UC Organic Agriculture Institute (OAI) post-doctoral researcher Shriya Rangarajan and her team released key findings based on their organic needs assessment last month. She said that the survey took a …
New USDA Programs Ease Transition to Organic Production
(USDA/WASHINGTON, May 15, 2024) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new programs, partnerships, grant awards and an additional $10 million in funding to expand the markets for organic products and help producers transition …
California Sets Goals for Percentage of Organic Agriculture
California has set new benchmarks as part of the effort to convert conventional ag production into organic systems. In the state’s 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality, a goal …
USDA-NRCS Provides Conservation Programs for Organic Producers
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has a variety of programs that benefit producers across the Southeast in many ways and on many operations. This includes through the Environmental …
Particular Soil Treatment Helps Organic Strawberry Production
Organic strawberry growers in California can enhance yields and plant health through anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), a technique pioneered through UC Cooperative Extension research. Initially developed to combat soil-borne pathogens …
State of Organic Produce Report Highlights Industry Trends
The 2023 State of Organic Produce report from the Organic Produce Network and Category Partners, details how the industry did in terms of sales and volume for the previous year. …
USDA Grants to Improve Organic Market
USDA is working to help organic growers keep up with market demand. Consumer demand for domestic organic products is on the rise, said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory …
Last Chance to Sign Up for The Organic Transition Initiative From NRCS
The application deadline for the Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is approaching. Last year, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invested $880,000 in …
MAP Funding to Support Global Organic Promotion
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has secured over $1 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market Access Program (MAP) to promote U.S. organic products globally in 2024. …
USDA Provides Awards for Organic Market Development and Promotion
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has allocated $9.75 million across 10 grant projects through the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG). This initiative aligns with the Biden-Harris …
Organic Fresh Produce Continues Making Gains in Sales and Volume
In the third quarter of 2023, organic fresh produce showed a modest increase in year-over-year sales and volume. It marks the second consecutive quarter of growth. The data comes from …
New Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards Established
In a significant development for the organic farming sector, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the finalization of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) regulation. The new rule, a response …
CIAO Standards Act to Streamline Revisions to Organic Standards
Several industry groups have welcomed the introduction of the Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic (CIAO) Standards Act 2023 in Congress. The bipartisan legislation aims to enhance and update organic …
USDA Organic Transition Program Celebrates First Year
The USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) recently marked its first anniversary. It’s an investment of up to $100 million over five years in cooperative agreements with non-profit organizations …