According to two recent reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to Congress, the Department is making some significant progress in their effort to increase the availability of data on organic production as well as the availability of insurance options for organic producers. Quality production data and the expansion of insurance options are inexorably […]
Organic
Bipartisan Legislation Proposes Funding Boost for Organic Agriculture Research
Organic is one of the fastest growing sectors of agriculture – over the last several years the organic food industry has been creating jobs at four times the national average. Unfortunately, growth in the organic sector has been held back from reaching its full potential due to a lack of investment in research, education programs, […]
Expanded Options for Organic Certification Cost Share in 2017
Late last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) underwent some significant changes as administration of the program was shifted from the Agricultural Market Service (AMS) to the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The change was intended to expand opportunities for producers and handlers to access certification funding, as when the […]
Report Highlights Barriers and Opportunities for Farmers Interested in Organic
Farmers enter into organic production for many reasons, chief among them are typically a concern for the conservation of natural resources and environmental protection and a desire to benefit from the higher price points that organic products typically demand. With consumer demand for organic products continuing to grow, one might expect more and more farmers […]
Organic Animal Welfare Final Rule – What It Says and What’s Next
Animal living conditions and well being have long been a key component of organic livestock production systems, including allowing animals to exhibit their natural behaviors and have access to their natural diets. However, inconsistencies in organic livestock and poultry production standards have emerged in recent times, causing confusion in the organic marketplace and jeopardizing the […]
Expanded Opportunities for Organic Certification Assistance
The annual process of organic certification can be expensive, but it is an essential step for farmers who hope to capitalize on the growing demand for certified organic foods. Organic certification cost share assistance, available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is one good option for small and mid-sized organic farmers and producers looking to […]
RELEASE: Organic Certification Just Got Easier Thanks to Reformatted Cost Share Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Reana Kovalcik, 202-547-5754, RKovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net Alyssa Charney, 202-547-5754, ACharney@sustainableagriculture.net Organic Certification Just Got Easier Thanks to Reformatted Cost Share Program National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition praises USDA efforts to improve access to organic certification funding Washington DC, December 21, 2016 – Thanks to a newly re-positioned farmer cost share program, announced today […]
$3.8 Million Available for Organic Agriculture Research
Faced with a growing demand for organic products that dramatically outstrips available supply, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. organic industry have steadily increased efforts to bring new farmers and ranchers into the fold. While some organic producers, like Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farms, are funding their own transition initiatives, many others rely […]
New Publications Help Farmers and Certifiers Incorporate Biodiversity Practices on the Farm
Editor’s Note: We are pleased to share the following guest post from Wild Farm Alliance (WFA), an NSAC member organization. The post highlights two publications WFA recently released to support organic farmers as they incorporate biodiversity practices into their operations. There is a direct linkage between conservation practices on the farm and National Organic Program (NOP) standards, and […]
New Organic Champions Opportunity at NRCS
Conservation is in the best interest of all farmers, however, best practices for conservation can vary significantly depending on the region, type of crops or animals raised, and nature of the farming operations. Organic and transitioning-to-organic farmers have particularly unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to on-farm conservation practices. Given the unique-nature of the […]
RFA Roundup: Deadlines for Federal Food and Farm Program Grants
The start-up of the new fiscal year (FY) means that many food and farm programs have started to get out Requests for Applications (RFAs) for their grant programs. While a flood of grant program announcements is generally good news, with so many coming out in the midst of a busy election year, it can be […]
Over $17 Million Available for Organic Research and Extension Initiative Grants
Tis the season…for grant proposals! With the new federal budget year (FY 2017) having started October 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been furiously releasing grants oportunities. Just this month USDA has announced Request for Applications (RFA) for projects to help SNAP users access more healthy foods, increase energy conservation on farms and in […]
Plant Breeding Priorities for Organic Farmers
Editor’s Note: This article is a guest blog by Kristina Hubbard, Director of Advocacy and Communications with the Organic Seed Alliance (OSA). OSA is a non-profit organization based in Port Townsend, WA, and a close partner of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s (NSAC) “Seeds and Breeds” campaign work. Reports Describe Plant Breeding Priorities for Organic Organic Seed Alliance […]
Organic Farming Research Foundation Report Identifies Top Challenges Facing Farmers
Editor’s Note: This article is a guest blog by Brise Tencer, Executive Director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF). OFRF is a National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) member organization based in Santa Cruz and a lead partner on our organic research policy work. The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) is thrilled to announce […]
New Report Highlights Successes and Opportunities For Growth In Organic Research
Research is the unsung hero underpinning every aspect of successful farming. For hundreds of years farmers have driven their own research, sharing their knowledge and experience with one another and passing down tips and techniques through the generations. Today we live in an increasingly connected world, one in which farmers are no longer limited by […]
Guest Post: From Cover Crops to High Tunnels
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), an NSAC member organization. Their post highlights the benefits of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative, which provides financial and technical assistance to support the implementation and installation of conservation practices tailored to organic producers. Despite the significant benefits that the Organic Initiative can […]
Sustainable Agriculture Groups Call for Improved Organic Conservation Support
As demand for organic production continues to grow, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has enormous potential to provide support to transitioning-to-organic farmers through conservation planning and technical and financial assistance. Through their Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative (OI), NRCS offers important conservation supports to organic farmers, but […]
New Report Highlights Need for Organic Seed Breeding
The fresh produce from your local grocery store or farmers’ market may be certified organic, but anywhere from 25-80 percent of it might not have started out that way. A recent report from the Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) reveals that the organic seed industry is far from keeping pace with the growth in demand for […]
Consumer Sentiment and Supply Scalability Will Determine Future of Organic Price Premiums
Editor’s Note: For more information on the state of organic agriculture, see this article’s companion post: “Inter-Agency Blockages Threaten to Halt Further Progress on Organic Crop Insurance“ Consumer demand for organic products has been growing steadily – U.S. organic food sales approached an estimated $37 billion in 2015, up 12 percent from the previous year. […]
Inter-Agency Blockages Threaten to Halt Further Progress on Organic Crop Insurance
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
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 […]
RELEASE: New “Farmers’ Guide” Helps Organic Producers Apply for Buffer Initiative
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition announces the publication of their Organic Farmers’ Guide… Read More →
To Accurately Track Organic Sector Growth, Better Data Collection Is Needed
There is no question that organic production is on the rise. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported twelve percent growth in the organic sector between 2014 and 2015, the highest growth rate the sector has seen since 2008. However, given the diverse sets of data that make up this growth rate, […]
Cost-Share Program Makes Organic Certification More Affordable
As demand for organic products has continued to rise across the country, the industry has struggled to keep pace. Farmers interested in organic production often face significant barriers to entry, such as difficulty accessing or transitioning land, and daunting financial costs. As part of efforts to reduce these barriers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s […]