organic

NSAC applauds USDA insurance expansion for transition to organic ag

Interest in organic products has boomed over the last several years, between 2004 and 2016 sales of organic food more than tripled (from $11.1 billion to $39 billion), but farmers are finding it difficult to... more »

USDA expands insurance options for transition to certified organic

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the expansion of a crop insurance option to allow producers to purchase insurance coverage that better reflects their product's actual value. Producers transitioning to certified organic production can now use the... more »

USDA: $3.8 million available for organic farming research

USDA announced the availability of $3.8 million to support research, education, and extension projects that will assist current organic producers and those transitioning into organic farming. The funding is available through the Organic Transitions Program,... more »

USDA expands organic assessment exemption

The USDA recently issued a final rule to expand the exemption for certified organic products from assessments collected by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The rule will be effective on Feb. 29. As directed... more »

Study targets eco-friendly pest management solutions for invasive fruit pests

Researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) have received a $173,151 grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study novel, non-spray control methods for invasive fruit pests. The two-year project will examine the... more »

Washington’s organic blueberries growing more profitable

From 2009 to 2012, organic blueberry acreage in Washington state increased by 130 percent, while production tripled. In the same period, the farm-gate value of the state’s organic blueberries rose from $7 million to $23... more »