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Keep up with upcoming EVENTS. Wisconsin Research Shows that Organic Farming is as Productive as Conventional and that Weeds and Weather Matter Organic Cost Share again offered by MDA September 2007 - St. Paul, MN. Organic farmers and processors can receive a partial rebate for the cost of organic certification through a Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) program. The MDA is now accepting applications for organic certification cost-share payments. All applications must be postmarked by November 15, 2007. See the MDA website for an application packet or call Meg Moynihan (651) 201-6616 for more information. Genetically Engineered Alfalfa Hotline - NEW!! September 2007 USDA is providing a list of states and counties in which Roundup Ready alfalfa is grown as part of a court order which vacated USDA's 2005 decision to deregulate Roundup Ready Alfalfa. View a list of Roundup Ready alfalfa locations in the United States at www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/alfalfa_locations.shtml. APHIS has also made available a toll-free telephone number for use by conventional and organic alfalfa farmers and prospective alfalfa farmers to inquire about the proximity of their farms or fields to Roundup Ready Alfalfa. Callers must comply with the following two requirements: * Callers must be a person who either currently plants conventional or organic alfalfa or plans to do so. * Calls must be ready to provide the operator with either the latitude and longitude coordinates or the mailing address of their farm or field where the alfalfa is or will be grown. Other types of location information cannot be accepted, and only one location from each caller per phone call will be accepted. Call 1-866-724-6408 for more details on GE alfalfa locations. An operator will be availalble beginning August 6, 2007 from 9 am to 5 pm eastern time, Monday through Friday (except holidays). Arizona Prohibits Mandatory Animal ID May 2007 Arizona became the first state in the nation to prohibit mandatory participation in a National Animal Identification System. The NAIS was first proposed by USDA as a mandatory program to begin in 2007. Opposition from livestock owners forced officials to redesign the program as "voluntary at the federal level," while continuing to fund mandatory and coercive state programs. USAgNet reports at least a dozen other states are considering legislation to block efforts by both state and federal government to require livestock animal owners to participate in the NAIS. Full Article FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS FIRST-EVER HALT TO PLANTING OF A COMMERCIALIZED GENETICALLY-ALTERED CROP May 3, 2007, San Francisco, CA, Judge Breyer Orders Complete Environmental Review of Monsanto's Gene-Altered Alfalfa In the decision, Judge Charles Breyer in the Federal Northern District of California affirmed his preliminary ruling, which echoed the Center for Food Safety's arguments in their lawsuit against USDA, that the crop could harm the environment and contaminate natural alfalfa. Today's ruling also requires Forage Genetics to provide the locations of all existing Roundup Ready alfalfa plots to USDA within 30 days. The Judge ordered USDA to make the location of these plots "publicly available as soon as practicable" so that growers of organic and conventional alfalfa "can test their own crops to determine if there has been contamination." "This permanent halt to the planting of this risky crop is a great victory for the environment," said Will Rostov, a Senior Attorney for CFS. "Roundup Ready alfalfa poses threats to farmers, to our export markets, and to the environment. We expect the USDA to abide by the law and insure that American farmers are protected from genetic contamination." Today's decision is consistent with Judge Breyer's ruling of February 13th, in which Judge Breyer found that the USDA failed to address concerns that Roundup Ready alfalfa will contaminate conventional and organic alfalfa. In calling today for a permanent injunction, Judge Breyer noted that contamination of natural and organic alfalfa by the GE variety has already occurred, and noted that "Such contamination is irreparable environmental harm. The contamination cannot be undone." "This ruling is good news for organic farmers and most conventional farmers across the country," said Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director of the Center. "This crop represents a very real threat to their crops and their livelihood. This ruling is a turning point in the regulation of biotech crops in this country," Kimbrell concluded. Full Article Michael Pollan: The 2007 Farm Bill 'You Are What You Grow'April 19, 2007, By Michael Pollan, Sustainable Food NewsStraight to the Source Click here to subscribe to the Sustainable Food News. Michael Pollan, a contributing writer, is the Knight professor of journalism at the University of California, Berkeley. His most recent book is "The Omnivore's Dilemma," which was named one of the 10 best books of 2006 by The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post and Amazon.com. A few years ago, an obesity researcher at the University of Washington named Adam Drewnowski ventured into the supermarket to solve a mystery. He wanted to figure out why it is that the most reliable predictor of obesity in America today is a person's wealth. For most of history, after all, the poor have typically suffered from a shortage of calories, not a surfeit. So how is it that today the people with the least amount of money to spend on food are the ones most likely to be overweight? Drewnowski gave himself a hypothetical dollar to spend, using it to purchase as many calories as he possibly could. He discovered that he could buy the most calories per dollar in the middle aisles of the supermarket, among the towering canyons of processed food and soft drink. (In the typical American supermarket, the fresh foods - dairy, meat, fish and produce - line the perimeter walls, while the imperishable packaged goods dominate the center.) Drewnowski found that a dollar could buy 1,200 calories of cookies or potato chips but only 250 calories of carrots. Looking for something to wash down those chips, he discovered that his dollar bought 875 calories of soda but only 170 calories of orange juice. As a rule, processed foods are more "energy dense" than fresh foods: they contain less water and fiber but more added fat and sugar, which makes them both less filling and more fattening. These particular calories also happen to be the least healthful ones in the marketplace, which is why we call the foods that contain them "junk." Drewnowski concluded that the rules of the food game in America are organized in such a way that if you are eating on a budget, the most rational economic strategy is to eat badly - and get fat. This perverse state of affairs is not, as you might think, the inevitable result of the free market. Compared with a bunch of carrots, a package of Twinkies, to take one iconic processed foodlike substance as an example, is a highly complicated, high-tech piece of manufacture, involving no fewer than 39 ingredients, many themselves elaborately manufactured, as well as the packaging and a hefty marketing budget. Full Article Organic Milk Supply Expected to Surge as Farmers Pursue a Payoff April 20, 2007 By ANDREW MARTIN, New York Times Dairy farmers are rushing to convert to organic milk production, and it is largely because of a blueberry farmer who lives in Maine with a solar-powered computer and an outhouse outfitted with a stained-glass window. Edward Walldroff said he had saved money on feeding his cows by converting to organic farming before more stringent rules begin in June. Demand for organic milk has been growing 20 percent or more a year. Arthur Harvey, the blueberry farmer, persuaded a federal court in 2005 that some regulations on organic milk were too lax, including those governing how a dairy farmer can convert to organic status. As a result, hundreds of dairy farmers decided to switch last spring so they could complete the yearlong conversion before the more stringent “Harvey” rule takes effect in June. “When this court case was decided, we said, ‘Now’s the time for us. Let’s do it,’ ” said Edward Walldroff, a farmer in La Fargeville, N.Y., who said that five other dairy farmers nearby were doing the same thing. “It’s really kind of exciting to see that happen, and know that six smaller-type farmers have some real viability now.” On a larger scale, Organic Valley, a cooperative based in Wisconsin that sells dairy products, is adding 269 farmers this year for a total of 972; it will process 45 percent more milk this spring than a year earlier. Horizon Organic, the biggest organic dairy company in the country, added 64 organic dairy farmers in 2006 for a total of about 350, and about 230 more are in transition, said Sara Unrue, a spokeswoman. “It looks like we will have a serious oversupply in the next two months,” said George Siemon, Organic Valley’s chief executive. “We are now telling people, ‘Please stop thinking that there is a bottomless market.’ ” Full Article FoodNews.org releases Pesticides on Produce Guide Why Should You Care About Pesticides? Will Washing and Peeling Help? How This Guide Was Developed IS ORGANIC FOOD WORTH IT? Several readers have written in recently asking how to make a case for organic food to skeptical friends and family members. As Pam Fagan of Greenwood, South Carolina, put it: I try to encourage people to buy organic foods when they are available. One excuse I often hear is that they cost more and "I can't spend a penny more for groceries." I also hear "What I do is not going to make enough difference to matter." I was also told by one person that their spouse read that everything that was labeled "organic" was not necessarily so. Is that true and, if so, how does a person know if something really is organically grown? These seem like such common objections, I thought I'd create the following FAQ to address them and other questions: 1) How can you be sure that food labeled "organic" really is organic? 2) What exactly does "organic" mean? 3) Are some foods with an "organic" label more organic than others? 4) Is organic food better for the environment? 5) Is organic food safer for you to eat? New Booklet to Help Farmers Understand Farmers’ Market Rules ST. PAUL, MINN. — Farmers’ Legal Action Group, Inc. (FLAG) announces a new booklet, Understanding Farmers’ Market Rules. The booklet contains important legal information for farmers who sell their vegetables, fruits, flowers, meats, and other foods at farmers’ markets. FLAG wrote the booklet to help answer questions it received from farmers. Farmers’ markets are especially popular among beginning farmers, immigrant farmers, specialty crop farmers, and limited resource farmers. Many farmers who are interested in direct marketing and value-added agriculture begin by selling at farmers’ markets. Because farmers’ markets appeal to new farmers and to farmers with little direct marketing experience, there is a greater need for information for farmers to turn to when they have questions. The booklet is intended to help farmers understand their responsibilities and rights as farmers’ market vendors. FLAG attorney Jill Krueger notes that, “Even though the details of the rules may be different from market to market, there are a few commonly used rules of the market that most often give rise to misunderstandings.” The focus of the booklet is on preventing problems by improving understanding of market rules. But the booklet offers practical suggestions farmers can follow to try to resolve any problems that may arise. It also gives ideas on how to learn about other requirements that may apply to sales at a farmers’ market. In addition to market rules, a market vendor’s rights and responsibilities may also be governed by federal, state, and local laws. A free copy of the article can be requested by calling FLAG’s office at 651-223-5400. Minnesota callers may dial FLAG’s office at 1-877-860-4349. The article can be also downloaded from FLAG’s website at: www.flaginc.org. FLAG is a nonprofit law center in St. Paul, Minnesota, dedicated to providing legal services to family farmers and their rural communities in order to help keep family farmers on the land. 2006 the Status of Organic Agriculture in Minnesota Executive Summary Purpose of Report Organic Production and Market Trends Minnesota had more than 525 certified organic farms in 2006 and with slightly more than Human Health and Environmental Considerations Grower Perceptions The Minnesota Department of Agriculture serves organic growers and associated businesses with A number of USDA agencies offer organic agriculture programs. In Minnesota, the NRCS offers University of Minnesota faculty members have been engaged in applied organic research for well Recommendations New Policies or Programs Current and Future Research Needs Increase long-term applied organic cropping systems and organic livestock production research Please direct questions about this report or requests for additional copies to: STATEMENT OF FRANCIS THICKE to the U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION AND FORESTRY I hold an MS in soil science from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in agronomy from the The research title of the farm bill is no doubt not the most talked about subject when Congress No doubt everyone testifying today agrees that food, agricultural and rural research must be placed much higher on the national agenda and that long-stagnated federal funding levels need a major shot in the arm. The rate of return to publicly supported agricultural research is very high. If publicly supported research aligns itself with high ranking and widely supported public benefits – nutritional needs, environmental enhancement, new and increased farming Are GM Crops Killing Bees? A mysterious decimation of bee populations has German beekeepers worried, while a similar phenomenon in the United States is gradually assuming catastrophic proportions. The consequences for agriculture and the economy could be enormous. Is the mysterous decimation of bee populations in the US and Germany a result of GM crops? Zoom DDP Is the mysterous decimation of bee populations in the US and Germany a result of GM crops? Walter Haefeker is a man who is used to painting grim scenarios. He sits on the board of directors of the German Beekeepers Association (DBIB) and is vice president of the European Professional Beekeepers Association. And because griping is part of a lobbyist's trade, it is practically his professional duty to warn that "the very existence of beekeeping is at stake." The problem, says Haefeker, has a number of causes, one being the varroa mite, introduced from Asia, and another is the widespread practice in agriculture of spraying wildflowers with herbicides and practicing monoculture. Another possible cause, according to Haefeker, is the controversial and growing use of genetic engineering in agriculture. As far back as 2005, Haefeker ended an article he contributed to the journal Der Kritischer Agrarbericht (Critical Agricultural Report) with an Albert Einstein quote: "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man." Mysterious events in recent months have suddenly made Einstein's apocalyptic vision seem all the more topical. For unknown reasons, bee populations throughout Germany are disappearing -- something that is so far only harming beekeepers. But the situation is different in the United States, where bees are dying in such dramatic numbers that the economic consequences could soon be dire. No one knows what is causing the bees to perish, but some experts believe that the large-scale use of genetically modified plants in the US could be a factor. Full Article ISU Dining Services Solicits Local Growers Web Site Service For Small Farms Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) Releases 2006 Annual Report Blowing the whistle on sham 'organics' The organic food industry is booming. In this country alone, sales have grown from $4 billion to $18 billion in 10 years. That sharp rise is largely because of increased public skepticism about the conventional food supply. Last year brimmed with food safety scares and scandals. Now, with the impending market arrival of cloned animal products, consumer concerns about the wholesomeness of food are commonplace. The public is ripe for change - and big business is geared for the challenge. Nothing could have better symbolized organic food entry into the lives of mainstream America than when, last summer, Wal-Mart announced it would introduce organic products at affordable prices. But is that really what consumers are getting? As major retailers stock their shelves with "organic" products, underselling the existing industry, longtime organics advocates fear for standards. Cutting costs invites cutting corners. Although the vast majority of organic farmers, ranchers and retailers follow legal standards, violations by the few, combined with inadequate oversight, threaten the integrity of the entire sector. The allegations have begun. Horizon and Aurora, the country's two largest organic dairy producers, have been hit with a consumer boycott for confining their cows to feedlots rather than providing required access to pasture. Cows cramped in feedlots spend their lives wallowing in a mixture of mud and feces. Studies show cows fattened on grass, rather than corn, are far less likely to harbor the dangerous and sometimes deadly strain of E. coli that continually threatens our food supply. Full Article Federal Court Halts New Field Trials of Genetically Engineered Crops Secretary Nilsestuen Announces Wisconsin Organic Agriculture Advisory Council
For more information, contact Laura Paine, DATCP Organic Agriculture Specialist, 608-224-5120. Press Release IFOAM Internet Training Platform Launched The Platform serves a broad spectrum of the Organic Agriculture community by connecting those who have relevant information resources, with those who seek them. We are constantly uploading new resources to the different sections of the Platform and have very recently removed the fees to submit resources. Materials are selected according to IFOAM selection criteria to ensure that users always find high quality materials and information. As the Organic Agriculture movement grows worldwide, we hope our service will too. How can I help the Platform grow? There are many ways you can contribute to the Platform! If you know of good training materials or training opportunities that should be in the Platform, let us know by contacting the Platform Coordinator! If your Organization wants to provide the Platform with training materials, announce training opportunities, or list their contact details at the Links & Addresses section, click here. If you have any comments and/or suggestions about the Platform and the resources it offers, please help us improve our service: Send feedback to the Platform Coordinator. Most importantly, spread the word! The Platform intends to circulate quality Organic Agriculture information worldwide. The more people we can reach with this service, the closer we are to our goal. The Platform exists and grows thanks to your support. Thanks for sustaining the Platform and making the world more organic!!! Website Woodbury County Iowa offers tax breaks to organic farmers, first in U.S. Woodbury County is offering tax incentives to farmers who switch from conventional production to organic. Woodbury County Supervisors voted June 28 to provide property tax rebates for those who convert from conventional to organic farming practices. That action will grant $50,000 a year for five years to those who make the conversion. Bob Scowcroft, executive director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation in Santa Cruz, Calif., said Woodbury County may be the first local government to offer such incentives to farmers" "Frankly, I don't know of any other activity that local government has taken to encourage organic farming,'' he said. Marqusee said the goal of the program would be to build on local agriculture to spark economic development. The program would help build a thriving organic farming industry that would attract organic food processors and other businesses to the area, he said. ``I studied the economic benefits of organic farming. It just seemed to fit,'' he said. ``We're looking at being part of a movement that is gaining ground.'' Marqusee said studies done by Iowa State University show organic farming can produce higher profit margins per acre than conventional farming, and on fewer acres. Organic farming might save smaller family farms by offering lower startup costs and encouraging potential young farmers to stay in farming instead of leaving for higher paying jobs. Entire Article Announcing Directory of Minnesota Organic Farms This voluntary directory was produced by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) with funds provided by the USDA Risk Management Agency’s “Commodity Partnerships for Small Agricultural Risk Management Education Sessions” program. More than 200 of Minnesota’s estimated 500 certified organic farmers applied to be listed in this directory. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) is part of the United States Department of Agriculture. RMA was created in 1996 to help farmers manage their business risks through effective, market-based risk management solutions. RMA promotes and regulates sound risk management solutions to improve the economic stability of American agriculture. RMA operates and manages the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), which provides crop insurance to American producers through a network of private-sector partners. RMA also oversees the creation of new risk management tools and products, looks for ways to improve existing products, ensures the integrity of crop insurance programs; offers outreach programs to help ensure equal access and participation by underserved communities.The Agency also provides risk management education and information. For more information about RMA programs and services in Minnesota, call the regional office in St. Paul at 651-290- 3304. THE MDA DEVELOPED this directory to benefit organic farmers in Minnesota. There are multiple ways to use it: To comment on this directory or to be listed in future editions call Meg Moynihan at the MDA, 651-201-6616. MDA Contact Meg Moynihan, Agriculture Diversification Specialist Meg.Moynihan@state.mn.us 651-201-6616 Agricultural Resources Management & Development Division Directory of Minnesota Organic Farms 2006 CSA Farm Directory Available Now is the time to join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. There are over two-dozen CSA farms serving the Twin Cities region alone. These farms sell "memberships," and in return farm members get a weekly delivery of fresh, organic produce into the fall. LSP's annual CSA directory is now available at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/csa.html. If you'd like a free paper copy, call our White Bear Lake office at 651-653-0618. To hear a discussion on how CSA farming can bring farmers and consumers together, check out LSP's podcast page at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/rss/podcast.php. Ear to the Ground No. 16 features an interview with two longtime CSA farmers. To learn how to subscribe to our free podcast service, see http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/podcast.html. TopOrganic Agriculture in Wisconsin 2005 Status Report Wisconsin has a long tradition of national leadership in agriculture. While much of the University of Wisconsin’s focus, resources and research partnerships with agribusiness are grounded in large-scale production agriculture, there is a groundswell of support for alternative agriculture. Many innovative ideas in farming have gained legitimacy and market share in the food production arena. Diverse strategies, philosophies, practices and beliefs are represented: sustainable, grass-based, naturally-raised, antibiotic-free, etc. The Citizens Advisory Council of the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems recognizes many approaches to improving access to quality, local/regional and sustainably grown food, including organic agriculture. We believe that organic practices may add value to any agricultural production plan, and strongly support agricultural systems that connect people to their food sources and hold growers accountable to their customers and communities for quality. Organic agriculture in Wisconsin is a social movement, as well as a system of production practices. It has offered a meeting place and networking vehicle for people who want to embrace agricultural practices, resources and systems that provide public benefits such as pesticide reduction, improved soil quality, fair prices for farmers, mutually respectful relationships between growers and buyers, and social justice. The “Wisconsin Idea” of growing the organic movement has been grounded in these values. Full Report New Report Assesses
World of Organic Agriculture The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) have recently released "The World of Organic Agriculture 2006 Statistics and Emerging Trends" . The report states that organic agriculture is practiced in almost all countries of the world According to the survey, currently more than 31 million hectares of farmland are under organic management worldwide, a gain of around five million hectares in a single year. A major increase of organic land has taken place in China, where nearly three million hectares of pastoral land were recently certified. In 2004, the market value of organic products worldwide reached 27.8 billion US$, (23.5 billion EUR), the largest share of organic products being marketed in Europe and North America. http://www.soel.de/oekolandbau/weltweit.html SARE Grants for Producers Since 1988, SARE has provided competitive grants for sustainable agriculture research and education through four regional administrative councils. Involving producers in SARE research projects has been a primary component of SARE-funded projects since the program’s inception.Recognizing that producer interest in sustainable agriculture research was growing, SARE’s North Central Region began directly funding farmers and ranchers in 1992. By 1995, each SARE region had begun to offer grant opportunities to producers. Now, farmers and ranchers can apply for grants that typically run between $500 and $15,000. http://www.sare.org/coreinfo/farmers.htm. Antibiotic Uptake by Plants from Soil Fertilized with Animal Manure Antibiotics are commonly added to animal feed as supplements to promote growth of food animals. However, absorption of antibiotics in the animal gut is not complete and as a result substantial amounts of antibiotics are excreted in urine and feces that end up in manure. Manure is used worldwide not only as a source of plant nutrients but also as a source of organic matter to improve soil quality especially in organic and sustainable agriculture. Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine whether or not plants grown in manure-applied soil absorb antibiotics present in manure. The test crops were corn (Zea mays L.), green onion (Allium cepa L.), and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. Capitata group). All three crops absorbed chlortetracycline but not tylosin. The concentrations of chlortetracycline in plant tissues were small (2–17 ng g–1 fresh weight), but these concentrations increased with increasing amount of antibiotics present in the manure. This study points out the potential human health risks associated with consumption of fresh vegetables grown in soil amended with antibiotic laden manures. The risks may be higher for people who are allergic to antibiotics and there is also the possibility of enhanced antimicrobial resistance as a result of human consumption of these vegetables. from Journal of Environmental Equality New Report: Grower to Grower: Creating a Livelyhood on a Frest Market Vegetable Farm October 2005 Growing produce is not the biggest hurdle facing most fresh market vegetable growers; earning a reasonable living poses the greatest challenge. One way for farmers to analyze their operations in order to better meet their financial goals is to share information through farmer networks, conferences and coffee shop talk. Farmers may feel reluctant to share sensitive financial information, however. From 2002-2004, the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems worked with a group of 19 growers on a participatory, farmer-led case study. The growers collected data on their sales, labor and other aspects of their businesses. They then created financial ratios that allowed them to compare small, medium and large operations in a way that respected their confidentiality. Their goal was not to provide a complete economic analysis of their operations, but to provide a basis for comparisons between farms and discussions of how to forge a quality livelihood from farming. Growers wanting a standard economic analysis of their farms can use traditional balance sheets, financial statements, and cash flow statements. The information contained in this case study can help guide growers as they set financial and quality of life goals for their farms and structure their operations to realize those goals. There is no ideal size for a fresh market vegetable farm; growers need to use their management skills and economic analysis tools to figure out the scale and level of mechanization that makes the most sense for them. Full Report Organic Farms
Produce Same Yields as Conventional Farms Newswise: A review of a 22-year farming trial study concludes that organic farming produces the same yields of corn and soybeans as does conventional farming, but uses 30 percent less energy. David Pimentel, a Cornell University professor of ecology and agriculture, states "Organic farming approaches for these crops not only use an average of 30 percent less fossil energy but also conserve more water in the soil, induce less erosion, maintain soil quality and conserve more biological resources than conventional farming does." The study compared a conventional farm that used recommended fertilizer and pesticide applications with an organic animal-based farm (where manure was applied) and an organic legume-based farm (that used a three year rotation of hairy vetch/corn and rye/soybeans and wheat). The two organic systems received no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Pimentel noted that the organic corn yields were about one-third lower during the first four years of the study, but over time the organic systems produced higher yields, especially during drought conditions. The reason was that wind and water erosion degraded the soil on the conventional farm, while the soil on the organic farms steadily improved in organic matter, moisture, microbial activity and other soil quality indicators. The study was funded by the Rodale Institute and included a review of current literature on organic and conventional agriculture comparisons. According to Pimentel, dozens of scientific papers reporting on research from the Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial have been published in prestigious referred journals over the past 20 years. The study, authored by David Pimentel, is published in the July issue of Bioscience (vol. 55:7). http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/513110/ Organic Industry
Statistics & Projected Growth The organic industry is growing worldwide.This article from the New Farm gives detailed info about trends in the organic food. Click on the following link for the full article. Organic Industry Statistics The Organic Consumer Association's Stance on the Arthur Harvey Lawsuit and 2007 Farm Bill Arthur Harvey versus USDA Lawsuit OCA and the other the plaintiffs in the Harvey lawsuit basically agree that: Synthetics may be allowed in the “Made With” Organic ingredients category if there is no non-synthetic ingredient currently available, and if the synthetic ingredient is rigorously reviewed by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Of course none of these synthetics can be derived from “excluded methods” such as genetic engineering or irradiation, as National Organic Program (NOP) regulations stipulate. OCA is willing to consider the limited allowance of some synthetic substances for use in or on the non-organic portions of products labeled as “Organic” (those in the 95-100% Organic category). This will require a new rulemaking process by the USDA that improves and appropriately supports a thorough, carefully managed National Organic Standards Board process used to review and approve all synthetic substances proposed for use in organic food processing. The synthetics originally approved by the NOSB were all supposed to be “sunsetted” after five years, and then re-reviewed. This never happened. OCA strongly believes that it is not a good idea to reopen the entire Organic Food Production Act (OFPA) for Congressional revisions at this time, but rather to use the USDA rulemaking process, whereby the organic community and the NOSB will propose rule changes to the USDA that are published in the Federal Register and then subjected to a full comment period of 90-180 days. Full Article From Barn to Banquet Opportunities and Barriers to Greater Use of Minnesota Grown Food at Conferences In Minnesota, convention centers and hotels are host to a large number of local, regional, national and international conferences each year. In 2004, there were nearly 84,500 confirmed room nights for conventioneers staying in St. Paul hotels alone, according to the St. Paul Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). WI Governor Supports Funding for Organic Specialist (August 2005) WI Governor follows through with recommendations from the Organic Task Force for an organic specialist. The new state budget provides over $1 million for cost sharing for farmers to implement nutrient management planning. It also creates a new, full-time position in the agriculture department to encourage organic agriculture and intensive rotational grazing. See the full text of the Governors Comments. Price
Premiums Hold as US Organic Market Expands (August 2005) Take a look at The Great News about Grass (June 2004) Minnesota
Organic Hotline (September 2005) Farm Program is
Sown, but Will it Survive? Conservation Security Program (April 2004) New Network
Supports Sustainable Ag in Great Lakes Region (April 2004) Hotline for WI
Health Insurance Co-op Set Up (January 2004) The Minnesota
Dairy Initiative (MDI) (January 2004) USDA Researcher
Tracks Nitrate Buildup in Organic Farming (October 2003) Copyright - Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service
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