The Spring 2020 issue of The Organic Sprout is available online! Please follow this link. You can read it from any device of your choice or download it as a PDF. Contents include Organic Certification During the COVID-19 Pandemic, MOFGA Certified Organic promotion extension, Wash Read More »
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USDA Supports Specialty Crops Producers with Direct Payments for Losses Due to COVID-19
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2020 – As part of the Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will provide up to $2.1 billion in direct payments to specialty crops producers. The payments will be based on losses where prices and Read More »
Two Maine organizations collaborate to launch emergency grants for Maine farms
Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) are introducing new Maine Farm Emergency Grants to assist farmers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. A recent survey conducted by the Beginning Farmer Resource Network of Maine indicates farmers and food producers Read More »
Interim Guidance for Essential Agriculture Businesses
The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has developed interim guidelines to help answer owner and employee questions about essential agriculture, horticulture, and animal care operations. The department’s website, containing a broad range of COVID-19 resources, is available here: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/covid19/ and includes a wealth of Read More »
USDA, DEA Provide Options for Labs, Disposal of Non-Compliant Hemp Plants
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the delay of enforcement of certain requirements under the interim final rule (IFR) establishing the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. Under the new guidance, USDA will delay enforcement of the requirement for labs to Read More »
Farmers’ Guide to Applying for the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant Program
The National Sustainable Agricultural Coalition (NSAC) has published a comprehensive guide for the 2019-2020 Grant Cycle. Program Basics The Value-Added Producer Grant program (VAPG), a subprogram of the Local Agriculture Market program (LAMP), provides grants, awarded on a competitive basis, to individual independent agricultural producers, Read More »