This post is the second in a two-part series highlighting farmers recognized as White House Champions of Change for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture. This post features Martin Kleinschmit of Nebraska. On October 26, the White House honored 12 farmers and educators as White House Champions of Change for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture. We congratulate all of these hardworking individuals for […]
Organic
White House Honors Champion of Change for Sustainable Agriculture: Loretta Jaus
This post is the first in a two-part series highlighting farmers recognized as White House Champions of Change for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture. This post features Loretta Jaus of Gibbon, Minnesota. On October 26, the White House honored 12 farmers and educators as White House Champions of Change for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture. We congratulate all of these hardworking individuals […]
Revitalizing the Farm through Organic Transition
Last week we highlighted two Iowa farmers who enrolled in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative while they transitioned to organic production. The Organic Initiative, administered by NRCS, provides financial assistance to organic and transitioning producers to implement and install conservation practices tailored to organic producers. Organic and transitioning producers can apply for funds through […]
Using EQIP to Go Organic
Farmers who transition to organic production gain environmental as well as economic benefits when they make the switch to organic. However, these producers take on significant costs during the transition when the organic price premium is not yet reflected in their sales. Transitioning producers also face a unique set of conservation challenges. This guest post from […]
Over $25 Million for Organic Research Awarded
On Tuesday, October 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced over $25 million in grants to support organic farming research. The money was awarded through the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) — the flagship research competitive grants program dedicated to funding research relevant to organic producers […]
Guest Post: Touring Sustainable WA Farms with Representative Newhouse’s Staff and Tilth Producers
We’re pleased to share this piece from NSAC member organization Tilth Producers of Washington, written by Ariana Taylor-Stanley. It was originally published on Tilth Producers of Washington’s blog and has been reposted with permission. Congress on the Farm While Congress was on August recess, Tilth Producers hosted Kyle Kunkler, DC Agriculture Staffer for Congressman Dan Newhouse, for […]
Organic Production Survey: A Deeper Dive
This blog explores several areas of the 2014 Organic Production Survey that have not been extensively covered already. The areas include: demographics and income, crop insurance use, USDA conservation program participation, and the source of the overall loss of organic acreage…. Read More →
New Publication Highlights Opportunities and Challenges for Organic Transition
Farmers and ranchers transition to organic production for a wide range of environmental, economic, and production reasons, but throughout the transition process, they may also encounter challenges regarding labor requirements, input supplies, weed management, yields, or cash flow. A new publication, Making the Transition to Organic: Ten Farm Profiles, highlights organic opportunities and offers strategies to […]
What We Can Learn from the 2014 Organic Production Survey
Last week the National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) released the results of the 2014 Organic Production Survey. This is the first comprehensive survey of the organic industry since 2008…. Read More →
RELEASE: New Data Shows Organic Farmers Continue to Expand Markets and Increase Sales
Contact: Paul Wolfe or Juli Obudzinski, 202-547-5754 New Data Shows Organic Farmers Continue to Expand Markets and Increase Sales Washington, D.C., September 17 — Today, The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) released results from the 2014 Organic Production Survey. This is the first comprehensive snapshot of organic agriculture since 2008. “This survey is […]
USDA Launches First Non-GE/GMO Weekly Report
This month the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published the first non-GE/GMO weekly report. AMS publishes the new report every Wednesday to provide prices for non-GE/GMO corn and soybeans. The non-GE/GMO weekly report aims to help producers that are thinking about transitioning to organic production, according to Craig Morris, Deputy Administrator of the Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program […]
Good News for Organic Farmers: RMA Announces More Organic Price Elections
The US Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has announced 14 new Organic Price Elections to be added to the 28 that are already available, expanding crop insurance options for organic farmers. These new organic price elections will be available for the 2016 crop year. Organic price elections allow organic farmers to insure their […]
DARK Act Approved by the House Agriculture Committee
On Tuesday, July 14, the House Agriculture Committee approved the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, also known as the “Deny Americans’ Right to Know” or DARK Act by opponents. The passage of the most recent version of the bill gives more authority to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to oversee voluntary non-GMO […]
Obama Administration Tackles Biotechnology Regulatory Process
On Thursday, July 2, the Obama Administration released an executive memorandum requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reconsider and update their regulatory process for biotechnology products. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy initially tasked these three federal agencies with oversight […]
Funding for Risk Management Education Available – Includes Whole Farm Revenue Protection Training
Risk Management Education Partnerships On Wednesday, July 1, USDA’s Risk Management Agency announced via website press release its Request for Applications (RFA) for the Risk Management Education Partnerships Program. Approximately $2.0 million in funds is available for the program. The RFA itself is available on the RMA website as well as on grants.gov here. The […]
2016 Funding Bill Opens Payment Loophole, Cuts Conservation and Renewable Energy
On Thursday, June 18, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee passed its funding bill for fiscal year (FY) 2016. Overall, the bill provides $20.65 billion in discretionary funding, $175 million less than last year’s enacted level and a whopping $1.1 billion less than the USDA request. The full House Appropriations Committee will now take up the […]
Status of Farm Bill Organic Price Election Mandate
Recently, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) posted a new report on its website outlining progress on developing organic price elections. The report was transmitted to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees in March 2015. The report outlines RMA’s progress on and strategies for establishing organic price elections. In a provision NSAC helped champion, the 2014 […]
Upcoming Deadlines for Federal Farm and Food Programs
With seeds in the soil and summer approaching, deadlines for federal farm and food grant programs are coming up as quickly as your seedlings! For farmers, ranchers, and groups who work with producers, the next few months are critical to ensure timely and successful completion of applications, so read on! NSAC has compiled a list of upcoming deadlines […]
New Research: Organic Systems Provide More Market and Ecosystem Value than Conventional Farms
This blog post was originally published by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, an NSAC member organization. We reprint it here with permission. A newly-published study comparing organically-managed and conventional farmland in New Zealand found that organic fields consistently provide more value per acre in the production of beans, peas, barley and wheat. The study, authored by […]
Organic Certification Cost Share Now Available for 2015
On Thursday, May 14, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of approximately $11.9 million in funding for organic certification cost-share assistance for organic producers and handlers through state departments of agriculture. Payments for certification-related expenses incurred from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015 can cover up to 75 percent of an individual […]
Whole Farm Revenue Protection Policy Reaches First Year Milestone
Early Data Shows Whole-Farm has Increased Sales in its First Year The last day to purchase a Whole Farm Revenue Insurance (WFRP) policy passed on March 15, and the first sales statistics for the new policy are beginning to become clear. To date, RMA has reported that 1046 WFRP policies were sold for the 2015 […]
Upcoming: Organic Working Group Webinar
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic Working Group will be hosting a webinar on April 29 to showcase a variety of resources for farmers interested in organic. The webinar will take place at 1:00 pm eastern time. The webinar will feature presentations on the process to obtain an organic certification, organic labeling, and […]
Upcoming Deadlines for Federal Food and Farm Programs
NSAC has compiled a list of April through June deadlines for grant applications and grant assistance workshops…. Read More →
Bill to Thwart GMO Labeling Effort is Back
Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) has reintroduced his bill that would block federal and state efforts to require the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Vermont, Maine, and Connecticut have passed laws requiring GMO labeling, and many more states are currently considering similar legislation. “Right to Know” GMO labeling ballot initiatives were narrowly defeated […]