USDA Builds Pandemic Support for Certified Organic, Transitioning Operations

Clint Thompson Organic, Top Posts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide pandemic assistance to cover certification and education expenses to certified organic agricultural producers or those transitioning to organic. USDA will make $20 million available through the new Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) as part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. It provides new, broader and more equitable opportunities for farmers, ranchers and producers.     OTECP funding …

Increased Interest: Crop Insurance Grows for Specialty, Organic Crops

Clint Thompson Organic, Top Posts

WASHINGTON – The number of specialty and organic agricultural producers who purchase insurance for their crops continues to climb. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) attributes the recent surge to its work with producers and agricultural groups to create new crop insurance options, expand and improve current options and to support local food efforts. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently released …

Reports: Interest in Crop Insurance Grows for Specialty, Organic Crops

Clint Thompson Organic, Top Posts

WASHINGTON, August 26, 2021 – The number of agricultural producers who purchase crop insurance for their specialty and organic crops continues to climb, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) attributes to its work with producers and agricultural groups in recent years to create new crop insurance options, to expand and improve current options and to support local food efforts. …

Pollinator Protection While Using Organic Insecticides

Clint Thompson Alabama, Organic, Top Posts

Organic Corner By Ayanava Majumdar, Dani Carroll and Olivia Fuller As the summer temperatures soar, insect activity in vegetable crops rises dramatically with several overlapping generations of pests feeding on crops. During this time, need-based insecticide applications may be necessary when other pest management measures like trap crops and exclusion systems are exhausted or unfeasible. Tremendous strides have been made …

UGA Trials: Organic Agriculture Research Gaining Traction in Georgia

Clint Thompson Georgia, Organic, Research, Top Posts

University of Georgia Insect Ecology Professor Carmen Blubaugh is researching methods to help organic farmers in the Southeast, according to the University of Georgia Integrated Pest Management Blog. Farmers in the Southeast contend with year-round insect, weed and disease pressure, due to its hot, humid climate. Those challenges are amplified for organic producers, since chemical inputs are limited. Blubaugh and …

Organic Herbicide Options

Clint Thompson Florida, Organic

By Ruby Tiwari and Ramdas Kanissery Organic growers in Florida fight weeds throughout the year, as it is one of their significant challenges in production (Figure 1). Organic producers typically use various mechanical and cultural methods like tillage, cultivation, hand-weeding, mulching, etc., to keep weeds in check on their farms. While there is a general conception that there is no …

Combine Natural Enemies With Pest Exclusion Systems

Ashley Robinson Organic, VSCNews magazine

By Ayanava Majumdar, Chip East and Eric Schavey Organic farming in the South is challenged with year-round pest pressure from established or invasive insects. A flash drought can rapidly increase pest numbers and devastate crops. Two ways to reduce insect pests on vegetable crops, pest exclusion systems and conservation of natural enemies, have been discussed in recent VCSNews articles. This …

Secrets to online sales success

Ashley Robinson Agri-business, Organic, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

By Tiffany Bailey and Ida Vandamme There is no denying that the demand for organic food is on the rise. Fueled by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, consumers are showing a rapidly increasing willingness to purchase food online. There is also a recent trend in consumers seeking local and healthy food options. All these factors create a time when …