organic | Red River Farm Network

Two Minnesotans on Organic Standards Board

Published August 19, 2026

USDA has announced the appointment of five new members to the National Organic Standards Board. Two of these individuals are from Minnesota. Jerry Matzner is an organic farmer near Marshall and Dr. Brad Heins is a professor of organic dairy…

Food Fight-Policies are Starving Productivity

Published August 23, 2025

Policies supporting biofuels, organic agriculture and small farms may be putting food security at risk. That’s the premise of a new book written by Sandstone, Minnesota native Richard Sexton called Food Fight. Sexton, who is an ag economics professor at…

Organic Farmers Dealing With Wild Parsnip

Published July 9, 2024

The wet season has delivered a new headache for Minnesota organic farmers. "We've been invaded by a horrible new weed, wild parsnip," said Karen Torjesen. "We very much want to get into those fields to mow them but have been…

Prison Time for Organic Fraud

Published December 19, 2023

A Jeffers, Minnesota farmer is facing three years in prison for defrauding organic grain customers. The fraud case began in 2014 when James Wolf allegedly purchased biotech corn and soybeans and represented the crop as organic when it was sold…

Animal Welfare Standards Included in USDA Organic Rule

Published October 26, 2023

USDA’s new standards for Organic Livestock and Poultry Production include strong language dealing with animal welfare. To qualify for the organic label, poultry must have access to the outdoors and pigs must have adequate space to move freely. Agriculture Secretary…

Efforts Underway to Update Organic Program

Published January 19, 2023

USDA is making changes to strengthen the enforcement of its National Organic Program. The proposal calls for improved farm-to-market traceability and greater insight over imports.

Origin of Livestock Rule Released

Published April 1, 2022

The USDA released the details of the Origin of Livestock rule for organic dairy. This final rule changes USDA’s organic regulations that are meant to promote a fairer and more competitive market for dairy farmers. This new rule allows new…

USDA Adds Revenue Insurance Flexibility for Organic Production

Published September 1, 2021

The Risk Management Agency has updated its Whole-Farm Revenue Protection plan to benefit organic farmers. It increases the expansion limits for organic producers to $500,000 or 35 percent, whichever is higher. The change also allows farmers to report certified organic…

Comment Period Open for Origin of Livestock Rule

Published October 3, 2019

A public comment period has been reopened for the proposed Origin of Livestock rule. Originally published in 2015, the proposed rule would change the requirement for the origin of livestock under USDA organic regulations. Comments will be accepted until December…

Articles tagged under: organic

Two Minnesotans on Organic Standards Board

Food Fight-Policies are Starving Productivity

Organic Farmers Dealing With Wild Parsnip

Prison Time for Organic Fraud

Animal Welfare Standards Included in USDA Organic Rule

Efforts Underway to Update Organic Program

Origin of Livestock Rule Released

USDA Adds Revenue Insurance Flexibility for Organic Production

Comment Period Open for Origin of Livestock Rule

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