Seed and Planting Stock (Organic Sourcing)

Seed and planting stock in organic certification refers to the seed, transplants, cuttings, sets, tubers, or other propagation material an operation uses to start a crop. The rule, set out in NOP §205.204, is that organic crops must be grown from organic seed and planting stock — with very specific, documented exceptions.

The general rule

The producer of an organic crop must use:

• Organically grown seed
• Organically grown annual seedlings (transplants)
• Organically grown perennial planting stock that has been managed organically for at least one year

Untreated, non-organic equivalents are allowed only when:

• The producer has made and documented a good-faith effort to source organic seed
• An equivalent organic variety is not commercially available in the form, quality, or quantity needed for the operation's purpose

What "commercially available" means

The NOP defines commercial availability narrowly. It's not enough that "no one in my county sells it." Operations are expected to:

• Contact at least three organic seed suppliers
• Document the contacts (date, supplier, what was asked, response)
• Show that no organic equivalent variety is available, OR that the available organic seed doesn't meet the operation's quality, quantity, form, or maturity requirements

Many certifiers maintain or accept databases of organic seed suppliers. The Organic Seed Alliance's Organic Seed Finder is a common reference.

What's flatly prohibited

• GMO seed and planting stock are prohibited under NOP §205.105. No exceptions, even for unavailability.
• Treated seed — seed coated with prohibited substances (most synthetic fungicides, neonicotinoid coatings, growth hormones) cannot be used.

Perennial planting stock — the one-year rule

An organic apple orchard cannot be established overnight. The trees themselves must be managed organically for at least one year before fruit harvested from them can be sold as organic. This is distinct from the transition period for the land.

What documentation is required

The OSP and recordkeeping system must track:

• Seed source — supplier name, organic certifier, lot number
• Variety, quantity, and date received
• Supplier organic certificate (or, for non-organic seed, the commercial-availability search records)

Common gotchas

• GMO contamination of "organic" seed. Some seed varieties (corn, soy, alfalfa, sugar beet, canola) have widespread GMO presence. Suppliers vary in how they test and certify seed clean. Verifying GMO-free status by testing or certified-seed lot is the operation's responsibility.
• On-farm saved seed. If the seed was saved from the operation's own organic crop, it is still considered organic. But it must be documented as such.
• Seedling source. Transplants purchased from a non-organic nursery are non-organic even if grown for only a few weeks before transplant.