USDA promises to increase focus on organics

Many organic producers heard Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, echo a promise she made when she took the position — to integrate organics into programs across the department.


Merrigan

Merrigan focused on the subject in recorded statements played at the annual Organic Summit in Stevenson, Wash., June 4.

“This is the first time that’s really been articulated in this direct way,” said Ted Quaday, communications director for the Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Organic Farming Research Foundation.

In her speech, Merrigan said that organics should be integrated across all agencies, and should not be exclusive to the National Organic Program.

“ … each and every agency at USDA should have some engagement with the organic sector,” Merrigan said. “Organic can no longer be stove-piped at USDA.”

In her speech, Merrigan reminded the audience of the June 17 deadline for the Organic Production Survey, a first-ever for the USDA.

Merrigan also commented on another issue on the minds of organic producers who export to Canada: the likelihood of an equivalency agreement for the two countries’ organic standards. Canada is implementing a new organic standard mid-June, and unless an agreement is made, exporters’ products would have to meet both U.S. and Canadian standards. Merrigan said she was confident an agreement would be made soon.

Merrigan said an era of stronger enforcement for National Organic Program standards is ahead.

There were high hopes for Merrigan from the organic industry after her nomination by President Barack Obama in February. She was involved in the establishing the National Organic Program as the head of the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service from 1999-2001.

A video recording of the speech will be available June 9 at www.theorganicsummit.com and http://ofrf.org.

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Joan Galt, June 12, 2009 11:15

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About that synthetic nitrogen and greenhouse emissions...one must examine the EPA Toxic Release Inventory logs to quantify the impact of the processing and transportation of the fossil fuels used to manufacture that synthetic nitrogen, and the emissions resulting from the industrial nitrogen manufacturing process itself. When all of the factors are considered, manure produced at the farm is the environmentally superior fertilizing input option.

On a final note, those concerned about methane emissions should know that one of the best things that they can do to help reduce methane emissions is to stop eating beef.

Steve Savage, Encinitas, CA, June 08, 2009 11:31

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It will be interesting to see whether the Obama administration follows through on its promise to pay attention to science. The promotion of organic will be in direct conflict with the DOE and EPA efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It turns out that the methane emissions from manure storage and composting comprise a "carbon footprint" that is 4-17 times as high as that for synthetic nitrogen. Combine that with lower yields (=land-use conversion pressure) and Organic is a disaster for climate change (if it were large enough to matter)

Doug Carrier, Mc Minnville, OR, June 08, 2009 06:29

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Why is the industry trying to comply with Canadian standards. Should not the industry itself be more proactive with international trade rather than applauding itself for a complaince with a country of 20 million? We should be looking at the big picture and better do it fast or we will loose any market share that is out there.

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