Category Archives: Agricultural Policy

Farmers Still Waiting for Justice

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Kristina Hubbard

This week marked the two-year anniversary of the first of five workshops held by the Justice and Agriculture departments as part of a 2010 effort to engage the public on competition issues affecting agriculture. More than 15,000 public comments later, … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Policy, Organic Seed Alliance, Seed Industry | Comments Off

Fifty-Five Members of Congress Call for GMO Labeling

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Kristina Hubbard

Yesterday, US Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) were joined by 53 other Senate and House lawmakers in sending a letter urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require the labeling of genetically engineered foods so … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Policy, GMOs | Comments Off

Is There a Farm Bill Hearing Near You?

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Kristina Hubbard

The House Agriculture Committee recently announced a number of Farm Bill hearings in March and April of this year. The hearings will take place in New York, Illinois, Arkansas, and Kansas. See below locations and dates. This is an opportunity … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Policy | 1 Comment

OSA Board Member to Join NOSB

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Kristina Hubbard

OSA is happy to announce the recent appointment of Zea Sonnabend to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Zea is the Policy Specialist and Organic Inspector Specialist for CCOF, an organic certifier based in California. She has served on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Policy, Organic Seed Alliance | Comments Off

Patently Wrong

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Kristina Hubbard

In this interview, medical ethicist Harriet Washington describes the extent to which medical researchers use (and abuse) the patent system. She just published a book titled: Deadly Monopolies: The Shocking Corporate Takeover of Life Itself — And the Consequences for Your … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Policy | Comments Off

TAKE ACTION: Organic Certification Cost Share at Risk

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Kristina Hubbard

Believe it or not, Congress is in the process of writing the Farm Bill. Given the intense budget-cutting pressures facing Congress, funding for many important organic programs is in jeopardy. One program that is particularly vulnerable is the Organic Certification Cost Share … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Policy | Comments Off

OSA Delivers Comments to USDA on Organic Seed

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Kristina Hubbard

OSA provided the following comments at a USDA listening session today focused on the agency’s priorities  and activities related to organic production and markets. Our comments focused on the need to adequately fund public plant breeding programs, with an emphasis … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Policy, GMOs, Organic Seed Alliance | Comments Off

Investing in Organic Plant Breeding for a Secure Food Future

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Kristina Hubbard

In the Fall 2011 issue of Edible Madison, Melissa Hughes with Organic Valley discusses the illusive promise of GE technologies in her piece Searching for the Silver Bullet. The piece is well written, and highlights the need to look beyond … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Policy, GMOs, Organic Seed Alliance | Comments Off

USDA Wants to Know: How Can It Support Organic?

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Kristina Hubbard

USDA is convening a public listening session on September 20, 2011, in Washington, DC, to gather input on the department’s activities and priorities related to organic agriculture. To provide comments in person, reserve your spot by registering here. Email written … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Policy | Comments Off

The President and Seed

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Kristina Hubbard

Cross-posted from Daily Yonder Last week President Obama held a town hall meeting on the grounds of Iowa’s Seed Savers Exchange, an organization dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds. The stop was part of a larger strategy to appeal … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Policy, GMOs, Organic Seed Alliance, Seed Industry | Comments Off