Organic quiz -
A quiz on the Canadian Organic Standards

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* 1. Farmer Josephine has been growing certified organic grain for ten years. She wants to expand her organic acreage by renting the neighbour’s field. How long before grain from that field can be certified organic?

12 months

Three years

No transition period is required

It depends on the history of the filed

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* 2. One of Roberto’s cows was given a ten-day course of antibiotics. When, if ever, will her milk be considered organic?

After the prescribed withdrawal period on the label.

More than 30 days after the treatment ends or twice the withdrawal period on the label (whichever is longer).

After she has been dried, given birth and is lactating again.

Never; no milk from that cow will ever be considered organic.

Never; no milk from the herd will be considered organic because the farm will lose its organic certification for a year.

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* 3. The edge of my market garden is 8 metres from the edge of my neighbour’s field. I thought that was good enough but my inspector says it has to bigger. Is a larger buffer zone ever needed?

Yes

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* 4. Patrice wants to grow organic corn, but a neighbour of his is growing GE corn. What isolation distance is recommended between organic corn and GE corn?

8 metres

10 metres

300 metres

3 km

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* 5. When can I use GE seeds on my organic fields?

Whenever you want

Only when non-GE seeds of that variety aren’t commercially available

Only during transition.

Never. GE seeds can never be used in organic fields or fields in transition.

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* 6. Brenda wants to plant buckwheat as a green manure to control weeds and improve the soil of her market garden. The buckwheat will never be harvested, just tilled into the soil. Does Brenda need to use certified organic seed for the green manure?

No. Any seeds can be used.

No. Non-organic seed can be used if it’s not GE.

Certified organic seed should be used, but non-organic seed can be used if organic seed is too expensive.

Certified organic seed should be used, but non-organic seed can be used if organic seed is not commercially available.

Yes, with no exceptions, organic seed must be used.

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* 7. I need to get manure for my potato farm. The only livestock farmer in the area has an intensive pig operation; 10% of the sows are in traditional farrowing crates and not able to turn around. Can I use manure from this farm?

Yes, there is no problem.

Yes, but only the manure from the 90% of sows which can turn around can be used. It must be kept separate.

No, this is not allowed under any circumstances.

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* 8. Anne-Marie wants to use mulch to control weeds in her market garden. She doesn’t want the hassle of having to remove black plastic mulch each fall. What types of biodegradable mulch can she use and leave in the field?

Only organic plant residues (e.g., straw, leaves, wood chips).

Only organic and/or non-organic plant residues.

Plant residues and any commercially available biodegradable mulch can be used and left in the field.

Plant residues and certain types of biodegradable mulches.

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* 9. The dairy farmer down the road is certified organic but has tie-stalls. Are tie-stalls allowed in organic dairy barns?

Yes, but not in new construction.

Yes, but the cows must be exercised at least twice a week.

Yes, but not for heifers after 2020.

All of the above.

No. Dairy cows must be in open barns.

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* 10. Bessie, my best-producing Holstein, had a tough spring. I gave her antibiotics twice for mastitis and then a chemical dewormer. Now, what happens to her milk?

The milk withdrawal period is a minimum of 30 days or twice the withdrawal period (whichever is longer) after each treatment.

Bessie loses organic status for the rest of her life.

Bessie loses organic status for three years.

Bessie loses organic status for one year.

The dairy herd loses organic certification for a year.

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* 11. I want to grow micro-greens from unusual types of plants. Do I need to use organic seed?

No.

Yes, only certified organic seed can be used.

Non-organic seed can be used if organic seed is not commercially available.

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* 12. When can I feed my certified organic livestock non-organic feed?

Whenever organic feed is not commercially available.

When feeding organic breeding stock that aren’t destined for slaughter.

Following catastrophic events.

Never

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* 13. I want to become certified but I’m worried about the recordkeeping because I’m not comfortable with computers. I write everything in notebooks but I keep hearing about spreadsheets being used to keep track of yields and sales and such. Is a specific format required for recordkeeping?

Yes, it’s described in the Standards.

No.

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* 14. What’s this Organic Science Cluster that I keep hearing about?

A research activity to improve organic grape production.

A group of researchers dedicated to organic wine production.

A Canadian project including many research activities in organic agriculture.

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* 15. How owns the Intellectual property of the Canadian Organic Standards?

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Canadian organic sector

The Canadian General Standards Board