The Northwest Horticultural Council announced in a news release the National Organic Standards Board will hold its annual spring meeting virtually April 26–28. The council encourages industry members to submit comments on materials under review and to voice the challenges faced by organic farmers and stakeholders. 

Comments can be as simple as a few sentences expressing why these materials are important to your organic production.

To download a complete list of materials up for review, go to: https://nwhort.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-NOSB-Spring-Meeting-Sunset-Materials.docx.

Dan Langager, technical communications manager for the council, said the list includes copper materials that are an essential part of an effective organic fire blight management program. “Those products are generally only used when there is risk — such as warm, wet weather during bloom — and so are not necessarily used every year, but are a very important tool in the toolbox,” he said. 

Boric acid and sticky traps are also crucial to organic pest management programs. 

Feedback to the NOSB may be submitted via written and oral comments. The deadline to submit written comments is 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time Friday, April 1. 

Registration for a three-minute oral comment slot is now open and will close April 1 or once capacity is reached. Registration typically fills up fast, so early registration is encouraged. Commenters will be scheduled in the order in which they register. The board will hear oral comments via two webinars hosted by the NOSB on April 19 and 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT. 

For more information and links to written submission and oral registration forms, go to: https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/national-organic-standards-board-nosb-meeting-crystal-city-va-1.

The National Organic Program is also hosting a public listening session, with request for comment, regarding upcoming standards development activities and recommendations received from the NOSB. The virtual session is Monday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon PT. Written comments may be submitted via Regulations.gov (Docket # AMS-NOP-21-85) now through 8:59 p.m. PT Wednesday, March 30. More information and meeting links for the listening session can be found at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/national-organic-program-priorities-listening-session.

If you have any questions or would like assistance submitting comments, please contact Dan Langager at the Northwest Horticultural Council by email at: langager@nwhort.org or by phone at: 509-453-3193.

—by Jonelle Mejica