The Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council brings together public and private resources to advise government agencies on organic issues and support organic production, processing and purchasing opportunities in the state. The public is welcome to attend the Council’s quarterly meetings.

The March meeting opened with recommendations from the nomination committee for the four open seats on the Council. The Council has twelve members, and each year four of the three-year terms expire.

Steve Ingham, DATCP’s Food Safety Division Administrator, made a presentation to the Council on the Food Safety Modernization Act. Following this presentation, Council members discussed updates on their 2013 priorities. A power point of his presentation is available here (Ingham FSMA presentation).

During new business, Dr. Paul Mitchell from the University of Wisconsin-Madison discussed the implications of the report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency on the crop insurance program for organic farmers. Mitchell’s presentation is available here (Mitchell Crop Insurance Presentation). The report is available at http://www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/05601-0006-KC.pdf.

The meeting concluded with old business and agency reports. For a meeting agenda, directions or other information, please contact Laura Paine, DATCP’s Organic Agriculture Specialist, at 608-224-5120 or laura.paine@wi.gov.

The Council began the new year by discussing a reorganization of roles and outlining Council priorities. Possible new priorities for 2013 include trying to keep organic acres in production and providing input to the National Organic Standards Board on the National Organic Program. The meeting included updates from state and federal government agency partners.

The twelve-member Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council meets quarterly to advise agencies, farmers, processors and consumers on organic agriculture issues. Information about the Council is at http://datcp.wi.gov/Farms/Organic_Farming/Advisory_Council.

For more details, contact Laura Paine, DATCP’s Organic and Grazing Specialist, at 608-224-5120 or laura.paine@wi.gov.

Click here for draft minutes of the October 29, 2012 Organic Advisory Council Meeting: DRAFT October 29 2012 notes

MADISON – Become engaged in the organic industry conversation by attending the Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council meeting on Monday, October 29. The meeting will be held in the Board Room at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), 2811 Agriculture Drive, Madison from 9:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

In addition to time for public comment, the agenda includes reports from agency partners and the National Agricultural Statistics Service on a newly released 2011 Certified Organic Production Survey. Among the findings in that survey is the fact that Wisconsin is a national leader in organic field crops acreage with more than 110,000 acres harvested in 2011.

Members will also discuss Council priorities for 2012 and begin planning priorities for 2013. 2012 priorities have included the Farm Bill, genetically modified organisms and the federal food safety law. The Council will hear an update on National Organic Standards Board activities and identify issues of importance to Wisconsin organic farmers and processors.

The Organic Advisory Council promotes Wisconsin’s national leadership in organic agriculture by offering advisement on critical organic issues. The twelve member Council supports organic production, processing and purchasing opportunities for Wisconsin farmers, processors and consumers.

For more information, contact Laura Paine, DATCP’s Organic and Grazing Specialist, at 608-224-5120 or

laura.paine@wi.gov. Connect with DATCP on Twitter at twitter.com/widatcp or Facebook at facebook.com/widatcp.

###

Click here for the approved minutes of the July 23, 2012 Organic Advisory Council meeting: DRAFT July 23 2012 Minutes

MADISON – Impacts of the drought on organic farmers was one of several topics discussed at the July 23^rd
Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council meeting on Monday, July 23 in Dodgeville. The drought has exacerbated existing feed shortages and high prices for organic grain and forage. Wisconsin leads the country in numbers of organic dairy, beef, and poultry. In normal years, many organic farmers here keep costs lower
by producing their own feed. This year, yield reductions resulting from the drought will require these farmers to purchase feed. “Price and availability will both be issues,” said Mike Schulist, Council member and marketing manager for the Wisconsin Organic Marketing Alliance, a cooperative that markets organic grain and feed. “I’ve heard of prices as high as $17/bu for organic corn and $30/bu for organic soybeans. One bright spot is that small grain yields have been relatively good this year”

Another aspect of the drought is its effect on pasture production. The organic standard requires that 30% or more of the cows’ ration during the growing season come from pasture. For farmers like Council member and Walworth County dairy grazier Altfrid Krusenbaum, whose ration averages more than 50% pasture, meeting the pasture requirement will be less of a problem than sourcing hay for winter. Many organic dairy farmers are feeding hay that they’d normally save for winter use.

Organic farmers can apply for a temporary variance if they cannot meet the 30% pasture requirement. To apply for a variance, organic farmers need to document they are affected by the drought with feed records, photos, or newspaper articles. The variance is requested through their certifier.  The USDA organic regulations do not allow variances to the requirement that 100% organic feed be provided to organic  livestock.

The Council discussed the potential of the USDA releasing Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for grazing and haying. Many acres of CRP may be eligible for organic certification if they have been managed for three years or more with no synthetic herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers.  Since the meeting, the USDA Farm Service Agency has released CRP acres for emergency forage in most of the southern half of Wisconsin. Farmers must get approval from their county USDA Service Center before harvesting forage and there are restrictions and payment reductions involved. “Organic farmers must also get approval from their certifier to bring additional acres into their organic system plan, whether they are on their own farm or on another property,” said Steve Walker, the Council’s certification representative from Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA).

For more information about the Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council, contact Laura Paine, DATCP’s Organic and Grazing Specialist, at 608-224-5120 or laura.paine@wi.gov.

Click here for the approved minutes of the March 19, 2012 Organic Advisory Council meeting: March 19 2012 Minutes

Click here for the approved minutes of the January 30, 2012 Organic Advisory Council meeting: January 30 2012 Minutes

Click here for the approved minutes of the October 24, 2012 Organic meeting: October 24 2011 Minutes

The Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council meets quarterly to guide the development of organic education and marketing opportunities as well as provide input on state and federal policy that affects organic agriculture. The Council consists of twelve people who represent organic production, processing, marketing and purchasing opportunities in Wisconsin.

Those interested in serving the organic agriculture industry are encouraged to nominate themselves or another qualified individual to serve on the Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council. Four seats come open for nomination each Spring.

Nominees are evaluated by a nominating committee and approved by the DATCP Secretary and Board. Selected representatives begin serving at the July meeting of the Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council in the year they are elected. Each member serves a three-year term. Members may serve more than one term.

During the nomination period, application materials are available at http://datcp.wi.gov/Farms/Organic_Farming/Advisory_Council. For more information, contact Paine at 608-224-5120 or laura.paine@wi.gov.

Globally, 87 million acres were farmed organically in 2008, representing almost 1.4 million producers in 154 countries. This acreage represents a nine percent growth in organic production over 2007. Wisconsin has seen even more dramatic growth as the number of certified organic farms in Wisconsin has grown from 422 in 2002 to 1202 in 2007, an increase of 285%. Wisconsin is  second in the nation after California in numbers of organic farms and in the top five states in certified organic acreage (currently at 195,603 acres in WI). The state is in the top five in production of all major organic crops and livestock types.

Organic farming, processing and related economic activity account for a small, but rapidly growing portion of Wisconsin’s agricultural economy. The fastest growing areas include vegetable production and dairy.

About 250 farmers raise and sell organic vegetables on about 1750 acres in Wisconsin. With per acre income levels averaging $3741, these farms generate about 70% more income per acre than their non-organic counterparts. With our existing vegetable growing expertise and processing infrastructure in the state, and the proven strength in organic produce sales (about 38% of total organic sales nationally), there is great potential for growth in this sector in future years.

Dairy production and processing continue to be an area of strength and growth. About one-third of Wisconsin dairy processing facilities are certified to produce either their own or private label dairy products for other companies, providing multiple marketing options for organic dairy farmers. Wisconsin leads the nation in numbers with 23% of all organic dairy farms (479 farms). About 14% of all dairy cows live in Wisconsin and we produce about 12% of all organic milk produced in the nation. Wisconsin organic dairy farms tend to be relatively small, averaging about 66 cows, but as a result of premiums and low-cost production practices, most can generate a sustainable living for a farm family. Based on data from the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Profitability, even in the current economic downturn, Wisconsin organic farms generated nearly $1000 in net profit per cow in 2009 while farmers receiving conventional prices for their milk lost $147 per cow (Kreigl 2010). The organic farms in the study averaged $65,000 in net farm income in 2009.

Both organic dairy and vegetable processing represent a value added opportunity for Wisconsin agriculture. For more information or a copy of the complete report, contact Laura Paine at laura.paine@wi.gov or 608-224-5120.