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Vermont certifier says USDA granted 2025 pasture‑rule variance for organic farmers hit by drought
Summary
Vermont Organic Farmers told the committee it secured a National Organic Program variance for the 2025 drought that lets eligible producers in designated counties meet a 90‑day grazing minimum (rather than 120) while maintaining a 30% pasture dry‑matter requirement; the variance was requested by the certifier and applied retroactively.
Nicole Daney, director of Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF), told the committee that VOF — an LLC owned by NOFA Vermont and accredited by USDA to certify organic farms — requested and received a National Organic Program (NOP) temporary variance for the 2025 drought. Daney said the NOP typically grants variances in cases of natural disaster when the USDA issues a secretarial disaster designation.
Daney explained the pasture rule requirements that apply to ruminant livestock under the USDA organic regulations: a minimum of 120 grazing days per year (regionally…
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