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Faith Grant's picture

Drought in the Field and on the Hill

Faith Grant | Jul. 24th - 12:00am

Jane Sooby's picture

Got Science?

Jane Sooby | Jul. 20th - 12:00am

The Union of Concerned Scientists is using this catchy spoof to attract people’s attention to the challenges of global climate change. At the Organic Farming Research Foundation, we “got science” and use it every day when we’re talking about organic farming.

This blog will be dedicated to scientific and educational issues related to the theory and practice of organic farming. Some of the issues we’ll discuss include can organic agriculture feed the world? Is organic food more nutritious than non-organic? How does organic farming rate when it comes to global climate change? What about its impacts on water quality? Are there any food safety issues associated with consuming organic?
Jane Sooby's picture

Majoring in Organic

Jane Sooby | Jun. 15th - 12:00am

I spoke to a class at University of Florida and, during introductions, student after student told me their name and their major: “organic crop production.”

Though this was a course in advanced organic production, I hadn’t prepared for the emotional impact of hearing students identify as organic majors. Do these young people realize that their academic major represents long-fought legitimization of organic agriculture as a valid realm of study?

A growing problem: Notes from the ‘superweed’ summit

The National Academy of Sciences hosted a summit to discuss “superweeds,” or the widespread problem of herbicide-resistant weeds currently afflicting millions of farm acres across the United States.

Superweeds — the “weeds that man can no longer kill!” — have been in the news for several years. Farmers all across the Midwest and Southeast continue to be photographed and filmed standing in fields surrounded by the giant plants. They bemoan the cost of pesticides and point to industrial rows of crops that don’t have a chance when up against feisty weeds that grow up to three inches a day.

Udi Lazimy's picture

This is When It Matters Most

Udi Lazimy | May. 16th - 12:00am

The 2012 Farm Bill is currently being debated in the Senate, and there’s no better time for YOU to get engaged and demand a bill that will support organic agriculture!  Organic farming stands to gain a lot from the 2012 Farm Bill, including investments in organic research, promotion, certification assistance, conservation and crop insurance.

Faith Grant's picture

Senate Agriculture Commitee passes Farm Bill

Faith Grant | May. 15th - 11:46am

On Wednesday, April 26th, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012, also known as the Farm Bill, by a vote of 16-5.  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York was the only Democrat to vote against the bill.  The bi-partisan legislation includes $23 billion in cuts as compared to current Farm Bill spending levels in an effort to reduce the budget deficit while still funding the nation’s food and farm programs.  Overall, organic agriculture fared reasonably well in this round of the five-year food and farm policy drafting process.  Considering th

Conservation programs key to farm bill

Hudson, S.D. - One of the American farmer’s primary responsibilities is protecting our farmland’s soil and water.

Farmer Dan Gillespie talks about the importance of supporting conservation programs in the farm bill 

For the long-term food security of our nation, we must have productive soils that are not washing away or depleted of nutrients and organic matter.

On my farm, I have used two important working land conservation farm programs to enhance the productivity of my land: the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program.

Udi Lazimy's picture

Let's Change the Farm Bill NOW

Udi Lazimy | May. 9th - 12:00am

The 2012 Farm Bill is currently being debated in the U.S Congress. While the Senate version of the bill, released the week of April 23rd, maintains many important programs that support organic agriculture, it is critical that we remain vigilant throughout the debate to ensure that legislators in the House hear from people around the country that we demand that they invest in an organic future for agriculture.

Faith Grant's picture

Conservation on the Farm Bill

Faith Grant | May. 8th - 12:00am

While the Senate Agriculture Committee was marking up the Farm Bill on Thursday, April 26th, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing on conservation, the second of eight hearings the House will hold in order to write its version of the bill.  Witnesses testified that cuts to conservation beyond the $6 billion from the Senate would have severe consequences.

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