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Welcome to the Maryland Risk Management Education Blog, provided by the University of Maryland Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and features the work of the Maryland Crop Insurance Education program and the University of Maryland - MPowering the State's Agriculture Law Education Initiative, a University of Maryland Extension Signature Program. This blog provides readers with information on risk management issues important to Maryland agriculture, upcoming events, and new materials that may interest readers.
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Sarah Everhart
- Sep 27, 2017
- 2 min
Organic Trade Association Suing USDA Over Failure to Enact Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards
By Sarah Everhart This is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. On September 13, 2017, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia regarding the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Rule. The rule amends the existing organic livestock and poultry production requirements by adding new provisions for livestock handling and
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Admin
- Sep 15, 2017
- 2 min
Weekly Roundup Sept. 15th
By Sarah Fielder Banned Pesticides Leaking into California’s Water Supplies
Banned pesticides are seeping into California’s water sources from illegal pot fields hidden in the state’s forests. Reuters highlights the chemicals being found in California’s water systems and the issues with the illegal pot farms hidden in state and national forests throughout the state. To read the story, click here http://reut.rs/2wW5tAp. Updated Right-to-Farm Law Fact Sheet is now Available
M
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Admin
- May 26, 2017
- 2 min
Weekly Roundup May 26th
By Sarah Fielder Trump Releases Proposed Budget for FY18
On Monday, President Trump announced his proposed budget for 2018. The budget would slash $38 billion in farm commodity programs and crop insurance (http://reut.rs/2rBiRqY) and cut other programs relied on by rural America (http://wapo.st/2qYbJEx). The budget has been declared dead on arrival by many in Congress https://usat.ly/2qlxj1C. Is Your Organic Food Really Organic Food?
The Washington Post this week featured a
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Admin
- May 12, 2017
- 3 min
Weekly Roundup May 12th
By Sarah Fielder Undercover Video of Pennsylvania Dairy Released
Compassion Over Killing has released an undercover video of alleged abuse on a Pennsylvania dairy this week. The dairy is responding to these allegations currently. The story in Dairy Herd Management highlights what farms should do when faced with a crisis such as this, check out the story here http://bit.ly/2q2NOTJ. Syngenta Class Action Update
Tiffany Lashment on her blog has a very good update of the ongoin
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Sarah Everhart
- Jan 31, 2017
- 3 min
New Organic Rules and Programs- To Be or Not To Be?
By Sarah Everhart During the last weeks of the Obama Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made several regulatory and programmatic changes for the organic industry. However, the Trump administration has ordered that any regulations or rules published in the Federal Register but not yet effective shall be delayed 60-days to allow time for review and once a new Secretary of Agriculture is at the helm, how newly established programs will be implemented is u
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msuri1
- Apr 8, 2016
- 3 min
Weekly News Update: April 8th Edition
By Mayhah Suri Chesapeake College Unveils New Agriculture Degree
The two-year program is an Agriculture Associate of Applied Science and is designed to cover all aspects of farming and the agriculture business, said Barbara Viniar, the college’s president. Nicole Fiorellino, the coordinator of agriculture program, said the degree involves 60 credit hours total, with about 20 credits of general education prerequisites. There are two tracks in the program — production and su
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Admin
- Mar 9, 2016
- 2 min
Organic Production- Will You Transition in 2016?
Consumers want organic food, and yes, they will pay higher prices to ensure the finest quality. The need and popularity for organic products is continuously growing, with consumer demand for organically produced goods showing double-digit growth during most years since the 1990s. (1) Over 20,000 stores now offer organic food products. Findings in 2012 show more than $28.4 billion were spent on organic food, and that number has only grown since then. (2) According to the Orga
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Sarah Everhart
- Jan 19, 2015
- 3 min
Thinking About Becoming Certified Organic?
By Sarah Everhart If you are considering an organic certification for your operation, this could be a good time to get started. The 2014 Farm Bill included many benefits and incentives for organic farmers and the market for organic products is in high demand. Acquiring an organic certification is not just an issue for fruit and vegetable producers anymore. More and more grain farmers are seeking organic certification so they can enter market of organic livestock feed. But
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