On February 9, 2022 the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspective Service (APHIS) announced the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses in a U.S. commercial poultry This outbreak of HPAI has been detected in a small number of counties in the Atlantic Flyway affecting poutlry production sites. This stems […]
USDA News
Apply Today! New USDA Funding for Organic and Transitioning Operations
UPDATE (1/21/2022): The deadline for 2020 and 2021 fiscal years has been extended to February 4, 2022! Last week the USDA announced a new pandemic assistance funded by the CARES Act that will help cover expenses for organic and transitional operations. Operations may apply for reimbursement of eligible expenses paid during the 2020, 2021, and […]
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Are You Eligible? Additional USDA Relief for Farm & Food Workers
The USDA announced September 7, 2021 that $700 million has been made available via the new Farm and Food Workers Relief (FFWR) grant program. Per the announcement, this program will aid farmworkers, meatpacking workers, and front-line grocery workers. The relief is intended to defray costs for expenses associated with the pandemic, such as: protective equipment, […]
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Have Hemp Acres? New Hemp Acreage & Production Survey this Fall
The USDA announced that starting this October they will be mailing a survey to collect information about total planted and harvested hemp in the United States. The survey will ask for information on various forms of hemp, including hemp grown for flower, transplants, grain for human consumption, fiber, and seed. The survey is being conducted […]
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National List Comment Period Open!
Today the USDA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to amend the National List for crops, livestock and handling based on recommendations from the NOSB after completing the 2022 Sunset Review. The proposed changes address recommendations submitted to the Secretary after past public meetings. This proposed rule would remove: Two substances currently allowed […]
Apply Today! 2021 Organic Cost Share Program
As summer winds down and we start to look toward fall, there is one important deadline to remember: The application deadline for Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) is November 1, 2021! On August 17, 2021 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that organic producers and handlers can submit their applications for cost share […]
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National List Update: Oxalic acid, Pullulan, and Collagen Gel
Effective July 26, 2021, additional substances will be allowed for organic production. Specifically, the final rule adds: Oxalic acid dihydrate (added to §205.603) – for use as a pesticide solely in apiculture Nonorganic pullulan (added to §205.605) – for use only in tablets and capsules for dietary supplements labelled “made with organic” Collagen gel (added […]
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The Best Organic Training for all Operations
If you are responsible for organic compliance for your farm or business, we highly recommend checking out the NOP Organic Integrity Learning Center (OILC). Although most of these courses were written for organic certifiers and inspectors, we find that they are just as beneficial for certified organic operations. These free, fully online courses are an […]
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Mexico Trade Update: Take Action Now for Exports in 2022!
Starting January 1, 2022, organic products exported to Mexico will need to have LPO certification. As you may have heard, in December of 2020 the Mexican government published new import requirements for organic products entering Mexico. These new requirements state that all organic products entering Mexico must be certified to Mexico’s LPO standards or come […]
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Comment Period Open: NOP Origin of Livestock Proposed Rule
On May 12, the AMS National Organic Program (NOP) will announce in a Federal Register Notice the reopening of the public comment period for the Origin of Livestock proposed rule originally published in 2015. The comment period will be open for 60 days: May 12 – July 12, 2021. The Origin of Livestock Notice proposes […]
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