Producing U.S. foods organically creates thousands more jobs than if that food were produced using conventional agricultural methods, according to a new economic study released today here at the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) Policy Conference. The report, “2010 Impacts of the U.S. [...]]]>  PRNewswire-USNewswire, April 25, 2012

Thousands more jobs created than in conventional food

Producing U.S. foods organically creates thousands more jobs than if that food were produced using conventional agricultural methods, according to a new economic study released today here at the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) Policy Conference. The report, “2010 Impacts of the U.S. Organic Foods Industry on the U.S. Economy,” which shows the organic food industry generated more than five hundred thousand American jobs in 2010, builds on data released by OTA earlier in the week revealing the overall U.S. organic market in 2011 surpassed $31 billion for the first time.

“This report sends a strong message that doing what’s good for the environment and what’s good for industry economics are not mutually exclusive,” said Congressman Sam Farr (CA-17). “The organic food processing industry is creating jobs, stimulating our economy and delivering the products that consumers increasingly demand. This report is only the latest testament on why supporting organic is a no-brainer.”

The report, produced for OTA by Washington, D.C.-based M+R Strategic Services, showed that for every $1 billion in retail sales of organic products, 28,000 more jobs were created throughout the economy. In addition, the use of organically produced ingredients resulted in the creation of 21 percent more jobs than would have been generated if the food industry had relied solely on conventional farms for its ingredients. The study compared labor and input use on a wide range of conventional and organic farms, and attributed the job-creation differences largely to greater labor intensity on organic farms, smaller farm size, the need for an organic certification industry, and reliance on smaller retail outlets.

To read the full article click here.

 By David Boderke

On April 2, 2012, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency notified the public of a breach of quarantine in [...]]]> The Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency, Ontario Goat, along with the Canadian Sheep Federation, Canadian Sheep Breeders Association and the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association, would like to express their collective concern over the 41 missing Shropshire sheep.

On April 2, 2012, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency notified the public of a breach of quarantine in relation to scrapie control measures taking place in Trent Hills, Ontario. 41 sheep belonging to Montana Jones were slated to be destroyed and tested for scrapie as part of an ongoing scrapie investigation by the CFIA.

Industry members and producers alike can sympathize with the devastating and emotionally charged events that surround a scrapie investigation. A positive case of scrapie is a devastating event for any and all producers involved regardless of the nature of their operation and leads to both economic hardship and the destruction of carefully crafted breeding programs.

Scrapie eradication efforts are, however, essential to the continued growth and vibrancy of the small ruminant industry in Canada. Positive cases of scrapie continue to pose a considerable threat to the health of the national sheep flock and goat herd. Scrapie is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with a long incubation period, for which there is no 100% effective live test. Infected animals can live and spread the disease in flocks and herds without being detected or exhibiting signs of illness.

Any situation where a positive case of scrapie is identified certainly speaks volumes to the need for moving towards scrapie eradication in our country, so these devastating situations cease to exist. Current scrapie control measures have made great strides in reducing the occurrence of the disease in Canada and contravening those measures jeopardizes the efforts made to better our national disease status.

Not only is scrapie eradication important to the industry, the international perception of pro-action in disease control is essential.

Recognition of domestic efforts to minimize the risk of disease can help build a robust trade based industry on both domestic and international levels where international trade is essential to the vibrancy and long-term sustainability of the Canadian livestock species. Canada’s ability to control the spread of scrapie dictates our ability to trade and interfering with that process jeopardizes the strides made towards domestic and international confidence in our animal health programs.

The events this week impact all livestock sectors because they undermine Canada’s ability to demonstrate that we have robust and effective disease control programs in this country.

Actions taken by the group calling itself the “Farmer’s Peace Corps” seriously risk the health and success of the Canadian sheep and goat industries. Moving potentially diseased animals during their greatest period of infectivity risks spreading the disease to an even larger number of animals. The most common pathway for the spread of scrapie is through contact with birthing fluids, and the animals removed from Ms Jones’ farm are apparently due to give birth in the next few weeks.

There is concern that this group may be ill-equipped to deal with biosecurity issues that surround this disease. Additionally, any premise or animals associated with this breach of quarantine risk falling under the same control measures applied to the original animals that were taken. What was initially a destruction order for 41 animals could quickly turn into the required destruction of hundreds of potentially infected sheep and goats.

Producers and industry groups alike would urge those involved to re-think the actions they have taken and the impact those actions have had on the small ruminant industry. As devastating as the loss of these 41 animals will be to the producer, it does not justify the impact this recent series of events has had on the survivability of the industry.

Moreover, this action makes a mockery of the sacrifices that other producers have made over the years in the shared commitment to rid Canada of this disease scrapie.

Nematodes contribute to a variety of functions within the soil system. In agricultural systems, nematodes can enhance nutrient mineralization and act as biological control agents.

Nematodes and Soil Fertility

Soil nematodes, especially bacterial- and fungal-feeding nematodes, can contribute [...]]]>

Nematode head appendage from judy_breck

Importance of Nematodes in Agricultural Systems

Nematodes contribute to a variety of functions within the soil system. In agricultural systems, nematodes can enhance nutrient mineralization and act as biological control agents.

Nematodes and Soil Fertility

Soil nematodes, especially bacterial- and fungal-feeding nematodes, can contribute to maintaining adequate levels of plant-available N in farming systems relying on organic sources of fertility (Ferris et al., 1998). The process of converting nutrients from organic to inorganic form is termed mineralization; mineralization is a critical soil process because plants take up nutrients from the soil primarily in inorganic forms. Nematodes contribute directly to nutrient mineralization through their feeding interactions. For example, bacterial-feeding nematodes consume N in the form of proteins and other N-containing compounds in bacterial tissues and release excess N in the form of ammonium, which is readily available for plant use. Indirectly, nematodes enhance decomposition and nutrient cycling by grazing and rejuvenating old, inactive bacterial and fungal colonies, and by spreading bacteria and fungi to newly available organic residues. In the absence of grazers, such as nematodes and protozoa, nutrients can remain immobilized and unavailable for plant uptake in bacterial and fungal biomass.

Bacterial-feeding nematodes are the most abundant nematode group in agricultural soils. Their abundance closely follows that of bacterial populations, which tend to increase when soil disturbances, such as tillage, increase the availability of readily-decomposable organic matter. Nitrogen mineralization in the soil occurs at a higher rate when bacterial-feeding nematodes are present than when they are absent. The contribution of bacterial-feeding nematodes to soil N supply depends, in part, on the quality and quantity of soil organic matter fueling the system. Net N mineralization from decomposing organic residues takes place when the carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio of organic residue is below 20 (that is, 20 parts C to 1 part N). When the C:N ratio is greater than 30, the rate of mineralization decreases because microbes compete for N to meet their nutritional requirements. In this situation, N is immobilized in the microbial biomass. Incorporation of manure, compost, and cover crops with intermediate C:N ratios (ranging from 10 to 18) may stimulate bacterial growth and the abundance of bacterial-feeding nematodes, and increase soil N availability to plants.

Fungal-feeding nematodes are relatively more abundant in less-disturbed (e.g. notill systems) and perennial systems, where conditions for fungal growth are promoted, than in disturbed systems. Like bacterial feeding nematodes, fungal-feeding nematodes contribute to the process of nutrient mineralization by releasing N and other plant nutrients from consumed fungal tissue. However, in agricultural systems, bacterial-feeding nematodes typically release more inorganic N than fungal-feeding nematodes.

To read the complete article click here.

A provincial initiative is underway to create a food and nutrition strategy for Ontario. Sustain Ontario – a coalition of health and food industry professionals – is among a group of organizations contributing to the document, which is available on the group’s website until [...]]]> By Bette Jean Crews,

Director Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA)

A provincial initiative is underway to create a food and nutrition strategy for Ontario. Sustain Ontario – a coalition of health and food industry professionals – is among a group of organizations contributing to the document, which is available on the group’s website until May 31, 2012.

While the coalition is particularly interested in health and healthy eating, they also plan to focus on agricultural practices such as economically and environmentally sustainable farming. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) believes that’s where Ontario farmers and agricultural organizations can pitch in.

Recently OFA worked closely with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and other organizations to create a National Food Strategy. The document is the culmination of months of feedback from Ontario’s entire agriculture and agri-food value chain. It reflects a vision for the future of food in Canada, from the people who grow it, process it, distribute and sell it.

The goals of the provincial strategy – to promote health through education, healthy eating and access to healthful foods, and to strengthen the Ontario economy and Ontario environment through a sustainable system – are consistent with the goals of the National Food Strategy document we have developed. This Sustain Ontario initiative allows stakeholders to provide Ontario-specific input for food and health and reflects the authorities and responsibilities at the provincial level.

OFA encourages all farmers and agri-food stakeholders to take this opportunity to comment on the draft food and nutrition strategy for Ontario – posted at sustainontario.com. This is an excellent opportunity to bring forward the ideas that have already been discussed among the agri-food stakeholders for inclusion in this important document.

Farmers and agricultural value chain participants are being asked for our input. Let’s make sure we take this opportunity to be part of the larger discussion about the future of food for our province.

For more information contact:
Mark Wales
President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-773-6706

The US Congress is currently debating practical changes to agricultural policies that can shift priorities to provide greater support to [...]]]> In North America billions of federal taxpayer dollars are used to subsidize unhealthy, processed foods instead of the fruits and vegetables recommended for a healthy diet. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

The US Congress is currently debating practical changes to agricultural policies that can shift priorities to provide greater support to healthier food and healthier farms.

A new Union of Concerned Scientists report has found that farmers growing healthy foods, or those who want to farm with organic methods, face significant barriers that other farmers—especially those growing ingredients for processed foods—do not.

Simple adjustments to agricultural policies in the Farm Bill can help farmers overcome these barriers, which will benefit our health, protect the environment, and support local economies. Last week, the Senate began debating the Farm Bill, but much more needs to be done to include these recommendations.

To learn more see: http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/