Education, resources, and practical advice to help you grow.
MOSES Organic Link | June 2018
MOSES Organic Field Days
Get inspired this summer by attending a MOSES organic field day! Designed with farmer learning in mind, field days are a great way to get on the farm and learn from your farming peers.
 
June 28 | We Grow LLC | Westboro, Wis.
 
July 1 | PrairiErth Farm | Atlanta, Ill.
 
July 12 | Hughes Farm | Janesville, Wis.
 
July 20 | Seed to Seed Farm | Balsam Lake, Wis.

July 31 | Wilson Organic Farms | Cuba City, Wis.

August 3 - 5 | Southern Wisconsin
 
August 7 | Riverbend Farm | Delano, Minn.
 
August 29 | Lily Lake Organic Farm | Maple Park, Ill.
In Her Boots: Sustainable Agriculture for Women, by Women
Registration is open for this year's In Her Boots workshop series, which is uniquely designed for female farmers. These day-long, on-farm sessions include a detailed farm tour and cover a variety of topics. There will be plenty of time for Q&A, with “resources in the field” and networking with other women farmers. This year’s sessions will include a special focus on ergonomics and tool use for women, including tractor basics. Women of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend, especially those just beginning their farm ventures. Each session is different so attend more than one!
 
June 21 | Wylymar Farms | Monroe, Wis.
 
July 26 | Humble Hands Harvest | Decorah, Iowa
 
August 3 | Raleigh’s Hillside Farm | Brodhead, Wis.
This event kicks off the annual Soil Sisters tour and workshops.
Planning for 2019 MOSES Conference
MOSES is implementing a new planning process for the 2019 MOSES Organic Farming Conference. To include more voices in the process (especially busy farmers), we’re doing away with the annual in-person planning meeting in La Crosse. Instead, we’ve developed a survey process so that everyone can vote for their favorite workshop topics. The survey is open now through Aug. 31, 2018. Participants may submit ideas, too—we’ll refresh the survey topics every two weeks. Bookmark www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019workshops , vote, and check in to vote again.
MOSES Work on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Based on conversations at the MOSES Conference in February, we're putting efforts into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. The MOSES staff will engage in Intercultural Competency training this summer. We’re also featuring articles on DEI in the Organic Broadcaster so we can all be aware of these important issues. ( Subscribe to this free publication.) Learn more about what we’re doing to be a socially responsible organization. Have thoughts on how we can do more with DEI? Email us.
Child Agricultural Injury Prevention Workshop
The National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety will have an in-depth workshop Aug. 14-15 in Marshfield, Wis., on strategies to safeguard children who live, work, and visit farms and ranches. It is aimed at agribusiness, farm organizations, insurance professionals, bankers and lenders, healthcare providers, Extension, FFA Advisors, and public health officials. To learn more/register, click here.
Grain Place Summer Farm Tour and Field Day
The Vetter family, the 2011 MOSES Organic Farmers of the Year, will host a field day July 14 at their farm, Grain Place in Marquette, Neb. This is the farm's 25th anniversary event, which includes a screening of the documentary film Dreaming of a Vetter World, about the family's dedication to organic and regenerative farming. There will be tours of the 280-acre farm and on-farm organic grain processing facility as well as speakers and presentations. This event is free; click here to register.
Organic Sales Data
The Organic Trade Association's latest industry survey shows U.S. organic sales reached a new record of $49.4 billion in 2017, up 6.4% from the previous year. The organic food market hit $45.2 billion in sales, up 6.4% as well, which puts it well above the growth rate of the overall food market (1.1%). Fruits and vegetables continued to be the largest organic food category, with $16.5 billion in sales in 2017. Organic dairy and eggs represent the second-largest organic category, although this category experienced slower growth in 2017.
Organic Integrity Pilot Program
A task force of the Organic Trade Association has created a pilot fraud-prevention program that's being tested this summer by 11 companies, including Clarkson Grain, Grain Millers, Organic Valley, and Pipeline Foods. The companies will run a specific product or ingredient through the fraud prevention and detection strategies developed over the past year by the task force, gathering input from others in their unique supply chain. The goal is to facilitate the industry-wide implementation of systems and measures to preserve the integrity of organic, both inside and outside the U.S. C lick here to learn more.
Farm Bill Update
MOSES Program Director Lauren Langworthy (second from right) was in Washington D.C. last week to meet with several key players during OTA’s Organic Week to make sure the farmer voice was heard in hill meetings discussing organic policy and the upcoming Farm Bill. Although the House recently voted down their proposed version of the Farm Bill, it is expected that the Senate will put forward their version sometime this summer.

It’s not too late to contact the people that represent you in both the Senate and the House and let them know what is important to you, the farmer, in the next Farm Bill. Particular areas of interest may be: robust conservation programs through NRCS, organic certification cost share, access to SNAP (also known as food stamps) benefits for America’s food insecure, and more. The Farm Bill is a large and complicated piece of legislation, but there are many places to learn more about what’s happening and how it may affect your farm business and community.

Farm Aid has created an online resource, the Farm Bill Hub , to explain the complicated Farm Bill and provide the latest updates on the process and announce opportunities for input. The hub includes information about Farm Aid’s priorities for the bill, and details on how the bill impacts farmers and the food system.
 
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (which includes MOSES), also has good information about the Farm Bill and priorities for organic and sustainable farming. See “Blueprint for Change.” The coalition’s blog provides updates on the process and where the bill currently stands.
GMO Labeling Comment Period
The USDA recently released its long-awaited proposed regulations for the mandatory disclosure of foods produced using genetic engineering (GE), commonly known as GMOs. These rules will implement the 2016 federal law requiring those GE disclosures, establishing many details on how the disclosures will be implemented. The USDA is taking public comments on the regulations through July 3, 2018.
“Action on behalf of life transforms. Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.” 

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