Organic News

Tuskegee University receives a $1 million organic research endowment from Clif Bar & Company

Tuskegee University recently announced it had received a $1 million endowment from Clif Bar & Company. The funds will support the advancement of organic agriculture and farming practices through the University’s College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences (CAENS). With this investment, Tuskegee University becomes the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to receive a Clif Bar […]

The end of organic (as we know it)

By Jim Riddle, Organic Independents LLP, Blue Fruit Farm The fundamental concepts of organic farming have always been, “Feed the Soil, not the Plant,” and “Healthy Soil leads to Healthy Crops, Healthy Animals, Healthy People, and a Healthy Planet.” Now, those concepts have been turned on their heads with a recent Appeals Court ruling that […]

Crisis coalition seeks to help drought-impacted organic dairy farmers

Emergency relief is required for Western organic dairy producers to stave off shutdowns due to ongoing drought conditions. Straus Family Creamery of Petaluma, CA organized the Western Organic Dairy Farming Crisis Coalition in August 2022 to seek immediate help. Several organic dairies anticipate an average loss of $250,000 this year, to follow into 2023 if […]

New organic food and farming report recommends policies for upcoming Farm Bill

Three organic agriculture advocates have created a report that provides a roadmap for lawmakers to unlock the potential of organic agriculture in the 2023 Farm Bill and beyond. NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University (ASU), and Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR) wrote to highlight the […]

U.S. organic crop acreage increased by 3% in 2022

Non-GMO corn and soybean acres declined USDA-certified organic land is expected to reach nearly 8.7 million acres across the U.S. during 2022, according to organic and non-GMO market data firm Mercaris. “Following a decline in certified organic pasture and rangeland, area dedicated to organic field crop production is expected to account for the largest share […]