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NICS NEWS
Jan 1, 2015
Nature’s International Certification Services
Winter Greetings!
As the year comes to a gray and
chilly close, we often find ourselves in a reflective mood. What
did we do well, what challenges
did we face, what could we do
better? As farmers, as certifiers, as
people. Not always easy questions
but good to ponder nonetheless.
Here at NICS we had quite a year
in growth, both in our client base
and staff. We have been working
diligently to finish up the year on a
strong note while getting ready to
send out the 2015 packets. We can
hardly believe it’s that time of year
already, but we are excited for the
months ahead. Thank you for letting us serve you in 2014, and we
look forward to working with you
in 2015.
- Erin Ford
Spray Drift: An
uncomfortable (and
unfortunate)
truth…
While the topic of spray
drift is now ‘out of season’ for most regions, it is
nevertheless an uncomfortable—and unfortunate—truth, for those who
experience it. In 2014, we
had around 5 reported
instances of drift. Unintentional spray drift—and
application—does happen. It is unfortunate and
can cause a host of problems in the life of an organic producer. But, as
that producer, what do
you do?
Inspection Time: Are you ready??
It’s that time of year again, when our annual certification packets arrive on your doorstep. While we try our best to have very
clear information in them, we wanted to give you a quick and
easy checklist to reference.
What is needed to be sent in with the update paperwork?
 Update OSP
 Update Livestock OSP as applicable
 Current year Field Plan
 Seeds, seedlings, and planting stock
 Inputs listings (Crops and Livestock, as applicable)
 Updated maps, if changes have occurred
 Completed fee sheet & fees
What to have prepared and ready for when your inspector comes
to visit?
 Seed tags and receipts
 Input tags and receipts
 Harvest and yield data
 Sales documentation
 Any information requested in your initial review letter.
Please feel free to contact the office if you have any questions,
we’d love to hear from you.
- Lauren Martin
First, contact the office as soon as you know drift/
application has happened. If you suspect that your crop
has been the victim of spray drift, then you need to let
us know right away. You can call, write, or log onto our
website (www.naturesinternational.com) and report it
right there (see picture above) .
Once you have contacted us, we'll send you out the
necessary paperwork to help you help us understand
what happened. By telling us what happened, when,
what was used, and where it was used, we can best determine on our end how to approach and deal with your
situation.
- Chris Fanta
In This Issue
* Winter’s Greetings, 1
* Inspection Time , 1
* Spray Drift, 1
* Dave’s Dialogue, 2-3
* Improved Material Listings, 3
* A Note On Fees, 3
* International Marketing, 4
* 2015 Deadlines, 4
* Producer Meetings, 4
* Natural Resources & Biodiversity, 5
* Meet Our New Staff, 5-6
* On the Road with NICS, 7
Dave’s
Dialogue:
Organic
Community &
Industry
Information
A Few Thoughts
&
Observations
Sitting down to write this column brings 2
words to mind initially: growing pains.
NICS had approximately 260 clients in
2012. We had approximately 490 clients in
2013. And we have reached approximately
720 clients in 2014. We are experiencing
‘growing pains’ and are making specific
efforts and taking specific steps to ensure
that NICS is capable of handling this
growth and is able to continue to provide
reasonably-priced, sensible, simple and
sufficient certification services.
The next 3 words that come to mind are:
do it right.
Some of the tools we are implementing are our
updated database, including continuing to build
upon the materials (inputs) already received,
policy, fee-tracking and internal communication sections. With the growth in clients we
have hired 3 new certification/inspection staff,
as well as added an administrative position.
We continue to emphasize using staff inspectors, with the intent being to have better, more
consistent reports, which makes for better decision making . We encourage your feedback on
how your inspection went, whether you had
This issue of NICS News has several articles by staff that provide further
information about areas of certification that we hope will help you better
understand how certification works. We are making extensive efforts to
have the paperwork and organic requirements be as easily understood and
met as possible. And we welcome ideas and suggestions from you.
There are, nevertheless, three items I would like to call special attention
to: Fees (A Note On Fees- pg. 3); Deadlines (2015 Deadlines- pg. 4); and
Sanctions (below).
Fees
As is noted in “A Note On Fees”, we are raising the inspection fee
deposit amount for crop farms from $200 to $300, for livestock/
crop farms from $250 to $350, and for processors from $250 to
“This issue of
$400. This fee has been misunderstood by clients in the past,
NICS News has with many thinking the deposit was the full amount that the
several articles inspection would cost. Average costs for crop, crop/livestock
and processing inspections have been much closer to and usuby staff that
ally more than the new inspection deposit fees we will be
provide further
charging in 2015. However, with the increase in the deposit,
the cost overruns will be much less.
information
about areas of
As for the inspection fee itself, this charge is at cost, and incertification that cludes inspector expenses and a $25 administrative fee we
charge for handling the report/billing/follow-up communicawe hope will
tions
for all inspections. Our inspection costs are comparahelp you better
tively (to other certification agencies) reasonable, and we will
understand how continue to make every effort to be as efficient and effective in
grouping inspection schedules as we can.
certification
works.”
Deadlines
For example, on our farm we are replacing
2 roofs this fall, both of them buildings I
built myself in 1986, one a drive-thru corn
crib, the other the ‘yogurt factory’ we had
planned to pursue in the late ’80s but did not. In
both of them I used 16” on-center rafters and
5/8” underlay versus 24” on-center rafters and
1/2” underlay. Both roof structures were/are
straight and sound after 28 years upon removing the old 3-tab shingles, and we will soon
have new steel roofs on both buildings.
My point here is simply that, while NICS is
experiencing the above mentioned growing
pains, we are building on a foundation, on a
structure that is sound and will be able to come
through the years in good shape, too.
a contract inspector or a staff inspector, so we can use that input going
forward.
While NICS, unlike most agencies, does not have a late fee, we are
implementing paperwork deadlines. Note that we are again offering the 2
level ‘early-bird’ fee discount, after which we will be implementing deadlines, with the hope and intent being that we will have all update/renewal
applications in by July 1. We hope that this will help you get your paperwork into the office in a more timely manner, which will help us a great
deal in being able to schedule timely and cost-effective inspections. See
page 4 for more details
Sanctions
A “sanction” is a communication from us to you requiring you to provide
us with information and/or fees that are above and beyond the initial requests for information and fees/billings. These communications will be
sent to you in the following ways: the Interim Certification Decision Letter, an email, phone call and/or post card, or Fees Letter with a Statement
of Account. Sanctions are only issued when we do not receive the requested information and/or fees in the time allotted, and they are known as:
Noncompliances, Proposed Suspensions, and Suspensions.
Ideally none of these would have to happen, if you were to respond to the
original requests for information. When we do not get a timely response a
Noncompliance is sent, and lacking a timely response to the Noncompliance, a Proposed Suspension is sent. We avoid issuing Suspension sanctions as much as we can, and use it only as a last resort when the client
does not respond at all. Even then we take special steps to contact the
affected operation to make sure they have received the sanctions and
understand what is happening.
2
Dave’s Dialogue Cont’d
A suspended operation cannot sell organic product,
and more importantly, then cannot get certified again
until:
 They have addressed and corrected the issues
leading to the Suspension
 They have reapplied for certification (with any
agency)
 They are re-inspected
 The NOP issues a Reinstatement Decision.
Bluntly, it is akin to running a diesel out of fuel: a
huge bother and frustration. You do not want to allow
sanctions to reach this point.
If you have questions about any of this, please do not
hesitate to call the office, so we can perhaps help you
in understanding what we are requesting when we
send a sanction and why.
In closing, I again met many of you this year while
doing your inspection. And I continue to be impressed
with the wide range of efforts being made by many of
you to not only comply with the Rule, but to also reflect good— and even best— management practices,
particularly along the lines of crop rotation and cover
crops/plowdown crops.
The organic marketplace overall (more for some products than others) is strong, with continued growth
expected, primarily because more and more people
care about what they are eating, making organic products a desirable choice when they choose what to eat,
especially for their (and/or their children’s) health,
but also for the health of the environment.
But, as I shared above, a solid base is needed to build
any structure or business, and in most cropping situations, a diverse crop rotation and cover crops are key
to establishing a production base on which to produce
crops with quality and in quantity. Please also see the
“Natural Resources & Biodiversity: We are from
the Government and here to help…” (pg. 5)
- Dave Engel
Improved Material Input Listings
In the course of the past year, NICS has sent the majority of our clients an updated Material Input Listing
(MIL). This is a compilation of all inputs used in your
organic system: the Crop Input Listing (CIL), Livestock Input Listing (LIL), and/or Handler Material
Listing (HML). For updating clients, these initially
arrived with your 2014 update paperwork last January. Please review the MIL for accuracy, and note on
the form which products you are using in the coming
year, as well as those products that you will not
use again, or that you are out of temporarily but still want to use. This
can be sent to the office when you return your update paperwork.
As applicable, please note the restrictions if a product is listed as
“restricted”. If you have questions about any restriction, as always,
please do not hesitate to contact the office.
Finally, anytime a product is added to your organic system, it should
be added to this list. Products that are OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) listed, or listed by the WSDA (Washington State Department of Ag) are approved for use by NICS when used according to
their restrictions. There are many other inputs that have been approved
for use by NICS. If you would like to add something to your list that is
not OMRI or WSDA listed, you must verify with NICS that the product is acceptable for use, prior to using it in your organic system.
- Elizabeth Tigan
A Note On Fees
The only change in fees is an increase in the inspection fee deposit. An
inspection fee ‘deposit’ is a down payment on the inspection cost. All
inspections are ‘at-cost’, meaning you are only charged for the cost of
the inspection, which includes: a) the base fee; b) expenses; and c) a
$25 administrative fee. This year we have raised the deposit/down payment in an effort to better cover all of the base/expense/administrative
parts of the inspection fee upfront.
Most crop inspections have been running in the $300 range (including
base/expense/administrative costs), hence we have raised the inspection fee deposit from $200 to $300.
Most livestock inspections have been running in the $350 range
(including base/expense/administrative costs), hence we have raised
the inspection fee deposit from $250 to $350.
And most processing inspections have been running in the $400 range
(including base/expense/administrative costs), hence we have raised
the inspection fee deposit from $250 to $400.
Our Certification Fees will stay the same:

Crops $300.00

Livestock $100.00

Processing/Handling Follows the char t on the Fee Sheet.
Last but not least, the Cost Share Reimbursement Program will be
available again in 2015. This is a timely, attractive cost-share program
from the USDA and Congress meant to help offset any fees paid for
certification. It pays 75% of the total certification fees (including inspections) or up to $750.00 for each scope you are certified for, whichever is less. For example, if you have paid $1000.00 for your crop certification and $1000.00 for your livestock certification, then you could
receive $1500.00 back from your State department of agriculture.
Note, this reimbursement is done by each State. If you do not get your
application for this program from your state by July 1, 2015, please
call the office, and we can send you your State’s information along
with your statement of fees paid. Your statement of fees paid shows
what scope the fees are for and is a necessary document you will need
to submit to your State along with the application from your State.
- Dee Malsack
3
International Marketing - What are your
options?
During the last few years, a number of international marketing options have developed, thanks to efforts on the part of
both the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
and the NOP (National Organic Program). They have
worked with Canada, Europe, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea,
and as a result, have gained organic equivalencies between
the US and these countries.
As a normal part of your certification—ie, the paperwork
you provide and the inspection and final review we do—we
are verifying your crop commodities to the Canadian, European, Japanese, and Taiwanese equivalencies as part of the
certification process. Each country has its own set of allowances and prohibitions, with most of them being inputs that
are used as part of your organic system plan.
To sum up the international marketing verification that is
performed prior to granting certification, the following is
what we are looking for with regards to these markets:
Canada: Use of sodium (Chilean) nitr ate, as well as hydroponic and aeroponic production
Europe: Apple and pear pr oduction without the use of
antibiotics (streptomycin and tetracycline)
Japan: NOP compliance
Taiwan: NOP compliance.
Upon request, we will provide you with an updated Profile
of Organic Operation certificate indicating which commodity is eligible for the international marketing option of your
choice. To officially request international marketing, you
can chose to update this option on your Crop Organic System Plan update form in the table on page 2. For new clients
to NICS, they can chose the international marketing option
on page 1 of their Crop OSP long form.
As always, please feel free to contact the office with any
questions at any time.
- Chris Fanta
2015 Deadlines
While the ‘early-bird’ fee has been popular and something
that many took advantage of—approximately 45% of you
for the $50 early bird level (ie, before March 1) and approximately 14% of you for the $25 early bird level (ie, before
April 1)—there were still approximately 31% of you that
sent your applications in after July 1.
This year we will be sending a Reminder out on May 1 to all
those who did not take advantage of the early-bird fee levels/
dates. On June 1 we will be sending out a Noncompliance.
On July 1 we will be sending out a Proposed Suspension.
Please note that most if not all certification agencies have
these same deadlines AND a late fee. And most certification
agencies will not accept applications after September 1st. We
will continue to make exceptional efforts to contact you when
we reach the Proposed Suspension sanction stage, in order to
avoid Suspension. As noted above in Dave’s Dialogue (see pg.
2). we want to avoid ‘running the diesel out of fuel’, but at a
certain point—lacking any response from you—suspension
will happen (unfortunately).
The early-bird fee is the carrot. The deadlines are the stick.
And a diesel out of fuel is ‘the pits’. If you have questions
about the update applications that you have received, do not
hesitate to call us. Winter-time is an excellent opportunity to
get your update applications into the office in a timely manner. Keep in touch, call with questions.
- Dave Engel
Early Bird Producer Meetings and NICS Open
House
We continue to receive positive feedback about the producer
meetings, and this will be our 3rd year holding these meetings
in several areas. It’s an opportunity for us to get together for a
bite to eat, work on and submit the 2015 application, and to be
an early bird! Dave will be attending four of the conferences
listed below. Please call him if you are interested in meeting
with him to go over paperwork, etc.
This is what we are planning so far:
January 20 – 21st - Heart of America Grazing Conference, Columbus OH – Dave will be attending
January 22 – 23rd – Ohio Grazing Conference, Dalton
OH – Dave will be attending
Cashton, WI – a Tuesday in February (date to be announced soon)
Wilton, WI – a Tuesday in February (date to be announced soon)
Coloma, WI – a Tuesday in February (date to be announced soon)
Hazleton, IA – a Tuesday in February (date to be announced soon)
Edgewood, IA – a Tuesday in February (date to be announced soon)
February 5th at the Missouri Organic Conference,
Springfield MO (meeting from 3 – 5 pm)
February 6 – 7th – Northern Indiana Grazing Conference,
Howe, IN – Dave will be attending
NICS Open House, Viroqua, WI – February 18th – 20th
(complete and drop off your application and have
some refreshments)
March 4th – Southern Indiana Grazing Conference, Odon
IN – Dave will be attending
If you are able to round up at least 10 organic producers who
may be interested in certifying or discussing certification, we
would consider holding meetings in other areas, but these
would need to fit with staff availability, scheduling, and
geographic region. If you would like to discuss this, give us a
call. We hope to see you in February!
- Diane Collins
4
If you have an interest in reading both the draft guidance and
the invitation to submit comments, please either go to both
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?
dDocName=STELPRDC5110083 for a copy of the draft guidEarlier this year all certifiers—there are approximately 50
ance and to http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-12-29/
domestic/US-based Accredited Certification Agencies/
pdf/2014-30303.pdf for more information on how and what to
ACAs—received a survey from the NOP (National Organcomment, or call the office, and we will send you both the
ic Program) asking a series of questions
draft guidance (9 pages) and the information on how/
about natural resources and biodiversity.
“The good news is that the what to comment (ie, the Federal Register notice, 2
way we farm and make our pages), so you can submit comments to the NOP.
NICS clients will remember these sections
in the crop long form application, and while living farming more or less
automatically incorporates While I think this step by the NOP in this direction is
we do want to know what your soil types
conservation practices and a valid step and direction to take—indeed, it is why
are, whether you test your soils or crops,
whether you have bird/bee/bat house, if you some aspect of biodiversi- many of us farm, enjoy farming, find pleasure in livhave nutrient deficiencies and erosion prob- ty. The bad news will be if ing on a farm, find farming a satisfying challenge, and
is why we choose to farm organically, without chemilems, and if you use cover crops/plowdown an inspector or certifier
cals, using crop rotation, etc—I am concerned that the
decides you are not doing
crops, we have not been required so far to
validity and directional ‘help’ the NOP hopes to acbase our final certification decisions on
enough.”
complish by increasing the emphasis on the degree of
these metrics.
regulatory compliance of these requirements will possibly be a ‘two-edged’ sword, creating confusion and unnecesWith the draft guidance which the NOP published on Desary sanctions down the road, very likely based on unfounded
cember 29, 2014—and to which they are inviting public
and ill-informed assessing done by an inexperienced inspector,
comment by February 27, 2015, see below—there is a
in other words, one who has never had to make their living
distinct move by the NOP to require certifiers via their
farming.
inspectors to look for and gather information on soils,
crops, water, and your farming practices in order to try to
More on this topic as it unfolds. In the meantime, continue to
assess whether or not natural resources—including biodiidentify and use good management practices, including multiversity—are being ‘maintained or improved’.
ple crops in a rotation, using waterways to help with water
quality, having edges/woods on your farm for wildlife, putting
While most if not all farmers farm based on how their parin birdhouses, using cover crops/plowdown crops, selective use
ents or neighbors or community have farmed before and
of purchased inputs per soil/tissue tests and in general encouraround them—with a primary aim at making a living—this
aging crop and livestock biodiversity, with an eye to being
(at-present) draft guidance is aiming to make conservation
successful commercially, as well.
- Dave Engel
of natural resources and biodiversity a primary compliance
metric, which so far they have not been.
Natural Resources & Biodiversity: We are
from the Government and here to help….
The good news is that the way we farm and make our living farming more or less automatically incorporates conservation practices and some aspect of biodiversity (eg,
crop rotation, cover crops/plowdown crops, having multiple species on a farm, waterways, etc). The bad news will
be if an inspector or certifier decides you are not doing
enough.
NICS will continue to gather this information on our
forms and at our inspections. We will continue to ensure
that this information is complete and applicable to each
farm, and we will continue to encourage good management practices with both crops and animals, including
waterways, bedding for animals, having a pasture plan,
use of edges/woods/overgrown fence lines, basic crop
rotation, use of cover crops/plowdown crops and use of
purchased fertility inputs.
Occasional erosion, predominant weeds in any given crops
(ie, ‘weedy’ fields), animals having access to ‘live’ water
(ponds, creeks), actual numbers and types of species on
any given farm, quality of crops, obvious use of purchased
fertility inputs and other areas of crop/livestock management are all being brought forth in the NOP’s draft guidance documents as areas to be scrutinized and measured
and assessed in order for compliance to be approved and
on which a certificate will be issued.
Meet Our New Staff
This year at NICS as our farmer family grew so did our
certification crew! We are happy
to have them on board to help us
meet your needs.
Tod Pulvermacher,
Certification Specialist/
Staff Inspector
Tod grew up on an organic dairy farm in Bear Valley WI, and
currently rents his grandparents’ small organic farm in Spring
Green WI. With a Bachelors Degree from UW Platteville, Tod
enjoys doing field work for his organic farming family and
friends. “I am proud to be part of a company that does such
important work to help further the cause of organic agriculture,” he says.
His passions include traveling, renewable energy, sustainable
agriculture and motorcycles.
“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the
drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the
earth.” -Henry David Thoreau, Walden
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only
one page.” - St. Augustine
5
Kris Olson,
Certification Specialist/
Staff Inspector
Kris hails from Madison
WI, and now lives in Genoa WI, with his wife Megan and new son, Ezio. He
worked at Organic Valley
before NICS, and helps on his wife’s family’s farm.
“I came to NICS because I have worked on the farm and the
marketing side of organics, and wanted to try to help farmers become organic.”
In his spare time he enjoys home brewing, canning, reading
and farming.
“Humor is the only test of gravity, and gravity of humor; for
a subject which will not bear raillery is suspicious, and a
jest which will not bear serious examination is false wit.” Aristotle
Diana Horan,
Certification Specialist/Staff
Inspector
Diana Horan has worked with us
since early spring, working with
many of your files on the phone and
by email. She wants to let you all
know she enjoys, appreciates very
much—and is honored to have—the
opportunity to work individually with
your farms and processing operations; and she is looking
forward to more next year as NICS grows.
Keith Role,
Accounts Manager
Keith grew up on a farm outside of
Chaseburg WI. He and his wife Brit live
in Viroqua, and are blessed with a son, 2
step-daughters and 4 grandchildren. He
has worked for Vernon County, Dahl
Pharmacy, La Crosse Visiting Nurses &
the Family & Children’s Center. He enjoys working out, golf (the older I get, the closer I get to
shooting my age, he says), and spending time with family.
Erin Ford,
Marketing Director/Administration
Team
Erin grew up in Milwaukee WI and
moved to the Driftless Region 15
years ago. She has lived on various
organic farms, producing maple syrup, crops and raising livestock. She
began the Farmer Sustainability & Renewable Energy Program
at Organic Valley, helping farmers across the country identify
eligibility and get funding for alternative energy projects.
“I’m excited to come full circle and be a part of the roots of
organic farming working with NICS, and Dave, a farmer I know
and respect from my days at OV.”
Erin is dedicated to her two daughters, and enjoys farming, canoeing, hiking, sharing meals and playing southern roots &
bluegrass music with friends.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” - Martin
Luther King Jr.
Wally Hustad,
Certification Specialist/Staff
Inspector
Wally came from Clancy MT, though
he originally hails from Eden Prairie
MN. He lives with his animal family;
one dog (Rez) a cat (Name’), and two
horses (Budd & Lil T).
A jack of all trades, Wally’s talents
vary from landscaping to real estate
development, corporate media training and production to martial arts instructor/director and NASKA world class competitor.
Wally is passionate about life and the pursuit of his creative,
true expression.
“I feel that I am at NICS because it was meant to be,” he says,
simply.
“According to your belief is it done unto you.” - Matthew 9:29
“There never was a good war or a bad peace.” – Benjamin
Franklin
“Farmers farm for the love of
farming. They love to watch and
nurture the growth of plants. They
love to live in the presence of animals. They love to work outdoors.
They love to live where they work
and to work where they live. They
love, they love, they love…”
- Wendell berry
6
Classifieds

On The
Road
With
NICS
For Sale: Red Waddle hogs, or der by the pig, but specific cuts may be available upon request!
Contact Melvin Miller via letter, or just stop on over: 1887 7th
Avenue, Chetek WI 54728

Wanted: Nests with egg belt & bir d push-out system for
3000 birds.

For Sale: 5’x9’ self-supporting rubber coated slats for
farrowing. $40./ea
Contact Ervin Miller, E17311 Kolash Rd., Hillsboro WI 54634

There are several conferences that NICS will be traveling to
this winter. If you are planning to attend any of these conferences that are posted below, stop by the NICS booth and say
hello, we would love to meet you.
January 9-10: Minnesota Organic Conference, St. Cloud
MN, with Diana Hor an
January 15-17: Grassworks/Wisconsin Grazing Conference, Wisconsin Dells WI, with Elizabeth Tigan
January 20-21: Heart of America Grazing Conference,
Columbus OH, with Dave Engel (Producer meetings in
area, upon request)
January 22-23: Ohio Grazing Conference, Dalton OH,
with Dave Engel (Producer meetings in area, upon request)
January 25-27: Wisconsin Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Conference, Wisconsin Dells WI, with Dee Malsack
January 23-24: Northern Plains Sustainable Ag Conference, Aberdeen SD, with Kr is Olson
January 29-31: Texas Organic Farmers & Growers Conference, San Antonio TX, with Dee Malsack
February 5-7: Missouri Organic Conference, Springfield
MO, with Dee Malsack and Chr is Fanta (Producer meeting at this conference)
February 6-7: Northern Indiana Grazing Conference,
Howe IN, with Dave Engel (Producer meetings in area,
upon request)
Wanted: Certified organic herd, 25-30 head. Prefer
Holstein but open.
Contact Alex Hansen: 608-462-4317
******
A husband and wife were driving down a country lane
on their way to visit some friends. They came to a muddy patch in the road and the car became bogged. After
a few minutes of trying to get the car out by themselves,
they saw a young farmer coming down the lane, driving
some oxen before him.
He stopped when he saw the couple in trouble and offered to pull the car out of the mud for $50. The husband accepted and minutes later the car was free.
The farmer turned to the husband and said, "
“You
know, you're the tenth car I've helped out of the mud
today.”
The husband looks around at the fields incredulously
and asks the farmer, "
“When do you have time to plough
your land? At night?”
“No,” the young farmer replied seriously, “Night is
"
when I put the water in the hole."
February 14: Sustainable Farming Association, St. Joseph MN, (staff to be determined)
February 26-28: The Organic Conference, La Crosse WI,
all NICS Staff will be present
March 4,: Southern Indiana Grazing Conference, Odon
IN, with Dave Engel (Producer meetings upon request)
- Dee Malsack
7
Contact Us
Erin Ford, Marketing Director/Administration Team
Office: 608-637-7080 Fax: -608-637-7460
[email protected]
224 East STH 56, Viroqua WI 54665
Info: nics@natur esinter national.com
Lauren Martin, Certification Specialist/Staff
Inspector
Website: www.natur esinter national.com
[email protected]
Diana Horan, Certification Specialist
Dave Engel, Executive Director
[email protected]
[email protected]
Kris Olson, Certification Specialist/Staff Inspector
Cell: 608-632-1226
[email protected]
Dee Malsack, Administrative Director
[email protected]
Tod Pulvermacher, Certification Specialist/Staff
Inspector
Chris Fanta, Quality Systems Director
[email protected]
[email protected]
Wally Hustad, Certification Specialist/Staff Inspector
Diane Collins, Inspector Operations Director
[email protected]
[email protected]
Lynn Johansen, Certification Specialist/Staff
Inspector
Elizabeth Tigan, Certification Director
[email protected]
[email protected]
Keith Role, Accounts Manager
[email protected]
PLACE
STAMP
HERE
Nature’s International Certification Services
224 East State Hwy 56,
Viroqua WI 54665
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