NEWS

Supreme Court Case a Defeat for Monsanto's Ambitions, Huffington Post, June 21, 2010.

Organizations and businesses ask Departments of Justice and Ag to take a hard look at Monsanto’s comments regarding health of seed industry. Read the Organic Seed Alliance’s June 1, 2010, press release here.

Read letter to Senator Tester from MOA and AERO regarding genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa here.

Read MOA member Dave Oien's Small Food Safety comments to the Great Falls Tribune, May 26, 2010, here.

Food Safety Bill News
Tester to introduce ‘common sense’ amendments to food safety bill, April 14, 2010, press release. Resulting blog by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, April 14 and news story by the Billings Gazette, April 15.

Millions Against Monsanto has published a leaflet titled, 10 Things Monsanto Does Not Want You to Know. Download it here.

USDA Inspector General Finds Bush Administration Ignored Organic Laws, Cornucopia.org, March 18, 2010

Bloom is off organic grains: Prices are down, but growers optimistic, by Peter Johnson, Great Falls Tribune, March 14, 2010

Deciphering 'grass-fed,' by Nancy Reece Jones, Great Falls Tribune, March 12, 2010

AATRA Weekly Harvest Newsletter, March 10, 2010

More Than 200,000 NGOs, Farmers, Consumers, and Organic Producers Call for USDA to Prohibit Genetically Engineered Alfalfa. The National Organic Coalition (NOC) announced on March 3, 2010, that more than 200,000 people submitted comments to the United States Department of Agriculture, critiquing the substance and conclusions of its Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Genetically Engineered Alfalfa. Groups, including NOC, Center for Food Safety, Organic Consumers Association, Food & Water Watch, CREDO Action, Food Democracy Now (and the Montana Organic Association), mobilized their communities to help generate the unprecedented number of comments. Read more here.

Use of Legume Inoculants in Organic Production
Based on the current formulations and on information provided to MDA by EMD Crop Bioscience Inc., we have determined that Nitragin® Gold and NitraStik™-C inoculants continue to be acceptable for use in organic production.  Please understand that it is the responsibility of each producer to specify all products (including inoculants) used in organic crop production in their Organic System Plan; to maintain documentation (including labels, invoices, GMO and irradiation disclosures, and MSDS sheets) for all products; and to make such documentation available for review at your annual inspection.  If you have any questions about the use of inoculants, please contact Doug Crabtree at 406-444-9421 or dcrabtree@mt.gov
Posted 2/9/10.

Montana NRCS is opening the signup period for agricultural producers to participate in a Seasonal High Tunnel pilot program. The sign up begins January 25, 2010. The purpose of the pilot program is to determine the effectiveness of seasonal high tunnels, also known as hoop houses, in reducing pesticide use, keeping vital nutrients in the soil, extending the growing season, increasing yields, and providing other benefits to growers. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide financial assistance for the project through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and the EQIP Organic Initiative. To sign up and learn more about the project contact your local NRCS office. Note: In Montana, non-organic cut-off is February 5, 2010. If you apply via EQIP organic initiative, the cut-off date is March 12, 2010. For more information, visit here.
Posted January 30, 2010.

The U.S. Supreme Court decided to hear a first-time case about the risks of genetically engineered crops. Named Monsanto v. Geertson Seed Farms, No. 09-475, the case before the high court will be yet another step in an ongoing battle waged by the Center for Food Safety to protect consumers and the environment from potentially harmful effects of genetically engineered (GE) crops. Read more here. Center for Food Safety, January 15, 2010

Belgrade dairy achieving notoriety, awards for artisan cheeses, Billings Gazette, December 29, 2009.

Montana Senator Jon Tester announced that he has hired MOA member Jacob Cowgill to serve as his new state agriculture liaison. Cowgill will be Tester’s “eyes and ears” on agricultural issues.  He will serve as a point of contact for Montana farmers and ranchers, often traveling the state to visit with and hear from them on Tester’s behalf. Cowgill is originally from Sand Coulee, southeast of Great Falls.  He is a graduate of the University of Montana, where he earned a Master’s Degree in science with a focus on food and agriculture. Jacob and his wife Courtney raise wheat, lentils, vegetables and heritage turkeys on a farm near Conrad. Posted October 20, 2009.

The Business of Organic Farming (Watch and Learn) by: Makenna Goodman, Chelsea Green Publishing. Contrary to popular belief, a good living can be made on an organic farm. What’s required is farming smarter, not harder. Farmer Richard Wiswall is here to tell the world it’s possible to start an organic farm, enjoy it, and make a profit. Watch either the 4 minute summary or full 30 minute documentary. Posted September 24, 2009.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that Miles McEvoy has been hired to serve as Deputy Administrator of the National Organic Program (NOP). Five new NOSB members have also been appointed. See Barry Flamm's NOSB update, September 25, 2009.

Judge White's Decision: USDA-APHIS Violated National Environmental Policy Act in deregulation of RR sugarbeets. Posted September 24, 2009.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's Farmer's Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program is now available online. Posted September 24, 2009.

USDA Launches Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, an initiative to begin a national conversation to help develop local and regional food systems and spur economic opportunity. Posted September 24, 2009.

Mother Nature Network profiled a few MOA members in their "40 Farmers Under 40" article series. Charles Holt of Holt Heritage Farm and Supply in Kingston, GA (#1) was showcased on September 24, 2009 and Jacob and Courtney Lowrey of Prairie Heritage Farm in Conrad, MT (#18 and 19) were profiled on July 21, 2009. By Matt Hickman, Mother Nature Network.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Frequently Asked Questions page has been added to the Organic Farming Research Foundations website. Posted September 16, 2009.

$1.4 Million Made Available for Montana Farmers and Ranchers for Organic Production.
Although it was a very fast sign-up period, 56 organic and transitioning organic farmers and ranchers signed-up for the special Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) offered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Posted August 7, 2009.

Background and Resources on Federal Food Safety Enhancement Act.
H.R. 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act (FSEA) of 2009 has caused significant controversy among almost all elements of the agricultural community. The FSEA has been approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is awaiting full House debate and vote in the very near future. From ATTRA website, July 27, 2009. UPDATE: July 30, 2009: The US House of Representatives passed the Food Safety Enhancement Act, H.R. 2749.. This was the second attempt to pass the bill. Representative Dingell's willingness to address the concerns of organic and small producers (raised by Representative Farr and Blumenauer), was one of the factors that eased passage the second time around. It's now up to the Senate to move similar legislation.

Specialty Crop Grants Available. The Montana Department of Ag is seeking proposals from individuals and groups for a share of $248,695 in federally funded Specialty Crop competitiveness grants. August 26 deadline. Posted July 21, 2009.

MOA members Jacob and Courtney Cowgill of Prairie Heritage Farm in Conrad are featured in 40 Farmers Under 40, an article from Mother Nature Network, July 21, 2009.

New broadcast spreading system keeps Lund busy, by Terri Adams, The Prairie Star, May 8, 2009. Nice springtime article about MOA members, Mikel and Nancy Lund.

$1.4 available for Montana farmers and ranchers converting to organic, MOA press release, May 8, 2009.

Food Inc., the movie, trailers and information, Hungry for Change, posted May 8, 2009.

Crop rotation planning manual from NRAES, posted May 5, 2009.

Job openings with USDA, posted April 27, 2009.


First widescale USDA survey to be conducted, USDA, posted April 25, 2009.


Obama Foodorama, A Daily Diary of the Obama Foodscape, One Bipartisan Bite at a Time, posted April 20, 2009.


Organic Consumers Association's Current News and Action page for Montana, Posted March 23, 2009.


Congressional Hearing Ignores NAIS Failure to Address Animal Disease and Food Safety Concerns, OCA, March 12, 2009.


It’s Organic, but Does That Mean It’s Safer? New York Times, March 4, 2009.



Kathleen Merrigan, Developer of Organic Regs, Chosen as USDA No. 2, New West, February 24, 2009.


OMRI disallows two fertilizers; NOP issues warning, OMRI press release, February 20, 2009.



Keep hope for an organic future alive by participating in OCA's new USDA Watch Campaign, Organic Consumers Assoiation, February 18, 2009.


Scientists agree that organic farming delivers healthier, richer soil and nutritionally enhanced food. February 13, 2009. Conclusions from panelists participating in a symposium at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).


Garden of Eatin' - Growing Food on the White House Lawn, OCA YouTube video, January 23, 2009.


Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, wrote a letter to Barack Obama viaThe New York Times Magazine, originally published October 12, 2008.


Food garden blooms on skid row wall, Los Angeles Times, August 14, 2008.


Kamut founder recognized for service in organic agriculture at annual convention, The Prairie Star, May 8, 2008.







Read Jeff Schahczenski's (MOA Board Member) analysis of the Montana Governor's Climate Change Adviory Committee recommendations on the role that Montana agriculture could play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.







MOA'S Press Releases


To place your news item on this page, email: moa@montanaorganicassociation.org.