State ag officials want clearer protections for organic farmers.(BIOTECH)

Kiplinger Agriculture Letter, The, October, 2004

State ag officials want clearer protections for organic farmers.

Pollen drift has them worried that 12,000 producers nationally are vulnerable to losing their organic labels or grower certification. So they're asking USDA to clarify the National Organic Program regs on the issue of stray pollen. The regs say that taking reasonable steps to avoid contamination by disallowed material protects the organic status of both product and grower. But the rules also say that crop contact with "prohibited substances" can result in the loss of organic labeling.

One solution: A separate limit on volume owing to biotech drift.