The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has made a new, free farm management resource available to organic farmers. The publication Organic Farmers: Steps to Success, contains five simple worksheets designed to help organic farmers assess their own management and financial strengths and identify areas they want to improve.   “Not...

USDA will provide funding to help organic producers and those transitioning to organic production implement resource conservation practices on their agricultural operations. Fiscal year (FY) 2011 marks the third year of USDA's Organic Initiative, and up to $50 million is available this year for producers to plan and implement conservation...

Organic agriculture has established a foothold in many U.S. farm sectors, particularly among horticultural specialties, but the overall use of organic practices lags behind that of many other countries. Recent data from several producer surveys illustrate notable differences and similarities between organic and conventional farmers. Emerging issues in the organic...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced details of the final regulation regarding access to pasture for organic livestock operations. This rule amends the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations to clarify the use of pasture in raising organic ruminants. The final rule provides certainty to consumers that organic livestock production is...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the release of Breaking Down Market Barriers for Small and Mid-sized Organic Growers, a report developed by the California Institute for Rural Studies, focusing on marketing challenges faced by organic fruit and vegetable farmers in California and their potential commercial buyers. The report cites...

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has launched a new consumer web site, “Organic. It’s Worth It,” located at www.organicitsworthit.org. The site, launched in beta format, offers a wide range of informational resources, including basic facts about organic, tips on using organic around the house, and organic recipe ideas. The site...

Organic foods now occupy prominent shelf space in the produce and dairy aisles of most mainstream U.S. food retailers. The marketing boom has pushed retail sales of organic foods up to $21.1 billion in 2008 from $3.6 billion in 1997. U.S. organic-industry growth is evident in an expanding number of...

Blog entry written by Andrew Larson, Small Farm Sustainability Coordinator, Iowa State University Do you need to be certified organic? It depends on your customer… If you’re asking yourself this question, it’s probably safe to assume you are not a purist who would certify their farm organic simply for personal...