USDA Makes $50 Million in Funding Available
Nationwide for Organic Agriculture Production
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier this year, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced $50 million for a new initiative to meet the Obama Administration’s promise to encourage more organic agriculture production. Funding for the initiative is being made available as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
“Assisting organic producers is a priority of the 2008 Farm Bill as well as for Secretary Vilsack and the Obama Administration,” Merrigan said. “The objective of this initiative is to make organic food producers eligible to compete for EQIP financial assistance.”
The 2009 Organic Initiative is a nationwide special initiative to provide financial assistance to National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic producers as well as producers in the process of transitioning to organic production. Organic producers may also apply for assistance under general EQIP.
Under the Organic Initiative, required minimum core conservation practices will be determined by specific resource concerns. The practices are: Conservation Crop Rotation; Cover Crop; Nutrient Management; Pest Management; Prescribed Grazing; and Forage Harvest Management. States must consider using any appropriate practice that meets the resource concern on a particular operation.
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meets twice per year and is primarily responsible for developing standards to be used in organic production. The NOSB also advises the Secretary on other aspects of implementing the National Organic Program which develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products.
The 2009 Organic Initiative will be administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Additional information on the 2009 EQIP Organic Initiative is available at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/. AIB
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AIB’s Safety and Health Management Systems
Prove Valuable in Reducing On-the-Job Injuries
MANHATTAN, KAN. – Approximately 13,500 employers received a letter earlier this year from OSHA alerting them that their injury and illness rates are above the national average, and that the agency offers free assistance to help employers better protect the safety and health of their employees. The notifications were based on data reported by approximately 80,000 worksites surveyed by OSHA last year (the survey collected injury and illness data from calendar year 2007).
AIB’s Safety and Health Management Systems is a valuable resource for strengthening the occupational and employee safety programs currently in place at your company. For more information, visit www.aibonline.org. If you would like to schedule on-site employee safety training at your facility, contact Jon Anderson or Doreen Towne at 800/633-5137. AIB
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CALENDAR
AIB is holding a variety of educational seminars throughout North America. To learn more about any of the seminars listed below, visit www.aibonline.org . All dates are subject to change without notice.
Sept. 15-16
Food Plant GMP/Sanitation Workshop, Atlanta, Ga.
Sept. 17-18
HACCP Workshop, Atlanta, Ga.
Sept. 22-24
An Integrated Quality System for the Food Industry, Schiller Park (Chicago), Ill.
Sept. 29-30
Food Plant GMP/Sanitation Workshop, Rosemont (Chicago), Ill.
Sept. 29-Oct. 1
Organic Certification with a Foundation in Food Safety, Portland, Ore.
Oct. 1-2
HACCP Workshop, Rosemont (Chicago), Ill.
Oct. 6-7
Fundamentals of Internal Auditing for the Food Industry, Ontario, Calif.
Oct. 6-8
Food Defense Coordinator, San Jose, Calif.
Oct. 14
Developing & Implementing a Chemical Control Program, Ontario, Calif.
Oct. 14
Developing & Implementing an Allergen Program, Ontario, Calif.
Oct. 15
Developing & Implementing a Traceability & Recall Program, Ontario, Calif.
Oct. 27
Advanced HACCP Workshop,
Harrisburg, Pa.