Organic News

Grimmway Farms donates $5 million to Cal Poly to research organic production

A key supplier of organic produce—and the world’s largest carrot producer—has given $5 million to Cal Poly to research organic production and soil health. Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences will help launch the Center for Organic Production and Research, and build the Grimmway Farms/Cal-Organic Soil Health and Sustainability Laboratories. Cal Poly’s […]

Millennials will change the way you farm

Millennials—and most shoppers—prioritize convenience and social values when it comes to food purchases. Ken Dallmier of Clarkson Grain Company told farmers at the Farm Progress Virtual Experience that they need a “change in mindset and production practices” to meet the recent shift in buying preferences. “Millennials…are much more interested in how their food is produced, […]

Clemson grant addresses soil challenges for southeastern organic farmers

South Carolina farmers are faced with low soil organic carbon, low soil fertility, and weak soil structure, keeping them from successfully growing organic vegetables. Rongzhong Ye, an assistant professor at Clemson’s Pee Dee Research and Education Center (REC), has received a $500,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture for a […]

Rodale invests $2 million to increase land access for organic farmers

Rodale Institute is using “impact investing” by putting $2 million with   Iroquois Valley Farmland Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), a farmland finance company that provides organic and regenerative farmers land security through long-term leases, mortgages, and lines of credit. Rodale, long-time researcher of regenerative organic practices, is one of the top five shareholders in […]

Iowa sees organic growth as demand for the state’s crops, produce, milk, meat, and eggs grows

Iowa’s farmers are growing more organic crops, including corn, soybeans, hay, and oats, which are driving a 30% spike in organic acres from 2016 to 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Organic Survey. In 2019, Iowa had 779 certified organic farms with 133,691 acres, an increase of 47 farms and 30,555 more acres […]