The Cornucopia Institute, a Wisconsin-based farm policy research group and organic food watchdog, is filing a lawsuit against the USDA, claiming they are withholding information and "important records that would help us and our farmer-members and consumers understand why the USDA has delayed enforcement of key federal organic farming standards for five years." - http://cornucopia.org/index.php/112#more-112

At issue is correspondence and discussion records between USDA staff and corporate lobbyists regarding organic factory farms (quite an askew concept) and requirements that organic dairy cows have access to regular pasture feedings. According the Cornucopia Institute:

"The lawsuit comes amidst a growing national debate occurring in the organic farming community over the rise of factory farms in organic dairying, milking 2000 to 6000 cows in confinement-type conditions, that provide little if any pasture for their milk cows. Public interest groups and farmers have accused the USDA of purposefully ignoring the matter for years—a fact that has allowed these gigantic farms to proliferate and gain a growing foothold in the booming organic marketplace"

The press release also states that "When the National Organic Standards Board was ready to close loopholes and tighten federal organic rules in August 2005, staff at the USDA unexpectedly and without explanation blocked action by their expert advisory panel."

GET ACTIVE: Mail the USDA a letter stating your support for transperancy in their organization. Let them also know that factory farm cage-raised cattle does not fit the organic philosophy. Rather, that the organic label must signify "an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony." - http://www.ota.com/organic/definition.html

USDA Organics Contact:
Mark BradleyAssociate Deputy AdministratorUSDA-AMS-TMP-NOPRoom 4008-South Building1400 Independence Avenue, SWWashington, DC 20250-0020

This is a GREAT RESOURCE -
Check out the Organic Dairy Report/Ratings Card

If you send a letter and want it posted here, email it to abvtimes@yahoo.com