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NOFA-NY Policy Resolutions
Preamble
The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York is formed for the following purposes:
Educating ourselves and the general public as to the benefits of natural, organic, ecological agriculture, including its implications for the health of all life;
To provide non profit cooperative marketing and agricultural buying service for organic growers;
To act as a means for intercommunication for the dissemination of information pertaining to the natural husbandry of the earth;
To promote the growth of local cooperative farm organizations;
To demonstrate through pilot projects the feasibility and benefits of restoring local agriculture;
To provide organic farm certification services to organic growers, processors, and handlers with third party independent verification of organic practices.
Purpose
To be a voice which defines and expresses the issues and concerns of the natural farming community; to promote the increased awareness of the public, government, industry, agriculture, and commerce of the need for food production methods which are conservative, biological and ecological; to encourage and initiate projects which demonstrate the effective application of natural farming principles, philosophy and practices at local, regional and state levels; to provide educational, scientific and informational services about natural farming to individuals and organizations; to support the development of natural farming practices both in individual and in social and economic systems; to conduct meetings, forums and other events which educate the public about natural agriculture and small farms; to nourish the evolution of cultural as well as technological aspects of natural farming; to facilitate the formation of stable infrastructures through which natural farming can become established; to obtain funding, grants, loans, contributions and other finances necessary to support these purposes; and to do any and all else necessary to further these purposes.
The Mission Statement
NOFA NY is an organization of consumers, gardeners, and farmers working together to create a sustainable regional food system which is ecologically sound and economically viable. Through demonstration and educational opportunities, we promote land stewardship, organic food production, and local marketing. NOFA NY brings consumer and farmer closer together to make high quality food available to all people.
All active members of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York are encouraged to submit proposals for NOFA-NY Official Policy Positions and participate in open discussions at our annual membership meeting. A 2/3 majority vote is necessary for passage of a resolution. Following is a list of Policy Resolutions which have been passed by our Membership from 1998 though the present.
2008
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The members of NOFA-NY hereby resolve that we would like our organization to work for the implementation of local fair trade. We believe that everyone involved in the organic supply chain from seed to plate is entitled to living wages, a safe workplace and respectful treatment. Farm prices should enable farmers to cover the costs of production, sustain their families and farms, including a living wage for all farm workers, and additional revenues to ensure the continuing development of the farm. Farm workers should enjoy the rights to freedom of association that are protected by law for workers in other sectors. Fair and transparent negotiations should provide long-term contracts between the buyers of organic products and farmers, and between farmers and farm workers.
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Whereas a few large corporate retailers are claiming that their corporate organic plan ensures that every branch store is in full compliance with organic standards in order to take advantage of the grower (farmer) group clause in the National Organic Program regulations to cut certification costs by avoiding annual inspections of every branch store and,
Whereas the National Organic Program requires annual inspections of all certified entities,
The members of NOFA-NY therefore resolve that:
The grower (farmer) group regulations should apply only to groups of small farms that are geographically proximate, organized into cooperatives that have strong internal control systems and marketing similar crops as a group.
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Whereas after years of repeated consumer complaints about the farming practices of mega-dairies that have managed to qualify for organic certification;
Whereas a few certification Programs that have certified these mega-dairies appear to be held to different NOP standards than the vast majority of certification programs;
The members of NOFA-NY therefore resolve that:
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We believe that the National Organic Program should write a proper procedures manual as required for the proper functioning of an accreditation system that protects organic integrity and is necessary for ISO compliance; and
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That the National Organic Program should implement accreditation in a fair and even-handed way.
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Whereas the negotiations and the resulting Consent Agreement between USDA and Aurora Organic Dairy (AOD), after USDA issued a Notice of Proposed Revocation to AOD, were completely outside the procedures for noncompliance spelled out in 205.662 of the National Organic Program Regulations;
Whereas the Consent Agreement allows AOD to continue to be certified and produce organic milk after 14 "willful violations" were listed in the document attached to their Notice of Proposed Revocation;
Whereas these actions exhibit disregard by USDA in following the regulations, demonstrates special treatment afforded very large scale operations, reveals uneven and unfair enforcement of the regulations, and jeopardizes the integrity of the USDA organic seal;
Whereas organic rules are meaningless without scale neutral, unbiased, proper enforcement;
Whereas improper enforcement of the National Rule undermines consumer confidence in the USDA organic label, and proper enforcement remains one of the primary responsibilities of the USDA;
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO), the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of Congress, should undertake a thorough, systemic investigation into the compliance and enforcement procedures and practices of the USDA with regard to upholding strict organic standards.
2007
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The members of NOFA-NY resolve that we oppose the National Animal Identification System because it would be unduly intrusive and burdensome to family farmers.
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The members of NOFA-NY resolve that we oppose the proposed National Uniformity for Food Act because it takes away the right of states to protect their food and citizens.
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The members of NOFA-NY resolve that we believe if a farm that does not intentionally grow GMO crops becomes contaminated with GMO genetic materials, the farmer should not be held liable for possession of that GMO genetic material. Liability for contamination should be the responsibility of the manufacturer of the GMO seeds.
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The members of NOFA-NY resolve that we call upon the FDA to ban the use of animal clones in food production until the food safety and animal cruelty problems in cloning have been resolved, and until public discussions have addressed the troubling ethical issues that animal cloning brings. In the event that those conditions can be met, we call upon the NOP to consider cloning among the excluded methods.
2006
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The members of NOFA-NY resolve that we condemn the unilateral and surreptitious method used by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) to amend the Organic Food Production Act. NOFA-NY is a dues-paying member of OTA and has depended upon the organization, comprised of individuals, farmers, food processors and organizations, to represent our interests, NOFA-NY believes that to maintain organic integrity and consumer confidence in the organic label, it is essential to preserve high standards. We affirm that any changes to the OFPA must occur through an open and participatory process that includes all stakeholders in organic foods.
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The members of NOFA-NY resolve that we believe the NOSB should review all substances to be used in organic processing through the national list process. As in organic production, there should be a very limited list of categories of allowable substances, including ingredients. NOFA-NY further resolves that the Secretary of Agriculture should not have the power to allow emergency use of non-organic agricultural ingredients, if organic forms are not commercially available, thus by-passing the NOSB process. And NOFA-NY resolves that once a dairy herd has converted to organic production, organic management from the last third of gestation should be required for all replacement livestock.
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The members of NOFA-NY resolve that we strongly support rescinding the 2005 state law, which prohibits the sale of un-pasteurized cider as of January 2006, to once again allow the direct sale by producers of un-pasteurized cider to the general public.
2003
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Whereas the cultivation of Industrial Hemp was ended in the United States with the passage of the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act; and
Whereas Industrial Hemp is the same species as marijuana (Cannabis sativa), but does not have enough of the psychoactive ingredient, THC, to intoxicate people; and
Whereas Industrial Hemp was grown for hundreds of years throughout the colonies and the United States to meet diverse needs of the American people; including rope, paper, fabric, fuel and food oil; and
Whereas many times more pulp may be harvested from an acre of Industrial Hemp than an acre of managed forest, and this pulp may be used to make high quality paper without the ecologically unfriendly bleaching process required of pulp from timber; and
Whereas hemp cloth is one of the strongest plant fibers on earth three times stronger than cotton, but unlike cotton, now the most herbicide and pesticide intensive crop on the planet, hemp needs no pesticides or herbicides to cultivate; and
Whereas there are thousands of uses for Industrial Hemp and many more would be discovered if farmers, private investment and the imaginations of the American people would be allowed to produce Industrial Hemp to meet the needs and demands of the market; and
Whereas Canada, the European Union, Australia. Russia, India, China and many other nations produce Industrial Hemp, much of which is imported into the United States in the form of clothing and paper; and
Whereas worldwide Industrial Hemp sales have grown from 5 million dollars in 1993 to approximately 500 million dollars in 2000; and
Whereas Industrial Hemp also incorporates more phosphorous in its harvested product than most crops, and this ability to uptake phosphorous makes Industrial Hemp the ideal crop to plant in the New York's watersheds where the water quality is suffering from an excess of phosphorous, and
Whereas the future of rural America should be tied to sustainability;
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
NOFA-NY calls upon the New York State Legislature and Congress to legalize Industrial Hemp.
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Whereas, the plants, animals and microorganisms comprising life on earth are part of the natural world into which we are all born, the conversion of these species, their molecules or parts into corporate property through patent monopolies is counter to the interests of the peoples of this state, this country and of the world. With the temporary exception of a patent on an original cultivar of a plant, no individual, institution or corporation should be able to claim ownership over species of living organisms. Nor should they be able to hold patents on organs, cells, genes, or proteins, whether naturally occurring, genetically altered or otherwise modified;
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
As part of a world movement to protect our common living heritage, we call upon the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to change existing law and override judicial interpretation of this law to exclude living organisms and their component parts from the patent system.
2002
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Whereas foods produced with chemicals banned for use in the United States are regularly imported into the USA and consumed by the American people; and
Whereas the forbidden chemicals that produce these foods originate both in foreign nations and in the United States (nine tons of domestically banned pesticides are produced in the United States and shipped overseas for use on foreign lands every day);
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
NOFA-NY supports an Act of Congress that would prohibit the import of food produced with chemicals banned in the USA.
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Whereas organic farmers whose farms are certified organic have more in common with organic farmers who have not certified their farms than they have differences; and
Whereas the implementation of the Organic Food Production Act may cause hardship for uncertified farmers because they will not be able to describe themselves as organic in commercial speech; and
Whereas the justification for Federal control of the word organic is not based on food safety;
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
NOFA-NY favors amending the Organic Food Production Act because this Law replaces voluntary organic certification with mandatory certification, and prohibits the use of the word "organic" for commercial use if farmers are not certified organic by USDA accredited organic certifiers. We believe this is a violation of free speech, and has the effect of turning the use of the word organic into a mandatory licensing fee. We believe that the National Organic Program's Final Rule undermines communication between farmers and consumers, and will hurt many of the farmers and consumers that have participated and encouraged the growth of organic agriculture.
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Whereas, our government has been engaging in secret trade negotiations with the other governments of this hemisphere since 1998 to expand the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to include 31 countries of Central and South America in the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA); and
Whereas, the NAFTA promised an increase of 200,000 jobs in the United States, but resulted in a job loss of over 250,000; and
Whereas, since the NAFTA, imports of fresh produce from Canada and Mexico have grown faster than US exports to those countries resulting in serious economic damage to the farmers of the North East; and
Whereas, the FTAA may allow corporations the right to sue legal local, state and national governments for control of public resources, such as the fresh waters of the Great Lakes; and
Whereas, the FTAA may allow corporations to sue legal governments for the removal of standards or laws designed to protect public health and safety if those laws or standards increase corporate operating costs;
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
The United States government should withdraw from the FTAA negotiations, and that our representatives in government should vote against ratifying the FTAA.
2001
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Whereas the vast majority of New York farmers are self-employed and the economic viability of the self-employed is directly related to the regulations covering the self-employed; and
Whereas the right to be one's own boss is as fundamental to American democracy as the right to privacy; and
Whereas, today's agricultural economic climate is one of increasing corporate concentration and record low commodity prices, forcing more and more farmers to sell their produce to large scale processors, brokers and retail chains, which have much greater economic power than any individual farm;
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
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NOFA-NY policy towards all legislative and regulatory changes shall be shaped by their impact on the self-employed, and the rights of the self-employed shall be one of our highest priority issues; and
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We support the strong enforcement of antitrust laws; and
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New York State should pass legislation that will protect the right of farmers to form bargaining associations or cooperatives to negotiate contracts, and ensure that processors, brokers and retail chains bargain with the farmers in good faith. The legislation should make it an unfair practice for processors to retaliate or discriminate against farmers who exercise their rights and/or join farmer associations. Contracts should be in plain language, be free of confidentiality clauses, and disclose any material risks. Contract growers should have a three-day contract review period. Contractors should be obliged to negotiate any changes in contracts with the farmers. The legislation should guarantee farmers a first-priority lien on payments should the contractor go out of business. The Department of Agriculture and Markets should accredit the voluntary associations of farmers, provide mediation to resolve impasses in bargaining, investigate instances of unfair or deceptive practices on the part of processors, brokers or retailers, and protect producers from having contracts terminated for no real reason as a form of punishment of some kind.
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Whereas addressing the need for both farmers and farmworkers to gain institutionalized rights and dignity in their workplace is vital to the future sustainability of our food system; and
Whereas "small farmers will earn fair incomes only if farmworkers on large farms are paid fair incomes," (from A Time to Act, the USDA National Commission on Small Farms report);
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
NOFA-NY supports amending the National Labor Relations Act to include agricultural workers under its collective bargaining protections.
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Whereas the increase of food borne illnesses has led to an increase in government regulations aimed at eliminating pathogens by using high tech methods, instead of cleaning up the large scale industrialized food production system that causes the increase of pathogens in foods;
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
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NOFA-NY is opposed to the use of ionizing radiation, and opposes any laws requiring the mandatory irradiation of food; and
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NOFA-NY opposes the mandatory processing of fresh juice and vegetable products, such as the pasteurization of apple cider.
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Producers should follow strict food safety guidelines based on the organic principle of reducing "pollution that may result from farming and processing systems" (NOFA-NY 2000 Certification Standards, p. 2).
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Whereas, the spraying of pesticides by county and municipal authorities to attempt to control the mosquitoes which carry West Nile Virus threatens the integrity of crops on New York State farms, and may destroy the farmer's ability to market those crops, whether organic or conventionally grown;
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
Local and county authorities should maintain lists of all farms and be obliged to notify those farms of any planned pesticide spraying. We oppose spraying by government or other entities of synthetic chemicals on people, their dwellings and their property without their consent. We also oppose spraying crop land without explicit permission from the farmer. Local, county and state authorities should invoke the precautionary principle in dealing with public health emergencies. We support protecting the public from mosquito borne illness through 1PM practices
2000
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Whereas Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEO/GMO's)* may affect our lives and the environment in many ways: The science of Genomics is in its infancy, despite the disproportionate investment of public research dollars in this area, to the detriment of ecological alternatives. While scientists may have identified the function of particular genes, there is very little understanding of the complex interrelationships of genes, and there has been very little research done to assess the health and safety implications to humans from ingesting genetically engineered organisms. Genetic engineering may result in the creation of new toxins (examples already exist). Unexpected allergic reactions can be triggered (a Brazil nut gene inserted into soya resulted in a reaction in people allergic to nuts). There are concerns that genetically engineered soya may contain higher estrogen levels. There is a risk of increasing the incidence of antibiotic resistance in humans and livestock; and
Whereas, due to current Food and Drug Administration labeling policy, consumers have lost their right to choose whether or not to eat products that contain genetically engineered ingredients; and
Whereas genetically engineered material can be transferred to other crops and weeds, but once released it is impossible to "clean up" any unforeseen consequences, and no legislation exists to protect the crops of farmers who want to stay GEO/GMO free from GEO/GMO tainted pollen, resulting in all crops being contaminated over time; and
Whereas genetically engineered plants which are designed to kill pests can kill beneficial insects and other organisms as well, and thus genetically engineered crops may have unpredictable effects on the ecological balance; and
Whereas genetic engineering to develop insect resistant crops is expected to destroy the usefulness to organic and conventional farmers of natural biological pesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis;
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
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There should be an immediate moratorium on the planting of Genetically engineered crops; No new genetically engineered crops should be commercialized until such time as adequate research has been done to assure the safety of such crops to humans and the environment; and
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The Food and Drug Administration should require the labeling of all foods containing genetically engineered ingredients, as they are already mandated to do for food additives. These labels should state precisely what genes have been added. The federal government should develop a comprehensive framework for the regulation of genetically engineered organisms that protects the natural environment, the farm environment and public health.
*The following definition of Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEO/GMOs) has been recommended by the NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARD (NOSB) and adopted in the American Organic Standards of the Organic Trade Association:
Genetically engineered is defined as: made with techniques that alter the molecular or cell biology of an organism by means that are not possible under natural conditions or processes. Genetic engineering includes recombinant DNA, cell fusion, micro- and macro-encapsulation, gene deletion and doubling, introducing a foreign gene, and changing the positions of genes. It shall not include breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in-vitro fertilization and tissue culture.
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1999
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Whereas consumers have the right to know what they are eating, where food comes from and how it was produced; and
Whereas we want to be able to vote with our dollars for a sustainable, regional food system;
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
All foods sold in the United States should be labeled as to country of origin, any irradiated ingredients, any ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms, any foods grown on sludge-amended soils, and, for dairy, any products from cows treated with synthetic bovine growth hormone (Bst or rBGH).
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Whereas in New York State, 360,000 dry tons of sewage sludge are produced every year; and
Whereas, the Clean Water Act amendments (Federal Code section 503) passed in 1992 lower the standards for land-application of sludge, allowing higher concentrations of heavy metals to be applied to soils; and
Whereas, unlike the organic components of sludge, the heavy metals do not decompose, but remain in the soil, accumulating to levels that eventually make the soil unfit for food production; and
Whereas in addition to heavy metals, sludge may contain a host of synthetic organic compounds, including dioxins, PCBs, and pesticides; and
Whereas heavy metals and synthetic organic compounds accumulate and "biomagnify" in the food chain, and livestock eating forages grown on sludge-amended soils can absorb these substances, including dioxins and PCBs into their fat and transfer these chemicals to their milk;
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
Industries should be required to remove all chemical pollutants from any waste stream that enters sewage treatment systems. In addition, manufacturers should be required to remove hazardous ingredients from household products that make their way to drains and sewage treatment systems. Until that is done, sewage sludge should not be used on land for crop and forage production, or for grazing. The sale of all sewage based biosolid products should be prohibited. As an alternative to this source of contaminated biosolids, farmers should be encouraged to use green manures, cover crops, and animal manures through tax exemptions or other incentives.
1998
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Whereas for 11 years, the NOFA-NY Organic Certification Program has certified organic farms and processors according to clear, high published standards that earn the confidence of NY consumers; and
Whereas the National Organic Program Proposed regulations threaten the integrity and the very existence of the NOFA~NY Organic Certification Program;
The membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
USDA should withdraw the proposed regulations and rewrite them fundamentally following the recommendations of the National Organic Standards Board, adhering to the Organic Food Production Act and consistent with accepted organic principles.
