Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
al.IfIhadtochoose,IwouldusetheMicronizedCopperQuaternary(MCQ)treatedwood.
While leaching Copper into the soil may not be all bad, leaching 90% less would be better.
Organic Farming
I read recently that organic farmers could not declared their produce "Organic" if they had
treated lumber that contacted their soils or animals. I did a little research and found the
statues (see § 205.206 & § 205.602 below*) that regulate the use of treated wood under
the Organic Food Production Act. The actual language in § 205.206 refers only to arsenate
materials in new and replacement installations, not to existing installations. After further
research, it appears that existing installations that use even arsenic based pressure treated
wood are "grandfathered". So it is still possible for certified Organic Vegetables to be pro-
duced in raised beds constructed from arsenate treated wood if they received their certific-
ation prior to December 31, 2003.
Also,sinceCCAtreated woodisstillapprovedforsaleforagricultural uses,thepossibility
exists that the animals or plants we eat can come in contact with new sources of Arsenic.
Don't think so? Who is responsible to make sure it doesn't?
Anotherreasonweshouldallknowthepeoplethatproduceanddeliverourfood.Whodoes
it make more sense to trust? The local farmer who knows their livelihood depends on their
ability to satisfy us as consumers? Or the USDA, FDA and EPA, who are apparently re-
sponsible to no one and not accountable for anything?
*§ 205.206:
Crop pest, weed, and disease management practice standard. (f) The producer
mustnotuselumbertreatedwitharsenateorotherprohibitedmaterialsfornewinstallations
or replacement purposes in contact with soil or livestock.
*§ 205.602:
Nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use in organic crop production. The
followingnonsyntheticsubstancesmaynotbeusedinorganiccropproduction:(b)Arsenic.