Wolf & Associates

Find out more about a rancher who inspired Bill Wolf. September means school time, and the Organic Materials Review Institute and the International Organic Inspectors Association have teamed up to offer more training webinars on input materials. Plus, in this edition, there’s a link to a free webinar especially for the coffee sector on Strengthening Organic Enforcement, National Organic Program news, opportunities to serve USDA advisory committees, a new report about what a taste and nutrition powerhouse organic produce can be and more.

An unofficial grace period for the Strengthening Organic Enforcement rules will end in September, so make sure you’re ready. Check out the international news, too, for a bit about the ways France protects its water resources. Researchers have been busy as well, with studies on the organic label, farmers thoughts on microbiomes, and regenerative agriculture.

For the featured topic this month, Bill Wolf and John Foster outline why organic agriculture is so important in efforts to combat climate change. This month’s issue also includes summaries of recent studies on how agriculture methods change seeds, which categories lead US organic sales, and how rural and urban shoppers differ.

This issue covers results from the first month of the Strengthening Organic Enforcement regulations, a report on TOPP activities, opportunities for energy and equipment funding for rural small businesses, and more.

Our latest issue is bursting with news, including a summary of the Organic Trade Association’s consumer research, standards updates in Canada, and California’s efforts to define “regenerative agriculture.” The Strengthening Organic Enforcement rules brought changes to the National Organic Program’s Handbook and to the Organic Materials Review Institute’s operations. Read it here, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter over on the Contact Us page so you’ll get the next one by email.

Japan is using organic farms to further climate goals; the European Union drops their pesticide reduction plan, and everyone in Denmark buys organic. This issue is stuffed with international news, plus information on grants of interest to the organic community and our COO’s take on recent industry events.

The new year brings the deadline for the Strengthening Organic Enforcement regulations—get our take on how it’s going. Organic vegetable exports are down, but there are bright spots in the USDA’s “Vegetable and Pulses Outlook: December 2023.” Concerned about how much time organic paperwork requirements take? Chime in by January 22 on ways to reduce the paperwork burden. Plus, news from Europe, award recipients, and a shift in upper management at OTA.