On Monday, May 6th, the Federal District Court in San Francisco agreed with organic farmers, consumers, and animal welfare advocates that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) cannot hide communications and documents that led up to the controversial decision by the Trump administration to Read More »
News Archive
Farmer Scholarships Available for Seattle NOSB Meeting
The National Organic Coalition is offering a limited number of scholarships to farmers wishing to attend the NOC Pre-NOSB meeting (April 23, 2019) & NOSB meeting (April 24 – 26, 2019) in Seattle, WA. The following important topics will be discussed during the NOC and Read More »
New Resource on the MCS Website – Organic Marketing
MOFGA Certification Services (MCS) has new resources for its certified organic producers – an Organic Marketing menu which features newly developed Certified Organic IS Non-GMO labels, an organic certification and non-GMO label comparison checklist, as well as access to the Organic Valley (OV) Organic Is Read More »
Got hayfields and pastures?
Do you have hayfields and pastures that are in need of some attention? Are you feeding your animals good quality forages? Do you want to learn what makes a good hay crop? The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering a 3-hour workshop on Read More »
Maine Department of Education Seeks Farmers and Food Producers
The Maine Department of Education Child Nutrition Program is excited to announce the launch of Maine’s Harvest of the Month (HOM) Program, piloting in Spring of 2019. The program is a nationwide marketing campaign promoting the use of seasonally available, local products in schools, institutions, Read More »
Comment Period Opens for Proposed Rule to Amend the National List for Crops + Handling
On February 15, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register to amend the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for crops and handling based on April 2018 recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board. This proposed rule Read More »
Hearing on Meat Labeling Bill (LD 351) Scheduled for Tuesday, Feb 12
On February 12 at 1 p.m. at the Cross Building in Augusta, the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry will hear a bill addressing the large of amount of meat being advertised falsely as “local” or “Maine-raised” when the animals actually were produced Read More »
Real Organic Project Seeks Public Comments on Provisional Standards
The Real Organic Project provisional standards for a new add-on label were created in Winter 2018 by the Real Organic Standards Board. The standards are based on the principal that healthy soil is the foundation of organic farming. The Real Organic Project is asking the Read More »
Uncertainty Prevails as the Partial Government Shutdown Continues
From the National Organic Coalition (NOC). The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) remains closed as the government shutdown continues for a fifth week and the NOP has canceled its annual certifier training, which was scheduled for January 29 in Greenville, South Carolina. The training provides Read More »
Winter Regional Growers Meetings Scheduled for February 2019
You’re Invited! Winter Regional Grower Meetings – Four Locations in Maine Southern Maine: February 14th, York County Extension Office, Springvale, ME Maine Highlands: February 16, Sangerville Grange, ME Downeast: February 27th, Ellsworth City Hall, Ellsworth, ME Aroostook County: February 28th, Littleton Snowmobile Club, Littleton, ME Approximate Read More »
NOP Issues Final Amendment to National List
On December 26, 2018, the NOP published a final rule that amends the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. Please see below for a brief summary, and contact your Certification Specialist for more information or if you have questions. IMPLEMENTATION: The rule will be fully implemented on January Read More »
The Organic Sprout – Fall 2018 Issue
The Fall 2018 issue of The Organic Sprout is available online! Please follow this link. You can read it from any device of your choice or download as a PDF. Contents include the results of our MCS Client Survey, a report on Organic Cost Share, Read More »