NODPA Events Calendar

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May 2008

May 19, 2008
NATIONAL ORGANIC COALITION and NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRE-NOSB MEETING
Monday, May 19, 2008, 9-5; Holiday Inn Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD (This is the same hotel where NOSB will be meeting)

JOIN US IN OUR TENTH YEAR OF HOLDING DAY-LONG ORGANIC COMMUNITY MEETINGS PRIOR TO THE NOSB That’s right, we’re all getting a little older.  It was late 1997 when we first began to have meetings to bring the organic NGO community together to discuss the First Proposed Rule (Remember the “Big 3” and the “60 Points of Darkness”?) – prior to each NOSB meeting. As always, these meetings are open to farmers, farm advocates, non-governmental organizations and others working towards integrity in organic and towards the long-term viability of organic farmers and business. We will continue these meetings with the same general format:
*  Roundtable -- where you tell us who you are and what organic issue you are working on
*  Update from the Hill – Farm Bill, Appropriations, and a New Administration
*   Detail about several burning organic issues – not necessarily related to NOSB/NOP  [send us your suggestions]
*   Reviewing and Discussing what’s on deck at NOSB
*   Including a roundtable of what you’ll be saying during Public Comment, and what you’d like allies to say
Hot Topics:
Pasture/origin of Livestock
Cloning
Grower Groups/ICS
Materials (always)
Aquaculture
Food Safety:  Leafy Greens and HAACP
NOP:  transparency, oversight, access
GMO contamination
NanoTech
Please RSVP to Liana so we can have enough chairs: Liana:  Liana@hvc.rr.com;  845-744-2304

May 20 to 22, 2008
National Organic Standards Board Meeting
The USDAs National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet May 20-22 at The Holiday Inn Inner Harbor Hotel, 301 W. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. Sessions will run from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 20; 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 21; and 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 22, 2008. All sessions are open to the public. NOSB committees will present recommendations to the full board for a vote concerning the use or prohibition of 32 petitioned substances and 13 sunsetting substances due to expire in November 2008 under review for the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances; revisions to the NOSB policy and procedures manual and the Guide for New NOSB Members; guidance for accredited certifying agents regarding annual commercial availability determinations for organic seed sourcing by farmers under § 205.204; and recommendations on standards for organic aquaculture, including the use of fish meal and oil as feed, open cage net pens and the management of aquatic plants. The NOSB will also receive an update from the National Organic Program and will hear committee progress reports regarding work plans and discussion items.

Times for public input are Tuesday, May 20, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 21, from 3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Thursday, May 22, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The deadline for requesting an oral presentation at the meeting has passed but contact Valerie Frances by email to valerie.frances@usda.gov, by fax to (202) 205-7808, or by phone to (202) 720-3252, as, if time is available, attendees may sign up for additional public input at the meeting. For more information, contact Valerie Frances, or visit www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

The new Board of MGFN and our supporters have arranged for pasture walks in various parts of the state, focusing on various pasture or livestock related management issues. We hope many people will take advantage of these opportunities to see what other farmers are doing as well as share time and ideas with other participants. As it is helpful to know how many are planning to attend, we urge you to call in advance. Contact information is included with each description. (If not enough people register a farmer may decide to cancel.) You may also contact Gabe Clark at 340-0098 or Paula Roberts at 338-1265. We look forward to seeing you!!

Friday, May 23, 2 - 4 PM
Pasture Walk at Longmeadows Farm, Benton, Maine
Sponsored by the Maine Grass Farmers' Network
Xandy Brown's farm, where Dr. Beth McEvoy will teach participants various techniques for dehorning and castrating calves, including the use of lidocaine in dehorning. Some hands-on opportunities. Dr. McEvoy, a veterinarian with the Foxcroft Veterinary Services, will also discuss appropriate vaccination techniques. If there is time Xandy will lead a walk to see one or both of his new pasture watering systems. Longmeadows Farm is the yellow farm at 184 Unity Road in Benton. Contact Xandy at 873-5212 or xandy@longmeadowsfarm.com

Saturday May 31st, 10am-1pm
Sheep Management at a Crossroad- Land Reclamation and Future Farm Plans
Comstock House, Plainfield, Vermont
Part of the 2008 NOFA-VT Organic Pasture & Livestock Management Workshop Series

A farm tour to view pastures in various states of revitalization, and engage in a discussion around next steps in the farm’s growth. David Ritchie from Green Mountain Spinnery in Putney will join the group to highlight potential organic fiber markets. Co-hosted with the VT Pasture Network at the Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the VT Sheep and Goat Association

From I-89 take Exit 8 heading east on Rt. 2 for 11 miles to Plainfield. At blinking lights make a right. After 100 ft, take first right at Mill St. Head up the hill and after a little more than half mile, the road forks. Bear left onto Middle Road. Continue another 1.6 miles and The Comstock House is on the right near the crest of the hill. Ross Sneyd and Warren Hathaway 272-2693

FREE for all organic and transitioning dairy & livestock farmers. $10 NOFA-VT members, $15 non-members. Resource materials and books from the NOFA-VT bookstore will be available for sale. Drinks and snacks provided. BYO lunch.

To register, or for more information about any workshop including directions:
Contact NOFA-VT: 434-4122; info@nofavt.org