Renkert Oil’s PSO 70 agricultural spray oil is now approved for use for pest and plant disease control in certified organic operations under the USDA National Organic Program.
This approval comes through the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), a nonprofit organization that provides independent review of products against organic standards.
As a paraffinic spray oil, PSO 70 offers superior purity at an ideal viscosity compared with traditional organic spray oil alternatives.
In this article, we’ll answer key questions for agricultural product makers and organic farmers:
- What does it mean for a paraffinic spray oil to be OMRI Listed®?
- What rules apply to its use in organic farming operations?
- What are the benefits for organic farmers?
- What are the product specifications for Renoil PSO 70?
1. What does it mean for an agricultural spray oil to be OMRI Listed?
OMRI determines the suitability of products for organic farming using one or more of three standards according to U.S., Mexican, and/or Canadian law. The U.S. NOP is the standard used for PSO 70 and all products produced in the U.S.
Products fall into one of several use classes. Agricultural spray oil falls into the Crop Pest, Weed, and Disease Control category (abbreviated CP).
This means that the use of this paraffinic spray oil as an insecticide, acaricide (suffocating mites and ticks), and fungicide is in keeping with the standards for the production of USDA Certified Organic foods.
2. How can U.S. organic farmers use this agricultural spray oil under federal law?
At this time, the OMRI certification is limited to the use of PSO 70 for crop protection (within the CP category), and has a Generic Material listing under “Oils, Horticultural.”
But farmers must also meet additional requirements for organic agricultural operations.
As outlined in federal code 205.206(e), organic farmers must also have in place all other available preventative, mechanical, physical, and other pest, weed, and disease management practices.
3. What are the benefits of using PSO 70 as an alternative to traditional organic spray oils?
This is great news for organic farmers interested in surpassing the efficacy of traditional organic pesticides within NOP standards.
As a horticultural oil, paraffinic white oil is excellent for suffocating aphids, mites, mealybugs, and other unwelcome crop consumers. Its fungicidal effect also makes it useful for fighting Sigatoka, powdery mildew, and similar diseases – all without the use of chemical pesticides.
It offers additional advantages over typical organic options, such as vegetable oil:
- PSO’s very high purity minimizes the risk of phytotoxicity, or the risk of “burning” plants’ leaves, due to overheating in the spring and summer sun.
- Its low viscosity (SUS 70) offers superior wetting in emulsified agricultural spray applications, offering a through, even coat.
- Renoil PSO 70 also has the highest unsulfonated residue among paraffinic spray oils on the market (99%), making it extremely safe for plants and consumers.
Paraffinic spray oil is not only as safe but is in some cases safer than some organic options.
For example, despite being a “natural,” organic product, Rotenone was removed from the Federal Register of allowable organic pesticides in 2019 due in part to its association with Parkinson’s disease. This goes to show that “natural” does not always mean safe.
This makes the chemically inert Renoil PSO 70 an excellent option to increase crop yield while maintaining the integrity of the Certified Organic label, in the spirit of quality, purity, and safety.
4. What are the product specifications for Renoil PSO 70?
Renoil PSO 70:
- Meets all requirements for FDA Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, 178.3620(b)&(c).
- Exhibits low toxicity and is inherently biodegradable.
- Requires no special health precautions in handling as an agricultural spray oil as no adverse health effects are expected when properly handled and used.
Test Results
| Properties | ASTM | Specification | Results |
| Viscosity SUS @100F | D445 | 61-78 | 70 |
| Viscosity cSt @40C | D445 | 10-14 | 12.1 |
| API Gravity | D1298 | 38.2 | |
| Specific Gravity@ 60/60F | D1298 | 0.8317 | |
| Density lb/gallon @60F | 6.94 | ||
| Pour Point F (C) | D97 | 6(-21) | -33 (-36) |
| Flash Point F (C) COC | D92 | 350(177)min | 378 (192) |
| Color Saybolt | D156 | +20 | +30 |
| Unsulfonated Residue % | D483 | 92 min | 99 |
| Aniline Point F (C) | D611 | 208(98) | |
| Vacuum Distillation Midpoint 50% F Range 90%-10% F | D1160 | 435+/-8 80 max | 440 61 |
Renoil PSO 70 Agricultural Spray Oil: Performance for Organic Farmers
With this OMRI approval, organic farmers meeting all other federal requirements can now use Renoil PSO 70 with confidence as an effective pesticide and fungicide and year-round “summer oil.”
- OMRI Listed
- Optimal viscosity of 70 SUS
- Purity that exceeds unsulfonated residue requirements (99%)
- Very low risk of phytotoxicity
- Inherently biodegradable
- Effective, without chemical pesticides
In addition, this product is supplied exclusively by Renkert Oil, a supplier that has spent decades building a robust infrastructure and deep inventory to consistently meet the needs of agriculture and many other industries.
That’s what makes Renkert Oil the leader in product selection and supply security for specialty oils today.
To learn more about our Safe Quality Food certification, extensive product listing, logistics solutions, consultation on cost-effective product formulations and more, contact us now.
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