USDA NASS Plans First Wide-Scale Organic Survey

This spring, USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the first-ever, wide-scale survey of organic farming in the United States. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the survey on April 23, and said its goal is to find out how the growth of organic farming is changing the face of U.S. agriculture.
"The Organic Production Survey is a direct response to the growing interest in organics among consumers, farmers, and businesses," said Vilsack. "This is an opportunity for organic producers to share their voices and help ensure the continued growth and sustainability of organic farming in the United States."
The 2007 Census of Agriculture counted more than 20,000 U.S. farms engaged in organic production. The survey will look at many aspects of organic farming during the 2008 calendar year from production and marketing practices, to income and expenses. It will focus not only on operations that are currently engaged in organic production, but also on those making the transition to organic agriculture.
The results will help shape future decisions regarding farm policy, funding allocations, availability of goods and services, community development and other key issues. In addition, the information can help producers make informed decisions about the future of their own farming operations.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail the survey in early May to all known organic producers in the United States, who are asked to respond by June 17. NASS will publish results in winter 2009. Participants can mail back their forms or complete the survey online. Survey participants are guaranteed by law that their individual information will be kept confidential. NASS uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes data only in tabulated totals.
For more information about the Organic Production Survey, visit the NASS website or call (800) 727-9540.

$50 million dollars to the EQUIP Program

Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, spoke at the NOSB Meeting this morning, announcing several new initiatives that affect the organic community. The Deputy Secretary, as well as Barbara Robinson, Acting NOP Director, both underscored the need for the National Organic Program to be a standalone Program within the USDA. Deputy Sectary Merrigan also noted that the position announcement of Director of the National Organic Program will soon be released.

The other announcement from the Deputy Secretary was in reference to the release of $50 million dollars to the EQUIP Program to address conversion to organic production, farms expanding their organic production, or existing organic farms who are implementing new
conservation practices.

URGENT: Please note there is only a three week sign up time frame for this program May 11 - May 29. The funding is already in the pipeline to the states.

Read more here.

Green Youth Farm Teaches Teens Organic Farming

A rough Chicago neighborhood is ''growing hope'' on a small patch of land where weeds have been replaced by fresh fruits and vegetables.

CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports in Lawndale -- where access to farm fresh produce can be limited -- seeds of knowledge have been planted.

"These little tomatoes are my whole section," Clifton Coleman said.

Sprouting now is an urban garden with lettuces, bitter greens of many shades, peppers and strawberries.

"It's an organic farm --- there's a high risk of any bug killing your plants because we don't use chemicals and fertilizers," Marquita Wheaton said.

It's all been planted and tended to every day by just 15 neighborhood teenagers, with little exposure to farming.

"I didn't even know what basil was before I worked here," Coleman said. "That's the strange part. And I didn't know you had to do all this to grow a tomato."

Chicago's Botanic Garden created the Green Youth Farm and wisdom has taken root; from the benefits of composting to the impact of heavy rain on zucchini.

"I was like, wow, that's shocking and amazing how the rain can make something grow that huge," Wheaton said.

Coleman is now an expert in harvesting tomatoes. "We pull them when they are like this size because if they get too big they lose their taste," Coleman said.

At a farm stand, the teens also sell the produce to the community. They'll brew sun tea flavored with their fresh basil, and cook up healthier lunches each week for the neighborhood -- an experience also changing the way they eat.

"I started eating a little bit healthier because I used to go the restaurant like almost every day and eat fast food," said Talonda Williams.

"I eat eggplant, I never eat eggplant," Coleman said. "I eat red lettuce."

All the results of the fruits -- and vegetables of their labor. The teens work an average of 20 hours per week and will earn about $1500 each by the end of the summer.

Budgeted Shopping

Sometimes the very sought after "organic" or "pesticide-free" products get expensive. In times when we have to manage our money very frugally to survive in the economy, prioritizing these things sometimes gets tricky. This article from MSNBC helps us to figure out how to continue purchasing organics even if our pockets are getting empty.

How to Buy Organics on a Budget

If you’re like me, your household budget is getting clobbered by the one-two punch of $4-plus-a-gallon gasoline and higher food prices. Most of us can find a way to drive less, but we all have to eat.

To stretch their food dollars, people are changing the way they shop. For some, that means buying fewer organic products or taking them off the shopping list entirely.

“The statistics aren’t available yet, but there’s definitely been trading down by consumers in many areas,” says Brian Todd, CEO of The Food Institute, a non-profit organization in Elmwood, N.J., that tracks supermarket trends. “Consumers are going from national brands to private labels and from more expensive produce, and that would include organics, to lower-priced produce,” he says.

Read the entire story here.