Organic 101: The National Organic Standards Board - Representing the Organic Community

From USDA:

Posted by Dr. Jean Richardson, Chair of the National Organic Standards Board, on October 28, 2014 at 3:00 PM

Given the breadth and scope of the NOSB’s responsibilities, members have to demonstrate a commitment to the integrity of the organic industry. The NOSB is as diverse as the organic community they serve. Photo courtesy of AMS.

From Shayla Bailey, USDA:  This is the twentieth installment of the Organic 101 series that explores different aspects of the USDA organic regulations. To mark the 20^th milestone, USDA invited Dr. Jean Richardson, Chair of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), to be a guest author. The NOSB provides critical support to the USDA and the organic community.  We thank the NOSB for their commitment to the organic community, and the integrity of the organic label.

Twice a year, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meets to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on what substances should be allowed or prohibited in organic agriculture.  The NOSB recommends standards, policies and guidance that help shape the organic regulations to the National Organic Program (NOP), part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.

The NOSB was established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Made up of dedicated volunteers, the 15-member board includes four organic farmers, two handlers, three individuals with expertise in environmental protection or resource conservation, three representatives of public interest or consumer interest groups , a scientist, an organic retailer and an organic certifying agent. Earlier this year, I was honored when my fellow board members elected me as the Chair.

All NOSB members are active representatives of the organic community and bring a wealth of perspectives and life experiences to the table. My background, for example, is in environment, biogeography, law and agriculture.  I am Professor Emerita at University of Vermont where I taught Environmental Studies and Environmental Law, I work with my family to produce organic maple syrup, and I have served as an independent inspector of organic farms and processors for the last 14 years and as a consultant on rural land use planning.  Additionally, I was appointed by President Clinton to the Joint Public Advisory Committee in the Commission on Environmental Cooperation in NAFTA and am no stranger to politics!

Today, we will convene the fall NOSB meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.  We will discuss many issues, including substances that are up for review.  It is the NOSB’s responsibility is to review substances and make recommendations about their use in organic production and processing.  The organic standards are designed to allow natural substances in organic farming while prohibiting synthetic substances with some exception. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) lists the exceptions to this basic rule.

NOSB members use specific criteria when voting on substances, including the essentiality for the substance and its impacts on human health and the environment.  If the NOSB recommends adding a substance to the National List, USDA reviews the recommendation and determines whether to move forward with the rulemaking process. All substances are reviewed every five years. This process, called a “sunset review,” ensures that regulations remain relevant, and are constantly reviewed and refined to keep up with new information and organic innovations.

In addition to the responsibility of reviewing substances, we also assist in recommending standards for the NOP. Discussion documents and proposals on critical issues start in the subcommittees, such as crops and livestock. Every NOSB member serves on at least two subcommittees which meet regularly by phone.

One of the most critical parts of our work as a board is input from the public.  Public participation is a key component to developing and updating the organic standards, including the National List.  When changes are made, the public is invited to provide their input throughout the process – including the NOSB meetings which are always open to the public.  I would strongly encourage all stakeholders and consumers to get involved on the issues that they care about.

Given the breadth and scope of the NOSB’s responsibilities, members have to demonstrate a commitment to the integrity of the organic industry.  Our current board is as diverse as the organic community we serve.  The work is a really interesting mix of science, agriculture, policy, law, politics and personalities.  It is a great honor to be able to serve the organic community.

Better Service for Rural Renters: Innovative App for Field Employees Streamlines Recordkeeping

From USDA:

Posted by Tony Hernandez, Administrator, Rural Housing Service, on October 28, 2014 at 2:00 PM

Rural Development Specialist Lea McGiboney and Fort Benton, Montana resident Velma Hansen share a laugh as Lea makes sure the Canyon Villas Apartments are providing safe and affordable homes for Velma and her neighbors.

Velma Hansen has lived in Fort Benton, Montana for over 60 years, the last dozen of them at Canyon Villas. The engaging 91-year-old keeps an impeccably clean apartment in the rent-controlled complex financed by USDA Rural Development. As one of our hundreds of multi-family properties across rural America, Rural Development regularly inspects the properties to ensure they meet basic standards for safe and sanitary housing. If problems are noted, the property owners must address them, and do so immediately.

Right now, a specialist inspects the property, takes paper notes and digital photos, and then returns to the office to input all the data – essentially touching all the data twice to get it in our system – before being able to follow up on any necessary repairs that were noted during the servicing visit. We decided there was opportunity to invest a little technology in streamlining this process.

USDA Rural Development is currently field testing an iPad app that allows specialists to directly input photos and data about the properties from the field. Montana Housing Specialist Lea McGiboney is one of the field testers for our new multi-family servicing app, and was able to speak with Velma about her home. During their conversation, Velma noted a problem with her refrigerator and now Canyon Villas has been alerted to the issue and is being given thirty days to fix it. Lea inspected several other units as well as the overall property so she can provide a list of corrective actions to the property owner.

The app helps our field specialists like Lea do their jobs more efficiently, and that allows us to serve our customers – like Velma – better. Without affordable living options like Canyon Villas, folks like Velma would have to leave the rural communities they call home. With this new servicing app, USDA Rural Development will ensure properties provide the safe and sanitary housing for the communities they serve, better service for our customers, and save time and taxpayer resources in the process.

Mapping U.S. Agriculture

From USDA:

Posted by Lee Ebinger, Cartographer, National Agricultural Statistics Service, on October 28, 2014 at 1:00 PM

2012 Ag Census Web Maps tool helps you create a visual overview of data for U.S. farm demographics, economics, crops, and livestock.

Agricultural data are valuable for analysis, and thanks to the Census of Agriculture and other surveys, NASS has plenty of data available. As a cartographer, however, I obviously prefer to present the data in map form. A map gives anyone a chance to visualize data for multiple geographic areas as a cohesive image, providing a graphic overview of the agricultural phenomena. It also allows map readers to visually compare regions, and discern patterns and relationships in the data across regions, topics, and time.

When it came to the ag census, for each of the past eight editions, NASS produced an atlas of thematic (statistical) maps illustrating various aspects of U.S. agriculture. While great for their time, with the evolution of digital technology, these paper maps are no longer sufficient on their own. The component missing from them is the data behind the maps, so what better way to depict and also convey a myriad of county-level statistics than through a web map application?

To address this issue, we decided to add a new web tool – Ag Census Web Maps application – which features numerous 2012 Census of Agriculture Atlas maps and also provides access to the data associated with the maps, along with an API for developers. This web map application enables users to interact with the maps – navigate to an area of interest, print a map or save an image of the area, select a county to view and extract its data, and download a spreadsheet containing all of the data for the maps.

There are some caveats, however. The published ag census data are summary statistics (totals), whereas, the maps present ratio values, which are in turn grouped into classes to create a visual representation of significant characteristics of U.S. agriculture. Also, keep in mind that some county data are not available to protect respondents’ confidentiality; however, every county on the map is represented by a class.

So if, like me, you are a visual person, the 2012 Ag Census Web Maps application and accompanying data let you see a complete picture of U.S. agriculture which is not available elsewhere. It is a great resource for exploring agricultural themes and data, and for using the maps and data with other mapping software and web services. And this is just the beginning as we plan on continuing to make new and innovative tools available.

Collective Courage: New Book Relates History of African-American Co-ops

From USDA:

Posted by Thomas W. Gray, Ph.D., Rural Sociologist, Agricultural Economist, USDA Cooperative Programs, on October 28, 2014 at 11:00 AM

USDA photo archives.

Note: Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice, was published this year by Penn State University Press (www.psupress.org). The following is one in a series of blogs being posted in observance of National Cooperative Month in October.

Scholars of cooperative topics are praising Collective Courage: A History of African-American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice, by Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, a faculty member at John Jay College, City University of New York. The book has been called “the most complete history to date of the cooperative economic struggles of African Americans.”

The author reminds readers that large proportions of the African-American community have had to struggle with familial, social, political and economic difficulties due to a history of enslavement, racial segregation, discrimination and violence. This experience has resulted in solidarity within the African-American community and helped facilitate social-action organizations.

Part I of the text, Early African American Cooperative Roots, details some of the earliest organizing efforts that took shape as relief and community-support groups. These organizations included The Northhampton Association of Education and Industry, The Nashoba Commune, The Combahee River Colony and The Ex-Slave Relief, Bounty and Pension Association.

Later efforts were driven by black populist movements and were relatively more focused on economic objectives (though not exclusively so). These efforts resulted in the formation of The Cooperative Workers of America, The Colored Farmers’ National Alliance and the Co-operative Union. Some co-op organizations were designed to address problems of health care, child development, education and burial, as well as investment, employment and profoundly important “freedom” issues.

Later developments included creation of such complex organizations as federations, mutual insurance companies and minority-owned banks. All of these entities revolved around the pooling of resources and channeling collective action. Memberships tended to be inclusive and could count farmers, landholders, sharecroppers, day-laborers, domestic workers, small business owners, professionals and unemployed people among their members. Some of these co-ops were racially integrated, others were not.

Gordon-Nembhard documents that in addition to jobs, wages and services, secondary and tertiary benefits of co-ops include: (1) asset-building opportunities; (2) re-spending at local businesses; (3) increases in local wealth; (4) training and education of members and consumers; (5) greater civic participation and (6) socially just community change.

Gordon-Nembhard concludes the book by saying she has endeavored to demonstrate the “feasibility of fashioning financial redevelopment, both urban and rural, around…egalitarian strategies for democratic ownership and control of productive resources.”

The book has been aptly titled, Collective Courage. The history of African-American cooperative practice clearly demonstrates how a group of oppressed people, in the face of pain and grief, persisted relentlessly to provide themselves economic independence and political freedom. Their experience provides a business model – and lessons of development, inclusion and diversity – that can benefit us all.

USDA Partners with DOD to Fight Childhood Obesity

From USDA:

Posted by Armando Vasquez, FNS Public Affairs Specialist and New Jersey National Guard Airman, on October 28, 2014 at 10:00 AM

Concannon (far left) with students from Walt Whitman Middle School at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Va., Sept. 18, 2014.

Tackling the child obesity epidemic that holds so many health risks for our nation’s youngest members is an important responsibility.  Fortunately, USDA is not alone in this critical charge.

Sound nutrition plays an essential role in all aspects of a child’s life, including their ability to learn, grow and thrive in the classroom.  And since many children today consume half of their daily calories while at school, we want to ensure the healthy choice is the easy choice for them and their families.  Happily, we have partners that feel the same way.

That message was underscored by USDA Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Under Secretary Kevin Concannon during a recent Operation Live Well event at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital.  Operation Live Well is a Department of Defense wellness campaign that aims to make healthy living the norm for service members, retirees, DoD civilians and their families.  The Under Secretary was joined by Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Dr. Jonathan Woodson, and retired Brig. Gen. Julia J. Cleckley from Mission: Readiness, a nonpartisan national security organization, comprised of more than 450 retired admirals and generals who help make smart investments for America’s children.  The three leaders emphasized the need to promote a healthier next generation.

On this day, the speakers stressed the necessity of eating healthy and staying active.  The event included students and teachers from nearby Walt Whitman Middle School in Alexandria, Virginia, and various military members from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.  The guests got a chance to tour the hospital’s cafeteria and observe how the Army identifies healthy food choices through their nutrition education program, Go For Green. There, food items are color-coded green (eat often), yellow (eat occasionally), and red (eat rarely) based on the impact the food has on a soldier’s performance.

Cleckley pointed out that the obesity problem in America is also a matter of national security. According to a recent Mission: Readiness’ report, “Retreat is Not an Option” one in four young adults are too overweight to serve in the military.

I was alarmed to hear how many young men and women are unfit to serve in the military due obesity.  Being a New Jersey National Guard Airman, I take great pride in serving my state and nation and understand that a nutritious diet is vital to staying fit. The message to continue improving the quality of meals served to students in public and private schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program should hit home with anyone concerned with our children’s health.

Mission: Readiness reminds us that we can lead, follow or retreat when it comes to combating obesity. When it comes to the health of our children, retreat is simply not an option.

USDA Partners with Maryland School for the Deaf in Work-to-Learn Program

From USDA:

Posted by Barbara Schading, Training Specialist, Professional Development Center, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA, on October 28, 2014 at 9:00 AM

APHIS Work-to-Learn Student Carroll Barnes and USDA Federal Disability Employment Program Manager Alison Levy converse about his work with the APHIS Professional Development Center in Frederick.

Traditional classrooms aren’t the only place where high school students learn new things.  Every workday from 12:40 to 2:40 p.m., Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) senior Carroll Barnes is learning outside the classroom through his school’s Work-to-Learn program.  He hitches a ride from the program’s van and arrives at the Professional Development Center (PDC) of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, in Frederick, Maryland for two hours’ of on-the-job training.  He’s tasked with a broad range of general office duties, such as filing, shredding, and stocking printers.  He also assists with the PDC’s training support activities, including collating and distributing classroom materials and labeling laboratory equipment and supplies.

As the PDC Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee (EEOAC) Chair, I oversee his daily activities and coordinate the work needed by our staff with his availability.  In addition to gaining administrative and clerical work experience, Carroll is also exposed to the broader APHIS mission of safeguarding American agricultural and natural resources from invasive pests.  The PDC provides training, leadership and consultation to APHIS employees and others who work to protect the Nation’s agriculture and natural resources from plant pests and diseases.  Carroll believes that “all happiness depends on courage and work,” and adds he’s “learning about my new job, learning to schedule my time, to balance my budget…” which he suggests are good life lessons that everyone should learn.

Patrick Boyton, PDC Program Specialist and former EEOAC Chair, reached out to MSD four years ago after reading an article in a local newspaper.  “The article stated that the Maryland School for the Deaf was beginning a new work study program and was looking for work opportunities for their students,” Patrick said.  “At the time, I was exploring ways that our local EEOAC could partner with the greater Frederick community.  It just seemed like a perfect fit.”  Since then, the PDC has partnered with five Work-to-Learn students.

Barbara Schading, Training Specialist, Professional Development Center, Plant Protection and Quarantine, USDA-APHIS and APHIS Work-to-Learn Student Carroll Barnes consult.

Chris McQuaid, Employment Specialist with MSD’s Internship Program, explains the program. “MSD’s Work-To-Learn Program offers specialized transition services for selected high school juniors and seniors providing them hands-on work experience.  Students hold jobs in the community, earn a paycheck and have opportunities to build skills while gaining valuable job experience.”  He notes that MSD administers a separate grant that pays the student for their time.  The partner gains the work performed by the student; the student gains a paycheck and work experience towards their future; and both gain a positive experience from the interaction.

USDA Federal Disability Employment Program Manager Alison Levy notes that, “On both a personal and professional level, (the PDC’s) relationship with MSD is a great model for others to emulate throughout USDA.”

Carroll Barnes poses before his work station.

Carroll’s a bright, personable young man with big plans for his future.  He’s a football player and fan, and is planning on starting college at Rochester Institute of Technology next fall.  “This experience has really helped me to get to know about this kind of work, but will also help me learn other jobs faster,” he says about his experience.

I think he’s off to a great start, and I’ve been delighted to be a part of his experience with the USDA.  It’s providing a valuable education for us all.

See more about Carroll’s journey here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dGSGjUoTUQ&list=UUa0vIRRveIsz_fzhl_H6VtA

Carroll Barnes assists APHIS in planning for an upcoming training session.

Little Blue Trace Trail 1638

Shelter and trail access near U.S. Highway 24.  October 24, 2014.