5. Crop Production

5.1 Environmental Factors

The organic agricultural production system has been conceived such that food be produced in an optimum manner without recourse to agrochemical inputs. These methods are aimed at minimizing environmental damage and protecting the natural habitat. To accomplish this, one shall ::

• foster the biological cycles of soil micro-organisms as well as other flora and fauna;
• maintain existing wild habitats, particularly those serving as refuges for any threatened or endangered species;
• create an environment favourable to the development of beneficial organisms (insects, birds, reptiles, etc.) and to their wellbeing;
• minimize pollution;
• consider the social and ecological impact of the enterprise's operations;
• respect the principles of resource conservation.

5.1.1 The operator shall take measures to prevent accidental contamination from neighbouring areas (e.g. herbicide spraydrift).

5.1.2 Where the possibility of soil and crop contamination exists (e.g. if the production unit is located near a potential source of pollution, a superhighway, etc.), the certification body shall test for hazardous substances.

5.1.3 The Operator shall employ cultivation practices intended to prevent soil erosion.

5.1.4 Land clearing intended to increase areas under cultivation shall respect current municipal forest management regulations. Before beginning work, the operator shall have obtained a cutting permit for this purpose and shall have consulted an agricultural land clearing specialist. Organic agriculture standards prohibit any excessive and unjustified clear cutting.

5.2 Cultivation Practices and Variety Selection

5.2.1 Plant species and their respective varieties must be adapted to soils and to climate; choosing varieties resistant to disease and pests shall be encouraged.

5.2.2 Practices used must allow genetic diversity to be maintained or increased.

5.2.3 Annual seedlings shall be produced in accordance with specifications contained in these standards.

5.2.4 All types of seeds, bulbs, tubers, cuttings, transplants, rootstocks and other planting stock must come from organic sources.

5.2.5 In the event that an operator can demonstrate to the certification body that no crop seeds or other planting stock meeting the above-mentioned (organic) requirements were available, the latter may in exceptional cases approve:

Seeds originating from buffer zones and from fields undergoing organic transition are accepted within these standards.

5.3 Rotation

5.3.1 Over any given time period, rotation is obligatory except for perennial crops.

5.3.2 Rotation shall be as varied as possible and include legumes (or fallow fields under rotation that contain legumes), green manure crops and/or deep-rooted plants.

5.4 Fertilization

5.4.1 The objective of any fertilization program shall be to maintain or increase soil fertility and the biological activity of the soil.

5.4.2 Contributions from organic matter must be sufficient to maintain or, better yet, increase long-term soil humus levels.

5.4.3 Organic matter produced within the agricultural enterprise shall form the basis of its fertilization program. When brought in from off-farm sources, manure and other organic matter, composted or not, must have above all originated from organic operations that comply with these standards.

5.4.4 Importing Manure

With the exception of organic compost or commercial manure, not considered as manure imports according to these standards, off-farm manure must meet the following evolving requirements. They take Quebec's specific agricultural context into account, and in the medium term they are intended to match international directives concerning the use of manure in organic agriculture. Thus their goals are the following:

• make it a priority to use manure not originating from industrial agriculture;
• make it a priority to use effluents not sourced from non-organic livestock operations neither cultivating nor using GMOs or their derivatives in animal feeds.

5.4.4.1 Off-farm manure to be used as soil amendment or fertilizer in organic crop production, shall be approved by the certification body upon demonstration that manure or other organic matter satisfying the above-mentioned (organic) specifications are not available;

5.4.4.2 When this is the case, the first solution sought should be the use of manure or other organic matter originating from transition or free range animal operations;

5.4.4.3 If it can be shown that these are no longer available then the certifier may approve off-farm manure from various sources, but with the following restrictions:

5.4.4.4 The use of manure, whether it is composted or not, originating from landless livestock production (as defined in the CARTV standards) is prohibited since January 1, 2005. As an exemption, should supply and spreading agreements have been concluded before July 1, 2004 between producers and landless livestock enterprises, compliance may be deferred to:

• the completion date of the said agreement, with no renewal allowed, or;
• January 1, 2007. (whichever comes first).

5.4.4.5 The use of manure originating from livestock operations in which caged animals are not able to turn 360 degrees is authorized only as a last resort, under a variance granted by the certification body. By right of exemption, in the event of supply and spreading agreements concluded before July 1, 2004 between producers and enterprises owning caged animals that cannot move 360 degrees, compliance may be deferred to:

• the completion date of the said agreement, with no renewal allowed, or;
• January 1, 2007. (whichever comes first).

5.4.4.6 The kind of livestock raised (animal species) and the data on quantities and manure sources shall be indicated in the records.

5.4.4.7 Manure spreading shall avoid any form of soil pollution. Whenever they deem it necessary, the certification body shall be able to follow changes in soil composition through testing.

5.4.4.8 The enterprise shall be able to show that it complies with requirements of the ministère de l’Environnement du Québec in their Règlement sur les exploitations agricoles (REA).

5.4.5 Non-organic fertilization must be a supplemental source of fertilization, not a substitute for nutrient recycling.

5.4.6 Non-organic fertilizers shall be used in their initial state and without being rendered more soluble by any type of chemical treatment. Low chlorine potassium salts, magnesium amendments and trace elements may, however, be used under the conditions set out in Table A1. The use of certain products must be justified by soil testing that indicates the need to correct an obvious problem or is done upon recommendation of an agronomist.

5.4.7 Use of paper industry sludge, septic tank residues or sewage sludge (bio-solids) from treatment facilities as a soil additive, in any form whatsoever, is not permitted by these standards.

5.4.8 When using fertilizers presenting a risk of a relatively high level of heavy metals or other undesirable substances, levels of heavy metals in the soil shall not increase over time.

5.4.9 The pH level corresponding to the type of soil and suited to crops involved shall be maintained by using, if necessary, calcareous amendments (limestone) in acidic soils and powdered sulphur in alkaline soils.

5.4.10 Any added nitrogen shall be in organic form. Chilean nitrate and all synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, including urea, are prohibited.

5.4.11 All organic and mineral fertilizers, particularly those rich in nitrogen (bloodmeal, etc.) shall be applied in a manner to avoid any negative effects on the quality of the crop being grown (nutritional quality, nitrate levels, taste, preservation, disease resistance) or on the environment.

5.4.12 A list of authorized organic or mineral fertilizers is provided in Table A1.1.

5.4.13 The total quantity of off-farm or off-production unit manure, calculated over the entire rotation, may not exceed the quantity of manure produced on the farm or production unit if the latter already has the number of animals properly balanced with the surface area in production. An exception may be made for agricultural enterprises and isolated intensive farming operations when a need for fertilizers and additional organic matter can be proven.

5.4.14 Manure processing and composting techniques must reduce any nutrient losses.

5.4.15 Any application of fresh organic matter shall be carried out during the growing season. The amounts used must be environmentally acceptable.

The application of fresh manure, including solid and liquid manure, is allowed providing that:

5.4.16 Processed manure that meets the conditions enumerated in Section 5.5 may be applied to all crops without a waiting period.

5.4.17 The use of ash obtained from burning vegetable or animal matter is allowed, under conditions described in Section 5.8.2 provided that burned materials have not been processed or combined with any substances prohibited for use in organic crop production.

5.4.18 The use of plant or animal matter that has been chemically modified by an industrial process is allowed provided the procedures used are authorized within these standards.

5.5 Manure Processing

5.5.1 Techniques for processing animal manure must minimize the loss of nutritional elements. Composting and physical treatment (including dehydration) are acceptable in organic agriculture.

5.5.2 Given the nature of composting, a process based on bio-oxidation of solid heterogeneous organic substrates that includes a thermophilic phase, operators shall demonstrate to the certifier that their composts include one of the following conditions:

• Salmonella level less than 3 NPP/4g (dry base)
• Temperature achieved of 55°C or higher.

5.5.3 In cases where manure was altered mechanically (including dehydration), the certification body may require standard tests (C/N, N, P, K) in order to ensure that application rates meet crop requirements.

5.5.4 The use of animal manure having undergone biological or chemical treatment (liquid waste processing system for breeding operations) is only allowed when the products used form part of the authorized substances list found in these standards.

5.6 Irrigation Water

5.6.1 Irrigation water should not carry any risk of crop contamination and its origins shall be documented. Should there be any doubt concerning water quality, the operator is responsible for supplying the results of a bacteriological and/or chemical test.

5.7 Transplant and Potting Media

5.7.1 Transplant and potting media (Greenhouse Soil) shall be in compliance with these standards (free from synthetic products for 36 months). This also applies to topsoil or any other compost component originating from outside the enterprise.

5.8 Phytosanitary Protection (Pest Management)

5.8.1 Organic production techniques must target at minimizing losses caused by diseases and pests. To do so, disease and pest prevention methods shall include one or more of the following:

5.8.2 The burning of vegetable or animal matter is allowed, except for crop residues produced by agricultural operations. However, such residues may be burned to stop the spread of disease, to control pests remaining in crops or to stimulate sprouting. Since burning may increase the risk of air pollution, it should be used only as a last resort. Burning meat shall be done so that it complies with laws on environmental quality and the regulations pertaining to it.

5.8.3 Natural predators of pests shall be protected and encouraged by establishing conditions conducive to their development; for example: hedges, nests or ecological buffer zones where original vegetation shall be preserved to shelter predators of harmful species.

5.8.4 All synthetic pesticides are prohibited. If the measures identified in 5.8.1 are not, or would not be effective, the products appearing in Tables A1.3, A1.4 and A1.5 may be used if necessary.

5.8.5 Heat sterilization of soil and compost is allowed for the control of pests and diseases only if appropriate rotation or renewal of the soil is not feasible.

5.9 Weed Control

5.9.1 Weed propagation shall be kept within tolerable limits by using various crop management techniques (balanced rotation and fertilization, green manure crops, stale seedbeds, mulching, etc.) and by mechanical cultivation.

5.9.2 All physical weeding methods (mulching, mowing, pasturing, etc.), including weed torching, are permitted. All synthetic herbicides are prohibited. If it is necessary, the products appearing in table A1.2 can be used.

5.10 Plant Regulators

5.10.1 All synthetic chemicals (such as synthetic hormone-based growth regulators) are prohibited. Substances listed in table A1.6 are allowed.

5.11 Materials Related to Agricultural Activities

5.11.1 Only polyethylene, polypropylene and other polycarbonate-based products are authorized for the manufacture of protective films, plastic mulches, insect nets or silage bags and tarpaulins. These products shall not be left lying on the ground after use and shall not be burned on the farm. PVCs are not permitted for the above uses. Plastic materials shall be reused or recycled wherever possible. Recourse to the Crops Production Aids listed in table A1.7 is allowed.

5.11.2 The use of treated wood is prohibited in any new or replacement construction, that comes into contact with the soil or with livestock, unless substances used in treatment are listed in the Appendix of these standards. For pre-existing construction, a waterproof covering that avoids direct contact with the ground or with animals should be used.

5.12 Wild Crops

For the purposes of this section, the term “plants” shall include mushrooms.

5.12.1 For the purposes of these standards, wild crops may be certified only where the plants are from a harvest area deemed to be a natural and stable environment and where proof is provided that the crops have not been treated with products other than those listed in Tables A1.1 to A1.7 for at least three years prior to harvest.

5.12.2 The harvest area shall be clearly delineated and sufficiently isolated to reduce the risk of contamination by synthetic pesticides or genetically modified organisms from nearby non-organic crop areas. Consequently, the harvest sites shall be located more than (1) kilometre away from potential contamination sources, such as areas in which non-organic farming is carried out, as well as from areas such as golf courses, dumps, sanitary landfill sites and industrial complexes which could be a source of environmental pollution.

5.12.3 In order for plant products from areas meeting the conditions set out in article 5.12.2 to be deemed compliant, the harvesting activities carried out in those areas must comply with the production plan that has been drawn up in accordance with the requirements of article 4.1.3. and approved by the certification body.

5.12.4 Activities related to the harvesting of such plant products shall not have harmful effects on the biodiversity of the ecosystem.

5.12.5 The applicant for certification shall maintain an audit trail making it possible to trace the plant products according to type, origin and quantities harvested; the applicant must therefore keep up-to-date and auditable records and be able to provide supporting documents concerning the organic integrity of the products.

5.12.6 All harvesters must be registered and all subcontractors must work under contract. The enterprise managing the wild crops must give the harvesters and subcontractors instructions enabling them to perform their work in an appropriate manner, which shall include the following information:

1. The boundaries of the harvest area;
2. The standards and other requirements that must be met in order for the product to be in compliance.

5.12.7 Wild crops that are in compliance with these standards may be combined with other organic products for processing purposes. The resulting processed products may be identified and labelled as organic, provided that all the requirements pertaining to organic processing have been met.

5.13 Greenhouse Crops

Operators producing greenhouse crops, either for providing seedlings or growing vegetables, shall meet these standards.

5.13.1 Coverings used in the construction or operation of greenhouses shall be made of glass, polycarbonates or polyethylene greenhouse film. Bleaching with lime and the use of shade cloth or shuttering are authorized. Biodegradable plastics produced from GMOs and wood treated with arsenates and used for new or replacement construction having come into contact with the ground are prohibited.

5.13.2 Heating systems shall be well ventilated in order to avoid the contamination of crops from any possible exhaust. In case of emergency (e.g.: power failure), portable propane, kerosene, oil or wood alcohol heaters may be used.

5.13.3 Artificial light is allowed.

5.13.4 Within the framework of these practices, the operator shall:

5.13.5 When producing organic greenhouse crops, the operator may use the following methods or practices:

• open flames, fermentation, composting, compressed gas (CO2) to enrich carbon dioxide levels;
• steam heat sterilization or substances listed in Tables A4.1 to A4.2 to for disinfecting containers, pots and flats;
• plant and animal-based regulators for stimulating growth and development;
• hot water and steam treatment, and low temperature baking to prevent damping off;
• thermal sterilization.

5.13.6 For the prevention and control of disease, insects or other parasites, the operator shall use:

• methods mentioned in Section 5.8.1 and substances listed in Tables A1.2 to A1.5 and A4.1 to A4.2;
• plant pruning and vacuum cleaning.

5.13.7 Filters, screens or other physical devices are recommended to prevent insects and other parasites from entering the greenhouse.

5.14 Mushroom Cultivation

5.14.1 Growing mediums allowed include logs, sawdust or other organic substrates meeting these reference standards.

5.14.2 Spawn (seeds) shall be registered with and inspected by a seed certification body that can guarantee that the spores are fertile and free from prohibited substances or other contaminants.

5.14.3 Cultivation sites shall be free of debris from under-story and diseased trees.

5.14.4 Contaminated logs shall be either burned or moved at least 50 metres from the production site or moved to an appropriate disposal site.

5.15 Sprouts

5.15.1 Seeds used must be certified organic.

5.15.2 Water used shall meet or be superior in quality to the provincial drinking water standards (Q-2.4.4.1) regarding the microbial or chemical contaminants contained in it.

5.15.3 If chlorinated water is used for the final rinsing, to eliminate the chlorine, it shall be put through an activated carbon filter or be left standing in a stainless steel container covered with a nylon mesh before being used.

5.15.4 Water shall be analyzed twice a year, at the rate of once per quarter.

5.15.5 No soluble fertilizers may be added to spray water.

5.15.6 Growing media shall comply with these standards (be free from synthetic products for a period of 36 months).

5.15.7 Antibacterial products listed in Table A4.1 are permitted for disinfecting equipment (vats, trays, etc.).

5.16 Harvesting

5.16.1 All harvesting equipment used by a certified enterprise, be it borrowed, rented, leased or owned by it, plus any vehicles used to transport harvests, shall be clean and free from any non-organic product residues.