Now, the only infrastructure devoted to agriculture
Photo by Jeff Hake Kaitie Adams is an CellaWilliams.husband,Acresco-ownsSolutions.AgroforestryestermunityandFarmFEDofboardinterimmemberCentralIllinoisCo-opistheCom-Agrofor-forMidwestKaitieRedCribwithherJohnLangerand
Knowing that dairy was a long-term goal of Cella and Emmet’s, Kat and Tony augmented a visit to Stony Acres with a tour of a neighbor’s Grade A dairy farm, Clover Meadows Family Farm, which sells glass bottled milk and yogurt. Langer recalls, “Touring the dairy farm with Kat and Tony, and that introduction was a huge turning point for us in realizing the dairy dream. It was the rst time we had seen, in Wisconsin at a very small scale, a Grade A dairy. is was what we could actually, realistically do! It was very eyeopening and exciting. So, we based our model o of that. We stayed in touch with that farmer and went back to visit once we had started construction of our creamery.”InSpring of 2017, Cella and Emmet bought their rst two bottle calves. “It’s a long process”, said Langer. “We knew we wanted to raise our own calves. Once you buy them, raise them, then wait one and a half years to breed them, and another nine months for them to have calves, then leave the calves on, it’s another two months before you have any milk.” ey bought their farm in Hager City, Wisconsin, in 2018. at February, they attended an Organic University course on Organic Dairy at the MOSES Organic Farming Conference taught by Francis icke. A er that, they knew that when they were ready for a dairy mentorship, they wanted to work with Francis. A er submitting their plan to the Department of Ag for pre-approval, Cella and Emmet had the cement oor for the facility poured on Halloween of 2019. “ e plan was to work on it over the winter and start selling milk in spring 2020”, Langer shared. “COVID hit and we hadn’t bought our equipment yet, so we
Emmet Fisher of Oxheart Farm bene ted from a MOSES Farmer-to-Farmer mentorship for their Grade A dairy. Photo by Oxheart Farm
ORGNONPROFIT
Building a Grade A Dairy through a second MOSES mentorship By Sarah Woutat Beginnings Program, they mapped out a plan for the rst few years of their farm: they started with a very small vegetable CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), pastured pork, and meat birds, and sold at the farmers market. A er three years they moved to another piece of rented land, closer to Hager City, Wisconsin.Inthewinter of 2014, they began Land Stewardship Project’s two-year Journeyperson Course, and in February of 2015 were paired with their rst MOSES mentors. ey had met Kat Becker and Tony Schultz of Stony Acres Farm at a conference (Kat now owns and operates Cattail Organics) and requested to work with them as mentors with a focus on veggies, pastured meats, and mushrooms. “ e mentorship with Kat and Tony was great – we got a lot out of it for our veggie production,” said Langer. is the rail lines and grain elevators that still serve a purpose for the two crops that occupy nearly all our acreage. So, while Central Illinois can grow huge volumes of incredible food, those crops exist in a vacuum, estranged from the many people who would eat them if they had access to them but instead eat inferior foods brought in from around the world. What we’re trying to do here, then, is really quite practical. We are attempting to create a missing piece of that food system infrastructure that will raise the ceiling on growth for our small but determined collection of fresh food growers while also letting them do more of the good work they set out to do in the rst place: feeding their communities well. Our initial idea is not extravagant. A er many
September | October 2021Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service Organic CropPracticesFarmvs.InsurancePage5 Volume 29 | Number 5 TM 54767WIValley,Spring339,BoxPO Grade A Dairy continues on 12 Central Illinois co-op bridges the gap between farmers, institutional buyers By Jeff Hake PipelineBankruptcyFoodsPage7 Climate-SmartFarmingPage13 Illinois Co-op continues on 6 Cella Langer and Emmet Fisher of Oxheart Farm always knew they wanted to have a dairy as part of their farm, but also knew it would take a lot of infrastructure, and they would have to wait a few years. ey both grew up in agriculture, Cella on a homestead in Massachusetts, and Emmet on a diversi ed vegetable farm in western Wisconsin. A er interning on and managing vegetable farms around the country, in 2013 they secured a lease for land in southern Wisconsin.rough the Land Stewardship Project’s Farm An ambitious project is underway in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois. In almost the geographic center of the state, a bit north and east of the state capital, local farmers and food systems advocates have been working with the city to establish a cooperative fresh food processing facility since March 2020. If you feel like you’ve heard of Mt. Pulaski before, it may be from an article in the July/August 2020 issue of the Organic Broadcaster that discussed the city’s successful e ort to open a cooperative grocery store on their square, years a er their last groceryCentralclosed.Illinois can seem like both the rst and the last place you would expect to see a movement to regrow a local food economy. It seems logical, a er all, that one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions would produce tons of food, that its economy would revolve around the success and well-being of its farmers, and that the people there would eat a lot of fresh, local food. But this is the epicenter of Big Ag, focused on row crop production of corn and soybeans by the millions of acres, stretching in every direction. Very little actual food is grown here: Illinois imports 96% of what we eat from outside the state. e small towns of Central Illinois are prototypical examples of rural decline. rough the forces of economics and policies, small towns declined, people moved away, farms got big or got out, and those that remained essentially stopped raising food. What remained was a culture and an economy built around agriculture, and a very speci c brand of it, but certainly not around food.
|
2. Were you raised by your mother and/or father (biological or adoptive)?
Charlie Johnson | Johnson Farms, SD David Perkins | Vermont Valley Farm, Wis. Sara Tedeschi | Dog Hollow Farm, Wis. Darin Von Ruden | Von Ruden Family Farm, Wis.
|
Stephanie Coffman, Presentation Coor. stephanie@mosesorganic.org
5. Have you (or could you have) attended college or graduate school?
11. When you go to banks and businesses in your community, or in communities where you travel, do you feel comfortable striking up a conversation with people you do not know? How many ‘yes’ answers did you get? Consider how di cult it would it be for someone with more ’nos’ than ’yeses‘ to get a farm loan, to buy land so that they have equity to access funding, or to feel that they have the skills and support to make it in farming. I think we rarely consider those ‘yeses’ as things that give us advantage. It is easy to assume that everyone has the same experience. When we have days or seasons of crop loss, personal and nancial struggle, our ‘yeses’ provide us options that others may not have. And that is what is unfair and needs to be addressed.eseare the impacts of racism. As small and mid-scale farmers, there is no shortage of obstacles we all face in the U.S. agricultural landscape. Instead of focusing on what divides us, we can work together in support of one another, toward real solutions that address the shortcomings in the food and farming system. Struggling farmers and families hurt us all. We can agree to x a system that keeps some of us from thriving.
|
Hannah
Tom Manley, Partnership Director thomas@mosesorganic.org
|
Sarah Woutat, Farmer Advancement Coor. | sarahw@mosesorganic.org On-Farm Organic Specialist Team | specialist@mosesorganic.org Board of Directors:
My Lived Experience: A Short Quiz 1. Are you and your family homeowners or landowners? Lori Stern, Executive Director | lori@mosesorganic.org Chuck Anderas, Program Specialist | chuck@mosesorganic.org
Clare Hintz | Elsewhere Farm, Wis.
3. Did any of the public schools you attended undergo improvements like remodeling, expansion, or new equipment purchases?
9. Has anyone in your family received treatment for mental health issues or addiction without threat of being sent to prison?
10. Have you or do you expect to inherit money or property?
Jennifer Nelson, Land Access Navigator jennifer@mosesorganic.org Westfall, Comm. & Marketing Specialist hannah@mosesorganic.org
|
Volume 29, #5 September | October 2021 Editor Jenica Caudill Advertising Coordinator Tom Manley Digital Content Producer Stephanie Co man The Organic BroadcasterTM is a bimonthly newspaper published by the Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), a nonprofit that provides education, resources, and practical advice to farmers. Opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Inclusion of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of a product. We reserve the right to refuse inappropriate advertising. ©2021 MOSES Content may be reprinted with permission. Contact organicbroadcaster@mosesorganic.org Content Submissions or Inquiries: organicbroadcaster@mosesorganic.org Display Advertising: Thomas@mosesorganic.org or 888-90-MOSES Classified Advertising: Sophia@mosesorganic.org mosesorganic.org/organic-classifiedsor Subscription: mosesorganic.org/sign-up or 888-90-MOSES MOSES is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit qualified to receive tax-deductible donations. Support resilient organic, sustainable, and regenerative farms by donating: MOSES, P.O. Box 339, Spring Valley, WI 54767 Online: mosesorganic.org/donate MOSES educates, inspires, and empowers farmers to thrive in a sustainable, organic system of agriculture.
4. If you experienced the death of a classmate or friend, was it a result of an accident (car, farm, drowning) or illness, rather than violence?
8. Do you trust the police and court system to work in your best interest and protect you?
Jenica Caudill, Dir. of Development & Marketing jenica@mosesorganic.org
Organic farmers understand systems. ere are multiple variables that allow a plant or animal to thrive on our farms. e dips and hills in our elds provide unequal access to soil and water for vegetables and row crops. When there is struggle, there is o en disease that can spread. To compensate, we test and amend, water more or less. It is in our best interest to keep all of the components of a system functioning. We do not blame the corn row, apple trees, or spinach plant. We recognize that all conditions and starts are not equal. at the viability of our farm enterprise is dependent on the health and resilience of all members.Andyet,counter to what our farm systems tell us, we’re witnessing intense expressions of anger over the federal and state e orts to nally—belatedly—provide some economic support to Black, Brown, and Indigenous farmers. Farmers who have historically been excluded from accessing such resources, as the result of centuries of hurtful policies and practices, broken treaties and promises, that were meant to do just that: Todayexclude.weseethe impacts of those policies: Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Indigenous farmers collectively make up less than 5% of all farmers in the United States. e fact that what these farmers have in common is their non-whiteness has resulted in a politicization of the conversation. It has deepened the divide between farmers and made rural places, where land is less expensive, feel uninhabitable and unsafe for nonwhite farmers, further exacerbating the challenge of access to farmland. So, let’s set race aside, and review the lived experience among those of us committed to agriculture and shared communities.
MOSES Team: Mike Bollinger | River Root Farm, Iowa Sylvia Burgos Toftness | Bull Brook Keep, Wis.
By Lori Stern, MOSES Executive Director
Sophia
Farm wisdom toward community, compassion, and collective struggle
Dela Ends | Scotch Hill Farm, Wis. Regi Haslett-Marroquin | Northfield, Minn.
|
6. Do you have a safety net composed of family or friends to call on when you need a nancial favor?
|
7. Are any of your bills or credit cards on autopay?
Sarah Broadfoot, Project Manager sarahb@mosesorganic.org Cleveland, Administrative Coor. sophia@mosesorganic.org
| 3mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM By Jay Feldman, Beyond Pesticides Are children, agricultural workers, and the food supply safe with the EPA’s chlorpyrifos decision? Does a science-based, public protectiveconcerned,focused,occupationalhealth-oriented,safety-children-ecologicallysocietyallow the use of toxic pesticides that are unnecessary to achieve land management, quality of life, and food productivity goals? Should victims of poisoning have to plead with regulators to protect them? Should organizations have to ght chemicalby-chemical to achieve basic levels of protection from individual neurotoxic, cancer causing, endocrine disrupting pesticides? Of course not. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that it is stopping food uses of the insecticide chlorpyrifos a er being registered 65 years ago provides us with an important opportunity for re ection, not just celebration. e collective e ort to remove this one chemical is a tremendous feat in eliminating one exposure to a hazardous material for children. at is the point. e action we’re celebrating required an amazingly resource-intensive e ort at a time in history when we are running against the clock in an urgent race to transition our society and global community away from the use of petroleum-based, toxic pesticides— and move to meaningful practices that sustain, nurture, and regenerate life.
The picture is clear. Even in a victory, like the EPA’s chlorpyrifos decision, the action is typically filled with exceptions that respond to vested interests seeking to ignore or deflect the science.
TOP QUALITY ORGANICS FOR ANY CROP FROM SUSTÅNE’S FAMILY OF FERTILIZERS AND SOIL BUILDERS
The history of chlorpyrifos is a shining example of the failure of pesticide law and policy, which has set a course for the nation that is inherently destructive of life. The good news is that we have the tools to course correct.
Suståne’s full line of organic and natural soil builders enhance the yield, quality and profitability in a variety of growing zones. Nurture the soil and grow world class fruits, flowers, grains, herbs, and vegetables; sustainably. Suståne; safe, simple, effective; and known worldwide as... Simply the Best.
In this context, let’s put chlorpyrifos in perspective. e EPA was forced into its decision by a court order following the agency’s decision to reverse course a er proposing to stop food uses of chlorpyrifos in 2017. Despite a mountain of scienti c data challenging chlorpyrifos’s safety, it was embraced by industrial agriculture, the golf industry, and others, and deemed too valuable to the bottom line of its manufacturer, Corteva (formerly Dow AgroSciences). Pesticide manufacturers are also motivated to steer the EPA away from adverse health and environmental e ects ndings on their products in order to avoid potential litigation by those harmed. In its May 2021 ruling, e U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco mandated EPA
Viewpoints from members of the organic community Inside Organics continues on 12 action, saying, “ e EPA has had nearly 14 years to publish a legally su cient response to the 2007 Petition [ led by environmental and farmworker groups].” e court continued, “During that time, the EPA’s egregious delay exposed a generation of American children to unsafe levels of chlorpyrifos.”
INSIDE ORGANICS
But before all the recent activity, in 1999, the EPA had negotiated a compromise with Dow that stopped most residential uses of chlorpyrifos. Why? For the same reason that the EPA nally acted on food. is neurotoxic chemical is harmful to children. at was 22 years ago and followed a campaign by Beyond Pesticides and others to remove Dursban/chlorpyrifos from the market because of indoor ambient air contamination of homes and buildings, and lawn and landscape exposure. It should be noted that Dursban was viewed with promise by regulators as the alternative to the organochlorine insecticide chlordane, which Beyond Pesticides sued to remove from the termite use market—a remaining use a er the agricultural, lawn, and garden uses were nally taken o the market in 1983, with decades of review by numerous agencies. Its cancer-causing properties and ecological e ects could no longer be defended. e cancellation of termite use followed in 1988 a er millions of homes were potentially contaminated, with high risk factors for cancer. With all this as context for the chemical treadmill, next up a er chlorpyrifos may be the insecticide bifenthrin. It too is a neurotoxic, cancer-causing, endocrine disrupting pesticide. And if that is not enough, there are others waiting in the wings. e picture is clear. Even in a victory, like the EPA’s chlorpyrifos decision, the action is typically lled with exceptions that respond to vested interests seeking to ignore or de ect the science. With chlorpyrifos, the EPA, since announcing its decision in 1999 to ban “residential” uses of chlorpyrifos, continues to allow the following uses: (i) Residential use of containerized baits; (ii) Indoor areas where children will not be exposed, including only ship holds, railroad boxcars, industrial plants, manufacturing plants, or food processing plants; (iii) Outdoor areas where children will not be exposed, including only: golf courses, road medians, Industrial plant sites; (iv) Non-structural wood treatments including: fenceposts, utility poles, railroad ties, landscape timers, logs, pallets, wooden containers, poles, posts, and processed wood products; (v) Public health uses: Fire ant mounds (drench and granular treatment); (vi) nurseries and greenhouses; and (vii) Mosquito control. ese uses are una ected by the EPA’s August 18th announcement. Corteva’s statement prior to the EPA announcement was predictable, as the company and the chemical industry generally pushes pesticide dependency: “Chlorpyrifos is a critical pest management tool used by growers around the world to manage many pests. . . We will continue to support the growers who need this important product.” Similarly, the pesticide industry’s partner, the Golf Course Superintendents Association, stated, “Chlorpyrifos is a vital tool for controlling damaging pests on golf courses.” ese are self-serving statements because the industry’s products create ongoing product dependency by focusing on killing organisms and life in the soil, rather than preventing pest problems with cultural practices and soil supplements that work in concert with nature and create resiliency.Intheabsence of a functional federal system that sticks to the science in an e ort to protect public health and the environment, states have intervened to ll the void. e pattern with chlorpyrifos is not any di erent than the history of state intervention on chemicals like DDT, Chlordane, 2,4,5-T, Ethylene Dibromide, and numerous others, where states have acted to curtail speci c pesticide use, in some cases years ahead of the EPA. Hawaii, New York, Maryland, and Maine all acted to di erent degrees to restrict chlorpyrifos in advance of the EPA. In response to the Maine chlorpyrifos ban in June 2021, Rick Deadwyler, a lobbyist with Corteva AgriScience, was quoted as saying that studies “have shown that current uses of chlorpyrifos meet the U.S. regulatory standard of a “reasonable certainty of no harm.” erein lies the systemic problem. e EPA is subject to a standard (spelled out in the law’s legislative history or report language) that utilizes a risk assessment process that determines reasonableness. at standard has enabled the agency to assume the need for the chemical and adopt self-described protections from exposure that do not re ect reality. In so doing, the EPA applies margins of safety that are meaningless, or simply ignores mechanisms like synergism, the e ect of mixtures, or a lack of information on health for more information call (800) 352-9245 or visit www.sustane.com
DOWNLOAD: Fact Sheets at organic-fact-sheetsmosesorganic.org/
Chad Tesch: 605-759-5622or Dan Beck: 308-940-2020 WORLD ORGANIC FERTILIZERS FOR ALL YOUR CROP’S FERTILITY NEEDS
Your Choice for Soil and Plant Nutrition WE FEED YOUR CROPS... YOU FEED THE
What do I need to know to grow food grade field crops? By Carmen Fernholz I have produced food grade grains over the years and here are the things to keep in mind if this is your market desire: seed variety, harvest challenges, storage, quality, marketing assistance, and markets. e rst consideration must be the seed variety. Speci c companies require speci c seed varieties. And certain varieties may not perform under speci c weather or soil conditions. So, know the characteristics of the seed before you plant. Attending to the crop in the eld is critical if you expect to harvest an acceptable, saleable, food grade product. Keeping weed pressure to a minimum will allow not only for a higher yield but a much more presentable grain in the combine hopper and in the sample that you eventually send to the buyer. Less foreign material in the grain also helps the grain to storeWhenbetter.it comes to harvesting, make certain that your equipment is in good condition and is capable of harvesting a marketable crop. Combine settings are critical to get more grain into the hopper as well as to maintain quality. In the case of soybeans, edible beans or peas, splits and damaged seed skins can very quickly cause a rejection of the grain. Harvesting under adverse conditions can stain or discolor the crop signi cantly impacting its appearance and causing the company to reject the load. Dirt, stones, and weed seed including thistle seed heads and cockle burr bolls may not impact the crop itself, but high enough percentages in a sample will cause serious concerns with the buyer. Small stones are never good in a food grade grain. It is important to know what moisture levels the grain should be harvested at. Most grains will harvest and store best in the 10 to 12% moisture range. Food grade corn however can be harvested at a higher moisture and be dried down to storable levels. However, in the drying process it is most critical to not have too high of a heat that will damage the kernel. In this case it will be necessary to consult with the buyer and what their recommendations and requirements might be. Many buyers will consider test weight and other qualities like protein levels, thins, falling numbers, and cracked or broken kernels, and will very readily reject loads if these percentages are outside their specications. Know what the buyer wants and produce accordingly. Food grade oats and wheat can be especially challenging. Light, damaged, infected, or thin kernels can ll the hopper but can disqualify a grain very quickly. Turn up the combine fan for small grains and blow these light kernels out the back. Consider them as part of your fall cover crop. Turning up the fan will lower the potential dockage and give the grain a much better appearance. Storing grain can be a challenging task. Grains can go out of condition and become bug infested or moldy in a matter of days under adverse conditions. I would MOSES Organic Specialists answer your questions about organic production and certi cation.
READ: Browse answers to questions at mosesorganic.org/ask
SUBMIT: Click “Ask a Specialist” button at mosesorganic.org/ask
not consider long-term storage of 30 days or more in a storage facility that does not have full oor aeration. I would also recommend putting the grain in the bin immediately a er harvesting and leaving the air o for the rst 24 hours to allow the grain to do a minimal sweat. en turn on the fans and leave them running 24/7 unless you have high humidity or rainy weather conditions, under which conditions you would temporarily turn the fans o . It is important to remember that some buyers will reject a load if they see just a few bugs. And odor will always be a serious consideration for rejection. Any hint of mold or other foul odors will de nitely get loads rejected. Any signs of bird or rodent droppings will get a load rejected immediately. It is why I strongly recommend steel storage facilities. But this means keeping all rodents and birds from access to these bins. Tightly seal all roof and side wall access doors as well as unloading tubes. Keep in mind always that you are producing human food not livestock feed. Sampling grains to send to a buyer is a critical step. ere is nothing more upsetting to a buyer than to accept a grain based on the sample and then see
Manufactured from animal proteins like feather meal, meat meal and bone meal, Nature Safe offers dry pelleted and wettable powder solutions for your crops. Use Nature Safe as a starter fertilizer or a top-dress for any crop you are growing. Nature Safe offers high organic nitrogen and phosphorous formulations that can meet your agronomic or economic fertility challenges. Available in bulk, totes and bags. Plants in Kentucky, Nebraska and California now serving you. the actual grain of signi cantly less quality than the sample indicated, come into their facility. Make certain you are sending a representative sample. Take continuous small samples either as the grain is going into the combine hopper or more appropriately when the grain is being unloaded into a storage facility. Never just take a sample o the top of a load or the top of a storage bin. And be certain the sample is dry enough so as not to spoil when being sent. Consider sending samples on a Monday to avoid the weekend delay in a post o ce somewhere. A small but signi cant practice is to have the semitrailer or hopper car sealed. Many reputable companies will require this in the case of food grade grains. It is for the protection of you as the seller and the company as the buyer. Producing food grade grains can be subject to very serious product delinquency lawsuits so any safeguards you can provide only serve to keep these mishaps from occurring. In my years of organic farming, it has always been to my advantage and bene t to have a marketer represent me to a food grade buyer. ere were several times when my grain was rejected only to have my marketer either nd a new home for the grain or negotiate with the buyer and eventually have the grain accepted with a minimal discount. Paying the trucking both ways a er a load has been rejected can be expensive. In organic food grade eld crop production, the additional monetary incentive can sometimes be well worth the extra e ort. However, that extra e ort can become frustrating and expensive if all of the detailed requirements are not adequately considered and the product is not satisfactory to the buyer. In plain language not to have a speci c market or even a speci c buyer in mind before growing a food grade eld crop is a bad idea. What may sound like a perfect crop for your farm may not be what the buyer has in mind. Know your market before you grow the crop. Get answers to your questions about organic certification! Free in print or online: bit.ly/CertificationGuidebook Green wheat is shown in the elds at Wilson Organic Farm in Cuba City, Wisconsin. Photo by Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service
CALL: Organic Answer Line 888-90-MOSES (906-6737)
4 | September | October 2021 TM
Further Resources: For a more detailed discussion of the issues discussed in this article visit attra.ncat.org for our many National Center for Appropriate Technology and ATTRA publications.
Get funds quickly. From application to money in your bank account in as little as 5 days. Interested? Crop insurance rules challenge organic and sustainable farming practices
The Perennial Fund provides working capital and lines of credit designed exclusively for organic farmers. We are the partner that can help you weather any season, improve your soil health, and reach your long term business goals. If you’re an organic or transitioning farmer we want to help you accelerate your transition to 100% organic.
ird, when certi ed organic farmers and ranchers are following an approved Organic Systems Plan, this ought to su ce as evidence that good organic practices are being followed.Finally, further research using crop insurance data to assess the relative yield and price risks of varying systems of production is critical in these times of extreme weather and climate crisis. is is not so much needed to further lower the premium rates of a highly subsidized system of insurance for crop and livestock production, but rather to suggest paths toward further innovation that are critical to the economic viability of farmers and ranchers and their communities.Scientistsagree that extreme weather and climate disruption is going to be our future. Farmers and ranchers need insurance in the short term to weather this future. No matter how resilient the farming or ranching practices that are used, oods, droughts, winds, res, pests and even volcanoes will continue to be destructive.
Second, any farming and ranching conservation practices that are de ned and nancially supported by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, ought to meet a minimum standard of a good farming practice, without any requirement that the farmer prove that the practice will have zero yield impact.
Grow organic on your own terms.
“I am a regenerative organic farmer, and I want to limit tillage and ensure soil health, but crop insurance rules get in the way of developing a resilient system in the face of growing extreme weather and climate disruption,” Craig Schmitt, organic grain farmer, Wolf Point, Montana I wish that Mr. Schmitt’s problem with crop insurance rules and complexities were an exception. e issue of how the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) de nes organic, sustainable, and good farming practices continues to cause signi cant problems for farmers and ranchers trying to develop climate friendly and resilient systems of production in the face of climate disruption. Many national organizations and federal policymakers worked to change the negative impact of crop insurance rules on the adoption of innovative organic and sustainable practices during the 2018 Farm Bill debate, with limited success. e federal crop insurance program rules are set by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), administered by the RMA, and implemented through federally subsidized policies serviced by 14 private crop companies (known as Approved Insurance Providers). e rules view past practice as the key determinant of the future. Any deviation from past farming practices that jeopardizes the insured crops’ “ability to make normal progress toward maturity and produce at least the yield used to determine the production guarantee or amount of insurance” is by the federal crop insurance program de nition, NOT a Good Farming Practice (GFP). e innovative changes in practices that are very familiar to sustainable and organic farmers can jeopardize crop insurance coverage because of the likelihood that such practices may have some, di cult to predict, impact on yield. ese practices include cover cropping, green-manuring, inter-seeding of cash and non-cash crop, integrating livestock into cover crop production for forage and termination, development of long complex rotations, varying planting spacing, alley cropping, prairie strips, and changing degrees of tillage intensity. But yield maximization is not the only goal for resilient production systems that can adapt to coming climate disruption and neither should it be the only focus of our federal farm programs.e2018 Farm Bill attempted to solve these problems. e Senate version of the bill would have required that all conservation-oriented practices be automatically quali ed as GFP. e nal version By Jeff Schahczenski of the bill unfortunately cut this back to apply only to cover cropping, and then only when the farmer followed either evolving cover crop termination guidance set by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service or received approval by identied agricultural Unfortunately,experts.theNatural Resources Conservation Service guidance on cover crop termination has not kept up with emerging better practices developed by farmers and cover crop researchers. Moreover, farmers have little time to search out o cial sanction by non-farmer experts who o en do not have easy answers on how best to adopt a given innovative conservation practice in each ecology and each soil type and cropping system, without impacting historic yield. What are the solutions? First, implement policy changes that severely limit the responsibility of the FCIC and RMA in regulating what constitutes good farming and ranching practices. Actuarial accountants, crop insurance agents, and insurance adjusters have limited understanding of what good farming practices are or how they are evolving for particular types of farming and ecologies. Only if a crop insurance agent or adjuster has evidence of fraudulent behavior, where a farmer or rancher is purposefully and willfully engaged in the destruction of their insured production to garner an insurance claim, do they need authority to limit or terminate payment of claims.
Crop insurance is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, crop insurance has tended to reinforce current agriculture practices that are signi cantly climate-unfriendly and that have been made less risky by subsidized insurance. On the other hand, it has been helpful in maintaining some degree of economic and productive viability which in turn allows farmers and ranchers the very ability to engage in o en needed risky production system changes. Growing research is likely con rming this conundrum (AGree, 2021; Wang, R., et. al., 2021). Mr. Schmitt and other farmers are still waiting for a satisfactory solution to their desire to continue down the path of adopting organic regenerative practices without jeopardizing their ability to be insured through the federal insurance program. e USDA can and should make the needed changes in their policies to remove these barriers to the improvement of a longer-term resilient system of production.
Get in touch with Brandon Welch Call/text: 312-380-1411 | brandon@madagriculture.orgtheperennialfund.com
| 5mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM
Flexible payments. You’re in control. Long term partner. We match the cash flow of your farm to the payments on the loan. We commit to you for up to 8 years, unlike the normal 1 year commitment. No prepayment penalties. Simple and clear terms so you can focus on farming.
Je Schahczenski is an Agricultural and Natural Resource Economist at National Center for Appropriate Technology
Organic
Katie Bishop (right) of PrairiErth Farm is an interim board member in Atlanta, Illinois. Here she delivers produce to Connie Crawley, Director of Food Service at the Lincoln Elementary School District #27, as part of the local buying program.
Photo by Jeff Hake Illinois Co-op continues on 12 877.323.3003 GreatWesternSales.com GemTM is an your soil
|
all-natural liquid fish fertilizer that works with
6 | September | October 2021 TM Illinois Co-op — from page 1 months of research and deliberation, starting with a call to investigate the feasibility of a food hub in Mt. Pulaski, we developed a business plan for a for-pro t cooperative that would focus on a few key activities. e most important of these was the creation and operation of a facility that was equipped to purchase bulk fresh produce from local growers (for example, pallet crates of carrots or dozens of bushel bags of sweet corn), lightly process it (chop and quarter the carrots, shuck and shell the sweet corn, etc.), freeze it, and then package it for sale. We landed on this central premise a er extensive interviews with a core group of local growers and institutional buyers, as well as a review of the many similar projects, successful or otherwise, that exist around the United States. Our growers and buyers voted for a cooperative structure over other options such as a non-pro t or a simple LLC. Growers o ered data and pricing on what kinds of crops they would be willing and able to scale up in terms of production volume, buyers told us how much they could buy at what prices on a variety of crops, and we matched these together to determine our budgets, equipment, and facility needs. is in-depth input from our many regional stakeholders imbued a cooperative ethic into the project before we ever registered as such with the state, and that helps us believe strongly in the power of ourButidea.a lot has to go right in order for a project like this to have a chance. To be truthful, I would not have opted to be part of this if it didn’t appear to have so many things going in the right direction. Central Illinois is far from alone in having these food system shortcomings, but among all the places that could use this kind of cooperative, our region certainly does not look like a hotbed of advocacy. And yet, this project is happening at the right time, in the right place. In 2018, the city of Mt. Pulaski applied for and was awarded a Local Food, Local Places grant from the EPA to explore how it could use food as an economic driver. eir planning ultimately led to the opening of the Market on the Hill last year, but along the way, they also discussed the possibility of something like a food hub, tting in as well as it did with their ongoing grocery e orts. My wife, Katie Funk, and I initially got involved in the project because we wanted to learn from what they were doing. Mt. Pulaski, with a population of about 1,500 people, is a half hour south of us, and some of our friends were involved in the early stages of the planning funded by the EPA grant. We wanted to see how this all played out and then try to replicate it in our own even smaller village of McLean, where the population is close to 800. I went to their initial com munity meeting in 2019 and simply could not believe the consensus of enthusiasm that I saw. I had never seen anything like it. One of the most critical things that Mt. Pulaski did right was to commit to paying someone to make this project, with all its requisite planning, happen. at turned out to be my wife and me in the end. I have become a rm believer, through both our research and this experience, that something of this magnitude can not come to life without someone making a substantial early investment and taking on its risk. No one can, or should, volunteer the amount of time we put into this project, and even if they did, there are other costs: legal fees, promotion, design, mileage, and printing, to name a
biology to promote growth and development, while improving overall soil Nurturehealth. your Nature MOSAORGANIC.ORG | 608-637-2526 Practical, reliable and friendly organic certi cation services We are attempting to create a missing piece of that food system infrastructure that will raise the ceiling on growth for our small but determined collection of fresh food growers while also letting them do more of the good work they set out to do in the first place: feeding their communities well.
Photo by Jeff Hake
Je Hake on his farm, Funks Grove Heritage Fruits & Grains in Funks Grove, Illinois.
Fundingfew. in this case came from both a local sales tax implemented by the Economic Development & Planning Board of the city of Mt. Pulaski and, even more interestingly, a wind energy company who recently established a wind farm in the area. e creation of that wind farm was met with resistance, and so the company, Enel, committed a large amount of funding to economic development in the area with essentially no strings. A portion of that has gone to this project, and it simply would not have life if not for thatMuchfunding.ofthe coordination needed to apply that funding to this project required a dedicated, active local community. Tom Martin is a local farmer and lifelong Mt. Pulaski resident who was deeply involved in the planning of the Market on the Hill. He’s never been a produce farmer himself, but as a respected and tireless member of the city’s Economic Development & Planning Board, he saw the potential value that food could have to grow his hometown’s economy. His pres ence on that board helped to keep this project in front of his fellow community members and keep it funded. anks to his advocacy and persistence, the EDPB was willing to pay us, through the tax revenue and Enel funds, to put the plan together and, when we presented our business proposal to them in December 2020 a er nine months of work, they unanimously approved of our work and agreed to continue funding our work to theTompresent.has since le that board, but also become the president of our cooperative’s interim board. While he has made clear that he will need to step back sooner than later, this project also would not be possible without his substantial e orts. He is the person on the ground who knows the town, knows the right people to talk to, and who is willing to spend his own social capital and his time and energy to get this done. He is our champion. If anyone put in too many volunteer hours, it’s him. We’re grateful for that, and we’re also ready to stop bothering him when he says he’s ready to retire.And yet despite all of that, still more has to go right for this to all t together. A nearby school district has created a local food purchasing program for its food services, and it is hard to overstate what a unique advantage this is. Lincoln Elementary School District #27, in the larger city to the north of Mt. Pulaski, worked with the nearby Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Beyond Green Sustainable Food Partners, a food service consulting company, to set up the pro gram and train its sta to work with fresh produce, and they have established a bidding process that considers characteristics of food beyond just its price. So far, the program has been popular and successful.
Your trusted buyer of organic grains. We’re in the market for organic and non-GMO grains. Corn • Soybeans • Wheat Connect with one of our traders to learn more. Jake
“Contact the state department of agriculture for the state where your grain was delivered. Many states have grain dealer licensing programs that administer funds or insurance programs to cover obligations from grain dealer defaults. Each state has its own program, so the details vary on how to apply and how much of the loss will be covered,” the association stated, listing websites for state grain programs in eight states where Pipeline bought grain. Minnesota Department of Agriculture o cials urged a ected producers to act immediately to secure their interests in delivered grain through the legal process under Minnesota Statutes 336.2-702.
State Grain Program Contacts Illinois Grain Insurance Fund aspx#h3GrainWarehouses/Pages/Illinois-Grain-Code.https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/agr/Consumers/Call800-654-0882or217-782-2895. LuttNick Nelson Luke Doerneman Foods
www.sunrisefoods.com833.657.5790 Pipeline
e OFA stated that it will continue looking for other options for organic farmers who are impacted by the Pipeline bankruptcy and share any new information it uncovers on its website: organicfarmersassociation.org/news/pipeline/“Butcontactingastategrain program and getting your own legal advice are short-term steps you should take as soon as possible,” the OFA stated, sharing the following contact information.
| 7mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM States and the OFA urge grain farmers to act on Pipeline Foods claims
Pipeline Foods’ bankruptcy proceedings have continued to unfold since the major organic and non-GMO grain buyer led for Chapter 11 protections July 8. New federal court hearings in the Pipeline case were scheduled Sept. 8 and Sept. 24, the latter being an omnibus hearing at which the bankruptcy court may present a checklist of what it wants to know about the ling and may also hear pretrial motions.Pipeline Foods is based in Fridley, Minnesota, but with ve interlocking subsidiary companies and a liates in Canada and Argentina; also, nine grain elevators, milling and handling facilities; as well as specialty food businesses, its nancial troubles have far-reaching implications for regenerative grain producers across the hemisphere. Pipeline revenue from July 1, 2020, through May 31, 2021, was $208.1 million, according to bankruptcy reorganization rst-day ling documents. Its liabilities topped $143 million this past spring the lingsWhilestated.itindicated only a wide range of possible creditors, between 200 and 999, in its Chapter 11 protection petition, Pipeline named its 20 largest unsecured claimants as ranging from $238,000 to $5.2 million owed. Grain farmers whose Pipeline contracts were written as little more than IOUs may have the least legal recourse for mitigation. e court records acknowledge nancial problems meeting its obligations well back into the spring. In the July court records, Pipeline blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for adversely a ecting its business last year. is “impacted (Pipeline’s) ability to service its obligations,” the court record stated. “ e research and development teams at consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies stalled new product development and the inclusion of new ingredients, thereby reducing the demand for (Pipeline’s) products,” the Pipeline court ling continued. “ e sourcing teams at CPG companies could not travel to visit and approve new manufacturing facilities, thereby reducing (Pipeline’s) ability to increase volumes at its facilities. Food service customer orders declined due to the slowdown in their businesses,” Pipeline stated in its bankruptcy ling with the federalEmailcourt.and phone attempts to contact Pipeline Foods for this story were unsuccessful. Pipeline Foods has been a MOSES Conference sponsor and an Organic Broadcaster advertiser. Reached by phone Sept. 3, a spokesperson for Stretto, an online claims noticing agent that attorneys nationwide hire in such bankruptcy proceedings, directed Minnesota and Iowa grain sellers to electronic forms they can use to opt out of contracts with Pipeline on grain otherwise due for delivery a er July 8 (https://cases.stretto.com/Pipelinefoods).
“Most states license the grain dealer, so they cover transactions at grain facilities in the state (where the grain is delivered, not where it is grown.),” the OFA added. But it is also worth checking with your home state in case they have a program that could help. Some state programs may eventually hold information sessions about what options farmers have in this situation, so keep an eye on the websites for your state grain “Considerprogram.seeking legal help if you made deliveries shortly before the bankruptcy ling, or before making any new deliveries to Pipeline. (Several states have suspended the company’s grain dealer license.) ere may be steps you can take to impact your standing as a creditor in the bankruptcy process, depending on the terms of your agreement.”
State of Minnesota and Iowa agriculture and legal o cials won those stipulations in late July and August court virtual appearances before the Federal Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware, where Pipeline initiated its petition for Chapter 11 protections from creditors. e Organic Farmers Association (OFA), a nonpro t that advocates for domestic organic farms and strong organic standards, observed in a lengthy press statement to producers online that Pipeline’s website indicates it contracted with 1,461 growers in 2019. “If you are an organic grain producer who sold grain to Pipeline Foods and have not been paid, there are a couple of things you can do right now,” stated the OFA in the release on its website in August.
continues on 16
By Tony Ends
“If you delivered grain in a di erent state than where your farm is located, you may also want to contact your state department of agriculture to see if there are programs that cover this loss,” the department stated in an online release.
On August 1, 2012, the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that organic farmers Oluf and Debra Johnson could receive damages from pesticide dri under the Minnesota trespass law. is Supreme Court ruling was based on the premise that movement of “particulate matter” could not constitute trespass, but instead should be considered a nuisance. is ruling is truly a step backwards for the rights of organic farmers and specialty crop growers, who are very susceptible to the damage caused by pesticide dri . A dissenting judge felt the full court judgment was incorrect, stating that there are many di erent types of particulate matter, with many di erent results when they cross from one property line to another. Size, quantity and the result of the dri should be taken into account, according to the dissenter. Unfortunately, this dissent was from just one judge out of nine on the court, and his points were not viewed as signi cant by the full court. While the door is open for the Johnsons to sue the o ending pesticide applicator for “negligence,” this is much harder to prove and to receive damages for than under the trespass law. is ruling is disturbing in its far-reaching e ects. ere was hope that the trespass law could be
8 | September | October 2021 TM
Harriet
It is not just organic farmers who su er from pesticide dri . Many nontraditional crops are grown around the United States, from wine grapes in Minnesota to chestnuts in Iowa, which are vulnerable to traditional pesticides. We’ve also seen a signi cant impact of insecticide dri on native pollinators and commercial honeybee operations. is court ruling could a ect all of these operations. Just because organic and specialty crop growers are a smaller percentage of the crops grown in the
Note from the Editor: is article is a special reprint from the September/October 2012 issue of the Organic Broadcaster. It has been nearly a decade since the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that organic farmers could receive damages from pesticide dri . When this article was originally published, the ght against pesticide dri was already in full swing for organic farmers. Today, the issue reaches conventional non-GMO farmers, too, as dri from Bayer’s Dicamba continues to make headlines for fueling the spread of herbicide resistant weeds.Ifyou’ve been exposed to pesticide dri , or have lost crops due to dri damage, download e Pesticide Action Network toolkit for details on how to protect your health, how and where to report dri incidents, and nd out how farmers can seek compensation for crop loss. Learn more and download the kit at www.panna.org/resources/case-pesticide-dri
By Behar
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back…
Horse Power
CALL FOR A COPY OF CATALOG: 800-347-1566 | WWW.FERTRELL.COM
One Step Forward used to protect organic farmers, but this ruling now creates precedent for those causing pesticide dri to not be charged with trespass in Minnesota. Most states, including Minnesota, have some protections for landowners who experience damage from pesticide dri onto their property. It was acknowledged in the court record that the pesticide application was done when the wind speed was higher than allowed, therefore breaking the Minnesota statute covering pesticide application. Unfortunately, that Minnesota law has a two-year statute of limitations, and the Johnson’s claims under this statue were dismissed. e Supreme Court also felt that the particulate matter from the spray was not “tangible” enough to be considered trespass. Problematic Interpretation of the NOP Even more problematic than the trespass issue was the Court’s interpretation of the federal organic regulation. eir ruling stated that the organic certi cation agency was incorrect in stating the crop which received pesticide dri was no longer certiable as organic, and that the land would need to go through a three-year transition in order to again be certi ed as organic. e court interpreted the portion of the NOP regulation which states that no prohibited substances can be “applied” to land for three years prior to the harvest of an organic crop as meaning the application was done by the certi ed organic farmer, not by any other party. Since the organic farmer did not “apply” the pesticide in this case, the court said this aspect of the regulation should not be considered when determining whether the crop was organic. Instead, the court used the section of the NOP regulation (205.671) that states organic crops that contain more than 5% of the EPA tolerance of a pesticide cannot be sold as organic to help them arrive at their decision. e NOP regulation states that less than 5% of a pesticide could be present due to “unavoidable residual environmental contamination.”SincetheJohnson’s crop was not tested to prove it had a pesticide “residue” of more than 5% of the EPA tolerance, the court stated the organic certi cation
Broad-Ranging Impact
continues on page 10
Need a supplement to make a complete feed? Adding Fertrell’s Horse Power will give your horse the vitamins, minerals, and probiotics to work as hard as you do!
*10% off during*RestrictionsSeptemberApply agency had no grounds to declare the crop or the eld as non-organic. ere was no denial that the pesticide had dri ed onto the Johnson’s organic eld and crops; this has occurred numerous times over the past 10 years. e Supreme Court tried to address the question, “What is considered organic?” by using this 5% EPA tolerance level. e lawyer for the cooperative that sprayed the o ending pesticide was quoted by the Associated Press as saying ...the ruling was “a very logical result when you think about what it means for agriculture as a whole.” He also stated that the 5% level “establishes a bright-line test for what is organic and what is not.”Asorganic producers, we do not believe the designation of organic is based on testing the crop. We put a signi cant amount of thought and e ort into meeting the many aspects of the regulation, not just the one aspect that mandates a low residue level of pesticides. I believe the court made a signi cant error when interpreting the NOP regulation, viewing the organic label as a pesticide residue level assurance rather than a holistic system which includes the avoidance of toxic materials. In addition, it is my understanding that the 5% EPA tolerance level was set up for pesticides that have a long persistence in the soil, or other “unavoidable” occurrences that might result in pesticide detection. It seems to me that pesticide dri is something that is avoidable, and therefore I feel that the Minnesota Supreme Court interpreted the organic regulation incorrectly.
PRODUCER OF NATURAL & ORGANIC FEED SUPPLEMENTS & FERTILIZERS
TL: Tell me about the farmers you work with?
O entimes they either learn that they really love what they’re doing and they want to grow as an enterprise, or they don’t love it and it’s too much work (laughter) and they’d rather just garden in their backyard. Which is ne too because then we help farmers mitigate those risks. e upside is that we allow farmers to come and farm with us, where they have land, access to tools, access to a greenhouse, pack shed, coolers—it’s a community. So, they get to network and learn, glean information, and share skills with other farmers that have di erent practices. And because a lot of our farmers are multicultural, they all come from di erent backgrounds, and have di erent stories, it’s a really fun place to get to know people.
A Call to Action: An interview with Tiffany LaShae and KaZoua Berry e following interview is an excerpt from episode three of the newest season of “In Her Boots,” a MOSES supported podcast. In this episode, KaZoua [gKAzhüa] Berry of Big River Farms speaks with MOSES’ In Her Boots Coordinator, Ti any LaShae, about the challenges of organic and nonpro t farming, and how we can use our platforms to drive meaningful change.
KB: I’m a refugee, I was born in ailand. Because my dad was a soldier, we were in the second wave of Hmong people that came to America. We were sponsored by a Methodist church in California, and we were there almost three years and then moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where my family still Ilives.work at Big River Farms (formerly known as Minnesota Food Association). It’s now a program of the Food Group which is a food bank. And I am the Farmer Education Manager as well as the Emerging Farmers Conference Coordinator. So, I provide technical support for farmers and I provide the education curriculum, hands-on learning experiences and eld days, and collaborate with local organizations that share the same values as us.
| 9mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM
TL: Do you think being Hmong or being a woman plays a role in your work?
KB: Our farmers mainly identify themselves as immigrants, Black, Indigenous, people of color, and women. ese farmers would basically be categorized as those who have been disenfranchised by systems. We provide opportunities with land and education, so they can lease out a portion of land and do hands-on farming.
Ti
KB: e language piece is a challenge. Not everything is translatable from English. One thing that we’ve been talking a lot about is the translation of organic matter. In the Hmong language, organic means to farm without pesticide and you wouldn’t be able to say the same thing about organic matter. Our classes are traditionally taught in English and then we have simultaneous interpretation for farmers who need it. We provide it in Hmong, Spanish and sometimes in Somali.eother [challenge] is providing content that is culturally relevant for those farmers. In our program, we have a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and our CSA members are a majority white people, so that means our farmers have to grow produce that caters to their diet. And that goes the same for a lot of markets and farmers markets. So, our farmers, who are multicultural themselves, are growing produce that is made for other people’s diet other than their own. Our farmers don’t have too much of a problem growing it because they’re making money from it, but that means they would have to grow separate foods for themselves. It would be great if they could integrate farming food for their customers as well as for their family. Another barrier is that we don’t own the land. We are leasing through Wilder Foundation and our farmers are leasing from us, so there is a lot of back and forth. Another challenge is sta support and funding—because we’re a nonpro t, funding will always be an issue. Nonpro t farms are always going to have to be fundraising, you literally need somebody to just constantly look for funding. In the past, before Big River Farms became a program under the Food Group, when it was Minnesota Food Association, funding was a huge issue. And because the money they depended on for running the program came from farmers, that meant we were charging farmers a lot of money; it was inaccessible. Now, as a program of e Food Group, we don’t have to worry so much about that. We have teams who nd funding for our programming rather than Big River Farms doing it for ourselves. But as an organization, we’re o entimes competing with hundreds of other similar organizations, and we are all ghting for this small amount of money that has been allocated to [support] the work we do. e problem isn’t so much the non-pro t structure, I think the problem is the systemic structure. e need is there for more programs that support BIPOC farmers and immigrant farmers.
LaShae
ORGANIC & NON-GMO FARM SEED FOR THE WHOLE FARM • Corn & Soybeans • Forages & Pasture • Small Grains • CoverHOMECropsOF VIKING Organic & Non-GMO Corn, Soybeans, & Alfalfa WWW.ALSEED.COM • SELECT TRACTORS & ATTACHMENTS ON SALE NOW • FIND SALE PRICING & YOUR NEAREST DEALER ON OUR WEBSITE SALE12/31/21ENDS A Call to Action continues on 15
KB: A lot of the farmers that we work with are Hmong farmers and it was easy for the Hmong farmers to gravitate towards me to ask questions or to let me know that they need help with something. Because there’s no language barrier, they can just simply tell me how they’re feeling. ere’s also a trust issue, as wonderful as this program can be, there’s not a lot of representation. And I’m not just talking about representation for farmers, but representation in the educators and people who are leading this any (top) and KaZoua Berry.
TL: What are some of the challenges of running a multicultural program?
United States doesn’t mean that we don’t have clear private property rights to use our land to grow what we want without the unwanted intrusion of toxic substances that damage our ecosystem, soils, crops and wellbeing. ose applying synthetic pesticides in our environment should be required to control where the materials end up, with dri not accepted as something “normal” by those who do not want them on their land or crops. It is not logical to think that because these unwanted pesticides are used by our neighbors, and that the wind blows regularly, that organic growers and consumers should see pesticide dri as “unavoidable.”
Jenica Caudill is the Director of Development and Marketing at MOSES.
By Jenica Caudill
In 2020, MOSES was awarded funding through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) to strengthen the success of beginning farmers in the Midwest. is funding helped MOSES to provide farm business and production workshops and trainings, peer-to-peer support, and one-to-one mentorship from experienced farmers and farm business experts. Today MOSES is thrilled to share that additional funding has been awarded to expand the reach and scope of this work even further—and the timing couldn’t be more critical. Conversations with various Black, Indigenous, and farmers of color (BIPOC) stakeholders in the MOSES community have shown that the needs of beginning farmers, particularly historically underserved farmers, go beyond trainings on production methods and business planning. Language barriers and a lack of access to farm programs are among the challenges these farmers face. e COVID-19 pandemic exposed the breadth and depth of these inequities throughout our food system. For many BIPOC farmers, the pandemic exacerbated challenges of market access, as those who relied on direct-to-consumer sales and sales to independently owned local restaurants watched their markets evaporate, shut down by COVID restrictions. Even land access became more complicated, as urban dwellers, now working remotely, le crowded cities to live in more rural communities, doubling the price of land near city centers. With this additional funding, MOSES will expand our mentor program, funded in part with BFRDP funding, to create a Farmer Advancement Advocate training program. e program will provide mentors, as well as farmers from historically underserved communities, and agricultural professionals, with speci c training and resources that will enable them to act as advocates. ese Farmer Advancement Advocates will learn and teach skills to foster relationships with various USDA and community-based programs, helping historically underserved beginning farmers and ranchers access such programs. Additional grant funds will be available, through an application process, for farmers to address identied needs including travel to trainings, attendance at educational events, and infrastructure needs on their farms. MOSES will also collaborate with allied organizations to address issues of land access, access to capital, and organic certi cation. To address cultural and language barriers, MOSES is pleased to be expanding the reach and resources of four of our current Organic Farmer Specialists, who represent diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds from Hmong, Latinx, and African immigrant communities. New program resources will be available in Hmong, Spanish, Swahili, and Somali languages. Ti any LaShae, MOSES’ “In Her Boots” Coordinator, will be the program lead and brings with her program facilitation skills in programs such as Soul Fire Farm’s BIPOC Farming Immersions and USAID Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Farmer to Farmer. is talented and knowledgeable team of Organic Farmer Specialists has been increasingly called to support the work of other white-led agricultural organizations in the Midwest wanting to address issues of implicit bias, racism, and access in their own beginning farmer and rancher programs. rough this additional award, MOSES will allocate funding to Farmer Advancement Advocates to support this work, and build even greater capacity to address barriers faced by the historically underserved farmers and ranchers interacting with other organizations throughout the region. Farmer Advancement Advocates will be recruited from historically underserved communities and from the current and past pool of MOSES beginning farmer mentors. For more information on this program or to nd out how you or your organization can get involved, please contact Sarah Woutat, Farmer Advancement Coordinator at sarahw@mosesorganic. org or 888-90-MOSES x703.
10 | September | October 2021 TM Unrivaledinmechanicalweedcontrolforall yourvegetableandfieldcrops ■ TrefflerPrecisionTinedharrow * tinesfollowthecontours * availableinallsizes5-100ft AnaandJosPelgröm treffler@manatmachine.com +31(0)630035123 © 2020 Healthy Food Ingredients. Join our family of growers who share our passion for cultivating goodness. We’d like you to grow with us. Let’s cultivate goodness, together. Call 844-275-3443 orvisit HFIfamily.com Pulses | Soybeans | Flax | Cereal Grains | Corn One Step Forward — from page 8
MOSES Expanding the Farmer Advancement Program
e Minnesota Supreme Court acknowledges in its opinion that other states may allow a trespass lawsuit when applied to intangible particulate matter, and these states might have ruled di erently in this case. We in the organic community need to be looking at the statutes in our own states, as well as the current rent federal organic regulation, to see if there is any way to strengthen those statutes to avoid more unfortunate rulings such as this one in the future. I receive numerous calls every year from organic farmers around the Upper Midwest and beyond with tales of woe resulting from the invasion of unwanted spray, usually applied by custom applicators on neighboring land. ese occurrences are not only about the dollars lost when the organic premium is gone, but also the lack of respect for the landowners who speci cally chooses to not have these substances on their land, in their air and water, or around their crops and livestock. e USDA de nition of organic includes protection of the ecosystem and enhancement of biodiversity, with organic farmers working to promote and enhance the health of the farm environment.eJohnsons have spent much time and money to hold the pesticide applicator accountable for the damage done, and to try and have the applicant respect the sanctity of the certi ed organic land, but to no avail. At the time of this writing, the Johnsons are consulting with their attorney to see if there are any next steps. I know many of our readers join with me in wishing them well and thanking them for ghting the good ght.
Photo by Broken Banjo Photography By Kiki Hubbard
2. Planning for stock seed and foundation seed production Common questions around foundation, stock, and production seed include: How much foundation seed do I need to ensure I have enough stock seed? How much stock seed should I produce every third year for my production seed? is second spreadsheet helps guide decisions around how much and how o en to produce foundation, stock, and production seed based on your operation, desired inventory, longevity of the seed, and estimated yield.
Getting seed contracts Success in seed production contracts requires careful management of the grower-buyer relationship and an understanding of the terms of the contract.
| 11mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM grainmillers.com | 952.983.1269 PURCHASING CONTRACTS FOR ORGANIC: • CORN • OATS • WHEAT • BARLEY • RYE Built F m Relati ships When you purchase Blue River organic seed, you receive a promise of high quality and performance in the field. At Blue River, we take the organic label seriously and are dedicated to the integrity of the organic label and management practices it represents FOR THE BEST ORGANIC SEED, CHOOSE BLUE RIVER.
Organic Seed Alliance recently published an online toolkit to assist organic seed growers and seed enterprises.
— Hy View Feed & Seed, LLC | Mabel, MN Blue River Dealer since 2009 CORN SILAGE ALFALFA SOYBEAN FORAGES 1-800-370-7979 | blueriverorgseed.com
3. Tracking labor Tracking on-farm labor can be confusing and overwhelming, but it is also extremely important for growers trying to get a handle on their operation costs. A third piece of this toolkit is designed as a guide for tracking your operation each day, including a form designed for routine activities over the course of many days (such as watering in a greenhouse or screening a large seed lot) for tracking labor in seed production.
Varieties our growers can count on. “The Blue River Organic Seed name is recognized. There is research behind the seed. There are long-standing varieties that growers can rely on. That’s why we sell Blue River.”
A New Resource Helps Organic Farmers Understand the Economics of Growing Seed Organic seed production is a developing industry and viable economic opportunity for organic growers. To help growers manage the uncertainties and risks inherent to seed production, and to help growers earn more pro t, Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) recently published an online toolkit to assist organic seed growers and seed enterprises. e toolkit serves as the rst of its kind to focus on organic seed production speci cally, o ering support in the form of budgeting spreadsheets, inventory management, and foundation and stock seed planning. “Seed production can be deeply rewarding work,” says OSA’s Micaela Colley. “However, turning a passion for seeds into a viable livelihood is a challenge that even experienced seed growers struggle to overcome.”Colleyshares that OSA developed this toolkit in partnership with agricultural economists at Highland Economics – experienced professionals who understand the importance of a farm budget and production plan.“We hope this toolkit allows farmers who already grow seed – as well as those looking to diversify their organic operations by incorporating seed as a new crop – to better understand the economics of seed production and earn more money per acre,” Colley adds. ere are three main components of this online 1.toolkit:Tracking seed enterprise expenses and budgets e rst tool in the Seed Economics Toolkit is a spreadsheet that helps growers track the costs associated with producing seed crops. Enterprise budgets provide a snapshot of costs associated with a crop for a single year and do not make predictions or forecasts for future years. However, they can be used to provide guidance for growers who are considering investments in new equipment and scaling up.
Learning from others’ experience can save many headaches and ensure a successful grower-buyer relationship. Over the years, experienced seed growers and buyers have shared their experiences and advice in workshops and webinars at the Organic Seed Growers Conference and other online networking events. Several of these webinars also o er contact information and guidance on how to reach out to seed companies when seeking contracts. (All of these webinars are provided as part of the Seed Economics Toolkit.) Growing seed on contract for a seed company takes some of the sales-related risks out of seed production but nding the opportunity to grow on contract can also be a hurdle, as it is not always clear how to connect with a seed company to acquire contracts. Seed companies and growers alike report that they most o en make new relationships by networking at conferences, like the Organic Seed Growers Conference, and other regional events. Many seed growers also cold call companies to see if they’re looking to contract with newAsgrowers.anorganization that strives to create networking opportunities for seed growers, OSA developed an online registry called the Organic Seed Producers Directory to connect seed growers with seed Growing Seed
continues on page 14
said, ‘Let’s put this on pause. Starting a new business right now doesn’t seem like a good idea.’” ey put on the brakes and nished construction in winter 2020-21. ey did all the work themselves, except the concrete oor, and o cially got their license in April of 2021. In the meantime, they applied for their second mentorship with MOSES, this time with a focus on their small-scale Grade A dairy, and requested to be mentored by Francis, who operates an on-farm Grade A dairy in Iowa. “We speci cally wanted someone with Grade A at a smaller scale, and someone who knows the regulations inside and out. ose folks are few and far between. Francis is already an educator so we though he would be a good person.” Langer added, “ e mentorship has been super helpful. ere are so many little, tiny details. I keep a running list of the most minute little questions, but they add up, and it gets very overwhelming. It’s hard to nd it in the regulations, or a book, so being able to have a phone call once a month or so, or send an email, and run through that list of questions has just been so helpful. It’s saved us some money, some time, and Francis has been really supportive. I appreciate that.” e MOSES Farmer-to-Farmer mentorship “is a great program and I tell lots of people about it. It’s just really tangible. You can search the internet forever, you can read a book, and we have lots of farming people in our lives. But there’s something about having a designated person who has said ‘yes, I will let you come at me with all of your questions’. Having someone whose designated role in this program is to help is so reassuring. ere’s a comfort and assurance in accumulating that list knowing that I’ll be able to ask someone, and I’ll be able to nd the answer,” added Langer. Langer ended by saying, “We really want to be a model for small scale dairy in Wisconsin. We wanted to prove to ourselves and to the world that it’s still possible in the 21st century to have a small, on-farm dairy that’s nancially viable that can be run just by a family. We’re still pretty early in the game, but it’s looking good. I’m excited to be here telling our story so that if there are other people who want to do this, we can work with them in the same way as the people who have helped us along the way.” You can nd Oxheart Farm’s milk and yogurt at the Whole Earth Market Co-op in River Falls, Wisconsin, or pick it up at the farm. Are you interested in being mentored or being a mentor? Applications are now open for the 2022 Farmer-to-Farmer Mentoring program. More information and application can be found mosesorganic.org/projects/mentor-program/at Sarah Woutat is the MOSES Farmer Advancement Program Coordinator Grade A Dairy — from page 1 Illinois Co-op — from page 6 However, when we began discussing our project with them, they were extremely eager to be able to access more local produce, processed, preserved, in bulk, and throughout the year. Illinois State University in nearby Bloomington similarly has big goals for local procurement, and the success of our project will be a huge boon to them achieving those goals. Now, this project has come all this way to what we call an “advanced planning” stage. We are currently waiting to hear back about the large planning grant we applied for through the USDA Local Food Promotion Program. We worked with the Illinois State Treasurer’s o ce and the local bank in Mt. Pulaski to be able to obtain low-interest loans. We took advantage of a free program of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service that drew up preliminary drawings of our proposed facility. We are on the cusp of purchasing a former hardware store in Mt. Pulaski (recently vacated so they could move to a larger location) owned by another active community member who also has o ered strong support of our project. And we are actively seeking the right candidate to take over from Katie and me as the full-time manager of this project and fully, nally bring it to life, someone who has the level of expertise that we lack, and the time and willingness to commit to it.And now, everything hinges on the task that has taken the biggest piece of our time the last two months: our ownership campaign. As a cooperative, we need folks to buy shares and become owners. Any individual anywhere can become an owner, and we are required by our Articles of Incorporation to sell at least $100,000 of stock before we can begin operations, but we also must sell distinct amounts of each three kinds of shares. To our surprise, we have actually exceeded our minimum requirement for the most expensive Preferred Stock (perhaps because of its 4% interest rate), while we are still working to sell our required Common A and Common B stocks. However, we have actually exceeded our $100,000 goal in about a month, and it has been a joy to know that our community believes in this like we do. With that funding raised, we have the seed money to purchase our building, to secure our loans, to provide the matching funds for our grant, and to go back to our community and say “ is is happening. We are almost to the nish line.” And what’s at the nish line? e start of something new, without modern precedent in our region. A new entity that could make our farmers more prosperous, our community members healthier, and our region more resilient, all through the power of good food.
questionsORGANICANSWERLINE888-90-MOSESGetanswerstoyouraboutfarmingandorganicrules.
NEW FREE ONLINE COURSE Financial Risk Management for Specialty Crop Producers This self-directed course covers: •Financial Analysis & Planning •Accessing Capital •Accessing Farmland •Insurance •Business Management •Long-term Planning VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND START THE COURSE https://thelandconnection.org/course/financial-risk-management-course/TODAY!
Je Hake is a partner at Funks Grove Heritage Fruits & Grains and interim co-manager at Central Illinois FarmFED Co-op Inside Organics — from page 3 outcomes (like endocrine disruption, for which the agency has not established review protocol). To make matters worse, the “reasonable certainty of no harm standard” only applies to pesticides that have agricultural uses, while those pesticides with only non-agricultural uses are subject to an “unreasonable adverse e ects” standard. In this case, the EPA does not evaluate the necessity of pesticides in light of the availability of less or nontoxic alternative practices or products. When safer alternatives exist, is it reasonable to allow exposure to a hazardous pesticide with known adverse e ects and the large uncertainties that are inherent to risk assessments? Local governments are intervening to stop toxic pesticide use on their public lands and, in cases where they are not preempted by state law, on private property. e nationwide momentum is leading the nation from the grassroots in proving that toxic pesticides and fertilizers are not necessary in land management.ehistory of chlorpyrifos is a shining example of the failure of pesticide law and policy, which has set a course for the nation that is inherently destructive of life. e good news is that we have the tools to course correct at a time when pesticides, like chlorpyrifos, not only have direct adverse health e ects but are contributing to the climate crisis, biodiversity collapse, and due to residential segregation, disproportionate levels of illness in people of color. Let’s collectively congratulate all who worked on exposing the societal failure of pesticide law, policy, and use in ghting agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos. We can and must use this occasion as an example of the abject failure of the current system, and advance systemic change that rejects toxic pesticides and moves society to the adoption of organic practices. is will take a concerted e ort that rejects the chemical-bychemical approach to reform, which at the current pace will not meet the urgency of the existential crises that we face as a nation and globe. e solution is within our grasp. We know how to manage agricultural production, land spaces, and buildings without toxic chemicals. Reform legislation in Congress must meet the urgent need to make this a transformational moment. is is our charge. Jay Feldman is the Executive Director of Beyond Pesticides.
12 | September | October 2021 TM
Watch the recording of the field day: Season Extension at Mhonpaj’s Garden See mosesorganic.org/mhonpajs-garden-june-2 Available in English, Hmong, and Spanish Questions about growing in a high tunnel? Contact Mhonpaj Lee, MOSES Organic mhonpajlee@mosesorganic.orgSpecialist888-90-MOSES,ext.716 Full Circle Farm in Seymour, Wisconsin Photo Full Circle Farm
| 13mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM Whether your farm is a non-traditional operation marketing directly to consumers – or through local and regional food systems – our dedicated and experienced team can provide financial solutions designed to help you succeed. And we’ll guide you every step of the way. COMPEER.COM/EmergingMarkets Compeer Financial can provide assistance with financing and operations based on historical data and industry expertise. Compeer Financial does not provide legal advice or certified financial planning. Compeer Financial, ACA is an Equal Credit Opportunity Lender and Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. ©2020 All rights reserved. Sai Thao Sr. Lending Specialist (612) 597-4086 Sai.Thao@compeer.com Paul Dietmann Sr. Lending Specialist (608) Paul.Dietmann@compeer.com963-7763 (844) 426-6733 | #CHAMPIONRURAL LET’S MAKE YOUR PLANS A TOGETHER.REALITY, Gain control of your farm’s finances! • One-of-a-kind resource packed with instructions, tips, and tools for setting up and managing a farm’s financial system • Real-life examples from successful farmers plus sample data to show how forms and records should look Make sound decisions to improve your farm’s profitability “A not-so-newformust-havenewandfarmers.” $19.95 | 270 pages Get your copy today: mosesorganic.net is article was originally printed in e Hill. To read this article online at e Hill, visit https://bit.ly/2XM33Dt e scope and intensity of the climate crisis can make us desperate for answers. As we struggle to nd hope, however, we need to beware of “silver bullets,” greenwashing and snake oil masquerading as real solutions. Cover crops o er myriad bene ts to the soil and our climate, but when they are burned down with herbicides, the soil biota responsible for critical functions, which include decomposing dead plants and animals, regulating pests and diseases, and sequestering carbon in the soil, are destroyed. Organic agriculture is a ready solution for the climate crisis. A voluntary, third-party veri ed, holistic form of ecological farming that prioritizes soil health should be championed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), yet the department has been reluctant to highlight organic agriculture for fear of alienating non-organic growers. e reality is that a growing number of conventional farmers are choosing to make the transition to organic. While still a small percentage of farmers overall, the number of producers seeking organic certi cation increased by almost 40 percent between 2012 and 2017, and the average value of sales per organic farm increased 84 percent. Demand for organic continues to grow, re ecting the public’s willingness to pay a premium for environmentally friendly products and it can grow further with additional support and investment. More frequent, extreme weather events are forcing all farmers to adapt, and during this time of transition, we have an opportunity to support holistic solutions that include ending our reliance on fossil fuel-based inputs, promoting longer-term To Fight the Climate Crisis, Support Smart Farming By Amalie Lipstreu and Lori Stern crop rotations and diverse cover cropping that work synergistically to build soil health and resilience while reducing our climate footprint. Dozens of states across the country are advancing legislation to help farmers in this time of transition.Although organic production provides a voluntary, marketbased approach to addressing climate change, farmers making the transition face many hurdles o en without the nancial or technical support they need to e ectively implement organic management practices. Organic farmers have been leading the way in using cover crops and crop rotations, and protecting biodiversity, water quality, and more, with little to no support for far too long. e Agricultural Resilience Act (ARA) would make permanent a program to provide producer assistance during the o en-di cult transition period when farmers need to refrain from using most of the tools in the traditional farm toolbox. Instead, these farmers are rebuilding the soil fertility that will become foundational for a resilient and pro table organic farming operation. While that is a small piece of the historic investments the ARA will make, it is an important one. e ARA also will support more farmer-led research on plant diversity and selection for climate change speci c to regions. Smaller farm operations that can be nimble and adapt to shorter growing seasons, drought or extreme weather events will make our food system more resilient. Large corporate ownership of mono-crop varietals, relying on synthetic inputs, will not save our soils or our planet.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently announced plans to allocate up to $20 million in additional organic certi cation cost-share assistance as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. In addition to restoring the funding cut to cost-share due to an accounting error by a prior administration, a portion of the $20 million will also be used to provide support for producers transitioning to organic. is is an important administrative step in the right direction to support climate-smart farming.
14 | September | October 2021 TM www.Sea-90.com (770) 361 - 6092 Now Available at Tractor Supply Co.! Visit your local today! Plus, use Sea-90 with your cover crop program and supercharge your soil for the Sea-90spring!®improves animal health, reproduction rates, and overall vitality. MINERAL SALT Premium FOR ALL CLASSES OF LIVESTOCK AND EQUINE MINERALIZER Agriculture AVAILABLE FOR BROADCAST, FOLIAR, AND HYDROPONICS Scan to Learn More www.krehereggs.comOrganicComp ost & Fe r tilizer • Rich in Organic Matter and Nutrients • Helps Condition and Enrich Soil • Available in Bulk, Totes and Bags Contact: Duwayne duwayneg@krehereggs.netGrabenstatterPhone:(716)5123857 Growing Seed — from page 11 companies. It includes a user pro le that shares each grower’s location, scale, and crop expertise. In this way, the directory can be searched by seed companies seeking new growers and for producers to connect with one another as well. If you are an organic seed grower who would like to join this directory, create a pro le today to start connecting with seed companies and other growers here: https://seedalliance.org/directory/ Seed company advice Prices for wholesale production vary widely by crop, variety, and scale and terms of the contract. e roles and expectations of the producer also in uences the pricing in a production contract and understanding the expectations of the seed company is very important, as it signi cantly in uences the risks and costs of production. While prices vary widely from company to company, and depend on a multitude of factors, it is also helpful to have some ballpark idea of average wholesale prices to help in negotiating contracts and using the enterprise budgeting tool to project pro t potential.
Spinach seed after being cleaned. Photo by Broken Banjo Photography Chard seed after being cleaned. Photo by Broken Banjo Photography
• Communication is critical to maintaining a good contract relationship. Most companies request an update on the crop status 2 – 3 times throughout the growing season. Photos of the crop and updates on any o types are very helpful.
Kristina “Kiki” Hubbard is the Director of Advocacy and Communications for Organic Seed Alliance. Onion seed heads drying. Photo by Organic Seed Alliance
• Share your production information with the company and ask them to share what they know about the crop. Seed companies want to learn from your experience and also help you succeed. It takes an open exchange of information to ensure everyone’s success. If you need help, ask! “It is an exciting time for farmers who are interested in organic seed production,” Colley says. “As organic acreage continues to grow, so does demand for organic seed, and growers in the Midwest are wellpositioned to help ful ll market needs.” To access the Seed Economics Toolkit, visit: seedalliance.org/publications/seed-economics-toolkit/https://
OSA surveyed nine seed companies to solicit feedback on best practices for engaging in contract seed production and to inquire about average contract prices for speci c crops to help growers develop production plans (these prices are listed in the online toolkit at the link below). Contract prices o en varied widely between companies and within a given crop by each company. Commonly mentioned determinants of prices included production scale; variety type (high or low yielding, ease of production); roles of producer, such as need for rogueing or nished quality seed cleaning; seed quality, such as germination rate and disease testing; and whether the crop is an openpollinated or hybrid variety. Below is a summary of best practices shared by seed companies: • e best time to contact seed companies to inquire about contract opportunities is between September and January when companies are preparing for the following year’s production.
• Timely delivery of clean seed is important as it helps the company prepare for the following year’s sales.
• If you are new to contract production, start small and try crops that you are familiar with growing. Try a test plot the rst year if it is a new crop you are unfamiliar with so you can determine if you can grow it in your location. Also plan for how you will harvest and handle the nished seed crop.
• Keep good records on your costs of production, including your time, so that you are able to engage in informed negotiations on price.
Soil Discounts Plant Pro and The Seed Catapult soils start seeds that turn into healthy plants Bainbridge, OH Tomatoes Mt. Hope, WI Cabbage
Jenica Caudill is the Director of Development & Marketing for MOSES 612 Enterprise Dr. Hillsboro, WI 54634 608-489-3600 Open Mon-Fri info@ohioearthfood.com8-5
My daughter, Angela, is still carrying a lot of trauma around George Floyd last year. She would cry every day up until just a couple of weeks ago because, you know, people were killing Black people for no reason. But she still wants her dad to give her a kiss and hug before he leaves, even if she’s sleeping. I didn’t know that trauma was holding her, was still lingering. She told her daddy, I have nightmares, I’m scared you’re not gonna come back. at’s a reality my daughter, who is eight—she embodies that. And I think about all the other Black girls who worry about their moms and their dads, their grandmas and grandpas. And I worry about my family and my nephews—they’re so little right now. My son is already 11, he’s so big. ree years from now they’re gonna see him as a Black man before they see him as a young man. When the Daunte Wright shooting happened, my family was up till one in the morning on the phone with family, because our mom and dad
| 15mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM
we moved to Milwaukee, I remember my mom and dad working as farmhands and I remember us helping them in the eld. e rst time I ever had sweet corn o the cob was the most amazing thing—there’s nothing that compares to that. We grew up helping my parents and then we leased a small piece of land. We would grow food and sell it to the local grocery store. I was part of that process with my parents, and I loved Whenit.I married Michael, my husband, we lived in an apartment, and we had a balcony. I told him I felt restless because I had not been able to grow anything; I was in college, and then we lived with his parents, and so I said, now we have our own place and even though it’s a balcony, I’m going to grow some tomatoes. And so, we grew tomatoes and strawberries and that was [our children’s] rst introduction, as toddlers, seeing that they were able to pick the fruit and just eat it, straight up. ey were so happy about that and [the experience] reminded me of how I felt. is farming season, it was Michael’s idea to lease a small plot at Big River Farms. It’s a learning process for him for sure and for all of us. We’re intentional about how our kids can be involved in the process of doing seedlings and they know what springtime is when we do it.
Executive order extends ‘Right to Repair’ to farm equipment
Increasingly, large manufacturers of farm equipment, such as tractors, bar individuals and independent repair shops from making necessary repairs. How did we get here? It’s part of the larger landscape of corporate consolidation that has been threatening the livelihoods of small and mid-scale farmers across the United States and around the world. Over just a few decades, the markets for seeds, equipment, and inputs have increasingly become dominated by just a few large companies, concentrating power and wealth, and decreasing competition. For farmers and ranchers, fewer options mean increasing prices for the equipment they depend on to run a successful farm. But an Executive Order signed by President Biden in July aims to strengthen anti-trust rules and crackdown on consolidation—a move that could provide more support to small and mid-scale farmers and ranchers. One aspect of the Order encourages the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to limit powerful equipment manufacturers from restricting the ability of people to repair their own equipment or work with independent repair shops. When the right to repair is le solely in the hands of manufacturers, in ated costs and long wait times are common. For small and mid-scale farmers and ranchers who are already working on razor-thin margins, a costly tractor repair or extended period without functioning equipment can be detrimental. Instead, this Order may soon return agency back into the hands of farmers and ranchers to make repairs themselves or support their local, independent repair shops.
work and advocating for this work need to also be led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) folks who also speak the language of the people that are being served.
KB: e whole process of organic certi cation is convoluted. It’s not accessible, especially for farmers who don’t speak English. It’s costly. Even though there are reimbursement programs, you still have to put that money [out] up front. For farmers who have their own native seeds, they have to go through this process of seed searching and signing a davits. I understand that there’s got to be some kind of accountability system, but when somebody has to sign paperwork such as a davits, I feel like you take the dignity out of the person who wants to grow something that has been passed down to them. And then you have all of these organic inputs that people can just easily buy if they have the money for it.
TL: I want to talk about organic farming, both in how [certi cation] presents barriers and how it was designed based on principles of soil health but has evolved into this industry-driven machine.
Call or write for details
Additional provisions within the Order also direct the USDA to consider issuing new rules under the Packers and Stockyards Act, making it easier for farmers to bring and win claims, stopping chicken processors from exploiting and underpaying chicken farmers, and adopting anti-retaliation protections for farmers who speak out about bad practices. e order also directs USDA to consider issuing new rules de ning when meat can bear “Product of USA” labels. Additionally, the order directs USDA to develop a plan to increase opportunities for farmers to access markets and receive a fair return, including supporting alternative food distribution systems like farmers markets and developing standards and labels so that consumers can choose to buy products that treat farmers fairly.
HUMATES Gallons: 5, 15, 55, or 265 Dry super sacks: 2400 Ibs. Or 50% semi-soluble (Magna Plus) OMRI certified Other dry water-soluble: 7-6-4 or Frommelt16-0-0AgGreeley,IA563-920-3674
My parents were farmers in ailand and Laos. Coming here, [farming] was one of the rst kinds of jobs they got, because it paid them under the table. ey didn’t have credentials to work, they didn’t speak any English, they didn’t have money, and there were already four of us kids by the time they came to the states. ey needed to make a Whenliving.
A Call to Action — from page 9 A Call to Action continues on 16
Up to 20% Fall Potting
By Jenica Caudill If a tool you use every day were to break, what would you do? If you have the skillset, you might opt to x it yourself. Otherwise, you might choose to take it to someone you know and trust to have them make the repairs for you. For farmers and ranchers in need of farm equipment repair, it’s not always that easy.
Aside from actually marketing the grain itself, the real mission of the co-op is perennialization of the landscape and how that can be achieved with such crops as Kernza while simultaneously remaining a viably marketable crop. With this in mind, the co-op is structured to continue serious collaboration with the University as its Forever Green Initiative advances other perennial and winter annual crops including winter camelina, pennycress, perennial ax, hazelnuts, perennial sun owers, winter peas, and winter Ultimatelybarley.the goal is to generate value not only for the grain but for the ecosystem services across the landscape that are achieved as a result of these crops. At the same time, it is the intent of the co-op and the University that the success of Kernza and the other developing crops become the primary responsibility of the farmers who grow them; a responsibility that includes protecting their social, economic, and environmental promises. Already, municipalities are seeing the budget savings of planting Kernza in well-head protection areas. e co-op feels that a signi cant part of the economic bene ts derived from these ecosystems services should be passed on to the farmers who are growing the crop itself. And nally, the co-op realizes that success is dependent not only on the loyalty of its members but on reaching out to other grower groups across the country to build a national network to protect the value or promise of Kernza and eventually the other developing crops. To nd out more about the co-op or become a member contact me at Fernholz001@gmail.com or 320-598-3010. Carmen Fernholz is a MOSES Organic Specialist, OFARM member, and a founding member of the Perennial Promise Growers Cooperative. Phase one of Organic Valley’s dairy life cycle assessment (LCA) evaluated on-farm greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farms in a diverse range of climates using di erent management practices. e results show that farming practices of Organic Valley farmers have a measurable bene t for the planet. University of Wisconsin-Madison’s assessment reveals that, on average, the dairy farms of Organic Valley’s members have a smaller carbon footprint than average U.S. conventional and organic dairy overall. Including carbon sequestration in the LCA reduced the net farm emissions of the cooperative’s dairy farms by an average of 15%. Organic Valley farmers report engaging in 50% more pasture grazing than that required by the National Organic Program, and the LCA results are impacted by this signi cant di erence. In 2022, the full LCA will be completed, and Organic Valley will publish the overall environ mental impact of the cooperative’s organic milk. In light of the study, the cooperative is committing to a carbon-neutral supply chain by 2050, aiming for 15% of the way to being carbon neutral by 2030 and 30% by 2035. Organic Valley is taking a direct, hands-on approach to carbon neutrality, as it plans to achieve its climate goal without purchasing external carbon credits. Instead of o setting emissions with credits like many U.S. companies, the cooperative’s e orts will reduce or eliminate emissions in the rst place and maximize carbon sequestration on Organic Valley family farms across the country.
16 | September | October 2021 TM16 | July | August 2021
Farmers create cooperative to market perennial crops
By Elizabeth McMullen Grain Indemnity Program Iowa Iowa.
Here is what you need to do: • Go to the Pipeline Foods Bankruptcy webpage and ll out the Undelivered Grain Sellers – Non-Delivery Notice Submission Form at content/1213-undelivered-grain-sellers/https://cases.stretto.com/PipelineFoods/ • A er you make this noti cation, you can sell the contracted grain or beans elsewhere. is procedure covers: Minnesota farmers who would truck their grain under a Pipeline contract to a facility in Minnesota; farmers in states other than Minnesota who would truck grain under a Pipeline contract to a facility in Minnesota; and farmers in Minnesota for whom Pipeline (rather than the farmer) would arrange the trucking to pick up grain/beans at a Minnesota farm but that would be delivered to a facility in a state other than Minnesota. It does not cover contracts under which the grain/beans
A
fulnow(thePipelinerecordingarticleJulyinformationchapter-11-bankruptcydepartment-agriculture-regarding-pipeline-foods-llcs-https://www.mda.state.mn.us/statement-minnesota-Call651-201-6011.MinnesotaGrainProgramheldavirtualpublicsessionaboutthisbankruptcyonWeds.21.(Editor’snote:visittheonlineversionofthisonorganicbroadcaster.orgforalinktoviewaofthissession.)IfyouhaveacontractwithFoodsfordeliveryonadateaerJuly8,2021datethecompanyledforbankruptcy),youcanberelievedofanyliabilityorclaimbyPipelinetollthiscontract. would be delivered to a facility in a state other than Minnesota. Ends is a freelance writer. He and his wife, Dela, own and run Scotch Hill Farm, a certi ed organic farm near Madison, Wisconsin. Foods — from page 7 Call to Action from page 15 live in Brooklyn Park—they don’t live far from that area. Whenever this stu happens, I just listen and I ask my family what I can do, can I provide meals for you? And then I wrote this letter, “A Call to Action.” It took me a long time. I was really angry and frustrated. I was frustrated with organizations saying they were sorry about what happened but not acknowledging the systemic racism and not doing a call to action. I thought really long and hard about how to put myself in the shoes of my white friends. I think they mean well, and they really want to be allies but they also struggle with guilt and shame. I always tell my friends, you should only indulge yourself in guilt and shame when you don’t do anything. If you choose to close yourself out in that bubble that you live in every day, that is the epitome of privilege. Even I have privilege as a Hmong woman. People don’t see me as threaten ing. I would never know what it feels like to be a Black woman going through what Black women are going through, worried about their children. at doesn’t mean I don’t worry about my Black children, but I understand that I have the privi lege of also being able to shut myself out because I don’t have that kind of trauma that Black women have. I wrote the letter because I have the power to do it and I have this position to do it that I’m thank ful for. I want my kids to grow up in a world where we’re not repeating history. And it is not just the responsibility of Black people to create a space for healing to happen. And it’s not just the responsibility of police or governments. It has to be collective. Everybody has the personal and individual responsibility, and within the roles we play in our organizations—there’s responsibili ties on all of us. is spring KaZoua Berry sent her letter, A Call to Action, to the white-led farming organizations in her network. e letter acknowledges the pain and trauma in icted on Black communities in the wake of Daunte Wright’s death and shares suggestions for action steps we can all take to build anti-racist behaviors, actions, and policies. You can hear a reading of the letter and the full interview between Ti any LaShae and KaZoua Berry on the episode, “A Call to Action”, on the latest season of “In Her Boots,” streaming across all major podcast platforms. Experience the Benefits of Membership ofarm.2005@gmail.com ofarm.org • 785-337-2442
Indiana
At the same time, university researchers and plant breeders know that the success of any endeavor involving new crops, in this case Kernza, depends solely on the marketability of the end result of their research and breeding. With experience in cooperative marketing as a farmer and my long working relationship with the University of Minnesota, it was apparent to me early on that expecting farmers to nd viable markets for Kernza was not going to be an option. Growers need to be focused on the evolving agronomic questions relating to the Kernza grain: how to plant, harvest, and store it. ey don’t have time to be searching for a market for an unproven new crop. roughout much of my farming career, I have been involved in organizing farmers around a cooperative collective marketing concept. I have come to realize that any success with such a new grain with new and unique agronomic characteristics, especially its perennial quality and yield being based on pounds per acre instead of bushels, would be a major hurdle to overcome especially when it came to per-acre gross revenue. It is one thing to sell corn at $3 to $4 per bushel on 150 to 200 bushels per acre and gross anywhere from $600 to $800 per acre. e market has already functioned in these parameters. Apply that same idea to Kernza on a per-acre basis and the numbers are totally di erent. Yields on Kernza are in pounds per acre. So when pricing Kernza, a competitive price would need to start at a minimum of $2 to $3 per pound when average marketable yields are going to be 100 to 300 pounds per acre. Kernza income potential must be relative to that of corn or soybeans to even attract growers. Understanding this market uniqueness immediately indicates that there would need to be a signi cant cooperative e ort on the part of the Kernza growers if success were to be reached with this crop. University personnel also realized that there would need to be a collaborative e ort with farmers if research were to move forward on Kernza development.Aeraseries of calls and Zoom meetings with current and potential Kernza growers, we have formed a steering committee and, at this point, have Articles of Incorporation ready to be signed. Bylaws are being dra ed and memberships are being accepted. Membership fee will be $100 per year. e co-op also will generate operating revenue by assessing a marketing fee per marketing transaction, the amount to be nalized in the bylaws. Several grants we secured are helping the co-op contract with someone to focus primarily on market feasibility. Simultaneously, we are coordinating with university personnel in food science as well as private entrepreneurs in expanding the various ways that Kernza can be used in baking and cooking as a unique food ingredient.
By Carmen Fernholz A new cooperative, Perennial Promise Growers Cooperative, will help farmers market the new wave of perennial crops, including Kernza®. e Co-op’s mission is to actualize the promises inherent in a perennialized agriculture, which ultimately translates into a perennialized food system. Kernza is a potentially signi cant game changer in agriculture, providing many ecosystem services like soil health, carbon sequestration, clean water, and continuous living cover, as well as being a third crop to enhance plant diversi cation across the landscape. I rst planted Kernza in 2011, and in 2018 planted 15 acres with a new variety, MN Clearwater, that showed signi cant improvement in productivity, indicating that serious Kernza development was beginning to have possibilities of reaching critical mass, enough so that it could in fact be a viable new alternative crop in agriculture. From years of farming experience, older farmers have come to realize that markets are their lifeline.
Elizabeth McMullen is a Public Relations Specialist for Organic Valley. shows Organic Valley farms have low carbon footprint
Experience the Benefits of Membership ofarm.2005@gmail.com ofarm.org • 785-337-2442
Assessment
ers/grain-indemnity-corporation/https://www.in.gov/isda/divisions/indiana-grain-buyCall317-232-8770. Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund thisrelievedthedelivery515-281-5987.house-grain-dealer-bankruptcy-07132021https://iowaagriculture.gov/news/notice-of-wareCallIfyouhaveacontractwithPipelineFoodsforinIowaonadateaerJuly8,2021(thedatecompanyledforbankruptcy),youcannowbeofanyliabilityorclaimbyPipelinetofulllcontract. Here is what you need to do: • Go to the Pipeline Foods Bankruptcy web page and ll out the Undelivered Grain Sellers – Non-Delivery Notice Submission Form content/1213-undelivered-grain-sellers/https://cases.stretto.com/PipelineFoods/ • A er you make this noti cation, you can sell the contracted grain or beans elsewhere. Keep records of where you sold the grain and for how much. is procedure covers: Iowa farmers who would truck their grain under a Pipeline contract to a facility in Iowa; farmers in states other than
It does not cover contracts under which the grain/beans would be delivered to a facility in a state other than Iowa. Michigan Farm Produce Insurance Fund 1569_16993_16996---,00.htmlhttps://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-Call517-284-5642.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Grain Licensing Program
—
who would truck grain under a Pipeline contract to a facility in Iowa; and farmers in Iowa for whom Pipeline (rather than the farmer) would arrange the trucking to pick up grain/beans at an Iowa farm but that would be delivered to a facility in a state other than
Missouri Grain Regulatory Services Program https://agriculture.mo.gov/grains/?utm_content=&ut BerwangerGrainobligationsAgriculturegovdelivery&utm_term=m_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=PleasecontacttheMissouriDepartmentofifyouoryourbusinesshaveanyunsettledwithPipelineFoods,LLC.YoumaycallRegulatoryServicesProgramManagerEricat573-751-4112. North Dakota Grain and Livestock Licensing Division ndda/submit-grain-complaintCallhttps://www.nd.gov/ndda/program/grain-inspection701-328-4761.NDGrainComplaintForm:https://www.nd.gov/ Ohio Grain, Feed & Seed Program oda/divisions/plant-health/forms/plnt_4203-006Callfeed-seedplant-health/grain-warehouse-feed-and-seed/grain-https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/(chooseGrainIndemnityFundbutton)614-728-6410.Claimforms:https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/ South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Grain Warehouse Program https://puc.sd.gov/warehouse/ Producers who are not being paid in a timely manner are encouraged to report problems to the Public Utilities Commission by calling 1-800-332-1782 or sending an email to puc@ state.sd.us Wisconsin Agricultural Producer Security Default Claims AgProdSecDefaultClaims.aspxhttps://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/Call608-224-5012. Tony
Pipeline
MOSES Organic Field Days ere are just two more Organic Field Days le in the season! We’ll be in Elk Mound, Wisconsin, on September 28 for a pasture walk with organic farmer and conservationist, Mariann Holm. is eld day will focus on grazing and forest management as regenerative agriculture methods. is event is part of the Wisconsin Women in Conservation Series. Our nal eld day of the season will be on October 4 in Jamestown, Missouri. Join us for a special Field Day to learn about winter vegetable production with our 2021 Farmer of the Year, Liz Graznak and cohosted with EarthDance Organic Farm School. Find out more about these events on our Community Calendar on page 20 and on our website at mosesorganic.org/organic- eld-days Resources for Farmers Impacted by Pipeline Foods Bankruptcy
Half-Day Farm Finances Workshop It’s back! Our popular workshop based on the book, Fearless Farm Finances, will be o ered in a half-day format Oct. 29 at Camp One Heartland in Willow River, Minnesota. e workshop, taught by book coauthor Paul Dietmann, is o ered in conjunction with New Farmer U—attendees may take the workshop on its own or combine it with New Farmer U. Registration for the Fearless Farm Finances workshop is just $25 and includes a copy of the book. MOSES Welcomes New Team Member Hannah Westfall joined the MOSES team on September 7 as the new Communications and Marketing Specialist. Hannah draws from years of nonpro t marketing and graphic design experience, most recently working in hunger relief and food recovery. She has a small vegetable garden, loves traveling and is happiest when spending time in nature with her ancé and their rescue dogs. You can reach Hannah at hannah@mosesorganic.org or 888-90-MOSES ext.
On July 8th, Pipeline Foods led for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. If you are an organic grain producer who sold grain to Pipeline Foods and have not been paid or if you have binding contracts for fall grain sales, a new resource from the Organic Farmers Association shares action steps you can take right now. Find resources on state programs that can help and learn how to seek legal representation from their guide, available for free on their website at organicfarmersassociation.org/ news/pipelineTolearnmore about the Pipeline Foods Bankruptcy, read the article on page 7 of this issue, titled “States and the OFA urge grain farmers to act on Pipeline Food claims.”
Norfolk,NE AGlobalEquipmentCompany,Inc. www.henkebuffalo.com
Make Sure You’re Counted in the 2022 Ag Census Calling on farms of all sizes! No one is too small to participate in the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture. In preparation for the census, the USDA is asking farmers to sign up to make sure your farms are counted. Several rural assistance programs use census-derived data in formulas that geographically allocate funds among eligible recipients, so it is especially important for organic and regenerative farms to be counted. Find out 800-345-5073
NEWS BRIEFS Organic Farmer of Year Nominations Shine the spotlight on an outstanding organic farmer or farm family you admire by nominating them to be the MOSES Organic Farmer of the Year. is prestigious award recognizes organic farmers for exemplary land stewardship, innovation, and outreach. e 2022 award winner(s) will be selected from community nominations by the MOSES Board of Directors. e board will present the award at the 2022 MOSES Organic Farming Conference, planned for Feb. 24-26 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Nominations can be submitted at swe5h4y1cx8syehttps://mosesorganic.wufoo.com/forms/
| 17mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM
Updated COVID-19 Relief for Specialty Crops and Contract Producers e USDA is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) to include contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry, as well as producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities. is program is designed to support farmers who faced market disruptions in 2020 due to the impacts of COVID-19. Assistance is also available to new contract producers who began their farming operation in Applications2020.to apply for funding must be submitted by October 12, 2021. To submit a new application or update an existing one, please contact your local FSA o ce. To nd your local FSA o ce, visit farmers.gov/ service-locator. For those needing direct support on application submission, please call 877-508-8364. For more program details, please visit https://bit. ly/3Be9DRO Fall Fundraising to Support Farmer Resilience We’re not going to sugarcoat it: the last year and a half has been challenging. For so many of us, every day has felt like an opportunity to exercise our skills in adapting, being exible, and holding space to approach our work di erently. As the pandemic drags on, we here at MOSES continue to research and provide creative ways for the rural farmers we represent to nd community and connection—especially in this time of isolation.Ourhope is that this year, we were able to support you in nding community at a Field Day, in building relationships through a Grower Group, or feeling connected through the stories and interviews featured in the MOSES Organic Podcast, and in this newspaper. If our resources helped to keep you connected this year, please consider making a donation to our Fall Fund Drive to help support more programming like this in the new year. To donate, you can visit us online at mosesorganic.org/donate/ or send a check to: Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), PO BOX 339, Spring Valley, WI 54767.
701 Current Podcast Episodes Tune into the MOSES Organic Farming Podcast for new episodes on the impacts of climate change on our food and farming systems—and solutions we can implement for more resilient farms. In this special series, we hear from experts who have joined us over the years of the Organic Farming Conference.Dr.KrisNichols, the former Chief Scientist at the Rodale Institute speaks on the topic of soil biology, sharing how healthier soil can help bu er your farm from weather extremes. Sticking to the theme of soil health, Dr. Jessica Gutknecht and Dr. Lauren Snyder share research-based guidance on practices that can improve overall soil structure and water-holding capacity—characteristics critical to dealing with extreme precipitation events. And we hear from farmers as they share their re ections a er a small group discussion on the topic. We also hear from our keynotes at the 2021 Growing Stronger Conference, Jim Goodman (National Family Farm Coalition), Erin Schneider (Hilltop Community Farm, Wisconsin), and Lea Zeise (Intertribal Agriculture Council). In this episode, the panelists share their unique perspectives on farming and climate in a conversation that explores some of the critical solutions needed to face climate change.
Beginning Farmer Training Registration is open for the 2021 New Farmer U, a training o ered by MOSES and Renewing the Countryside to augment beginning farmers’ business skills and support their farming success. New Farmer U will take place Oct. 29 and 30 at Camp One Heartland in Willow River, Minnesota. e event includes workshops on topics such as wholesale markets, online marketing, recordkeeping, land access and nancing, and income diversi cation. e $50 registration fee covers workshops, meals, and lodging. Language interpretation and scholarships are available.
Inspired in part by the donations made by Michigan Milk Producers Association in conjunction with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in response to the Flint water crisis, the new USDA program encourages eli gible dairy organizations to partner with non-pro ts that distribute food and to individuals and families in need. e program aims to facilitate timely dairy prod uct donations while reducing food waste. rough the Dairy Donation Program, eligible dairy organizations can receive reimbursement to cover some expenses related to dairy product dona tions. Dairy farmers, cooperatives, or processors that purchase fresh milk or bulk dairy products to process into retail-packaged dairy products and meet other requirements, are eligible to participate. Costs reim bursed through the program include the cost of milk used to make the donated eligible dairy product and some of the manufacturing and transportation costs. Reimbursement is available to approved partnership donations since January 1, 2020. To learn more about this program or submit a partnership application, please visit www.ams.usda.gov/ddp
Oct. 29-30, 2021 • Willow River, MN Workshops on: • Land access & financing • Wholesale markets • Employment law • Recordkeeping & more Just $50! Includes onsite lodging Friday night, Friday night supper & social, Saturday workshops, plus breakfast and lunch. Scholarships available. NewFarmerU.orgbusinessBoostyourfarmskills! Boost your farming skills! apply by Oct. 31: mosesorganic.org/mentor-program Best practices for your type of operation; How to get your farm ready for certi cation; Tips to move your farm forward ! Get 1-to-1 guidance from an experienced organic farmer who can show you: Farme r-to-Farme r Mentoring Program cost: $350 Program runs one year, beginning and ending with free admission to the MOSES Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse, Wis. Applicants must have farmed at least one year. Half-day class with Fearless Farm Finances author Paul Dietmann Friday, Oct. 29, 2021 • Willow River, MN Just prior to New Farmer U–sign up for both! $25 (includes the book) See details at NewFarmerU.org.
USDA Announces $400 Million Dairy Donation Program
USDA Accepts 2.8 Million Acres for the Conservation Reserve Program e USDA has accepted 2.8 million acres in o ers from agricultural producers and private landowners for enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in 2021. is year, almost 1.9 million acres in o ers have been accepted through the General CRP Signup, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency has accepted over 897,000 acres for enrollment through the Continuous Signup. Farmers and landowners partici pating in the program can now also bene t from a new Climate-Smart Practice Incentive to increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. is incentive provides a 3%, 5% or 10% incentive payment based on the predominate vegetation type for the practices enrolled – from grasses to trees to wetland restoration. e Continuous Signup remains open; however, CRP Grasslands Signup is now closed. Find out more at https://bit.ly/3sN5OzM
Danone/Horizon Terminates Contracts with 89 Family Farmers Groupe Danone, a multinational conglomerate which owns the Horizon Organic brand, terminated contracts with 89 organic dairy farms in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont as of August 2022. At the same time, Danone entered new contracts with 50 other “organic” concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that produce milk at lower cost. As a result of the contract termination, the future for generations-old dairy farms and their families remains uncertain, an impact that will be felt throughout Northeast rural communities. Readers are encouraged to contact federal o cials to advocate for tightened rules by the National Organic Program (NOP ) that protect the integrity of organic certi cation and the livelihoods of the small and mid-scale farmers who steward the land and drive the organic movement.
MOSES will continue to share updates on this story in the Organic Broadcaster and online.
18 | September | October 2021 TM NEWS BRIEFS about organic certi cation cost share, please visit the OCCSP webpage at organic,programs-and-services/occsp/index,https://www.fsa.usda.gov/visitusda.gov/orcontactyourlocalUSDAServiceCenter.
Compeer Financial Supports New MOSES Programming for Women, Women of Color MOSES has been named a recent awardee of grant funding from Compeer Financial in support of a new project, From “Bootless” to In Her Boots: BIPOC Women Farmers Accessing Land and Capital. is project aims to support women farmers and landown ers, the fastest growing and most underserved farm population, and speci cally BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) women farmers. For these farm ers, identifying sources of capital can be a struggle and loans are o en only provided at higher interest rates. is project will connect our sta ’s expertise in land access, farm nances, support for new farmers, and mentorships in support of women and BIPOC women farmers.isproject builds o of the original In Her Boots Rural Women’s project launched by MOSES in 2009 to provide training, outreach, and a voice for women in organic and sustainable agriculture in the Midwest. To learn more about this history of this project and follow our work as it changes, visit us at mosesorganic.org/ in-her-boots/ Emergency Haying, Grazing of Conservation Reserve Program Acres Available to Wisconsin Farmers Impacted by Drought Farmers impacted by drought can now request haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres in certain Wisconsin counties, while still receiving their full rental payment for the land. Although the primary nesting season for Wisconsin ended August 1 , some counties have been approved for emergency haying and grazing due to severe drought conditions. Additional emergency assistance may also be available for livestock producers who experience livestock deaths and feed losses due to natural disasters through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). Producers interested in emergency haying or grazing of CRP acres must notify their Farm Service Agency county o ce before starting any activities. To learn more about this program, please the USDA web site for more information: https://bit.ly/3sNGc62 more and sign up at https://agcounts.usda.gov/static/ get-counted.html
Organic producers and handlers can now apply for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds to assist with the cost of receiving or maintaining organic certi cation. Applications for the Organic Certi cation Cost Share Program(OCCSP) are due Nov. 1, 2021. Costshare assistance is available to producers and handlers of agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certi cation under the USDA’s National Organic Program. Farms and businesses that produce, process, or package certi ed organic agricul tural products are eligible to be reimbursed for 50% of certi cation-related costs (up to $500 per category or scope) for expenses paid from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021. Organic farmers and ranchers may apply through a Farm Service Agency county o ce or a participating state agency. If you are interested in learning more
USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification
MISCELLANEOUS For Sale: Certi ed organic seed garlic, white porcelain, Iona Moon, clean, beautiful large bulbs, 30 year seed stock. $8/# plus shipping. Contact Janet Gamble janetmariegamble@gmail.com.
For Sale: Tempered, insulated, double-pane glass. Large panes for sunrooms, solar homes, ag buildings, greenhouses or ??? One hundred fty thousand sold since 1979; 32” x 74” x 1” double-pane only $69.00. If you need glass, now would be a good time! Arctic Glass, www.kissourglass.com, 612-860-8083.
This form good through December 2021. Classi ed Ad Placement Reach 15,000+ organic-minded readers. Includes free listing in the Online Organic Classi eds at mosesorganic.org/organic-classi eds. Submit ads online or write out your ad and send it with this mail-in form and payment to: MOSES, PO Box 339, Spring Valley, WI 54767 Ads must be submitted by the 25th of the month prior to Organic Broadcaster publication date. PAYMENT INFORMATION: I’m enclosing a check made out to MOSES. Please charge $ Card # Visa | Mastercard | Discover | American Express Expiration: (mm/dd/yy) CVV: Signature: Place my ad in (price is per insertion): State:City:Address:Name: Zip: Email:Phone:Word rate x number of insertions = TOTAL $20 up to 30 words; $5/each additional 10 words. January - February March - April May - June July - August Sept. - Oct. Nov. - Dec. The Ahimsä Alternative, Inc. For all things Neem & Karanja INSECTICIDEBIOLOGICAL 100% Cold Pressed Neem Oil Controls Aphids, Army Worms, Beetles, Stink bugs, Caterpillars, Leaf hoppers, Leaf miners, White y, Mealy bugs, Midges, Nematodes, Spider mites, Weevils, Scale, Thrips. n o o 1 ol l a l a an a la an a a n o o o all 1 NEEMESIS o l o on aga n l o a ng a a o o l a l l a an a l o n al o l l 1 gallon a o o l o a o na on o o o a o 1 gallon o n o an n l o o l an a a a a l o a l a on l on l o an all a lo a aMINNESOTACertificationOrganicCROPIMPROVEMENTASSOCIATION1900HENDONAVE,SAINTPAULMN55108855-213-4461www.mciaorganic.org•HANDLERS•PROCESSORS•PRODUCERS•WILDCROP•LIVESTOCK Serving the Upper Midwest Ensuring Organic Integrity Since 2002 committedresponsivelocal to service CLASSIFIEDS Place an ad online or call 888-90-MOSES. mosesorganic.org/organic-classifieds EQUIPMENT For Sale: Super 69D Clipper Grain Cleaner 20 screens on trailer w/leg 3 phase w/220 converter. Call Bruce at 1-920-960-6895. For Sale: FMC 1 row carrot/beet harvester, $10,000 Also older pull-type 2 row green bean harvester, $4000. Email greatoakfarm@gmail or call 715-765-4297, be sure to leave your number. Mason, WI FARMS/LAND Looking to rent. Looking for organic row crop farmland to rent in Northwest Iowa or extreme Southeast South Dakota. Been farming organically for 20 years. 712-229-0161 FORAGES Organic hay for sale. 2x3x6 foot large square bales. First, second, and third cuttings. High quality. Ed Baum 920-4272575. Shiocton, WI. Organic baleage for sale. We have various cuts and lots of dairy quality with no rain. Prices per ton are based on feed tests. There are various combinations of alfalfa, clover, and grass. Delivery available. Call 715-921-9079. Act for a Sustainable World +1 (608) 637-7080 www.naturesinternational.com An Ecocert Group Company CertiOrganic fication & More PeoplewithYouTrust +1 (888) 337-8246 www.ecocertusa.com Please mosesorganic.org/winter-vegetable-production-october-4register:orcall888-90-MOSES.•Hightunnelsandcaterpillars•Harvesting&storage•Fall-plantedalliums•Theidealwash/packshedLearnabout: Monday, Oct. 4 , 2021 9 a.m. –FreeNoon WinterProductionVegetable Happy Hollow Farm, Jamestown, MO Hosted by Liz Graznak, Organic Farmer of the Year!
| 19mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM Organic Fish Fertilizer 15-1-1, 100% dry water soluble, 5-7 times more nutritious than liquid sh. Will not clog drip irrigation. One lb., 5 lb. or 55 lb. packaging. Humates OMRIcerti ed, liquid and dry. Can be shipped anywhere via UPS. Frommelt Ag Service, Greeley, IA, 563-920-3674. OMRI 15-1-1 & 7-7-7 dry soluble fertilizers. 3-3-3 clean liquid organic fertilizer. Sold by the ton, tote and tanker. Call Dan Beck at 308-940-2020. Nature Safe Organic Fertilizers.
For Sale: Certi ed organic hay. Alfalfa/grass blend. 250 big rounds. Can arrange trucking. Central Iowa. Call 515-338-0151. Certi ed Organic Hay For Sale. Multiple types and qualities. Small squares are in bundles of 9, 18, or 21. Rounds and big squares also available. Sold individually or by the semi-load. Brian@suttoncattle.com
For Sale: Organic corn stalk round bales, baled dry, 5’X5.5’, $50/bale, trucking available. Morton, MN 56270. Call Gary at 507-317-1331. LIVESTOCK For Sale: Certi ed organic heritage breed beef cattle. All ages and sized up for discussion. Located in Virginia and grass-fed. Call 757-374-4240 or email mestienne@ ayrshirefarm.com. For Sale: Dairy Herd. 40 Holstein-Jersey-Brown Swiss cows in all stages of lactation. A2/A2 bred to Flevich bull. 20 springers due now till fall. Retiring. Call 507-582-3330.
NODPA Annual Field Days at Wolfe’s Neck Center Sept. 30 & Oct. 1 | $ | Freeport, Ma. Wolfe’s Neck Center (WNC), a public non-pro t and community resource since 1997, o ers a wide variety of programs. This year’s eld day features research on PFAS on Maine farms, cow health, grazing, OPENteam, and more, including a trade show, and social time. Call 413-772-0444 for more info.
Arkansas Women Owning Woodland Conference October 21 – 22 | $ | Bismark, Ark. Hosted by Women Owning Woodlands (WOW), this event will highlight sustainable forestry practices, pollinator habitat and include hands-on activities. For more information, contact Jennifer Johnson at 501374-2441. New Farmer U October 29 & 30 | $ | Willow River, Minn. This MOSES
October 7 | 2:30 p.m. | Online
Silvopasture Workshop and Oak Savanna Restoration October 14 | 2 – 7 p.m. | Howard Lake, Minn. This event is tailored for volunteers to help a farmer transition some acres to a silvopasture oak savanna system. Volunteers will get experience planting oaks, spreading prairie/oak savanna seed, pulling buckthorn, and learning about silvopasture and oak savanna restoration. There will also be discussion on grazing and fencing. Hosted by SFA. Call 844-9225573 to learn more. Silvopasture and Oak Savanna Field Day October 22 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Zimmerman, Minn. This event is part of a joint e ort between the University of Minnesota Extension, SFA, Great River Greening, and the Center for Integrated Natural Resource Agricultural Management and will be held at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Call 844-9225573 to learn more.
From day one in 1937, Beck’s has made it a priority to o er farmers the choices they need to have a thriving operation. With an organic line of high-yielding certified organic corn, soybean, and wheat seed for your organic acres, see what Great Harvest Organics has to o er for the 2022 season. Request a copy of the 2022 Great Harvest Organics Seed Guide by calling 800.937.2325 or view a digital copy at BecksHybrids.com.
Winter Vegetable Production in Missouri October 4 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Jamestown, Mo. Learn more about fall crop harvesting and winter high tunnel and caterpillar tunnel production for vegetables in Missouri from 2021 MOSES Organic Farmer of the Year Liz Graznak. Co-hosted by MOSES and EarthDance Organic Farm School. Call 715-778-5775 to learn more and register.
Grazing and Forest Management as Regenerative Ag September 28 | 3 – 7 p.m. | Elk Mound, Wis. Join us for a pasture walk with organic farmer and conservationist Mariann Holm. She will be covering pasture renewal, grazing as conservation, and grazing livestock on pasture with trees. Box lunches will be served. This eld day is part of the Wisconsin Women in Conservation series and co-hosted by MOSES. Call 715-778-5775 to learn more and register.
PaddockTrac: A Web-Based Mobile Application for Managed Grazing Systems
ENDLESS
event covers farm nancial and business management for intermediate beginning farmers—3-6 years of farming experience—or anyone who is ready to plan for future success. Call 715-7785775 to learn more and register. Iowa Organic Conference November 28 & 29 | $ | Iowa City, Iowa The Iowa State University Organic Agriculture Program’s 21st Annual Organic Conference will be held in the Iowa Memorial Union at the University of Iowa. Keynote will be Dr. Jessica Shade, speaking on “Contributions of Organic in Mitigating Climate Change: Evidence from Farms and Fields.” Call 515-294-6222 for more information and to register. DIRECTORYRESOURCEORGANICMIDWEST11thEdition toEverythingyouneedgrow Find buyers, sellers, suppliers, and more. Free download or print copy: organic-resource-directorymosesorganic.org/460listings!
Just Farm and Food System Harvest Festival October 2 | 4 – 7 p.m. | Jordan, Minn. Join the Land Stewardship Project at Ravenview Farm, operated by LSP members Dana and Mike Seifert for a Harvest Festival full of fun activities, food, and celebration. Call 612-722-6377 to learn more.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Find details and event links online: mosesorganic.org/community
ELITE GENETICS AND POSSIBILITIES.
Fermentation Fest: Grassland Edition September 25 & 26 | 11 a.m – 6 p.m. | Sauk City, Wis. Grassland 2.0 is partnering with the Wormfarm Institute to host this festival features a two-day jamboree of live ”grassical” music, fermentation tastings and demonstrations, grazing demonstrations, art activities and local food. To learn more contact Laura at lkpaine@gmail.com.
Join this webinar which discusses a new wireless sensor, tethered to a smartphone and GIS-based web application, built to improve the e ciency of measuring/monitoring/managing forage systems. Hosted by the USDA NRCS. Contact Jennifer @ jennifer.ryan@ usda.gov.
National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Fall Board Meeting October 13 - 21 | 2:00 p.m. | Online The NOSB will meet to discuss substances petitioned for addition to or deletion from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), substances due to sunset from the National List in 2023, and recommendations on organic policies. During the meeting, the NOSB will listen to public comments, discuss agenda items, and then vote on recommendations to the Secretary. The meetings are open to the public, and no registration is required, except to sign up for oral comments. For more information call Written202-997-0115.comments: deadline is 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2021 via Regulations.gov.
20 | September | October 2021 TM Agritourism Workshop September 23 |1 – 5 p.m. | Mora, Minn. Many small farms have an interest in hosting the public on their farm for di erent events – U-pick, corn mazes, winery/cidery, hayrack rides, petting zoos etc. Enjoy a line-up of some great speakers to cover the important topics that need to be considered as you noodle Agritourism in some form. Experts and successful farmers available to share their knowledge and personal experience. Email Rod Greder at gred0014@umn.edu or call 320-591-1662.
