National Organic Program



Welcome to the National Organic Program 


What is organic?

Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods that integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.

What is organic? Consumer Information. Our Mission Ensuring the integrity of USDA organic products in the U.S. and throughout the world. About Us + Reports | USDA Organic Seal Organic Standards Regulations and guidance on certification, production, handling, and labeling of USDA organic products. Learn more. Organic Regulations | Reglamentos Orgánicos Estadounidenses (PDF) | Program Handbook | Manual de Programa Orgánicos (PDF) | Draft Guidance | Rulemaking & Notices National List & Petitioned Substances National Organic Standards Board Members of the organic community appointed to advise USDA on substances and other regulatory topics. Learn more. Recommendations | Meetings | Members Organic Certification & Accreditation Third-party agents around the world certify operations to USDA organic standards. Learn more. List of Certified Operations | List of Certifying Agents Get Certified | Cost Share | USDA Services | Training Info for: Organic Operations | Certifying Agents State Organic Program | International Trade Partners Compliance & Enforcement Protecting integrity of USDA organic products through enforcement actions for non-compliance. Learn more. File a Complaint | Appeal a Certifier or USDA Decision Appeals Archive | Temporary Variances | Fraudulent Certificates News and Outreach Notifying the public on policy changes and other USDA resources to support organic agriculture. Subscribe Organic Integrity Quarterly | Organic 101 on USDA Blog Organic Literacy Initiative: Training + Outreach USDA Organic Insider Archive New! Access Programs + Services across USDA




The information below explains how organic farms and businesses may use the USDA organic seal on their products.

Can I use the USDA organic seal?

• If your product has a valid organic certificate from an NOP accredited certifying agent or one authorized through an international trade partnership with the United States, you may use the USDA organic seal in the forms provided below. Your certifying agent will review and approve all labels prior to use to ensure compliance.

Overview: Organic Labeling | Information for International Trade Partners

USDA Organic Seal Color Image

• If your product has not been certified organic by an authorized certifying agent, you may not use the USDA organic seal. Please review the information below. Please note that other color combinations are not permitted. The black and white seal may be on a white or transparent background.



USDA Organic Seal Black and White

How is the USDA organic seal protected?

• Agricultural products using the USDA organic seal or the word ?organic? must meet all requirements in the USDA organic regulations. Violations may lead to compliance and enforcement actions, including fines up to $11,000 per violation. Additionally, an your organic certificate may be suspended or revoked. 

USDA Organic Seal Regulations

• What about multi-ingredient products that contain less than 95% organic ingredients?
• Products that contain less than 95% organic ingredients may not use the USDA organic seal.

Do I need to be certified?

• Most farms and businesses that grow, handle, or process organic products must be certified. Overall, if you make a product and want to claim that it or its ingredients are organic, your final product probably also needs to be certified.

 
Who Needs to Be Certified? | Overview: Getting Certified & Seed Certification

HempTraders June2015

June 2015 Hemp News update

Every day, more and more Americans discover the benefits of hemp. This ever-expanding market includes healthy food and body care products, as well as eco-friendly textiles, clothing, auto parts, and building materials. Despite hemp's growing popularity, and the recent Farm Bill legislation that now permits hemp to be grown for research in states with hemp farming laws in place, the Federal policy for hemp farming - created in the 1930's is outdated and currently prevents U.S. farmers from widely growing this nutritious, versatile, and eco-friendly crop.

Federal policy on industrial hemp is beginning to reflect today's reality and ensure a better tomorrow for America's families and farmers, the economy and our planet. The 2014 Farm Bill was a first step, but we need to push Congress to pass legislation in 2015 that will allow commercial hemp farming.

June 1-7 is Hemp History Week


Hemp Seed On Its Way To Colorado, With A Federal Blessing

Following months of wrangling, the Colorado Department of Agriculture has secured a permit from federal drug enforcement officials to import industrial hemp seed from foreign countries...

Kentucky's 2015 Hemp Crop to Exceed 1,700 Acres; Up from 33 Acres in 2014  

Kentucky's hemp crop is expected to exceed 1,700 acres in 2015, up from just a 33 acres last year, state agriculture officials said this week...

First large-scale hemp processing plant begins in Colorado


A Fort Lupton plant is starting to test and process Colorado's hemp harvest, turning it into pulp that can be used to make paper, sugar -- even biofuels...

Nevada Lawmakers Unanimously Approve Hemp Bill

Lawmakers in Nevada have unanimously passed a bill to authorize hemp cultivation, sending the bill to Republican Governor Brian Sandoval for final approval...

Hemp industry is growing in Kentucky, attracting processors, investment

Kentucky's hemp crop is growing and attracting new investors to the state, according to Agriculture Commissioner James Comer...

Read More:
Hemp-Traders-June-2015-Newsletter.html

Chart Biodiesel savings vs Diesel

Biodiesel Savings Chart supplied by USAFreedomBioFuel

Look at the money saved at $3.00 compated to $4.00 per gal...that's some serious bank.

Cannabis Legal Fed News Jun2015

#HempWeek LEGISLATION update, June 01, 2015
Lawmakers brace for marijuana vote-a-rama BY TIM DEVANEY

(See website link below for full article)

Lawmakers are prepping for what could turn into a marijuana vote-a-rama Wednesday, sources say.

Pot advocates expect lawmakers to introduce at least half a dozen marijuana-related appropriations amendments that would roll back the Justice Department’s authority to enforce drug laws around the country.

The marijuana amendments would handicap the Department of Justice (DOJ) in its fight with states over the enforcement of local pot laws.

“The politics have continued to shift in favor of marijuana law reform,” said Tom Angell, chairman of the Marijuana Majority.

"For a long time, lawmakers treated marijuana as a third-rail issue that was too dangerous to touch,” he added. "But now that polling shows a growing majority of voters supports ending prohibition, more and more elected officials are starting to realize that demonstrating leadership on this issue has political benefits instead of harms.”

The marijuana amendments come as part of the Justice Department’s funding bill, which dictates the terms in which the agency can use the money.

Pot advocates are making a big push in advance of the vote to rally lawmakers to their side.

The Justice Department would be prohibited from using federal funds to interfere with states’ medical marijuana laws under an amendment expected from the California delegation — Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R) and Sam Farr (D).

The measure was approved by Congress for the first time in 2014 but it must be renewed each year when the DOJ’s spending bill expires.

Some lawmakers hope to push the boundaries even further.

An amendment from Reps. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.) would prohibit DOJ from using federal funds to interfere with any state marijuana law, including laws permitting the recreational use of pot.

"This amendment will not only protect critically ill medical marijuana patients from federal prosecution but, unlike previous versions, will also apply to adult [recreational] use of marijuana in states where it is legal, like Colorado and Washington,” wrote Dan Riffle, director of federal policies at the Marijuana Policy Project, in an email to supporters asking them to lobby their congressmen on the issue.

Another amendment, from Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), would protect state hemp laws from DOJ interference. This would pave the way for farmers to grow hemp in the U.S.

Hemp comes from the same plant as pot, but it does not have the same intoxicating effect, Angell said. Instead, hemp is used to make things like paper, rope and textiles.

"You don’t smoke hemp,” Angell said. "It wouldn’t get you high."

Several other pot amendments are still in the works, including one that would shift money in the Drug Enforcement Agency's budget away from enforcing marijuana laws toward solving the rape kit backlog and funding treatment programs for veterans, Riffle said....see full article at:http://thehill.com/regulation/legislation/243632-lawmakers-pushing-for-marijuana-vote-a-rama

Industrial Hemp Biomass info via Pure Vision Technology

http://www.purevisiontechnology.com/pure-hemp.html

FAQ:

What is biomass?

Also called lignocellulosic biomass and cellulosic biomass, biomass is green plant matter or biological mass (biomass) that is primarily made up of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. It is generally the “non-food” portion of plants. For example, using the corn plant, the kernels are starch (food), while the leaves, stalks and cobs are the biomass portion. In hemp, everything but the seed oil is considered to be biomass.

What are the intermediate products from biorefining of industrial hemp?

The three primary primary components of biomass are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The four dominant output product streams from PureHemp biorefineries are (1) glucose sugar and (2) pulp from cellulose; (3) xylose sugar from hemicellulose; and (4) lignin. These four intermediates are the foundation for producing a myriad of bioproducts including pulp-based products (tissues, toilet paper, etc.) alcohols, chemicals, fuels, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, binders, coatings, adhesives, and other precursors for manufacturing plastics and composites.

Article continues:

http://www.purehemptech.com/FAQ/

HEMP as Biomass

Hemp biomass as a source of fuel is the most under-exploited use of hemp, mostly because it is not economically feasible at the present time. The use of any biomass to produce energy is called 'chemurgy' – derived from 'chemicals' and 'energy' – as opposed to petrochemical products. Almost any biomass material can be converted to create methanol or ethanol, and these fuels burn cleanly with less carbon monoxide and higher octane. Hemp is a valuable, viable source of woody biomass. One acre of hemp is approximately 75 percent cellulose, whereas one acre of trees is only 60 percent – hemp can give two crops per year whereas trees give one crop every 20-30 years. Hemp stalk can be converted into 500 gallons of methanol/acre.

Did you know: The diesel engine was invented to burn fuel from agricultural waste, yet ended up burning unrefined petroleum.

Other interesting factors to support biofuel production and use:

Particulate Matter. The exhaust emissions of particulate matter from biodiesel were 30 percent lower than overall particulate matter emissions from diesel. Breathing particulate has been shown to be a human health hazard.

Carbon Monoxide. The exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas) from biodiesel are 50 percent lower than carbon monoxide emissions from diesel.
Sulphur. Sulphur emissions are essentially eliminated with pure biodiesel. Ethanol contains no sulphur.

Hydrocarbons. The exhaust emissions of total hydrocarbons (a contributing factor in the localised formation of smog and ozone) are 93 percent lower for biodiesel and diesel.
Biodegradability. Biodiesel degrades about four times faster than petroleum diesel. Within 28 days, pure biodiesel degrades 85-88 percent in water.

Flash Point. The flash point of a fuel is defined as the temperature at which it will ignite when exposed to a spark or flame. Biodiesel's flash point is over 300 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas petroleum based diesel fuel's flash point is around 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
Acute Oral Toxicity. Biodiesel is non-toxic. The acute oral LD50 (lethal dose) is greater than 17.4 gm/kg body weight. Table salt is nearly 10 times more toxic.

http://www.harbay.net/biomass.html