FAQ for Organic Farms

How does flooding affect the organic certification of my land?

The organic regulations require that “prohibited substances” cannot be applied to land for at least three years prior to harvesting the organic crop. Floodwaters can contain many potential contaminants including manure from livestock operations, runoff from septic systems and water treatment facilities, agricultural chemicals, heavy metals as well as contaminants such as oil, diesel, gasoline or paint. Fortunately the volume of water during flooding events often dilutes the contaminants. In most cases, low levels of contaminants would be considered unavoidable residual environmental contaminants and would not affect the certification of the land.

However, there are instances where prohibited residues would be of greater concern and farmers should contact Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF) to discuss next steps. If your farm is directly downstream from a source of concentrated prohibited substances, for example a sewage treatment facility or if there is evidence of contamination, for example an oily residue on your fields or a empty propane tank, VOF may decide to test for likely contaminants and continued certification of the affected field will be based on the outcome of the tests and on-site inspection.

How does flooding affect the organic certification status of my crops for human consumption?

The US Food and Drug Administration considers all food crops that come into contact with flood water to be “adulterated” and should not be sold for human consumption. This applies to both organic and conventional crops. Please see the guidelines published by the University of Vermont Extension that provide recommendations for preventing contamination of non-flooded crops and fields, replanting timelines and worker safety information. In addition, please note that if your wellhead was submerged, your water should be retested to ensure that it is potable. Only potable water should be used to wash organic produce. You will need to provide VOF with a copy of your completed water test.

How does flooding affect the organic certification of livestock feed?

Livestock feed (including pastures) that have come into contact with flood water should be assumed contaminated and it is not recommended to be fed to livestock conventional or organic. Please see the guidelines published by the University of Vermont Extension that provide recommendations for what to do with flooded hay fields, pastures and feed corn.

What about testing the soil and or crops for contaminants?

Testing soil or crops can be useful if farmers are clear about what tests can and cannot tell us.  First farmers need to determine what the biggest contamination concern is for their farm.  For example, likely contaminants would be oil, gas and diesel from equipment, storage tanks, parking lots; pesticide and fertilizer residues from agricultural runoff; and finally heavy metals and human pathogens like e. coli and salmonella from sewage treatment plants and septic tanks.  Farmers should not expect to use tests to determine that food is safe to consume, instead testing can help farmers positively identify contaminants and give them more information about the specifics of their circumstances.  Please contact Vern Grubinger with UVM Extension at 802-257-7967 ext 303, for more information about testing produce and fruit for possible contaminants and Sid Bosworth 656-0478 with UVM Extension for more information about testing forage and pasture.   

Please let us know if there are any questions that you have by contacting the VOF office at 434-3821 or e-mail Nicole (nicole@nofavt.org) and we will continue to update this document.