Impact of Drought on Certified Organic Livestock Operations We want to better understand how the ongoing drought is affecting your farm and your ability to maintain organic certification. This survey is not required, however, it would be incredibly helpful for us to hear from you as we consider whether to recommend a pasture rule or other variance to National Organic Program and Secretary of Agriculture. The more detailed information you can provide, the better we can serve you and the immediate needs of your farm during this difficult time. We thank you in advance and hope you can take a few moments to complete this survey. Question Title * 1. Introduction Your name: Name of certified operation: Question Title * 2. Who is your certifier? Question Title * 3. Where do you have certified organic land? County/counties: State: -- select state -- AL AlabamaAK AlaskaAS American SamoaAZ ArizonaAR ArkansasCA CaliforniaCO ColoradoCT ConnecticutDE DelawareDC District of ColumbiaFM Federated States of MicronesiaFL FloridaGA GeorgiaGU GuamHI HawaiiID IdahoIL IllinoisIN IndianaIA IowaKS KansasKY KentuckyLA LouisianaME MaineMH Marshall IslandsMD MarylandMA MassachusettsMI MichiganMN MinnesotaMS MississippiMO MissouriMT MontanaNE NebraskaNV NevadaNH New HampshireNJ New JerseyNM New MexicoNY New YorkNC North CarolinaND North DakotaMP Northern Mariana IslandsOH OhioOK OklahomaOR OregonPW PalauPA PennsylvaniaPR Puerto RicoRI Rhode IslandSC South CarolinaSD South DakotaTN TennesseeTX TexasUT UtahVT VermontVI Virgin IslandsVA VirginiaWA WashingtonWV West VirginiaWI WisconsinWY Wyoming Question Title * 4. What type of animals are included in your organic certification? Cows (Dairy) Cows (Beef) Goats Sheep Other (please specify) Question Title * 5. How many certified organic animals do you have? 0-25 25-100 100-500 500 or more Question Title * 6. If you are a dairy, to whom do you ship milk? Question Title * 7. Do you expect to have access to irrigated pasture this year? Yes No Comments Question Title * 8. What is the biggest challenge you are facing as a result of the ongoing drought? Please check all that apply. Pasture available is not of sufficient quality/quantity Not able to find certified organic feed Cost of certified organic feed is too high Not able to provide water to livestock (e.g. creeks are dry) Other (please specify) Question Title * 9. The USDA organic standards require 30% dry matter intake from pasture for a minimum of 120 days per calender year. What is the likelihood that you will be able to meet the requirement this year? Highly unlikely Too soon to know Very likely Highly unlikely Too soon to know Very likely Question Title * 10. At this point, the USDA National Organic Program has not issued any variances for the 2014 grazing season because of drought. If some type of variance or assistance is issued, what would you find to be the most helpful so that you are able to maintain your organic certification? Please rank the choices listed below, with #1 being the most helpful. 1 2 3 4 Reduce the requirement of feed from pasture (e.g. less than 30% dry matter intake from pasture) 1 2 3 4 Temporary allowance to feed non-organic feed 1 2 3 4 Allowing new acreage to be certified through desk audit (no inspection needed) 1 2 3 4 Waiving required inspections for certified organic land that is not used for organic livestock grazing in 2014 Question Title * 11. Please identify the percent DMI from pasture and grazing days you expect to be able to achieve this year. Dry Matter Intake % from pasture: Days on Pasture: Question Title * 12. If the required dry matter intake from pasture (30% for 120 days) was reduced, would that help you maintain your organic certification? If no, please explain why not. Question Title * 13. If a variance or some type of drought-related assistance is needed, how soon do you need it? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 = No need for assistance anticipated 5 = Need assistance in the next 6 months 10 = Need immediate assistance 1 = No need for assistance anticipated 5 = Need assistance in the next 6 months 10 = Need immediate assistance 1 1 = No need for assistance anticipated 5 = Need assistance in the next 6 months 10 = Need immediate assistance 2 1 = No need for assistance anticipated 5 = Need assistance in the next 6 months 10 = Need immediate assistance 3 1 = No need for assistance anticipated 5 = Need assistance in the next 6 months 10 = Need immediate assistance 4 1 = No need for assistance anticipated 5 = Need assistance in the next 6 months 10 = Need immediate assistance 5 1 = No need for assistance anticipated 5 = Need assistance in the next 6 months 10 = Need immediate assistance 6 1 = No need for assistance anticipated 5 = Need assistance in the next 6 months 10 = Need immediate assistance 7 1 = No need for assistance anticipated 5 = Need assistance in the next 6 months 10 = Need immediate assistance 8 1 = No need for assistance anticipated 5 = Need assistance in the next 6 months 10 = Need immediate assistance 9 1 = No need for assistance anticipated 5 = Need assistance in the next 6 months 10 = Need immediate assistance 10 Question Title * 14. Are you currently considering any of the following options as a result of drought-related issues? Not considering Neutral Considering withdrawal Withdraw only livestock from certification Withdraw only livestock from certification Not considering Withdraw only livestock from certification Neutral Withdraw only livestock from certification Considering withdrawal Withdraw entire operation (land and livestock) from certification Withdraw entire operation (land and livestock) from certification Not considering Withdraw entire operation (land and livestock) from certification Neutral Withdraw entire operation (land and livestock) from certification Considering withdrawal Other comments Question Title * 15. Any other questions and/or comments? Done
