22 April 14 Field Notes-Maple Syrup

MCS News

  Jerome Rigot and I just returned from the last of the maple syrup inspections in the north woods of Somerset County, Maine.  In order to access these sugar camps, located in the unorganized territory of Seboomook Lake, we stay in St. Georges, Quebec, and must cross in and out of Maine each day using…

One-Stop Shop for Organics

NOP News and Updates

Looking for USDA programs and services that support the growing organic sector? USDA has created a centralized web resource center containing all their programs, services, and data. The new site gives access to: Conservation programs, flexible microloans, and other financial resources for farmers and ranchers. Organic price reports, cost/revenue comparisons, and other economic and market…

New Guides for Organic Operations

NOP News and Updates

To describe the relevant organic requirements, provide best practices, and further explain the certification process, ATTRA has partnered with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to provide the following detailed guides, which provide helpful information for both beginning farmers and current organic operations looking to adopt new management approaches. (Click on each title to download):…

Inspections 101

MCS News

We need to inspect each certified operation–farms and processors–every year.  The person who comes to your farm to is the inspector.  We hire several people part-time people to do inspections.  Occasionally, the person doing your inspection is a full-time certification staffer such as myself.  This person, the inspector, does no certifying per se, he or…