Certified Organic Meeting Focuses on Hemp, Forage

The last of the 2017 New York Certified Organic winter meetings is scheduled for Monday, March 13 at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva.

The meeting will include an update on organic hemp production trials plus presentations on nutrient balancing, crop production, and alternative forage production for organic farming systems. 
Presenters include Cornell University and University of Vermont faculty and a New York organic dairy farmer.

The meeting will start promptly at 10 am in Jordan Hall. There is no cost or need to register to attend the New York Certified Organic meetings; participants are asked to bring a dish for potluck lunch.

Heather Darby, an agronomic and soils specialist with the University of Vermont, will review field trials conducted at the University research farm on organic hemp production in the Northeast and narrow row organic spring grain production.

Quirine Ketterings of the Cornel University Nutrient Management Spear Program and Cornell PRO-DAIRY Program Senior Extension Associate Karl Czymmek will show how doing annual whole farm mass balance assessments can help farmers understand the long-term capacity to support optimum yields, identify management strategies that will optimize farm nutrient imports and exports, quantify a farm’s footprint and track how it is changing over time, and summarize and evaluate the farm as a whole system.

Organic dairy farmer Tim Demeree from Little Falls, Herkimer County, will talk about his experience with growing annuals, including sudangrass, millet and sorghum for forage and how they fit in his crop rotation. 

Demeree will also share a comparison of the ensiling profiles of baleage using different preservatives. Nutritionist Adam McFarland of Agriking worked with Demeree to develop this comparison.

Round table discussions after lunch provide farmers the opportunity to ask questions and hear from the combined experience of the group that includes new and transitioning farmers and long-time organic producers.

The March 13 meeting also includes a brief description of how crop insurance can benefit organic farmers.

The New York Crop Insurance Education Team and Cornell Cooperative Extension provide support for the New York Certified Organic meetings. 

For more details, contact Fay Benson at (607) 391-2699 or at afb3@cornell.edu

Benson is an educator with the Cornell University SCNY Regional Team, project manager for the NY Organic Dairy Program, coordinator of the NY Soil Health Trailer, and a member of the New York Crop Insurance Team.

NOFA-NY Holds Annual Conference

Go to http://www.troyrecord.com/general-news/20170121/farming-group-celebrates-diversity-at-capital-region-event to check out the story.

New York Certified Organic Sets Dates for Winter Meetings

New York Certified Organic has set the dates for its Winter 2017 meetings, bringing grain and dairy farmers together with guest speakers on the organic crops and dairy production. 

The 2017 dates are Jan. 10, Feb. 14 and March 13. Each program begins at 10 a.m. in Jordan Hall, 630 W. North St. at the New York State Agricultural Experimental Station, Geneva.

There is no cost or need to register to attend the meetings; participants are asked to bring a dish to pass at the potluck lunch. 

Roundtable discussions after lunch provide farmers the opportunity to ask questions and hear from the combined experience of the group. These sessions help advance organic production in New York and have been helpful to new and transitioning farmers as well as long-time organic producers.

A brief description of how crop insurance can benefit organic farmers will be included at each of the meetings.

The Jan. 10 meeting will feature presentations by Bob Quinn of the Quinn Organic Research Center, Big Sandy, Montana; Mark Sorrells of the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future at Cornell University; organic producer Tim Christensen of Penn Yan; and Sandra Wayman with the Cornell Sustainable Cropping System Lab.

Quinn's organic research center includes a 2,800-acre farm in Big Sandy. The fourth generation farm transitioned to organic production in 1986. Work on organic grain varieties led to the redevelopment of Kamut, an ancient grain grown by the Egyptians. The farm also grows soft white wheat, durum wheat, buckwheat, lentils, peas, sweet clover, and flax.

Quinn, a sought-after speaker on marketing and development of organic grains, will present his vision of where organic markets are going and how New York’s producers can prepare for the future at the January 10 NYCO meeting.

As part of a research team there, Mark Sorrells worked on the ‘Accelerating Production of Organic Grains in Western NY’ project sponsored by the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority and Wegmans, the family-owned supermarket chain. Sorrells will review the results of this study conducted at the Cornell University Musgrave Research Farm in Aurora.

Tim Christensen farms with his father, Guy in Penn Yan and has been experimenting with different cover crops in his corn and small grain rotation. His decisions are based on the multi-layered objectives of protecting soil health, adding green manures, and qualifying for annual Conservation Stewardship Program payments. Christensen will share some of the success and failures he has had on his farm.

Cornell Sustainable Cropping System Lab Research Technician Sandra Wayman will review work with the newly-developed perennial grain Kernza.

The Feb. 14 NYCO meeting will focus on how to diversity farm business with organic poultry. The March 13 session will feature speakers on nutrient balancing, crop production and alternative forage production.

Producers, educators and agribusiness representatives are encouraged to mark calendars for these meetings. 

For more information, contact Fay Benson at (607) 391-2699 or email afb3@cornell.edu

Information on past meetings is online at http://blogs.cornell.edu/organicdairyinitiative/.

Organic Producers, Handlers Now Eligible to Apply for Federal Reimbursement

From the USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that starting March 20, organic producers and handlers will be able to visit over 2,100 USDA Farm Service Agency offices to apply for federal reimbursement to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic or transitional certification.

USDA is making changes to increase participation in the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program  and the Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification Cost Share Program, and at the same time provide more opportunities for organic producers to access other USDA programs, such as disaster protection and loans for farms, facilities and marketing. 

Producers also can access information on nonfederal agricultural resources, and get referrals to local experts, including organic agriculture, through USDA’s Bridges to Opportunity service at the local Farm Service Agency office.

Historically, many state departments of agriculture have obtained grants to disburse reimbursements to those producers and handlers qualifying for cost share assistance. Farm Service Agency will continue to partner with states to administer the programs. 

For states that want to continue to directly administer the programs, applications will be due Feb. 17. 

Eligible producers include any certified producers or handlers who have paid organic or transitional certification fees to a  USDA-accredited certifying agent. 

Application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement/ arrangement requirements, travel/per diem for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and postage are all eligible for a cost share reimbursement from USDA.

Once certified, producers and handlers are eligible to receive reimbursement for up to 75 percent of certification costs each year up to a maximum of $750 per certification scope — crops, livestock, wild crops and handling.  

Today’s announcement also adds transitional certification and state organic program fees as additional scopes.

To learn more about organic certification cost share, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/organic or contact a local FSA office by visiting http://offices.usda.gov.

Should Hydroponic and Aquaponic Farms Still Be Eligible for Organic Certification?

Check out this story http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/18/opinions/hydroponic-and-aquaponic-farms-are-organic-cufone/ at this link.

Organic Farming on the Rise in NY

Check out this http://www.wcax.com/story/33480821/officials-organic-farming-growing-across-ny story here.

Andrianna Natsoulas New NOFA-NY Director

News from NOFA-NY
 
The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY), proudly announces Andrianna Natsoulas as its new executive director, effective Aug. 1. 

Founded in 1983, NOFA-NY is a statewide organization leading a growing movement of farmers, consumers, gardeners and businesses committed to promoting sustainable and fair local, organic food and farming.
 
“It is an honor to join NOFA-NY — a trailblazer in the sustainable food system across New York state and the region,” Natsoulas said. 

“As the demand for local foods increases and the integrity of organic products needs constant protection, NOFA-NY’s role in local, state, regional and national venues is at an all time high. I am excited to continue this important work and expand the organization’s reach,” she said.
 
Natsoulas has been a social and environmental activist for over two decades. She has coordinated with the global food sovereignty movements and has served on national and international boards and steering committees to protect access to resources, fight trade agreements and build alliances.
 
Natsoulas has been an independent consultant, writer, researcher and advocate for more than a half dozen grassroots, regional and international organizations.
 
“Andrianna brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit management and development, strategic planning, fundraising, and coalition building to NOFA-NY,” said board of directors Chair Phil Barbato. 

“In addition, she has worked with a number of food-related organizations such as the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance and Food & Water Watch, and has written the important book, ‘Food Voices: Stories From the People Who Feed Us.’”
 

Natsoulas received her master’s degree in ecosystems analysis and governance from The University of Warwick, Coventry, England, and her bachelor’s degree in environmental forest biology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse.
 
Barbato also acknowledged “the superb efforts of Nancy Apolito, who stepped up to take over the duties as interim executive director in  January. Nancy’s efforts and intelligence guided the organization through more than half a year of work, including the successful search for a permanent executive director.
 
“The NOFA-NY team is stronger and more effective than ever due to her extra endeavors on our behalf. We’re so pleased that Nancy will be continuing at NOFA-NY as operations director,” Barbato said.

Is Certified Organic Honey Really Organic?

Here's an interesting story that came out of a question by a local farmer who wanted to know how honey could be certified organic when the bees fly EVERYWHERE?

Check out this story at http://livingmaxwell.com/organic-honey-certified

There's Still Time to Fill Out Your Certified Organic Survey

The 2015 Certified Organic Survey is underway and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is reminding farmers and ranchers that it’s not too late to respond. 

In early February, survey questionnaires were mailed nationwide to all known organic farms. Later this month, NASS will begin conducting telephone follow up with producers who have not yet responded. 

Some farmers may also be selected for in person interviews to assist with data collection.

“Your participation is strongly encouraged,” said NASS’ Northeastern Regional Director King Whetstone. “The 2015 Certified Organic Survey will provide vital data to assist farmers, suppliers, policymakers, as well as those in the private sector in planning the production and marketing of new programs and products to help sustain industry growth. 

For example, USDA’s Risk Management Agency will use the information to evaluate crop insurance coverage to help provide adequate pricing for organic producers.”

The survey asks farmers to provide information on acreage, production, and sales for a variety of certified organic crop and livestock commodities. NASS is also gathering information about certified organic farmers’ marketing practices and transitional data. The agency urges all participants to respond. 

Producers can return their forms by mail or complete the survey online at www.agcounts.usda.gov.