Greetings
A very brief look at the guidelines available immediately point to great
inconsistencies. A little grade school math will show you that version one
expects you to monitor 13 square miles around the apiary while version two
expects you to know everything that is going on within 50 square miles of
each apiary.
6.11.2. Forage.
Bees from which organic honey and other products are harvested shall have
access to forage produced in accordance with organic standards, provided
that the hives are located on certified land and are not within 2 miles of a
sanitary landfill, incinerator, power plant, golf course, town or city,
crops sprayed with prohibited substances, genetically modified crops, or
other sources of contamination, as described in the Organic Livestock Plan
approved by the certification agent. The minimum distance may be increased
by the certification agent, if deemed necessary, on a case by case basis.
(Organic Trade Association 2003)
1. Forage Requirements
NOSB 205.240(d)&(e)
You should maintain current certificates for all organically managed land on
which bees will forage. In addition, documentation should show that
surrounding forage areas, up to a radius of 4 miles from the colony
location, comply with NOP wild crop requirements. Specifically, forage areas
must be verified to have no prohibited substances applied for a period of 3
years preceding the start of honey flow. In addition, possible sources of
contamination such as golf courses, landfills, and industrial facilities
should not be located within 4 miles of the colony. (Copyright Quality
Assurance International, Inc. 2001)
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---
|