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Adjusting and Updating Your Organic Livestock Certification
Summary: Need to update your livestock certification? Whether you’re changing feed rations, adding a new species, expanding land, or adding a new facility, you’ll need to update your Organic System Plan (OSP) and submit the correct forms to Oregon Tilth. Some changes require an inspection before approval.
Updating Feed Rations
To maintain organic compliance, you must update your OSP when changing feed rations that:
- Significantly change grazing percentages, or
- Include new materials not previously reviewed by Oregon Tilth
Forms to Submit:
📩 Download and submit the forms to your Client Services team.
Adding a New Species of Livestock
Adding a new livestock species (avian or mammal) requires an update to your Organic System Plan.
Do I need to notify OTCO for purchases of species I already raise?
No update is needed if:
- You’re not changing your production practices
- You maintain proper livestock purchase records
You must review and update OSP sections that change due to the new species.
Forms To Submit:
- L7 – Livestock Product Processing
- L8 – Livestock Sales, Labeling, Transport & Handling
- L9 – Livestock Recordkeeping
- L10 – Livestock Materials
Crop and Pasture Updates When Adding a New Species
If your livestock rely on on-farm crops or pasture, review and update crop-related forms. If you don’t currently grow crops but will be adding them, submit all crop forms (C2–C12).
Common Crop Forms:
- C2 – Acreage & Land History
- C3 – Seeds, Planting Stock, Transplants
- C4 – Soil Fertility
- C5 – Crop Pest & Disease Management
- C6 – Natural Resources
- C7 – Harvest, Storage, Transport
- C8 – Crop Labeling & Sales
- C9 – Contamination Prevention
- C11 – Crop Materials
- C12 – Crop Recordkeeping
How to Add Specific Types of Livestock
🐔 Avian Species (e.g., chickens, turkeys)
Submit:
- L2P – Poultry Origin
- L3NR – Livestock Non-Ruminant Feed
- L4 – Livestock Healthcare
- L5A – Avian Living Conditions
🐖 Non-Ruminant Mammals (e.g., pigs)
Submit:
- L2M – Mammal Origin
- L3NR – Livestock Non-Ruminant Feed
- L4 – Livestock Healthcare
- L5M – Mammal Living Conditions (non-avian)
🐄 Ruminant Mammals (e.g., cattle, goats, sheep)
Submit:
- L2M – Mammal Origin
- L3R – Livestock Ruminant Feed
- L4 – Livestock Healthcare
- L5M – Mammal Living Conditions (non-avian)
- L6 – Pasture Management Plan
Adding Land or Outdoor Access
New land must be inspected and approved before it’s certified.
If you are adding new crops, other sections of your Organic System Plan (OSP) may need to be updated (e.g., crop rotation, materials, etc.). Crop production that is significantly different from your existing production will also require an inspection.
Required Information:
- Completed C2 form (and Land Transfer Form if applicable)
- Location info (address, township, range)
- 36-month land history including all inputs, seeds, and crops
- Maps with borders and buffer areas
Special Notes:
- Adjacent parcels can be grouped on one C2 if they share the same land history
- Non-adjacent or transitional parcels require separate C2 forms
- Land history affirmations must cover the full 36 months
- If you have managed the land less than 36 months, previous land managers can sign and attest to land history.
- If all 36 months of history is not available, then land eligibility will begin from the last date of affirmation.
- You can include leased land with a proper lease agreement
Harvesting Before Inspection
If you’re currently certified and in good standing:
- You may harvest, but not sell or represent crops as organic before inspection
- Land acreage must match the amount of harvested product and visually show recent harvest
- Products must stay segregated and traceable with appropriate storage and movement records
- May not be fed to organic livestock prior to approval
Best Time to Add Land
Add land during your annual renewal to avoid extra fees. Off-cycle additions may require additional inspection costs. Expedited reviews are available for an added fee.
Required Forms:
Adding a New Facility
Adding a new livestock facility (e.g., dairy barn, slaughter facility) requires updates to your OSP.
Required Forms:
- L7 – Livestock Product Processing
- Updated facility map
- Facility flowchart describing all processing activities
If you’re adding a facility during renewal, submit at least 2 weeks before your scheduled inspection.
Need Help?
Contact Oregon Tilth’s Client Services Team with questions or to confirm which updates apply to your operation.