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[compost_tea] Re: National Organic Program Problems
Dan, et al -- Jeff is right in urging Congressional contact. The NOSB is
"the boss" though, and the USDA NOP staff is the problem. We should put a
squeeze on them (and their lobbyists) from both directions -- via NOSB and
Congress, so you are right, too. Anyone with an NOSB contact or a
Congressional contact should call or email or write them now, and let Jeff
know,
so we can coordinate ourselves.
Here is what I think we want and need: As decided in October 2002, the NOSB
should establish a new compost tea task force and make that group and their
deliberations public, including an explanation of how the task force plans
to address the issues, decision criteria, a report on information gathered
or
progress made thus far, and the names of people to contact for comments and
questions on their proposals.
If we can get their attention, maybe they will tell us, too... I personally
want to see a schedule and standards for USNOP approval of CT without
restrictions! Someone here asked the other day if anyone had ever heard of
an illness or death from compost tea. We have thousands of years of history
here, a dozen on aerated teas, and I haven't ever heard of one, and aerated
teas seem even more safe. This NOP problem with CT is absolutely BS, bent
in a bizarre way by detrimental, chemical and factory farm manure interests,
seems to me.
To date, Elaine's rule news that CT made from certified ingredients is
certifiable has been repeated by some certifiers, but the NOP is not clear,
and NOP staff are still pushing to deny CT as a valid organic practice. We
need to drive home and fix the notion that it's the best organic stuff since
compost! Eh? I believe that and expect you do too.
If USDA or EPA succeed in bashing tea, you could lose your right to use it
even if you don't give a hoot about certification, by the way. They could
banish the equipment you use at home, even. This may seem far-fetched, but
what we've seen from USNOP is already pretty far-fetched, imo.
Please speak out and let Jeff know you did.
-- Kirk
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