CERTIFIER: Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
| WEB SITE | www.texasagriculture.gov/RegulatoryPrograms/Organics.aspx |
| NOP INFORMATION | organic.ams.usda.gov/integrity/CP/CertifierProfilePage.aspx?cid=77 |
| HEADQUARTERS | Austin, TX |
| US CERTIFIED OPERATION LOCATIONS | NM, OK, TX, WA |
| ACCREDITED SCOPES | CROPS, HANDLING, LIVESTOCK |
TDA is associated with certifying factory farms, particularly the mega-dairy Natural Prairie. Both TDA and Natural Prairie have been accused of non-compliance with the organic standards.
Freedom of Information Act disclosures show that TDA has had multiple, serious non-compliances in years past. These non-compliances included not conducting the annual inspections approximately 22% of their clients one year, not having sufficient certification review personnel to comply with and implement the organic certification program, and not conducting unannounced inspections. Overall, TDA has a history of non-compliances coupled with certifying some of the most egregious factory farms.
Although TDA does not certify them all there are just six certified organic dairies in the entire state of Texas. Those industrial-scale operations, according to the most recent USDA data, produce 1.4 times more milk than 453 certified dairies in the state of Wisconsin (they are not all small, one Wisconsin dairy milk 600 cows).
CERTIFIER STANDING: Undermining the true meaning of organics
| Criteria | Comments |
|---|---|
| Hydroponic Details | Unconfirmed |
| Material Review | Unconfirmed |
| Fee Structure | See website for more information. |
| Inspectors | History of not having enough trained reviewers on staff. |
| Imports | Unconfirmed |
| Farm Sizes | Certifies at least some large “factory farms.” |
| Outdoor Access for Poultry | Unconfirmed |
| Pasture Access | Certifies factory-dairy operations with improper pasture use. |
| Livestock Alterations | Unconfirmed |
| Origin of Livestock | Certifies factory dairy that likely cycle conventional livestock in and out of the organic marketplace. |
| Antibiotics in Livestock | Unconfirmed |
| Inspections | Has a history of non-compliance concerning proper inspection. |
| Residue Testing | Unconfirmed |
| Producer Support Services | Unconfirmed |