Agenda for October Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky is Jam-Packed Meeting Could be Cancelled by Government Shutdown (A version of this appeared in the Fall newsletter from Cornucopia) UPDATED: Oct. 7 By Pamela Coleman Loyal Cornucopia members are aware of our commitment to closely monitor the activities of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB,… Read more »
Search Results for: national organic program
Citing Cost, USDA Kills Pesticide-Testing Program
Data used to help gauge food safety Chicago Tribune By Stephen J. Hedges | Washington Bureau WASHINGTON – The Bush administration has abruptly halted a government program that tests the levels of pesticides in fruits, vegetables and field crops, arguing that the $8 million-a-year program is too expensive – a decision critics say could make… Read more »
OTA Surprised by USDA Abandoning Organic Checkoff Program
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has pushed its Checkoff Program since 2012, touting it as a fund to research and promote organic products as a whole. Many farmers were dubious. Checkoffs (mandatory taxes on producers) have historically benefited processors and handlers far more than farmers. And this would be the very first checkoff program for… Read more »
Shifting Authority Away from the National Organic Standards Board
[See Cornucopia’s comprehensive analysis, including a side-by-side comparison of the new draft and existing PPM] Rewrite of the National Organic Standards Board’s Policy and Procedures Manual The Cornucopia Institute, an organic industry watchdog, has released an in-depth review of the proposed changes to the policies and procedures governing the organic industry’s regulatory board. Cornucopia’s analysis concludes that the… Read more »
Aurora Dairy Exemption from Check-off Program Challenged
USDA should demand retroactive payment from faux organic milk producers Cornucopia, WI “The Cornucopia Institute has sent a formal request to the Chief of the USDA’s Dairy Promotion and Research Program, requesting that the program collect almost three years’ worth of unpaid dairy promotion “check-off” assessments from the Colorado-based Aurora Dairy. Since February 2005, the… Read more »
USDA Seeks Nominations for National Organic Advisory Board
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations to fill five imminent vacancies on the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Vacancies for the 15-member organic advisory board need to be filled for an organic producer, organic handler, consumer/public interest representative, scientist, and environmentalist. The positions are specifically designated to represent various sectors… Read more »
Full and Fair Farm Bill NOW
The Rural Coalition The undersigned 243 groups from all parts of the country have joined together today to demand that Congress develop and pass a full and fair Farm Bill this summer, without further delay. A full and fair Farm Bill must include farm, food and nutrition, conservation and rural economic development programs and commodity… Read more »
Farm Bill Reflects Shifting American Menu and a Senator’s Persistent Tilling
The New York Times by Jennifer Steinhauer WASHINGTON — The farm bill signed by President Obama last month was at first glance the usual boon for soybean growers, catfish farmers and their ilk. But closer examination reveals that the nation’s agriculture policy is increasingly more whole grain than white bread. Within the bill is a significant shift in the… Read more »
Tell Your Representatives that the Draft 2018 Farm Bill Is No Good for Organic Farmers or Consumers
Facilitates Lobbyist Control Organic Regulations, Guts Conservation Programs, Expands Subsidies for Factory Farms, and Hurts Local Food and Beginning Farmers UPDATE: Farm Bill voted down in the U.S. House of Representatives The House failed to pass a farm bill as some Republicans sought a vote on a separate immigration plan. Thirty House Republicans voted against… Read more »
Recap from the National Organic Standards Board Meeting
Demystifying the policy that impacts organics farmers and consumers In the wake of massive destruction to the organic dairy marketplace, a languishing rule intended to prevent the continuous cycling of conventional livestock into organic operation will finally reappear as a second proposed rule for public comment. Reporting from the fall National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)… Read more »
