FORMAL RECOMMENDATION BY THE 

NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARD (NOSB) 

TO THE NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM (NOP) 

Date: March 2, 2005 

Subject: Revision to “natural resource” sections of organic farm plan

Chair: Jim Riddle 

Recommendation

The NOSB herby recommends to the NOP the following: 

 Rulemaking Action: 

 Guidance Statement: 

 Other: X 

Statement of the Recommendation (including Recount of Vote):

Motion: The Board accepts the provided enhancement of the Natural Resource Component of the 

Organic System Plan with the understanding that ATTRA will revise the provided information in 

to a format consistent with the existing Plan template and that the revised format will come back 

to the Board for final consideration. 

Vote: 14-0-0 

Rational Supporting Recommendation (including consistency with OFPA and NOP):

The existing Organic System Plan does not provide sufficient guidance to farmers about the 

natural resource component of their farm plan. The revisions are consistent with OFPA and the 

NOP Final Rule. 

Response by the NOP:
NOSB Crops Committee 

Organic System Plan Amendment 

Natural Resources of the Operation 

Adopted by NOSB March 2, 2005 

14 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain

On a vote of 2 yes, 0 no, 1 absent, the NOSB Crops Committee recommends that the 

following language be accepted to enhance the Natural Resource Component of the 

Organic System Plan previously adopted by the NOSB with the understanding that 

ATRA will revise the provided information in to a format consistent with the existing Plan 

template and that the revised format will come back to the Board for final consideration. 

D. NATURAL RESOURCES: 

NOP Rule 205.200 and 205.203(a) requires that production practices maintain or 

improve the natural resources of the operation, including soil and water quality. 

Natural resources also include wetlands, woodlands, and wildlife. Practices and 

measures that conserve biodiversity and maintain and improve native species 

and habitats must be incorporated in the farm system. Practices must minimize 

erosion. Depending on certifying agent policy, water tests may be required for 

nitrate and coliform bacteria if water is used for washing/processing organic 

products or for organic livestock. Irrigation water should not contaminate organic 

crops with prohibited materials. Methods to conserve water usage should be part 

of the irrigation plan. 

Create a map and inventory of your farm and the important natural resource 

features nearby using the following checklist to develop your map and inventory: 

 topography; soils; hydrological and drainage conditions; cropped 

areas; native plant and animal communities and habitats such as woodlands, 

grasslands, and hedgerows; ecological values such as habitat linkages in 

larger conservation network, bird and beneficial insect habitat; perennial 

cover; invasive species problems; native habitats converted or otherwise 

altered in the last 5 years; and legal designations such as flood plain, wetland, 

riparian area, Wild and Scenic River, public natural resource lands, and protected 

areas. 

Assess the farm for opportunities to support priority species and sensitive 

habitats, including protected threatened and endangered species, species of 

special concern, many of which are candidates for protection, and keystone 

species which are known to profoundly influence their landscape; migration and 

movement of native species; invasive species control; ecosystem processes; 

regional conservation goals; and conservation of activities of other land mangers 

in the watershed.
Based on your assessment, describe your economically feasible conservation 

goals and practices, and indicate priority and timeline for implementation (items 

1-4): 

1) CROPLAND AREA 

Conserve and provide habitat 

Time farm practices to enhance viability or prevent damage to wildlife 

Manage the water needs of crops, native species and ecosystems 

Prevent water contamination 

Control invasive species and pests

Current: 

Planned (indicate top priorities): 

Implementation partners (if appropriate): 

Timeline: 

How will you refrain from harming biodiversity? 

2) NON-CROP AREAS 

Provide habitat for pollinators, natural enemy insects, birds and bats 

Protect existing natural areas and manage non-crops fallow areas for habitat and 

wildlife diversity 

Conserve and restore habitat in riparian areas 

Control invasive and pest species 

Current: 

Planned (indicate top priorities): 

Implementation partners (if appropriate): 

Timeline: 

How will you refrain from harming biodiversity? 

3) LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT 

Conserve and restore ecosystem and riparian habitat 

Improve rangeland pastures 

Implement predator-friendly practices 

Current: 

Planned (indicate top priorities): 

Implementation partners (if appropriate): 

Timeline: 

How will you refrain from harming biodiversity? 

4) WILD HARVEST OPERATIONS 
Maintain and improve the sustainability of the harvested species 

Current: 

Planned (indicate top priorities): 

Implementation partners (if appropriate): 

Timeline: 

How will you refrain from harming biodiversity? 

Develop a plan to monitor or evaluate the success of top priority biodiversity 

practices you have implemented. What is the timeline and frequency for 

monitoring success, and for reviewing and revising your biodiversity 

conservation plan? Assess the biodiversity success using photo monitoring, 

water quality analysis, plant, mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian or insect surveys, 

and partner collaboration. The monitoring should help determine whether the 

natural resources of the farm or surrounding area have benefited from the 

conservation measures, and if the farm meets the broader biodiversity goals. 

What soil conservation practices are used? terraces contour farming 

 strip cropping winter cover crops undersowing/interplanting 

 conservation tillage permanent waterways windbreaks 

firebreaks tree lines retention ponds riparian management 

 maintain wildlife habitat other (specify) 

What soil erosion problems do you experience (why and on which fields)? 

Describe your efforts to minimize soil erosion problems listed above. 

Describe how you monitor the effectiveness of your soil conservation program. 

How often do you conduct conservation monitoring? weekly monthly 

 annually as needed 

 other (specify) 

WATER USE: none irrigation livestock foliar sprays 

 washing crops greenhouse other (specify) 

Source of water: on-site well(s) river/creek/pond spring 

municipal/county irrigation district other (specify) 
Attach current water tests for nitrates and coliform bacteria, per certifying agent 

policy. 

Type of irrigation system: none drip flood center pivot 

 other (specify) 

What input products are applied through the irrigation system? 

 none 

 

What products do you use to clean irrigation lines/nozzles? 

 none 

 

Is the system shared with another operator? 

 Yes No 

 If yes, what products do they use? 

 

Is the system flushed and documented between conventional and organic use? 

 Yes No 

What practices are used to protect water quality? 

 fencing livestock from waterways scheduled use of water to conserve its 

use tensiometer/monitoring laser leveling/land forming drip 

irrigation 

 micro-spray other (specify) 

List known contaminants in water supplies in your area. Attach residue analysis 

and/or salinity test results, if applicable. 

 

Describe your efforts to minimize water contamination problems listed above. 

 Not applicable 

 

Describe how you monitor the effectiveness of your water quality program. 

 

How often do you conduct water quality monitoring? weekly monthly 

 annually as needed other (specify)