NSAC's Blog

Crop Insurance Rules Challenge Organic and Sustainable Farming Practices

September 30, 2021

Crop insurance definitions for good farming practices are a roadblock to farmers and ranchers trying to develop resilient systems of production.

Is Organic Farming Risky? New Report Suggests No More So Than Non-Organic Farms

October 21, 2019

NCAT’s new report suggests organic farming is no more risky than non-organic farming. The report was funded by a research and education grant from NIFA.

Inter-Agency Blockages Threaten to Halt Further Progress on Organic Crop Insurance

June 3, 2016

Editor’s Note: For more information on the state of organic agriculture, see this article’s sister post: “Consumer Sentiment and Supply Scalability Will Determine Future of Organic Price Premiums“ In just one year’s time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) has more than doubled the number of organic crops that are able to […]

USDA Report Shows Organic Crop Insurance Losses Roughly Track Conventional

May 18, 2016

Organic producers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP), are limited to farming according to a set of practices and standards that must demonstrate a commitment to protecting natural resources and conserving biodiversity. They also may only use NOP-approved substances (e.g., herbicides, fertilizers, etc.). Given organic agriculture’s adherence to a more […]

Weekly Update – December 5, 2008

December 7, 2008

THIS WEEK Ag Appropriations and Stimulus Bill Timing Problem: As we have often reported, the appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2009 got stuck this summer and has remained stuck through the start of the fiscal year on October 1. Now two months into the fiscal year, the process is beginning to move again. Though the […]