…Russian thistle and some Bassia. BLH counts were 1-4 adults per sweep. This area was also being monitored as a possible location to conduct organic trials, however, the counts were…
USDA Seeks Nominations for Advisory Committee on Ag Statistics
…state agricultural organizations, organic agriculture, local and regional food systems, and agriculture-related business and marketing experts. Members serve a staggered two-year term and can serve up to three terms for…
Farmers Fleeing HSUS Ag Advisory Councils
…ranchers who give proper care to their animals. Further, HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle removed high-profile rancher Kevin Fulton from the national council. Fulton, who runs an organic grazing operation, was…
UC Releases New Cost Study for Growing Almonds
…and two studies on almonds grown in the northern San Joaquin Valley. The northern San Joaquin Valley studies use conventional and organic production methods. Free copies of this study and…
Estate Tax Proposed Changes Would Lose Court Battles
…of interest when there are restrictions attached, such as on liquidation and voting rights. The American Farm Bureau Federation and its state organizations, including Kansas, plan to request the IRS…
Improve Energy Efficiency, Adopt Renewable Energy Systems
…them is GrandyOats, an organic foods company located in a former elementary school in Hiram, Maine. In 2015, it received a $20,000 REAP grant to install a renewable energy system….
Los Angeles Schools Reconsider Flavored Milk
The Los Angeles Unified School District last week voted to loosen restrictions on flavored milks in school. The 6-1 vote allows chocolate and strawberry milk back into the city’s public…
Funding for Organic Agriculture Research, Education-Extension Projects
…Production in West Virginia. USDA is committed to helping organic agriculture grow and thrive. USDA supports the organic sector through a wide variety of programs, including conservation grants, organic crop…
Smelling Huanglongbing for Early-Detection
…certain scent. “Volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs, are smells and odors that emit out of all living systems, so people, plants, animals, bacteria, they all emit odors. Some…
Industry Calls for Clearing up of Organic Marketing
The organic industry wants more certification for organic products. The Organic Trade Association told public officials during a Thursday roundtable consumers need to trust organic marketing of products beyond food….
Additional Lender Category for Small-Scale Operators
…USDA’s EZ Guarantee Loans are an additional tool to support strong local and regional food systems, as well as organic agriculture. Across USDA, the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food…
Ryan: Cuba Embargo Will Continue
Ryan Despite the Obama Administration lifting restrictions last week on Cuba and a quest to normalize relations with the nation, House Speaker Paul Ryan says the embargo against Cuba will…
USDA/NIFA Awards $4.7 M for Food Safety Outreach, Education
…of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, $522,893 Northeast Organic Farming Association, Road Barre, Mass., $522,348 University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., $522,822 Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Elgin, Texas, $435,714 Virginia Polytechnic…
U.S – Mexico Establish Committee to Support Organic Trade Partnership
…insurance, certification cost-share, organic market news, and simplified microloans. To learn more about USDA support for organic agriculture, visit our updated organic portal at www.usda.gov/organic. Image credit: (top left) Napa…