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What are the rules around feedstocks for compost that is compliant under the Canadian Organic Standards?
By Ana Negrete
Organic growers can implement various practices on their farms to help establish and maintain a fertile soil as indicated in the Canadian Organic Standards. A common practice is composting. Whether growers make their own compost or use compost from an off-farm source, the requirements for the compost feedstock are the same.
...What forms of sulfur dioxide can be used to make wine from organically grown grapes? In particular, can potassium metabisulfite be used?
By Brian Baker
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a gas at standard temperature and pressure. It appears on the National List at §205.605(b), which permits its use so long as it is limited to the production of wine labeled “made with organic grapes,” provided that the total sulfite concentration does not exceed 100 parts per million (ppm). SO2 can be delivered as a gas...
What forms of iodine are used as topical disinfectants?
By Brian Baker
The antiseptic properties of iodine have been recognized since at least 1830, when the first iodine tincture was registered with the U.S. Pharmacoepia. The form that is active as an antimicrobial is molecular iodine (I2). However, molecular iodine is highly reactive in its pure...
When is lignin sulfonate allowed in organic production in Canada?
By Everett Codd
Lignin sulphonates, also referred to as lignosulphonates or lignin sulphonic salts, are by-products of paper production. Wood, the base material from which most paper is made, is primarily composed of two types of materials: carbohydrates (such as...
What can be used as a poultry litter amendment?
By Tina Jensen Augustine
Poultry litter, a mix of manure, feathers, bedding, spilled water and feed, is commonly known to be high in nitrogen and is also a significant source of ammonia emissions. As uric acid and organic nitrogen in the litter break down, ammonia is released into the air, or volatilized. Volatilized ammonia not only has a...
What is the difference between a feed supplement and a feed additive? What needs to be certified organic?
By Jarod Rhoades
When reviewing livestock feed ingredients, it is important to first determine the intended function in livestock feed products. The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations differentiate “feed supplements” from “feed additives” to determine the allowance of...
Why are dust suppressants important, and which materials are allowed for this use in organic production?
By Everett Codd
Dust emissions from agricultural operations contribute to air pollution and represent a serious health hazard for farmworkers and farm animals. On-farm dust can come from tillage practices, unpaved roads, the application of dry fertilizers, harvesting of grain, livestock, and...
Will OMRI list a pesticide product that is not yet registered by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)?
Yes. During the early days of the OMRI Canada Review Program, it was not clear whether pesticide products without a pest control product (PCP) number could be reviewed and approved...
How does OMRI evaluate GMOs for use as livestock inputs?
By Ana Negrete
Organic livestock production systems rely on several products, and the non-GMO (genetically modified organism) requirements vary depending on how the material is used. In order to review genetically engineered (GE) materials for use in organic livestock production, OMRI distinguishes between inputs used for...
Can I use alfalfa meal that was certified organic in the United States as a feed ingredient for use in Canada?
By Sara Nienaber
The Canadian Organic Standards require operators to provide livestock with an organic feed ration (CAN/CGSB 32.310-2020 §6.4.1), and operators are prohibited from using feed and feed additives that are not listed in Table 5.2 of CAN/CGSB 32.311 (...
