CCOF Blog

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and UC Agriculture Natural Resources Cooperative Extension are conducting research on parasite management in organic livestock production. 

Producer input is crucial and highly valued! If you are a producer of cattle, sheep, and/or goats who is certified organic, transitioning to organic, or utilizing organic practices, we want to hear from you.

Please fill out this survey by April…

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) has released the agenda for its Spring 2023 meeting and registration is now open to make oral comment during one of two webinars on April 18 and April 20. 

In addition to oral comment, the public may submit written comments on materials up for sunset from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances and other topics on the agenda. Submit comments via regulations.gov. The deadline to register for oral comment and submit written comment is April 5.

The meeting will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, April 25–27. All information…

Crowdfunding via social media has become an increasingly popular way for individuals to raise funds for many purposes, from taking a fancy vacation to paying medical expenses.
While public and private resources are available to assist farmers and ranchers affected by the recent atmospheric rivers that created widespread flooding, many are taking fundraising into their own hands and setting up appeals on the site GoFundMe.

To amplify their requests, here is a list of CCOF-certified operations that currently have an active GoFundMe posting or online appeal. If you know of…

It may come as no surprise to learn that those in the CCOF community are often connected through multiple generations of organic farming and community. It is never easy to say goodbye to a member of our community, but it is easy to honor the life and legacy they leave behind. The following obituary was provided to CCOF by Molinari's…

With their pastures starting to grow and new government assistance programs being rolled out, California organic dairy farmers are beginning to see a glimmer of relief.

Skyrocketing production costs, especially for organic feed, have pummeled organic dairies during the past two years, forcing some to sell their cows and leave the business.

Their plight got the attention of the U.S…

New federal investments in the USDA’s conservation programs make this year the best in recent memory to secure a new contract through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

Thanks to last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is making available $850 million for its oversubscribed conservation programs including EQIP, CSP, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The increased funding levels begin in fiscal…

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We know that labor is often the biggest expense on the farm. We are looking to better understand issues producers are facing with labor. We are offering a $25 stipend to organic producers who participate in our survey. The online survey should take no more than 30 minutes to complete and can be found at https://forms.office.com/r/fV3jYLMaK5.

Please contact Jessica Gonzalez at jgonzalez@ccof.org if you have any questions or concerns.
 

Join us for a training hosted by CCOF on 21-24 March: Implementing GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) v6 Plants (004-RT-T927)

This is a training provided by a Registered Trainer. To know more about Registered Trainers, please click here.

Course Instructor: Astrid H Goplen

Date: 21-24 March 2023

Course Location: Virtual (USA)

Time of Couse: 8 am to…

A newly introduced bipartisan bill in Congress takes important steps to address urgent bottlenecks in meat and poultry processing for independent small and organic livestock producers. The Strengthening Local Processing Act (S.354/H.R. 945) will expand meat processing and slaughter capacity by providing

The highly anticipated Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Rule was published on January 19, 2023. After doing our first in-depth review, CCOF has created an overview that summarizes key changes. All operations producing or handling organic products should become familiar with this new rule. Please take some time to review our summary. 

Uncertified operations handling organic products will need to become especially familiar with section A of the new rule. After March 19, 2024, organic businesses will be required to purchase ingredients only from certified suppliers. We…

Rodale Institute offers a micro-grant program specifically targeted to support projects and consulting for small-scale Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) farmers. Applications are due by February 28, 2023.

Any U.S. small-scale BIPOC farmer who is currently organic or wishes to pursue organic transition is eligible to apply for a maximum grant of $2,000. Student, intern, and apprentice farmers involved in an organic operation are also eligible. Grant funding is focused on needs such as tools, equipment, training, consulting, or anything that ensures the farmer’s success.…

USDA’s 99th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum will take place over the course of two days, both online and in person in Arlington, Virginia. On Thursday, February 23, between 11:25 and 11:55 a.m. Eastern, Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, will moderate a session on Strategies for More and Better Markets.

In addition, National Organic Program Deputy Administrator Jenny Tucker will moderate an Organic Outlook panel Friday, February 24, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Eastern that will feature Houston Wilson, director of the…

Erin DiCaprio, associate professor of cooperative extension at the Department of Food Science and Technology at University of California, Davis has summarized information and resources for assessing crop food safety after a flooding event.

The publication includes links to the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement flood fact sheet and also a presentation made by Trevor Suslow, emeritus UC Cooperative Extension specialist. 

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This blog was written by Michael D. Cahn, Farm Advisor, Irrigation and Water Resources with UC Cooperative Extension Monterey County. 

It…

Jesse Buie, president of Ole Brook Organics, grows a range of specialty crops on one of only fifteen certified organic farms located in Mississippi (according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s most recent organic survey). Certified by CCOF since 2013, Jesse is committed to growing organically in the difficult cropping environment of the South and to providing his community with healthy food. He is also committed to the larger organic movement and has served a five-year term on the National Organic Standards Board.

CCOF’s partner organization, the Organic Farming…