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Posts Tagged ‘organic farming’
Monday, February 6th, 2012
A collection of organic farmers across the country has joined a class-action lawsuit against agricultural giant Monsanto to protect their produce from contamination.
Monsanto, a multination agricultural biotechnical corporation, is the leading producer of genetically modified seed. The Monsanto Corporation provides 90 percent of the genetically modified seed sold in the United States.
Over the past several years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has given the green light for the use and sale of genetically modified seed. Part and parcel to Monsanto’s sale of modified crops is their aggressive defense of their patented genetic material.
Since the mid-2000s, Monsanto has sued farmers for using their genetically modified seed, even when those farmers are unaware of what they are planting. In 2007, for example, Monsanto sued an Indiana farmer for planting and saving seeds containing Monsanto’s patented genetic material, even though that farmer obtained the seeds in a mix of commodity seeds, which require no licensing agreement.
A group of organic farmers last year accused the agricultural giant of suppressing organic farming. The company goes too far in their lawsuits, they argue, claiming that farmers have been sued when Monsanto crops contaminate neighboring farms. A class action lawsuit filed by The Organic Seed Grower Association against Monsanto seeks to limit the power of biotech companies from suing farmers who find their crops cross-contaminated. The lawsuit begins next week.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: Monsanto, organic farming
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Friday, November 4th, 2011
Earlier this week a delegation of Ohio farmers flew to Washington D.C. to discuss local agricultural issues with Congressional lawmakers. Part of their trip is motivated by concern over the upcoming Farm Bill. While there has been little concrete legislation submitted, rumors are already circulating that drafts of the bill are being written.
One of the major concerns facing Ohio farmers is the role of the congressional supercommittee, charged with trimming $2 trillion from the federal budget, in drafting the upcoming bill. While the Farm Bill typically takes up to a year to draft and pass, the supercommittee could have a draft ready within two weeks.
The speed of the bill has worried farms, particularly local and organic farmers. According to MacKenzie Bailey, policy coordinator for the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, “This is the fastest food and farm bill decision-making process in history. And here in Ohio it’s essential that we protect programs that contribute to the success of local and organic family farmers”
The delegation also hopes to meet with Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, who has recently submitted legislation designed to help small and organic farmers across the country. The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act would protect access to farm programs that are currently facing elimination in the upcoming Farm Bill, including market protections for small farmers and nutrition programs.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: farm bill, organic farming, Sherrod Brown
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Sunday, September 25th, 2011
California farm organizations are asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to clarify rules regarding organic farming. Organic farmers, particularly organic berry farmers, say that federal regulations currently contain too many loopholes that allow the use of chemical pesticides in supposedly organic products.
Strawberries in particular, one of California’s major farm products, embody these USDA loopholes. National regulations require organic produce to be grown for three years without synthetic pesticides. However, strawberry plants are grown in five year cycles. Strawberry stock plants are frequently grown in soil treated with methyl bromide, a controversial pesticide that kills soil based pests.
Organic farmers are upset that these plants are able to qualify as organic. Some organic farmers claim that it is possible to grow strawberries without pesticides, using a variety of techniques to reduce soil based pests. These techniques include creating low-oxygen conditions and adding mustard seeds and other natural plant products to reduce pest populations.
The problem, organic farmers say, is that the majority of USDA support goes to non-organic farmers, making it difficult for organic farmers to get market traction. In addition, they claim that allowing non-organic stock plants to be classified as organic makes it harder for fully organic farmers to compete.
In response to public pressure, the USDA is considering taking some pesticides like methyl bromide off the market and is considering updating its organic farming regulations.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: california, organic farming, pesticides, usda
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Sunday, May 15th, 2011
Santa Cruz California’s Homeless Garden Project seeks to combine community agriculture with economic and social reform. In May, 1990, a Santa Cruz County non-profit, the Citizen’s Committee for the Homeless, started the Homeless garden Project, seeking to help both the recently homeless and those who were in danger of becoming homeless by building job skills and reconnecting people to their local community. Over the last 20 years, the Project has grown from a single, small organic farm to a multi-acre local commitment.
The Project seeks to combine both agricultural reform and social reform. The primary goal of the Project is to care for the homeless. The Project gives homeless volunteers four hot meals a week and it focused on job training and developing marketable skills among the homeless to help them find work. In addition, the Project seeks to give volunteers farming skills and helps teach them economic and environmental sustainability.
The Project mirrors many of the necessary agricultural reforms that American farmers are considering to guarantee a sustainable future. Organic farming, which the Homeless Garden Project relies on, will help create an economically and environmentally sustainable future for farmers. The emphasis on environmental responsibility and local, organic farming can be seen reflected in several government agencies and programs, ranging from the USDA’s emphasis on green energy to First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaigns to fight obesity with local food. In addition, the emphasis on communication between consumers and producers is an important step that many farmers are contemplating.
While the HGP remains a relatively small, local organization, some hope that it might spread beyond Santa Cruz County. The values of the HGP are vital to the future of American agriculture and will hopefully continue to be championed by agricultural leaders nationwide.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: california, organic farming
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Sunday, May 8th, 2011
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expanding a federal program designed to aid organic farms. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program was originally authorized as part of the 2002 Farm Bill and sought to give aid to farmers who voluntarily participated in conservation programs. The EQIP Organic Initiative seeks to add to that program, offering additional incentives to farms that engage in conservation programs while committing to organic farming.
The USDA has recently decided to increase funding to the EQIP Organic Initiative program, expanding its budget by $50 million. The program will offer up to 70% cost-sharing for farmers who switch to organic farming and up to 90% for limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers. Last year, the government provided $24 million to organic farmers and ranchers, and the increased funding represents and major commitment by the USDA to encourage organic farming.
This expansion of EQIP comes on the heels of a major scientific report on American agriculture. According to the National Research Council, the agricultural industry needs to undergo significant changes in order to remain both sustainable and viable in the long-term. One of their recommended changes was the encouragement of organic farming. That, plus the USDA’s recent commitment to renewable energy and local agricultural outreach, represents major efforts on the part of agricultural leaders to guarantee a thriving, sustainable industry into the future.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: organic farming, usda
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Friday, May 6th, 2011
In a recently released report, researchers on U.S. National Research Council are recommending major, structural changes in American agricultural policy in order to guarantee and sustainable and competitive future. The researchers noted that worldwide population increases, the developing economies of several major non-Western nations (like China and India), global climate change, and an increasing demand for ethanol are all placing severe strains on U.S. agriculture.
The report focuses on the need for long-term, sustainable agriculture. While the numbers of small and organic farms are on the rise, American agricultural production is being increasingly concentrated in the hands of large-scale agri-businesses. In 2007, the largest 2% of American farms were responsible for nearly 60% of total food grown in the U.S.
The concentration of agricultural production into smaller and smaller growing regions has potentially devastating consequences on soil, water, and other resources. Excessive fertilization and production can wear out soil, depleting needed nutrients, and contributes to the buildup of greenhouse gasses. In addition, agricultural concentration can take a significant toll on the surrounding environment, as runoffs and chemical leaching can pollute waterways.
The solution to these problems, however, is daunting. According to the panel, major structural and marketing changes will have to be made in order to keep agricultural production sustainable. Embracing organic farming, altering livestock production, encouraging diversification of farmland and small farming are several solutions proposed. However, their largest recommendation is reducing or eliminating subsidies for large-scale agribusinesses in order to encourage local farming and agricultural consumption. The research team hopes that these recommendations will be considered in the upcoming 2012 Farm Bill.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: National Research Council, organic farming, sustainable agriculture
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Sunday, April 3rd, 2011
Recent demands for organic and locally grown food have proven to be a boon to Ameican farmers. Over the last several years, demand for organic food has been increasing. Exposés on major agribusiness, like the controversial movie Food Inc, have led many consumers to seek locally grown and organic food rather than rely on major agricultural corporations.
Jerry Baird, an organic farmer from East Tennessee, has received countless calls from restaurants and local consumer wanting clean, environmentally sound food. The farm-to-table trend has been revolutionizing farming in many small communities, both in aiding struggling farmers and recreating a sense of community between farmers and consumers.
In response to increased demand, more community supported agriculture (CSA) farms have popped up across the country. CSA farming allows consumers to buy shares in a local farm and receive weekly deliveries of fresh fruits and vegetables. CSA farms have exploded in number in recent years. In New Jersey, for example, some counties have reported a 1000% increase in the number of CSA farms over the last several years.
The USDA has recently attempted to foster this sense of communalism through their Know Your Farmer publicity campaign. The KYF program seeks to encourage consumers to buy locally and build better relations between producers and consumers. A healthy relationship between local producers and consumers, as well as a healthy agricultural economy, is vital to the economic recovery in the U.S. and for a stable agricultural economy in the 21st century.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: CSA farming, organic farming
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Friday, April 1st, 2011
A group of organic farmers recently filed a lawsuit with agricultural giant Monsanto over patent disputes. The farmers filed their lawsuit preemptively, claiming that Monsanto has a history of suing when their genetically modified crops contaminate neighboring farms.
Monsanto, a multinational biotechnology company, spends significant amounts of money researching and growing genetically modified crops. Monsanto’s patents protect these genetically modified crops from patent infringement and theft.
The problem, however, according to organic farmers, is that local laws protecting intellectual property, can be damaging to neighboring farms. According to current laws, if genetically modified seeds are found in neighboring fields, the owner of those fields can be sued for patent infringement, even if the seeds found their way onto those farms due to cross contamination, a common problem in agricultural production.
Organic farmers claim that Monsanto has a history of these sorts of lawsuits and that they are seeking to monopolize food production in the U.S. while driving organic farms out of business. Monsanto claims that the preemptive lawsuit is nothing more than a publicity stunt and that concerns over genetically modified food are overblown.
The Public Patent Foundation, which is representing several organic farms and family farms, is challenging Monsanto’s patents and asking a judge to rule that cross contamination cannot automatically led to charges of patent infringement and theft of intellectual property.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: Monsanto, organic farming
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Saturday, March 5th, 2011
A debate is raging over the USDA’s regulation of organic livestock and egg farms. Some farmers, like Edwin Blosser believe that organic egg farms should be characterized be open spaces, fresh air, and no enclosures. These farmers want the USDA to restrict its organic farming to exclude farms that use enclosures.
Others, like Greg Herbruck, believe that organic farms can provide fresh air while still using enclosures. They argue that stricter organic regulations could drive prices up and enclosures make organic farming both profitable and affordable. “There are some groups that want every egg to be cage free,” said Charlie Lanktree, chief executive of Eggland’s Best. “The economics of that whole thing would be that you might very well increase your cost for a dozen organic eggs from $4 a dozen to seven or eight a dozen.”
Current USDA regulations only require that animals spend time outdoors so animals can engage in “nature behavior.” Current regulations, however, do not specify how much time must be spent outdoors. Critics argue that current organic farming practices are deceptive to consumers, who don’t expect organic farms to use practices they associate with large-scale commercial egg farms.
Farmers have also debates the morality of enclosure. Those in favor of tightening regulations argue that time in pastures is better for birds. “We just think it’s a better way to raise birds. Even though it’s more work, we think it’s more healthy,” said Blosser. Those who support enclosure argue that it allows them to better protect against rats and other disease carrying vermin.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: egg farms, organic farming
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Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Kathleen Merrigan, President Obama’s choice for the second spot at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has received praise from sustainable and organic farming advocates.
“This amounts to a major win for organic, sustainable and local food advocates, since Merrigan is not only well-versed in these issues, but has been a tireless advocate for them,” Sam Fromartz wrote on the ChewWise blog.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Jean Halloran, director of Food Policy Initiatives at The Consumers Union agreed. “We would expect her to be a strong defender of the USDA’s organic standards, which have been under repeated attack for the last several years.”
Merrigan was a professor and director of the Agriculture, Food and Environmental Program at Tufts University. Previously she was administrator of the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Services and assisted in the development of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. This set the national organic standards to receive federal accredidation.
If you are interested in organic farming contact Farm Plus for information regarding farm loans. Farm loans are available regardless of the economic situation. Farm Plus works with many government agencies to help people obtain farm loans. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online to answer any questions regarding farm loans.
Tags: kathleen merrigan, organic, organic farming, usda
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