On May 12th, the USDA reversed course and committed to restoring climate-focused webpages purged from its websites after a lawsuit was filed on behalf of organic farmers.
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On May 12th, the USDA reversed course and committed to restoring climate-focused webpages purged from its websites after a lawsuit was filed on behalf of organic farmers.
Read ArticleThe pause on the $85 million Organic Market Development Grant program and the $100 million Transition to the Organic Partnership Program has jolted farmers, nonprofits and businesses struggling to make planting and hiring decisions. Even if the pause on funding is lifted, it could put farmers out of business.
Read ArticleCalled the Organic Dairy Product Promotion Program, its goal is to increase consumption of organic dairy among children and young adults while building partnerships with local organic producers.
Read ArticleAlongside agricultural leaders and stakeholders, OFRF hosted Reps. Zoe Lofgren and Jimmy Panetta for a field day visit to the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service Salinas station.
Read ArticleUSDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service Market News recently expanded its collection and distribution of price and production cost information by adding organic milk, cattle, grains and feedstuffs, and fertilizer to its list of published reports.
Read ArticleThe investment includes $70.4 million to support specialty crop production research and $50.5 million to support farmers and ranchers who grow and market organic products.
Read ArticleThe $9.7 million for 13 grant projects through the Organic Market Development Grant program brings the total amount awarded through the program to $85 million.
Read ArticleApparently, regenerative organic agriculture — a proven and cost-effective solution — is viewed as not thinking big enough.
Read ArticleThe new tool will ultimately streamline the organic transition process and help producers more easily take advantage of all USDA programs.
Read ArticleSelected projects will benefit more than 31.8 million consumers and more than 27,000 producers.
Read ArticleThese grants will provide information and services to more than 20,000 producers and 20,000 buyers to increase market opportunities for organic farmers.
Read Article$83M is remaining in unspent funds in the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program.
Read ArticleIn a second round of payments, USDA will provide additional assistance to organic dairy producers on top of the $15m that was paid out in the first round. Even still, this will hardly be enough.
Read ArticleKnown as the Streamlining Organic Research Act, it would require the USDA to study the feasibility of certifying more research land as organic and would protect mandatory funding for the Organic Research and Extension Initiative.
Read Article“While we appreciate the USDA providing some help, the reality is that this program equates to roughly $6,000 for a 60-cow herd. It is going to make very little of a difference to the struggling small organic dairies in our community,” said Ed Maltby, executive director of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance.
Read ArticleAmong other measures, the USDA will issue up to $75M in competitive grants to expand and improve markets for domestically-produced organic products.
Read ArticleThe USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service just released details about its $75M investment in conservation assistance for producers transitioning to organic production.
Read ArticleThe USDA announced that it is establishing cooperative agreements in six regions across the U.S. for the Organic Transition Initiative, Transition to Organic Partnership Program.
Read ArticleA grant of more than $700,000 from the USDA will support a University of California collaboration to improve and expand undergraduate education in organic agriculture, with an emphasis on supporting underrepresented students.
Read ArticleSome of the lead recipients include: $55M to the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture to help small and underserved farmers; $35M to Wolfe’s Neck Farm to catalyze transition incentives; $25M to the Organic Valley Carbon Insetting Program to help build a multi-stakeholder path to produce and market climate-smart commodities; $25M to Rodale Institute to quantify the reduction of GHG emissions and increase carbon sequestration; and $20M to Maple Hill Creamery to grow the supply and market for climate-smart, grass-fed organic dairy.
Read ArticleAccording to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the number of non-certified organic farms actively transitioning to organic production dropped by nearly 71% since 2008. Through the comprehensive support provided by this initiative, the USDA hopes to reverse this trend.
Read ArticleIn 2020, just as covid hit, the USDA, EPA and FDA launched a pro-GMO campaign called Feed Your Mind. That program has since been updated.
Read ArticleIn a visit to Maine, USDA undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffitt encouraged farmers to consider a transition to organic farming.
Read ArticleAlong with providing technical assistance, including farmer-to-farmer mentoring, the USDA also acknowledged that “there can also be climate and environmental benefits” with organic. Wow.
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