USDA announces funding for organic research

Oct 14, 2015

Over $21 million is being set aside for the initiatives

In an effort to help improve the practices of growers, producers and processors who specialize in organic agriculture, the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced $21.3 million is being made available for grants and research programs.

“Research, education, and extension gives the organic agriculture industry the opportunity to expand on best practices, implement more efficient techniques, and develop new approaches to distributing its products,” said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director in a release. “With today’s grants, USDA’s university partners are better positioned to help ensure the continued success of organic crops and growers.”

The grant money will be split between NIFA’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and the Organic Transitions Program.

OREI will receive $17.5 million of the grant money to focus on helping processors and producers market their products. Key components to OREI include biological, physical and social sciences while putting an emphasis on assisting farmers and ranchers with farm planning.

The Organic Transitions Program (ORG) will receive $3.8 million to be used for researchers to innovate from a scientific point of view. ORG focuses on the application of research, education and extension knowledge while improving the competitiveness of livestock and crop producers who are making the switch to organic production strategies.

More information about the OREI and ORG funding can be found by visiting NIFA.

Join the conversation and tell us your thoughts about the USDA investing into organic agriculture. Would you think about transitioning to organic agriculture?

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.