Organic News

Compeer Financial launches organic bridge loan

Sun Compeer Financial, a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative based in the Upper Midwest, has announced the launch of a new loan product that provides financing options for farmers transitioning their conventional grain operations to certified organic. Compeer’s organic bridge loan provides built-in flexibility that meets the unique needs of producers who are making the switch […]

Georgia spreads its first organic peanut butter across the state

Georgia grows 60% of all U.S. peanuts, but hasn’t had an organic product to contribute until now. Dedicated efforts since 2004 from the nonprofit Georgia Organic Peanut Association and commitment from a small number of South Georgia farmers has made it happen. Twelve-ounce jars of Georgia Grinders organic creamy peanut butter will be available this […]

Lawsuit against USDA to defend organic animal welfare rule advances

Court gives USDA 180 days to fix its modeling errors in Organic Trade Association animal welfare lawsuit The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia agreed with the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) lawsuit against U.S. Department of Agriculture that the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) final rule was withdrawn by the Trump administration […]

New study identifies organic farming’s best soil health practices

The Organic Center and University of Maryland spotlight organic farming practices that provide the biggest bang to soil health Even with good things, there is the best of the best. So it is with organic agriculture. Organic farming techniques have long been proven to help foster and restore soil health, replenish soil organic carbon and […]

Negative press on organic farming stems from simplistic and misleading research, review says

Recent claims that organic agriculture raises carbon dioxide emissions—because it requires more land then conventional agriculture—have confused buyers looking for environmentally beneficial food purchases. Two scientists responded with a review in Nature Sustainability, pointing out that studies highlighting such conclusions are over-simplified and fail to address the positive ecological benefits of organic growing—such as increased […]