CSS Food Group items 3 Sep 09 edition
Lance Christie
(1) $50 million was set aside for organic producers in the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) allocation for FY2010
in the 2008 Farm Bill. In May 2009 the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NCIS) held a three-week sign-up. Despite the
short sign-up window which fell at planting time for many organic
crops, demand was strong and the entire set-aside was obligated. The
top 10 states in terms of applications were Wisconsin, Iowa,
California, Oregon, Minnesota, Washington, Pennsylvania, New York,
Nebraska and Georgia.
The set-aside is for farmers and ranchers in the process of
converting to organically-certified status, producers expanding their
production, and existing organic farmers and ranchers seeking to
increase their environmental performance.
Under this initiative, organic farmers can receive compensation for
six core conservation practices at higher payment rates than
available under regular EQIP:
-Conservation Crop Rotation, 34% higher -growing different crops in
a planned sequence in the same field.
-Cover Cropping, 46% higher - planting grasses, legumes and/or
forbs for seasonal cover to prevent erosion and build soil health.
-Integrated Pest Management, 60% higher - combining practices to
control pest numbers at a low level that does not compromise crop yield.
-Nutrient Management, 30% higher - developing and implementing a
plan to ensure proper application and utilization of soil amendments
such as manure.
-Rotational Grazing, 2% higher - managing grazing herds by rotating
them through paddock systems rather than allowing them to graze an
entire pasture continuously.
-Forage Harvest Management, 2% higher - properly managing the
cutting and removal of forage crops to optimize quality and promote
vigorous plant re-growth.
(2) The Senate Nutrition and Food Assistance, Sustainable and Organic
Agriculture Committee has been rechristened the Subcommittee on
Hunger, Nutrition, and Family Farms. It is chaired by Sen. Sherrod
Brown (D-OH) and is a subcommittee of the Senate Agriculture
Committee. The doings of the subcommittee can be followed on the
Senate Agriculture Committee website.
(3) Michigan State University professor Philip Howard has a chart
showing the consolidation of the seed industry on the Internet.
(4) According to IFOAM, global certified organic acreage has been
stuck at circa 30 million hectares from 2006-2008. However, there
are national initiatives underway to vastly increase certified
organic farming in nations. For example, in January 2009 the French
government committed to their "Organic Horizon 2012" plan, which set
a goal of 6% of all cropland in France being certified organic by
2012, and 20% being organic by 2020. The European Union Certifiers
Council reports there are over 30 organic certifying bodies operating
in the EU as of 2008.
The Technology Research Platform - Organics was formed EU-wide 2 Dec
08 to empower rural communities at the regional and global level,
securing food and ecosystems by eco-functional intensification of
agriculture and the production of high-quality foods. As of the end
of 2009 there were 28 EU organizations which were members of the
technology research consortium.
(5) In Europe, the review of the ISO 65 agricultural standard begun
in 2008 seeks to integrate environmental and social certification
schemes into the organic certification scheme. The ISEAL Alliance
has committed to developing such combined organic + environmental +
social justice certification if the International Standards
Organization (ISO) 65 effort doesn't successfully produce one. In
March of 2009 Italy adopted the Social Accountability Watch System
(social justice) criteria into its national organic certification scheme.
(6) In February 2009 the European environmental commissioner called
for banning all new genetically-engineered crop approvals in the
European Union. France is using "the safeguard clause" in
international trade agreements to stop growing of genetically-engineered crops.
(7) In February 2009 the United Kingdom banned the use of nano
materials in certified organic food. In April, the Organic Crop
Improvement Association of the United States followed suit.
(8) In Taiwan as of 2007, there were 936 certified organic producers
farming 2013 hectares, 0.25% of total Taiwanese farmland. This is up
from 450 certified hectares in 1997. As of 2008, 782 Taiwanese shops
carried certified organic food products.
(9) As of 2009, the U.S. Accredited Certifiers Association has 41
U.S. certifying bodies in its membership.