§6513 Organic Plan

Summary

Producers or handlers who want organic certification must send an organic plan to the certifying agent and to the State organic certification program when that applies. The certifying agent will review the plan to make sure it follows the program rules. The plan must explain how soil health will be kept using organic methods like tilling, crop rotation, and manure. It must set rules for raw manure: it can only be used on green manure crops, perennial crops, crops not for people, or on food crops only if the crop is harvested after a waiting period set by the certifier that is at least 60 days. The plan must stop manure use that would greatly pollute water with nitrates or bacteria. If the farm has animals, the plan must cover organic livestock care and can combine crop and livestock rules. Handling plans must show products are produced and handled as organic. Wild-crop plans must name the harvest area, show 3 years with no banned substances, promise sustainable, non‑destructive harvesting, and promise no banned substances will be used. The plan must not include practices that conflict with the law.