Webinars on Integrated Organic Management of Bindweed and Thistles
There is still time to register for 2 webinars in October, on the latest research on organic management of the perennial weeds field bindweed and thistle. It's not easy to control these weeds, and although no single magic solution has been discovered, you can attend the webinars and learn some different strategies to help keep these weeds under control!
| Upcoming Webinars | Presenters | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Management of Field Bindweed and Canada Thistle in Organic Cropping Systems | Patrick Carr, Tim Seipel, Jed Eberly, Montana State University | October 13, 2021 |
| Organic Control of Field Bindweed in the Pacific Northwest | Marcelo Moretti, Jessica Green, Oregon State University | October 20, 2021 |
New Organic Research Awards
USDA NIFA recently announced 22 new Organic Research and Extension program awards, and eOrganic is very excited to be collaborating with 8 of these projects to help bring their research findings and activities to a wider audience! Project investigators will research new techiques for insect, disease and weed control, breed new varieties of organic crops, and host conferences in 2022. We congratulate all the awardees, and will be working together with the following projects:
- Performance and Economics of Electric Weed Control in Organic Perennial Crops: A Multiregional Approach, led by Marcelo Moretti of Oregon State University
- Carrot Improvement for Organic Agriculture: Leveraging On-farm and Below-ground Networks, led by Philipp Simon of the USDA ARS, Peoria, IL
- Mulch2O: Biodegradable Composite Hydromulches for Sustainable Organic Horticulture, led by Greta Gramig of North Dakota State University
- Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation for Enhancing and Advancing the Sustainability of Organic Specialty Crop Production Systems (ASD-EASY Organic), led by Francesco Di Gioia of Pennsylvania State University
- Sustainable, High Quality Organic Pulse Proteins:Organic Breeding Pipeline for Alternative Pulse-based Proteins, led by Dilrukshi Thavarajah of Clemson University
- Organic Confluences: Reducing Plastic Across the Organic Supply Chain, led by Jessica Shade of The Organic Center
- Building a Lasting Seed Development Network through an Online Organic Seed Growers Conference, led by Cathleen McCluskey of the Organic Seed Alliance
- Planning Grant: Creation of Regional and Local Maize Food Systems (Products Integrating Breeders, Growers, Supply Chains and End Users), led by William Tracy of the University of Wisconsin-Madison
NOVIC Field Day
We recently joined a group of farmers on a field day at the Oregon State University Lewis Brown Farm to see the vegetable trials, graduate student projects and breeding results from the Northern Organic Vegetable Improvement Collaborative (NOVIC) project. This year's trials included kabocha squash, tromboncino squash, Aji and Shishito peppers, and radicchio. Results from the trials, which are being conducted in several regions, will be posted on the Organic Variety Trial Database at the end of the season, where you can already find NOVIC trial reports from previous years. Learn more about these crops and and see pictures from the field day at https://eorganic.info/node/35055
Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network Farmer Needs Survey
The Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network conducted a farmer survey and statewide Farmer Needs Assessment (FNA) comprised of 2- to 3-hour interviews with 50 sustainable farmers around the state, followed by several focus groups. Unlike in many surveys, the organizers made every effort to include and prioritize underrepresented groups, and the results can be found in their report "Farming in the Margins: A 2020-2021 Needs Assessment of Alabama Sustainable Producers".
National Farm Viability Conference Throughout October
When we saw the program for the month-long National Farm Viability Conference, we immediately decided to support it as a "friend of the conference". Organized by Oregon Tilth & Oregon State University’s Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems, this conference is focused on strengthening farm sustainability, building stronger and more resilient local food systems and supporting the long term profitability of farming. It provides a month of informative presentations, and brings together professionals in the fields of farm and food business planning, financial planning, agricultural financing, crisis management, farmland conservation, agricultural market development, and food hub management. The registration fee for the entire conference is $100. Find the program and more information at https://www.farmviabilityconference.com/2021-agenda.html
Danone Terminates Organic Milk Contracts in the Northeast
In late August, the Danone company, which owns Horizon Organic Dairy, informed 89 organic dairy producers in the Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and New York that it would no longer purchase milk from them after August 2022, and those producers have few if any alternatives to sell their milk. Ed Maltby of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA) wrote an article on their website which explains some background information on this issue and lists some actions you can take to support Northeast organic dairy producers. One of them includes writing to members of Congress about strengthening organic dairy enforcement and implementing the Origin of Livestock rule to remove loopholes that allow transitioned animals to retain organic certification when they are transferred or sold. For more information, read the article at https://nodpa.com/n/5995/URGENT-ORGANIC-DAIRY-NEWS-Updated-82921-Danone-Exiting-the-Northeast-Region. The Organic Farmers' Association and many other organic groups have also circulated a petition for Danone to rescind its plans to drop Northeast dairy producers which you can sign here.
Reminder: There is still time to apply for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program
The Organic Certification Cost Share Program provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). Certified operations may receive up to 50 percent of their certification costs paid during the program year, not to exceed $500 per certification scope. Producers may apply for cost share assistance for organic certification expenses paid between Oct. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021. Applications are due Nov. 1, 2021.
To apply through FSA, you can find an FSA county office near you with the Service Center Locator. The FSA OCCSP application form is available at USDA's eForms site, by selecting "Browse forms" and entering "OCCSP" in the "title or keywords" field on the search page. To apply through State agencies, see the list here. State agencies may have a different application process than FSA; applicants should refer to their State agency's requirements and ensure they are using the correct application form. Applicants cannot receive duplicate benefits from both FSA and a State agency.
Webinar and Conference recordings on Farming, Food and Racial Justice in the Food System
It has been impossible to watch all of the many recent presentations and online discussions addressing these topics from many organizations that are involved with organic and sustainable food production and food justice, but here are several recommended recordings:
- Intellectual Property Rights, Race, and Colonialism: A Community Conversation. Organized by the Organic Seed Alliance. Presenters: Anjali Vats from University of Pittsburgh School of Law and Ernesto Hernandez from Chapman University. September 15, 2021. Recording available in English and Spanish here
- Feeding Family and Community: African American Women Farmers and the Long Fight for Environmental Justice in the Midwest, 1790-2021. Organized by the Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History. Presenters: Christy Clark-Pujara (Dept of Afro-American Studies, UW Madison), Anna-lisa Cox (Hutchins Center, Harvard University), Diane Miller (National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, National Park Service), Barbara Norman (Farmer and Founder of S.M.A.R.T.). Shakara Tyler (Detroit Black Community Food Security Network), Monica White (Dept. of Community & Environmental Sociology, UW Madison), Moderator: Alison Puglisi, Harvard University. April 2021. Recording video link available here
- Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network Food & Farm Forum: Black Land Matters. Panel: Jerry Pennick (Federation of Southern Cooperatives), Dr Robert Zabawa (Tuskegee University), Charice Starr, Rev Majadi Baruti (Dynamite Hill Smithfield Community Land Trust). Moderator: Dr Kara Woods (Alcorn State University). December 2020. Recording available on the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network YouTube channel, along with other videos from their Food and Farm Forum here.
eOrganic Mission and Resources
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