Welcome to the Organic Farming Exchange
Brought to you by the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU
This site offers information on all aspects of organic farming, whether you’re an established organic farmer, in the transition process, or interested in organic production. Explore our useful organic resources:
- Soil building
- Organic certification
- Crop production
- and so much more
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News & Hot Topics
Great Lakes Fruit & Vegetable Expo
The 2011 Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Expo was a great success! The sessions that focused on organic production and management were well attended and we fielded some thought-provoking questions. Farmers who attended the sessions left with new ideas and useful information.
- “Cover Crop Managements on a Vegetable Farm—DIfferent Farms, Different Styles,” GLEXPO-covercrops-dec11.pdf
- “Compost: Getting it To and On the Vegetable Farm,” GLEXPO-compost-dec11.pdf
- “Online Cover Crop Selector Tool—How It Works,” GLEXPO-cropselector-dec11.pdf
For the last several years, one day of the expo includes a track on organic production. The GLEXPO is held each year in Grand Rapids, MI at the DeVos Center during the first full week of December.
This year’s organic track included Organic Soil Management, Organic Markets, Organic Vegetable Production and Organic Fruit Production. We look forward to next year and making more friends and hoping to have a few more topics for the Organic Track.
In between the morning and afternoon sessions, Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) offered a Meet & Greet Luncheon with food from several of Michigan’s Organic Farmers. Nearly 150 people attended for the chance to have a good lunch and visit with old friends and make a few new ones.
The farmers that shared their food were John Simmons of Simmons Family Farm, Jim Koan of Almar Orchards, Natures Bounty Farm, Food For Thought, Lee and Linda Purdy of Westwind Milling, and Anthony Cinzori from Cinzori Farm.
They helped make the lunch extra special and we thank them. See photos of the Meet & Greet in the slideshow at the top of this page.
Position Announcement | Executive Director | Michigan Food & Farming Systems
The Executive Directorship is a full-time position. The executive director must be based in Michigan. The current headquarters is in East Lansing. MIFFS will consider proposals for an alternative basing location from exceptionally well-qualified candidates.
For a full description
of the position and its responsibilities, please visit www.miffs.org/employment.asp. To apply, email your résumé and cover letter to MIFFS Search Committee Chair Joe Colyn, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or mail to MIFFS Search Committee Chair, Joe Colyn, Originz LLC, 33Lynwood Drive, Battle Creek, MI 49014-7911.
E-mail applications are
preferred. Application deadline is Monday, January 30, 2012. Position start date is early May 2012.
2012 Farm Bill
What is it?
The Farm Bill, enacted by Congress in June 2008, included $285 billion for agricultural and farming industries. It is also known as the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act. The 2008 Farm Bill contained 15 titles covering support for numerous programs involving commodity crops, horticulture, livestock, conservation, nutrition, trade and food aid, agricultural research, farm credit, rural development, energy, and forestry.
It also included tax-related provisions to offset some new spending initiatives in the rest of the bill.
How can I contribute?
Contacting your Senator or Representative is an effective way to have your voice heard and your opinion count. To contact your House Representative, visit the online directory.
To contact Senator Levin, write to:
The Honorable Carl Levin
United States Senate
269 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DR 20510-2202
Phone: (202) 224-6221
To contact Senator Stabenow, write to:
The Honorable Debbie Stabenow
United States Senate
133 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC, 20510-2203
Phone: (202) 224-4822
Becoming educated about the Farm Bill is also an important step to take. Visit these resources for specific information about the Bill, the interested parties, and how to become involved:
- Food System Economic Partnership
- FarmPolicy.com
- The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
- Organic Trade Association
Food Safety Modernization Act
What is it?
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (SB 510) was signed into law by
President Obama on January 4th, 2011. It aims to ensure the U.S. food
supply is safe by shifting the focus of federal regulators from
responding to contamination to preventing it. The Act was written largely in response to the 48 million food-borne illnesses that effect Americans annually. This will be the first food safety standards overhaul in more than a century.
What does it mean for me?
The FSMA will have noticeable implications for almost all farmers. For example, farms with a revenue of over $500,000 will be subject to increased regulation, which could hinder growing farms from wanting to expand. Taking effect sooner than other provisions of the bill is the FDA’s authority to instantly declare a mandatory recall of dangerous food.
Where can I learn more?
Contact
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