National survey highlights big gains for Organic
November | December 2020
Organic agriculture saw a 31% increase in overall sales since 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) 2019 Organic Survey. Read more.
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Organics needs to build soil, market cooperatively to beat conventional mindset
November | December 2020
Farmers who choose to transition today often do so with a conventional approach, thinking—as they’ve been trained to do—in terms of purchased inputs to enhance productivity and assist with correcting soil deficiencies. Read more.
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New regenerative organic certification label launches
September | October 2020
Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC), a new label for food, fiber, and personal care products, is now accepting applications for certification. ROC is built on USDA Organic, and only farms that have already earned USDA Organic certification or a NOP-recognized international equivalent are eligible for ROC. Read more.
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Proposed rule to strengthen organic enforcement contains hits, misses; comments needed
September | October 2020
The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) released the long-awaited “Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Proposed Rule” last month. This is by far the most extensive regulatory change in organic standards since the publication of the USDA organic regulations 20 years ago. Read more.
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Consumer interest in organic products drives ‘banner year’
July | August 2020
Consumer interest in organic products drives ‘banner year’
Consumers are eating more organic food and using more organic products than ever before. The U.S. organic sector posted a banner year in 2019, with organic sales in the food and non-food markets totaling a record $55.1 billion, up a solid 5% from the previous year, according to the 2020 Organic Industry Survey released in June by the Organic Trade Association. Read more.
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COVID-19 crisis could lead to sustainable change in food system
May | June 2020
Across the globe, people are pulling together to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a powerful demonstration of our interconnectedness and, more than that, our ability to work together for a healthier world. This year, more than ever, I see an opportunity for sustainable change in the way we cultivate food from the ground up: by prioritizing soil health. Read more.
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Center for Food Safety sues USDA to take organic label off hydroponically grown food
May | June 2020
The federal Organic Foods Production Act requires farms to build soil fertility in order to be certified organic. Despite this legal mandate the USDA decided to allow hydroponic operations that do not use soil at all to be certified as organic. The Center for Food Safety filed a federal lawsuit on March 3, 2020, which challenged the organic certification of hydroponics. Read more.
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Stonyfield works with partners on open-source platform for soil health
March \ April 2020
OpenTEAM is an innovative new software platform that offers farmers fast, easy access to more accurate recommendations on the specific things they can do to improve soil health on their farms. Read more.
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Real Organic Project add-on label helps farmers show organic values
January | February 2020
There has been growing dismay in recent years over erosion of the integrity of the National Organic Program. The Real Organic Project was created in 2018 to address this crisis. Read more.
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Forever Green Initiative develops perennial, winter-hardy crops with eco-benefits
November | December 2020
Forever Green is striving to keep the land in continuous cover and aims to do that through the development of new crops and cropping systems, fostering collaborative partnerships with both industry giants and rural community innovators that spur supply chains and market development. Read more.
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Farm Beginnings, MOSES Conference key to setting new farmers on path to success
September | October 2019
When she graduated from the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) Farm Beginnings course in 2011, Hannah Breckbill had solid grounding in how to develop a business and marketing plan, set goals, and develop networks with other farmers who were interested in organic, regenerative food production. She’s not alone. Read more.
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Nonprofit supports farmers with resources, access to organic farming research
July | August 2019
Given the small amount of land under organic production, it’s critical to invest in research, education, and policies that encourage more farmers to transition to organic.The goal of the Organic Farming Research Foundation is to advance organic agriculture through scientific research. Read more.
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New label assures integrity of grass-fed farming
May | June 2019
Today, certifiers are training to uphold the integrity of grass-fed organic dairy farming through the new program. And, in just a couple of months, consumers will start buying dairy products featuring the new seal that helps ensure they are getting what they pay for when they buy grass-fed products. Read more.
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Study shows pesticide levels drop dramatically after 1 week of eating organic
March | April 2019
Can eating organic really reduce levels of pesticides in our bodies? A new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Environmental Research found that switching to an organic diet significantly reduced the levels of synthetic pesticides found in all participants in just one week. Read more.
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IFOAM North America offers organic community forum to air diverse opinions
January | February 2019
IFOAM Organics International, organized in 1972 to lead and unite the world’s diverse organic movements, is one of the oldest and most established organic agriculture organizations in the world. Read more.
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Coalition works to ensure organic integrity
November | December 2018
The National Organic Coalition (NOC) convened nearly 100 farmers and organic leaders (including a large cadre of MOSES board members) in St. Paul, Minn., to discuss some of the most pressing challenges we face as an organic community. Read more.
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Farmers, consumers must work together to restore economic justice to organic dairy
September | October 2018
Even if you are not milking cows, the integrity of organic dairy products should be important to you—not only as an organic consumer, but also because of the economic impact dairy has on the organic sector. After produce, dairy is the second-largest industry sector, and directly impacts many other workers and businesses. Read more.
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Groups build coalition to create regenerative agriculture system in Midwest
July | August 2018
Regeneration Midwest is a 12-state regional coalition organized to serve as the foundation for transitioning five core sectors of the food and agriculture system from the current industrial model to a regenerative model. Read more.
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Organic farmers form ‘Real Organic’ to ensure strong standards
May | June 2018
Many organic farmers are becoming increasingly concerned about the growing erosion of organic standards and the rising influence of big business in organics. Read more.
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Organic farmers join forces to impact national farm policy, organic integrity
March | April 2018
One farm – one vote—that’s a founding mantra for the Organic Farmers Association (OFA). The Organic Farmers Association was formed in 2016 to provide an authentic voice for organic farmers at the national level. Read more.
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Changes in the works to strengthen National Organic Program’s organic seed policy
January | February 2018
The NOSB is tweaking its organic seed policy proposal in preparation for the board’s spring meeting. These changes would result in clearer guidance and more consistent enforcement of the organic seed requirement. Read more.
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USDA’s failure to enact new livestock standards upends organic rule-making process
November | December 2017
The Organic Trade Association’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to legally take USDA to task for not honoring its rule-making mandate as a federal agency. Read more.
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Should we achieve organic integrity through flexibility or consistency?
September | October 2017
We must have consistency in what is allowed. The rules should cover all aspects of the organic production, no matter what system is being certified. Read more.
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Protecting organic integrity: Too little, too late?
July | August 2017
The integrity of U.S. organic products has recently come into question. The National Organic Program falls short of the enforcement and accreditation standards that have been long-established in Europe. Read more.
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Organic label means more than just farming with approved inputs
May | June 2017
Viewing organic mostly by inputs used versus overall method of production results in two different definitions of organic integrity. Inputs might define what is allowed or not, but the system distinguishes organic from non-organic. Read more.
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Weigh in on organic proposals, materials that impact your farm
March | April 2017
The spring in-person meeting of the NOSB will be April 19-21 in Denver, Colorado. Numerous materials are being considered as part of sunset. The NOSB needs to know if you rely on these items or think they should be removed from the National List. Read more.
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In time of change, step forward to advocate for sustainable, organic farming
January | February 2017
To preserve what we’ve worked for in the organic standards and continue the expansion of organic production in this country, we need to continue to be strong advocates. Read more.
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Time to update organic regulations to protect native ecosystems
January | February 2017
The NOP’s three-year waiting period for land to be free of prohibited substances unintentionally incentivizes producers to convert native ecosystems since this land is instantly ready for organic production. Read more.
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Say goodbye to ivermectin for organic livestock
November | December 2016
By the time you read this, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will have had its 2016 fall meeting in St. Louis. The agenda included a petition to remove the long-time allowed material for controlling parasites in livestock, ivermectin. Read more.
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New law plays hide-and-seek with GMO labeling
September | October 2016
On July 29, 2016, President Barack Obama signed into law a bill that requires all food packages to indicate whether or not they contain genetically modified Ingredients (GMOs). So what does this bill actually require? Not a clear on-package statement…. Read more.
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Organic animal welfare needs to be gold standard
July | August 2016
The recently proposed rule for organic animal welfare has caused a ruckus from the farm to the marbled halls of Congress. The 90 days given for public comment has given all sides time to delve into the proposed changes, and provide the NOP with suggested improvements to make this addition to the organic regulation practical and meaningful. Read more.
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MOSES organic specialist moves from ‘peanut gallery’ to hot seat on standards board
May | June 2016
After many years of attending National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meetings as a member of the “peanut gallery,” I sat on the other side of the table for the first time at the recent board meeting in Washington D.C. Read more.
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Elders pass torch to new stewards of organic movement
March | April 2016
Within the organic community, there is a generational shift occurring in leadership. Many of the organic pioneers who brought organic from the margins to the mainstream are reaching a time in their lives…. Read more.
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State of organics in 2016 looks hopeful
January | February 2016
In the world of organic agriculture, we continue to face challenges but have good reason for optimism, too. The general public, government agencies, private companies and nonprofits continue to wake up to the benefits organic agriculture provides. Read more.
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Spread word about benefits of organic to counter negative media stories
November | December 2015
Each year, organic products make up a higher percentage of the food and fiber market in the United States and around the world. With success comes negative media attention…. Read more.
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Sterile landscape not solution to feeding world
September | October 2015
Challenges to our food system continue to grab headlines—avian influenza, bacteria in meat, contaminated produce, herbicide-resistant weeds. Read more.
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Organic certification needed to reclaim ‘organic’ label
July | August 2015
Being a certified organic farmer or certified organic operator of any type is an achievement that reflects a producer’s commitment to a healthy planet…. Read more.
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Let’s get serious about taking ingredients off §205.606
May | June 2015
While most organic producers are aware of the National Organic Program’s National List of prohibited natural and approved synthetic substances, many may not be aware of the last section 205.606. Read more.
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Organic needs user-friendly certification process to meet U.S. production demands
March | April 2015
Organic consumption in the United States has reached a point where domestic production can’t meet the demand. Read more.
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Organic farms hurt by pesticide drift lose more than money
January | February 2015
The incursion of unwanted toxic materials on organic land does more than just hurt the bottom line of the organic farmer; it sets back the progress…. Read more.
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Approval of new GM crop-herbicide combo leads country in wrong direction
November | December 2014
As organic farmers and supporters, we know instinctively and from experience that our method of agricultural production is the right direction for a healthy future. Read more.
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Organic farmers need unified ‘voice’ as organic sector grows
September | October 2014
Organic farmers understand the benefits of building coalitions to nudge along local, state, regional and national policies that support organic agriculture. Read more.
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Time has come to decide organic status of hydroponics
July | August 2014
The USDA organic regulations are not always clear in describing what type of production can carry the organic label. Hydroponic crop production is one of these gray areas…. Read more.
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Is ‘big’ bad and ‘small’ beautiful?
May | June 2014
Organic agriculture could be considered a victim of its own success. As consumer demand for organic food has grown, so has the interest in organic products from food conglomerates and large retailers. Read more.
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Farm bill includes support for organic, including Certification Cost Share
March | April 2014
A 5-year farm bill was signed into law on Feb. 7, 2014. Read more.
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GMOs, organic: “Coexistence” in the belly of the beast
March | April 2014
Protection of minority rights is a foundational principle of our republic, and it is time for this protection to be extended…. Read more.
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Efficiency or Democracy? NOP changes ‘sunset’ policy without public input
January | February 2014
The National Organic Program (NOP) recently modified the way materials on the National List are reviewed at “sunset.” Read more.
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Proposed Food Safety Regulations put America’s Family Farms at Risk
November | December 2013
Anyone who cares about locally grown food–and everyone who grows it–should be alarmed about the Food and Drug Administration’s proposed food safety regulations. Read more.
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Efforts to Strengthen Organic Label Hit Roadblock
September | October 2013
The regulations governing organic agriculture in the United States, while being unique in some of their strict provisions and oversight, are still part of the overall U.S. legal system. Read more.
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Can Organic be Perfect?
July | August 2013
At a meeting I recently attended a consumer representative stated she wanted “organic to be perfect.” This statement brought many questions to my mind. Read more.
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Changes Improve Organic Crop Insurance, but Issues Remain
May | June 2013
In response to the USDA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit of organic crop insurance, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced changes in early March…. Read more.
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Food Safety Regulations – Not Ready for Prime Time
March | April 2013
It seems almost every month over the past few years there has been a large recall of fresh produce, meat or processed foods due to the presence of microbiological health hazards. Read more.
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USDA Biotech Committee Report: The good, the bad and the ugly
January | February 2013
In November 2012, the USDA Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (also called AC 21), delivered its report…. Read more.
