Idaho adopts new rules that more closely match federal NOP guidelines

By SEAN ELLIS

Capital Press

New state rules adopted by an Idaho legislative committee will simplify the certification process for Idaho's 250 organic farmers and collectively save them thousands of dollars.

After discovering that a few of its requirements for certifying organic operations were more strict than USDA's National Organic Program regulations, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture proposed new rules that match federal guidelines.

The rules were unanimously approved by the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee Jan. 19. They become law unless challenged on the House side.

"We can't be more strict or more lenient than (NOP regulations)," said Brandon Lamb, ISDA's organic program manager. "We have to do exactly what they tell us -- no more, no less."

The department will no longer charge fees for chemical residue analysis, which is prohibited in federal regulations. The cost of the tests must be borne by the accredited certifying agent, which in this case is the ISDA.

Lamb told committee members the new rule would cost the department about $10,000 a year.

Organic farm manager Jon Fabricius of Fruitland hasn't had to submit anything for chemical residue testing, but he was glad to hear of that change because "those tests are fairly expensive."

Idaho's organic producers will also no longer face mandatory education requirements, such as attending workshops, to be certified.

The former July 1 deadline for certification has also been removed. With that deletion, "producers will have a little more flexibility to get that done throughout the year," Lamb said.

The new rules will help producers, and "we haven't heard any negative comments about it," Lamb said.

Alpenglow Farm owner Ted Wells said the new rules may or may not help him -- he hasn't had to pay for chemical residue analysis either -- but they appear to be reasonable.

"I can't find a problem with any of those," said Wells, who grows organic vegetables, garlic and flowers in Victor, Idaho. "They all sound great."

A representative of the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, the closest thing to an industry umbrella group for Idaho's organic farmers, said her group was neutral on the changes because they're required by federal law.

"They need to be in compliance with the national organic program regulations and that's what they're doing," said Jennifer Miller, a sustainable agriculture associate with NCAP.