Organics through the eyes of an Organic Inspector Ib Hagsten, Ph.D., CAC Hagsten Enterprises International, Inc. & Chair, International Organic Inspectors Assoc. 1
My journey to today’s topic: • Worked on crop/livestock farms in five countries for nine years observing & experiencing. • Felt good about the animal husbandry “lived” & the “patch- farming” experienced, where we seemingly were in harmony with nature. • Rather than specialize, I broadened my education: • General agriculture • M.Sci. agronomy & dairy science • MS & Ph.D. beef cattle & swine nutrition 2
“Patch-Farming” = Varied Crop Rotation 1940 in KS & 2010 in Iowa: Both with obvious crop rotation 3
My journey to today’s topic: • Consulting Nutritionist – troubleshooting with livestock farmers (animal husbandry & feed issues) • Professional Services Specialist (animal health): • researched & lectured on improved swine health • developed & lectured on pig parasite prevention • supported animal health (cattle/swine/poultry) • lectured on cattle hormone replacement • Luckily they closed down the department. 4
My journey to today’s topic: • Anhydrous ammonia : • It didn’t make sense to: a. made soil rock hard, b. undermine a balanced soil environment, c. use chemicals designed to turn sandy beaches into wartime air landing strips Lower dollar bill - left in field shrank - when anhydrous was applied in the farmer’s field ... 5
My journey to today’s topic: • Injecting Dairy Cows with rBST(recombinant bovine somatotropin): • It did not make sense to inject each milking cow every day so she could produce a few more gallons of milk ... especially when the country already had milk excesses and a cheese glut in governmental cold storage. • Of course, once consumers found out about the extra hormones, it took less than a year for the product to be pulled from the market. 6
My journey to today’s topic: • Hormonal Replacement in Beef Heifers : • It did not make sense to me to “mess with a teenage heifers’ hormones” in the name of a few extra pounds of meat being produced. • When our company merged with the developers of RU486 (the “morning-after pill”), my personal pro-life views brought me further into conflict with the corporate culture that surrounded me. 7
My journey to today’s topic: • GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) : • It never felt right to “mess with genetics in the laboratory”. • It does not make sense to have a company “mess with genetics” without scrutiny. • It makes little sense for our USDA to approve GMO’s without appropriate environmental, human health, or residue studies/assessments. 8
My journey to today’s topic : 9
My journey to today’s topic: • IOIA (International Organic Inspectors Association) : • An attempt to diversify my consulting portfolio & more importantly “fill in the valleys” between major projects. • I took the four-day training course & nothing happened. • After some “hustle” one certifier gave me a chance to inspect ten farms & before the end of that year 182 more. • Now I work independently for ten different certifiers (that all are accredited by USDA’s NOP). 10
My journey to today’s topic: IOIA • Standards: USDA/NOP (National Organic Program) • Certifying agencies (ACA’s): USDA “runs” the program; 52 ACA’s implement organic verification on USDA’s behalf. They handle the paperwork, verification, on-the-ground inspectors. Certifiers have paid staff or independent contract inspectors. • Organic inspectors are the “eyes and ears” on the ground. Annually they make on-site inspections to verify the requirements set forth by the NOP. In order for products and produce to be classified as “certified organic,” they must meet these national standards. 11
My journey to today’s topic : IOIA Look at the label… • when you see the USDA organic seal the product is certified organic [ 100% organic / Organic (>95%) / Made with (> 70%) ] • and an inspector has visited/verified/reported at every step of the way [ seed /farm / handler / processor / retailer ] 12
My journey to today’s topic: IOIA • Since I am enjoying what I do, the clients enjoy my visits as an inspector, and the certifiers accept my reports, I have now completed more than 1,700 organic inspections. • Additionally, being recognized in the industry, this one move to “get good at it” has opened many doors, such as: • Auditing for Sustainable Agriculture in Horticulture • Auditing for GAP-5 Whole Foods Animal Welfare Program • Completing Transition to Organic Conservation for NRCS • Consulting & lecturing throughout the US & in Mexico 13
Organic Production… • Is a production system managed to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity (NOP – USDA’s National Organic Program ) • Sounds and feels much like the “patch-farming” I grew up with and appreciated … 14
Organic production… • Production Practices - that maintain and improve natural resources of the farming operation, including soil and water quality • Natural Resources - physical, hydrological, and biological features of a production operation, including soil, water, wetlands, woodlands and wildlife. 15
Organic Production… “… producers must conserve biodiversity on his/her farm … must initiate practices to support biodiversity and avoid, to the extent practicable, activities that would diminish it.” - Preamble, NOP organic production definition 16
Organic Production is … Crop rotation is expected to: (1) avoid consecutive years with similar crops. (2) minimize crop and soil diseases through rotation. (3) maintain a balance between crops that are: (a) soil builders -- sod, forages & legumes (b) neutral -- cereals, cover crops, green manure (c) soil destroyers -- vegetables, corn, beans, potatoes (4) increase soil organic matter over time. 17
Organic Production … Crop rotation will increase soil organic matter over time ... 18
Organic Production… • Production to meet the organic production practices ... as discussed above ... • Plus, farming, handling and processing without: • Chemical fertilizers • Chemical herbicides • Chemical pesticides • Therefore, we need to use applied technology with the knowledge that the industry “left behind” ... • What did Grandpa know that we forgot? 19
Where else can you experience …? • Farms of all sizes (crops, livestock & poultry)? • Production from A thru Z? • Production all over the U.S.? • Product handling? • Product processing? • Food Retailing (from headquarters to store shelves)? • ... AND get paid for the experiences, too? 20
Where else? … Production from A to Z Production systems inspected include … • From aloe vera in Southern Texas …to zucchini in Lancaster PA. • A variety of unique crops as well as corn, soybeans & wheat • Cilantro and tilapia greenhouse symbiosis in IL; cotton; herbs; maple syrup; mushrooms; medicinal plants; pecans; chestnuts; spices; sprouts ; sugar cane; tobacco; vineyards; and wild crops. 21
Where else? … Handling Inspections Product handling systems inspected include … • Sugar handling in major ports and near the production sites. • Coffee Import, Unloading, Storage, Sales & Distribution • Exotic Fruits Imported, Repackaged & then distributed • Grain: from on-farm bins to 480 harbor silos by a seaport • Handlers of grain, coffee, sugar, tea, produce and frozen or packaged food distributors) 22
Where else? ... Retail inspections - from store to headquarters • Whole Foods retail inspections at stores in several states, at distribution centers, and at the corporate headquarters in TX. • Target produce department inspections in 10 states (VA. to AZ.). • HEB of Texas inspections of food processing, dairy plants, and corporate headquarter in San Antonio. 23
Where else? … Processor Inspections Processing systems inspected include: •Baking operations with up to 300 employees •Bottling of teas, vitamin drinks, health drinks •Butter & cheese processing from on-farm to 70,000 sq. ft. plant •Canning, coffee roasting, & cosmetics (garage to huge plants) •Extrusion, fermentation, flaking & flour milling •Honey extraction •Meat packing •Dairy, cheese, yogurt, baby food production 24
Where else? … Processor Inspections Processing systems inspected include: • Grain cleaning • Juicing • Meat slaughter & processing facilities • Milk • Pasta & Tortillas • Spices & Sugar • Egg Grading • Vitamins & Nutrition Supplements • Pet Foods (parakeets to horses) • Vodka 25
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