National Public Radio by Grace Hood Grocery stores are finding it harder to keep organic milk in stock these days. The tight supply is a result of organic dairy farmers’ costs rising while the price they receive for their product remains the same. These economic conditions offer few incentives to dairymen considering entering the organic… Read more »
World at Risk for Devastating Food Crisis, Deeper Reform Needed Finds New Report
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy While the 2007-08 food price crisis has been a catalyst for important policy reforms, governments have yet to address its underlying causes, finds a new report from IATP and the Global Development and Environment Institute (GDAE) at Tufts University. In the report, authors Timothy A. Wise and Sophia Murphy… Read more »
Organic Farmers’ Crop-Insurance Costs Spoil Growth of $27 Billion Market
Bloomberg By Alan Bjerga Consumer demand for organic foods has helped Uncle Matt’s Organic Inc. grow from 5 acres of oranges in 1999 to become Florida’s biggest organic-citrus producer. Further expansion is being hampered by the federal crop insurance program designed to help farmers, says the company’s founder, Matt McLean. Organic producers pay a surcharge… Read more »
2012 Organic Seed Growers Conference
OSA will host the 6th Organic Seed Growers Conference January 19 – 21, 2012, in Port Townsend, WA. Join their newsletter and follow them on Facebook to receive updates. Download the full agenda here. This includes conference working sessions, keynote highlights, and details on the pre-conference field tour of the Skagit Valley seed region.
Stearns County: Minnesota’s organic farming capital
MinnPost By Cristeta Boarini and Kyle Richard Sando Jim Degiovanni has been a lawyer for more than 20 years. Spending most of his days in an office, Degiovanni saw myriad cases come across his desk — from local-government law to real-estate and banking transactions. But for someone who loves hunting deer and taking canoe trips… Read more »
Please Take 15-20 Min. Today to Consider the Words of Doctor King
On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, “Is it safe?” Expediency asks the question, “Is it politic?” And Vanity comes along and asks the question, “Is it popular?” But Conscience asks the question “Is it right?” And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular,… Read more »
Genetically Engineered Crops in the Real World – Bt Corn, Insecticide Use, and Honey Bees
Union of Concerned Scientists by Doug Gurian-Sherman, senior scientist, Food and Environment One of the most frequently mentioned benefits of genetically engineered crops is a reduction in chemical pesticide use on corn and cotton. These chemicals typically kill not only pest insects but also beneficial insects that help control pests or pollinate crops. They may… Read more »
How Genetically Modified Foods Could Affect Our Health in Unexpected Ways
Yet another reason to test GMOs for safety. AlterNet / By Ari LeVaux Chinese researchers have found small pieces of rice ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the blood and organs of humans who eat rice. The Nanjing University-based team showed that this genetic material will bind to receptors in human liver cells and influence the uptake… Read more »
Why Eat Organic webinar
As research into organic food and farming expands, trends are beginning to emerge validating the multiple benefits of organic systems. In this session, the author will present concise, understandable summaries of recently conducted research regarding nutrition, pesticide residues, biodiversity, natural resource conservation, soil and water quality, and food safety related to organic production and handling.
Just Label It! So We Know When it’s GMO
The Huffington Post Green by Maria Rodale, CEO and Chairman of Rodale, Inc. and book author I demand organic. It’s that simple. I know, you’re thinking, “Of course you demand organic. You wrote the Organic Manifesto and grew up on an organic farm.” True, but, even if I didn’t, I would demand organic and so… Read more »
