposed rule and filed it in the Reports section of this site.