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APHIS Reopens Comment Period for Interim Final Rule Updating Indemnity Program for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza on Poultry Farms

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is reopening the public comment period on an interim final rule updating the conditions for poultry facilities to receive indemnity and compensation after testing positive for HPAI. Comments will be accepted for 30 days, until April 14, 2025.

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Industry News

USDA Announces Five New Members to the National Organic Standards Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of five new members to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB is made up of 15 members from the organic sector. The new members announced today will serve five-year terms, from January 2025 through January 2030.

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Industry News

USDA Expands Market Information for Organics

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Market News recently expanded its collection and distribution of price and production cost information for organic agricultural products by adding organic milk, cattle, grains and feedstuffs, and fertilizer to its list of published reports.

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Industry News

NOP Creates New Tool to Help Producers and Handlers Connect with USDA Accredited Certifiers

Anyone interested in attaining organic certification can now use the Organic Certification Interest Form to answer a few questions about their business activities and products they want certified organic. Completed interest forms will automatically be sent to certifiers accepting new applicants.

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Industry News

National Organic Standards Board Fall 2024 Meeting

The NOSB will meet in Portland, Oregon in October 2024. The in-person meeting will be webcast live for those who cannot travel.

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Industry News

USDA Announces Almost $10 million in Organic Market Development Grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today awarded an additional $9.7 million for 13 grant projects through the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) program.

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Industry News

USDA Expands Insurance Options for Specialty and Organic Growers

(USDA) is expanding crop insurance options for specialty and organic growers beginning with the 2025 crop year. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is expanding coverage options by allowing enterprise units by organic farming practice.

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Industry News

USDA National Organic Standards Board: Request for Applications

Application Deadline – June 28, 2024 USDA Seeks Nominees to Fill Five National Organic Standards Board Vacancies

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Industry News

NOP Publishes Handbook Updates and Responses to SOE Frequently Asked Questions

The USDA published an updated version of the National Organic Program (NOP) Handbook. Several handbook documents have been updated or archived because they have been replaced by new regulations, such as the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule.

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Industry News

National Organic Standards Board Spring 2024 Meeting Oral Comment Registration Now Open 

The public comment period and oral comment registration are now open for the NOSB Spring 2024 Meeting. Interested parties are encouraged to provide feedback.

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Industry News

TOPP Celebrates One Year of Success

The USDA Organic Transition Initiative’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) marks its first birthday, the National Organic Program (NOP), TOPP national and regional leads, and more than 180 state-level partners are celebrating that success.

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Industry News

Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards Final Rule Publishes in Federal Register

On October 25, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack previewed the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) final rule. On Nov. 2, the OLPS final rule has published in the Federal Register.

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