Hyperbole Is Unhelpful

A sensible sounding staff editorial in the Marin Independent Journal discusses why organic standards need to be sensitive to local conditions, and complains about a proposed rule that would force animals to be outside year round, no matter the weather or water quality concerns.

Such a rule would make it impossible to get certified as an organic livestock grower in Wisconsin, which would be ludicrous.

Though as far as I can tell, the most recent actual rule revision on the subject seems not to say any such thing. Nor does it appear to restrict temporary confinement of animals, or removal of animals from pasture near stream banks, as weather and environmental regulations require it. The "year round" pasture requirement is followed rather immediately in the proposed rule with the phrase, "except as otherwise provided," and the provisions otherwise seem extensive. Further, the Federal Register entry details the long history of the rule and the lengths that have been gone to in order to gather appropriate comments and public opinion related to it.

I can see that the requirement for a "sacrificial" pasture area where animals can be outside in rainy seasons without adversely affecting local water quality might prove challenging for a small farming operation, but a very small farm is likelier to have smaller animals, such as chickens or goats, for whom it'd be easier to provide a reasonable amount of space even when the ground was muddy.

To sum up, unless I were to hear a convincing argument otherwise, I'm going to have to regard this editorial as unfounded and poorly researched.