Organic farmers must have an annual on-farm inspection in order to meet organic certification requirements.
Usually inspections take place in June or July, but they can happen any time before harvest. Under my certification program, the inspector is hired by the local organic organization.
The inspector’s role is to provide an annual check on production, storage and handling facilities, ensure all requirements of the production standards are met and see that an audit control system is in place.
An inspection on my farm usually takes three to four hours.
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There is extra paperwork with organic farming and the process requires that you are up to date with farm and business records at the time of inspection.
The inspector visits at least one field of each crop that is grown on the farm.
Under the microscope
During the field visit, the inspector is looking for signs of chemical use. Sprayer wheel tracks or a lack of weeds are the best indicators that herbicides have been used.
Some insecticides and fungicides can be applied by air and do not leave telltale signs, so the inspector must rely heavily on the farmer’s word. This is usually reinforced by a signed affidavit.
In some cases inspectors will ask for soil and plant samples. But the greatest deterrent is that organic farmers are still rare enough that they are given close scrutiny by neighbors and the community. Most experienced farmers can tell when someone is buying and using pesticides and fertilizers.
As with any group, there are individuals who break the rules, but this is rare. There are also farmers who are misinformed about acceptable practices and materials for organic production.
When an unacceptable product is used, the field will not be certified for three years.
One of the misconceptions about organic farms is that they use no pesticides or off-farm inputs.
On my own farm we inoculate all legumes with rhizobium for fixing nitrogen and Provide, which helps make phosphorus more available.
I have also used a biological insecticide called bacillus thuringensis and I commonly use diatomaceous earth to prevent insects in storage facilities.
These products are all acceptable for organic production.
In the future, I am considering the use of off-farm organic fertilizers such as rock phosphate.
All off-farm products must be accepted by the certification organization.
In other sectors like greenhouse production and fruit and vegetable production, the use of organic and biological controls for pests is more intensive.
Prairie grain production uses relatively few inputs. Our climate and growing conditions give us some big advantages that make organic farming easier in some aspects.
Inspectors play a vital role in ensuring the integrity of the organic system. The inspectors should have a good knowledge of local production practices and input use. They must also have good people skills.
The final say
Inspectors are the police of organic farming. It is not an easy job and their word and recommendations can accept or deny farms for organic status.
Inspectors can also be a great source of information. Because they visit many operations, they see many practical ideas and methods that can be transferred to other farms. I try to get as much out of their visits as possible.
As a past member of the certification committee of my local organic organization, I have accompanied inspectors on visits to other farms.
It is a great way to see other organic farms and a good learning experience.
