Vilsack Awards Millions, Defining Organics

Vilsack Awards Millions, Defining Organics

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With your Agri-Business Update, I'm Bob Larson. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service is awarding $200 million to more than 70 U.S. agricultural organizations to help expand export markets for U.S. farm and food products.

Vilsack says USDA and the American ag industry work together in a unique public-private partnership to open and grow markets around the world for high-quality, American-made farm and food products.

If a fruit or vegetable isn't grown in dirt, can it be organic?

According to the New York Times, the issue is whether produce that relies solely on irrigation through hydroponic and aquaponic systems, can be certified organic.

The National Organic Standards Board is likely to get an earful on the topic at its meeting in St. Louis this week.

One side argues their production methods are no different from farmers who grow plants in soil, and, they add, they make organic farming more sustainable by reducing water use.

But, dirt farmers say organic production is first and foremost about caring for the soil, which produces environmental benefits that go beyond growing plants.

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