Information and Resources for Livestock Producers About the "Pasture Rule"

To the delight of most of the organic dairy community, on February 12, 2010, the National Organic Program (NOP) published the long awaited “Pasture Rule." This rule was years in the making, with input from a large number of interested parties and over 26,000 comments submitted to NOP. The final version had the support of the three regional Organic Dairy Producers Associations and has seen an overall enthusiastically positive response from all sectors of the community, including producers, processors, watchdog groups, and consumers.

The pasture rule is implemented, with verification of full compliance required as of June 17, 2011.

There are additional documentation requirements in the new rule. CCOF and NOP staff have put together resources and guidance documents to help producers demonstrate compliance with the new requirements.
Pasture Rule Compliance Tools and Resources:

CCOF Feed Ration DMI Worksheet- Use this worksheet throughout the grazing season to document the Dry Matter Intake (DMI) in each ration fed to each class of animal. Complete a new worksheet anytime the ration for a class of animals changes. Click here for Excel Version of this Worksheet.
CCOF DMI Grazing Season Average Worksheet- Use this worksheet at the end of the grazing season to average the DMI from each feed ration to find the overall average DMI from pasture for the entire grazing season for each class of animals. Click here for Excel Version of this Worksheet.
CCOF Table of Common Feed Type Dry Matter %- Use this document to as a reference for average dry matter percentages for commonly feeds.
CCOF OSP sections- Sections L3.0 (Livestock Feed, Supplements, & Water), 3.1 (Ruminant Dry Matter Demand & Intake), 4.0 (Livestock Living Conditions) & 4.1 (Pasture Management Plan) are required to be completed by all CCOF certified ruminant producers to reflect the new requirements of the Pasture Rule.
National Organic Program (NOP) Pasture Rule website- Includes a PowerPoint training document, the full text of the new regulations, a Q&A, and supporting documentation, including DMD and DMI worksheets.
NODPA Pasture Rule Resources page- Includes reference and background information for producers to help with understanding the rule.
Attra/NOP resource packet- *NEW-

The new rule is lengthy, detailed, and contains explicit instructions for recordkeeping requirements and pasture management plans. Very few CCOF producers will need to make changes to their management practices in order to comply. However, there are a number of additional record-keeping requirements that will need to be implemented and new OSP sections to be completed.

Some highlights of the Pasture Rule include:

All ruminant animals must receive 30 percent of their DMI from pasture during the grazing season. This will need to be calculated and documented based on averages of each type of animal over the grazing season. Operations must be able to demonstrate compliance with these requirements during inspections by CCOF, the National Organic Program or State Organic Programs.
It is up to the producer to develop a plan for calculating DMI and DMD, and to submit these plans to CCOF for approval.
The grazing season is a minimum of 120 days per year, but may be up to 365 days depending on weather conditions.
There are specific limitations on confinement of ruminant animals from pasture, including that lactation is not a reason for confinement.
Calves must be provided access to pasture at 6 months of age.
Confinement from pasture is allowed only for one week for dry off, three weeks prior to parturition, and one week post-parturition.
Roughages used as bedding must be organic.
Slaughter stock are exempt from the DMI requirements during a finishing period, but must be maintained on pasture during that time.