The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has published an extensive article on organic agriculture in the January 2008 edition of their newsletter, Fedgazette. The article, written by Dave Walter, is available on the Federal Reserve Bank website or as a pdf file.

The article analyzes the growth of organic agriculture in the Ninth District, which includes the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, and Montana. The article discusses organic crop and livestock sales in the region and changes in the number of organic farms and growth in organic acreage.

On Jan. 15, 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released final versions of three documents on animal cloning: A Risk Assessment, a Risk Management Plan, and Guidance for Industry, available at http://www.fda.gov/cvm/cloning.htm These documents are the final versions of drafts released for public comment in December 2006. The documents present FDA’s conclusions regarding the health of animals involved in the cloning process, and the safety of food from cloned cattle, swine, and goats. FDA concluded that it has insufficient information to reach a conclusion on the safety of food from clones of other animal species, including sheep.

Many questions have been raised about the organic status of cloned animals, their progeny, and products produced from cloned animals. The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) has posted an information sheet and a series of Q and A’s regarding the organic status of cloned animals and their products.

Based on advice from the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), the NOP has concluded that cloned animals, their progeny, and products from cloned animals, are not compatible with organic production and are not allowed under NOP regulations.

In December 2007 the USDA approved a number of medications that can now be used by organic livestock operations. The substances were previously reviewed and recommended by the National Organic Standards Board and had been published for public comment in the Federal Register.

Examples of the newly allowed synthetic substances include: atropine; butorphanal; flunixin; furosemide; magnesium hydroxide; peracetic acid; poloxalene; tolazoline; xylazine; and excipients used in livestock drugs.

Many of the substances listed above contain restrictions on their use or must be followed by extended withholding times. Check the restrictions or annotations that accompany the substance, as stated on the National List, before use. Make sure that the substance is listed on your Organic System Plan and keep records of all uses. If you have any doubts about the status of a particular brand or formulated product, check with your certifier before use.

The accompanying article, entitled, “Requirements for Organic Dairy and Livestock in the United States,” contains a detailed explanation of the revised organic livestock regulations, as well as the full list of synthetic substances allowed in organic livestock production.