STATUS OF BIOTELO MULCH IN ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION

NOTE ON PROCESSING CERTIFICATION

Baystate Organic Certifiers often gets calls about packaged agricultural commodities that are certified by BOC that state they are grown in a foreign country. We only certify crop production in the U.S. So, for those products that state they are grown in a foreign country, we are not certifying the crop - we are only certifying the packaging of the agricultural commodity in the United States. For all of these products, another accredited certifying agent has certified the crop production and BOC has verified the certification of the crop.

The National Organic Standards requires that certified agricultural commodities be certified at every step in the production process where the commodity is handled or packaged, and that the certifying agent for the final distributor be listed on the packaging. That is why frozen fruit or packed grain grown in South or Central America is listed as certified by BOC.

Baystate Organic Certifiers focuses solely on certification of organic operations and is a National Organic Program accredited organic certifying agent owned and operated by Massachusetts Independent Certification, Inc. (MICI). MICI is a non-profit business dedicated to sustainable agriculture and food certification organized as a 501(c)3 corporation. MICI is dedicated to providing affordable certification services to farms using sustainable agriculture practices and to food processing and handling operations that purchase sustainable agriculture products.

• NOFA ORGANIC LAND CARE APPROVED MATERIALS LIST

APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR NEW OPERATIONS

There is no application deadline for New Farm or Processing Applications for certification. New organic farm applications may be submitted at any time during the growing season. Certification decisions for new farms will be made usually 4-6 weeks after receipt of a complete application. If you need expedited certification, please contact our office to obtain a time frame for certification.

New processing or handling certification applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year. Certification decisions for new processing operations will be made usually 4-6 weeks after receipt of a complete application. If you need expedited certification, please contact our office to obtain a time frame for certification.

• I am a new applicant and I have questions! It is normal for new operations to have questions about the certification process. If you have questions about the certification process or organic certification, contact our Executive Director Don Franczyk at baystateorganic@earthlink.net or call (774) 872-5544.

ORGANIC COST SHARE FEE REIMBURSEMENT NOTICE

The organic cost share reimbursement program is in effect for 2013 for farm operations. As per previous years, the cost share reimbursement program is a Federal program administered through each state's Department of Agriculture. The cost share program refunds 75% of the annual certification fee to a maximum of $750 per operation. The forms for reimbursement vary from state to state.

The certification year for cost share purposes runs from October 1, 2012 until September 30, 2013. That means that you must pay all of your certification fees by September 30, 2013 and you must submit your paperwork for reimbursement in September or October depending upon what state you are in to be eligible for reimbursement.

For operations in Massachusetts, the reimbursement forms will be mailed to you later this year. The forms will also be posted on our website when they become available. If you have questions about the reimbursement program in Massachusetts, contact Ellen Hart at the MA Department of Agricultural Resources. Massachusetts reimbursement forms are due by October 15, 2013.

For operations in Connecticut, the reimbursement forms will be mailed to you this summer. If you have questions about the reimbursement program in Connecticut, contact Rick Macsuga at the CT Department of Agriculture. Connecticut reimbursement forms are due by September 1, 2013.

For operations in Rhode Island, contact Matt Green of Rhode Island DEM for information on the cost share reimbursement program.

For operations in New York, contact Anne St. Cyr of the New York Department of Agriculture for information on the cost share reimbursement program.

If you are in any other state we certify in, contact your State's Department of Agriculture to get the fee reimbursement forms.

For 2013 processors and handlers are not currently eligible for cost share reimbursements. The Federal money for these reimbursements was part of the Federal Farm Bill that expired in 2012. Congress has not renewed or replaced the old Farm Bill. Baystate is hopeful that additional cost share money for processor and handler reimbursements will be made available in the new Farm Bill when Congress passes it, but at this time we have no idea when or if Congress will pass a new Farm Bill in 2013.

This website is divided into the following sections:

• Certification - Information (including manuals, application forms, renewal forms) on certification for ORGANIC growers, processors, livestock producers & handlers; recordkeeping & help information.
• Certified Co-Packers & Contract Manufacturers - A NEW section on our website!
• For CONSUMERS - Organic Grower and Processor Contact Information for CONSUMERS who wish to purchase certified organic products and services.
• For GROWERS - Direct link to information (including manuals, application forms, renewal forms, etc.) on certification for organic GROWERS including resources to locate approved organic products.
• For PROCESSORS - Direct link to information (including manuals, application forms, renewal forms, etc.) on certification for organic PROCESSORS including resources to locate approved organic products.
• National Organic Standards - A NEW section on our website!
• Organic Seed & Seedlings - A list of seed suppliers that have been identified as selling organic seed.
• Useful Links - A list of agencies and organizations that are useful informational resources for organic certification, local and state chapters & growers associations, etc.; and helpful downloads including the USDA & Baystate Organic Certifier seals.