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The National Organic Action Plan project releases From the Margins to the Mainstream: Advancing Organic Agriculture in the U.S (PDF)
USDA issues new regulations protecting contract farmers
Action Alert:
Tell Senate - Food safety legislation must support family farms.
Plant breeders focus on organic crops. RAFI's Just foods Program is partnering with North Carolina State University on a project to develop new crop varieties designed to grow best on organic farms in the Southeast. Read the NCSU press release or the article in Southeast Farm Press.
Public comment period opens for Agricultural Justice Project Standards.
Press release: Coalition files brief to protect fair livestock and poultry markets
Farmer's Guide to Development of New Farm Enterprises (PDF)
"The one undoing of our plan:" How crop insurance leaves an organic farm at risk
John and Russ Vollmer, of Vollmer Farm in Bunn, N.C., talk with Scott Marlow, Farm Sustainability Director, about the need for risk management and crop insurance for organic and specialty crops.
Action alert: Stop government-backed loans that put farmers out of business.
Action Alert: Tell
the USDA that GMO contamination of organic food and farms is not acceptable.
Sign on to NOC's letter by sending your name, e-mail, city and state to Liana Hoodes at liana@hvc.rr.com. Farms and businesses may sign on as well. To write your own comments, sign online at the True Food Network.
The Benefit of Organic Agriculture for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change (PDF) - A statement from the National Organic Coalition on the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454)
Cost-share grants available for farmers in central North Carolina The goal of the Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund is to keep farmers in farming and maintain the economic base of North Carolina’s rural communities. It assists farmers and rural communities as they develop new sources of agricultural income through provision of cost-share grants. Read more.>>
Food Safety and H.R. 875
The internet furor over H.R. 875 is largely misplaced and not based on fact. It is detracting from attention to several other bills that would pose a more substantial threat to local and organic food. Read more.>>
Contract Agriculture Policy Recommendations for the Obama Administration
Twelve organizations developed a comprehensive set of recommendations for the
Obama-Biden Transition Team to help guide Farm Bill implementation and to allow the new administration to achieve fair, open and competitive markets. Read more.>>
Farm Loan Restructuring
Because most family farmers live on the farm, losing the farm means losing the family home as well. RAFI and its partners recommend that the government require private banks that receive stimulus or recovery funds to offer farmers a chance to restructure their payments. Read more.>>
RAFI names Linda Shaw new executive director
RAFI advocate recieves 2008 Nancy Susan Reynolds Award for Personal Service
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