Governor Mills and Commissioner Beal Urge USDA to Finalize Origin of Livestock Rules

August 5, 2019 – Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry –  Governor Janet Mills and DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal are calling on USDA Secretary Sonny Purdue to finalize the proposed Origin of Livestock rules to maintain important markets for Maine organic dairy farmers. Because of a lack of clarity in current regulation, some farms outside of Maine have been allowed by their organic certifier to repeatedly transition non-organic livestock into their herd at a lower cost, instead of organically raising substitute cattle after a one-time herd transition. This creates an unlevel playing field for organic farmers in Maine, who are abiding by the original intent of this regulation.