CCOF Expands Access to Organic Certification
“I was on the verge of losing my farm.” These words haunted Maria Narez of Narez Organic Vegetables as she navigated the complexities of becoming certified organic.
policy
Big Win for Small Ranchers: California Allows On-Farm Mobile Slaughter of Goats, Sheep, Swine
During the 2021 growing season, California ranchers shepherded legislative change along with their livestock.
Comment Period Open for Fall National Organic Standards Board Meeting: Carrageenan at Risk of Removal
This week the agenda and all proposals and discussion documents for the fall 2021 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meetings were posted online. Sign-up for public comment during October 13 and 14 online webinars is now open. If you want to make an oral comment, register now because the slots can get filled up quickly.
Tom Vilsack Welcomes Jenny Lester Moffitt as USDA Undersecretary
In a USDA press release issued August 11, 2021, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement after the successful confirmation of Jenny Lester Moffitt to serve as undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at USDA:
Organic Farming Research Foundation Meets with Congressional Staffers at USDA Agricultural Research Service
Rep. Jimmy Panetta to Co-Sponsor Agricultural Resilience Act
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) hosted Representative Jimmy Panetta’s (D-California, 20) congressional staffers at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Salinas, California, last week. The site visit focused on the importance of increased investment in organic research and was instrumental in Rep. Panetta’s decision to co-sponsor H.R. 2803, the Agricultural Resilience Act (ARA).
Dear President: Here’s How to Support Organic
Hot off the press: The Critical To-Do List for Organic Agriculture, published by the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems.
New CDFA Planning Grant Program Open for Comments
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is accepting public comment through June 15 on the funding rules for its new Conservation Agriculture Planning Grant Program. Please consider making a comment using the points outlined below.
An outcome of CCOF’s advocacy for CDFA support for organic farmers in its Climate Smart Agriculture programs, this new program received $20 million in Governor Gavin Newsom’s May revision of the state budget.
CCOF Launches Organic for Everyone Campaign
Eating organic food should not be a privilege; organic is for everyone.
Yet today, widespread economic inequality prevents many families from accessing organic. Income inequality is at its highest in California’s history, with a pay disparity almost double today what it was in 1980.
Jenny Lester Moffitt Nominated for Top USDA Position
Longtime farmer advocate and state administrator with deep roots in the organic community Jenny Lester Moffitt has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs.
Agriculture Resilience Act Meetings with California Representatives
Last week, Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA), which outlines a national roadmap for reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. agriculture by the year 2040.