By Tina Jensen Augustine

The use of internal parasiticides in organic livestock production is permitted under the livestock health care practice standard at §205.238 for emergency situations when preventative practices and veterinary biologics have failed to control a parasitic infection. There are two synthetic parasiticides permitted on the National List at §205.603(a): fenbendazole and...

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...

By Phoebe Judge

OMRI recently completed a periodic re-review of the OMRI Generic Materials List© and OMRI Standards Manual© for review to the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards, and these updates are now available online at OMRI.org. The 2019 revisions reflect updates to the National List, clarification of definitions, reorganization of categories, and other updates as highlighted below. These changes may include input from public comments and technical review, and are approved by the OMRI Board of...

How does OMRI review guano as a crop fertilizer, and when does it carry a restriction?

By Gwynn Sawyer Ostrom

Guano is a naturally occurring substance primarily made from the excrement of wild bats and birds. It is commonly used as a fertilizer and is typically high in nitrogen, phosphate and potassium (NPK). It can be found where colonies of seabirds dwell, such as islands near coasts and subtropical latitudes where there is little rain, or in caves. In some places, guano goes through a lengthy process of...