The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will be meeting this spring on April 28, 29, and 30. The meeting will be held online once again, and all are welcome to attend virtually. The agenda, discussion documents and proposals, and other details are available online here.

Public comments will be received and addressed during two live webinars on April 20 and 22. All are welcome to attend the public comment webinars, but you must register in advance to deliver oral comments. Oral comment registration is now full. If you would like to be added to a waitlist, please email [email protected] by April 16, 2021.

Public Comments Webinars

• Tuesday, April 20, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
• Thursday, April 22, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern

All speakers making public comments must sign up in advance, and will be called on when it is their turn. Speakers will be notified by email of the commenting order.

Members of the public will be able to hear the live comments, Board deliberations, and see all slides used. Only Board members may ask questions.

NOSB Virtual Meeting Details

• Wednesday, April 28, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
• Thursday, April 29, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
• Friday, April 30, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern

Meeting materials including the agenda, public comment registration links, and other resources will be added to the NOSB Spring 2021 Meeting webpage as they become available.

All public comment and Board deliberations will be recorded. A transcript of all the meeting days will be posted to the NOP website afterwards. Check the Spring 2021 Meeting page link above for more details and updates.

The Iowa Learning Farms and the Iowa Organic Association have asked Dr. Kathleen Delate to present research conducted at Iowa State University about how soil health and water quality is improved through organic production systems by using longer crop rotations than conventional corn-soybean rotations. Small grains and perennial legume species, like alfalfa, are integral to supporting greater soil microbial populations and aggregate stability. Slower-release forms of nitrogen, required in certified organic production, are associated with less nitrate loading and greater water quality.

The webinar presentation will take place on Wednesday, April 21^st at noon.

Dr. Delate is a Professor of Organic Agriculture in the Departments of Agronomy and Horticulture at Iowa State University where she is responsible for research, extension and teaching in organic agriculture.

You can participate in this ILF webinar at this link:  https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/events

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will be meeting this spring on April 28, 29, and 30. The meeting will be held online once again, and all are welcome to attend virtually. The agenda, discussion documents and proposals, and other details are available online here.

Public comments will be received and addressed during two live webinars on April 20 and 22. All are welcome to attend the public comment webinars, but you must register in advance to deliver oral comments. Oral comment registration is now full. If you would like to be added to a waitlist, please email [email protected] by April 16, 2021.

Public Comments Webinars

• Thursday, April 22, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern

All speakers making public comments must sign up in advance, and will be called on when it is their turn. Speakers will be notified by email of the commenting order.

Members of the public will be able to hear the live comments, Board deliberations, and see all slides used. Only Board members may ask questions.

NOSB Virtual Meeting Details

• Wednesday, April 28, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
• Thursday, April 29, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
• Friday, April 30, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern

Meeting materials including the agenda, public comment registration links, and other resources will be added to the NOSB Spring 2021 Meeting webpage as they become available.

All public comment and Board deliberations will be recorded. A transcript of all the meeting days will be posted to the NOP website afterwards. Check the Spring 2021 Meeting page link above for more details and updates.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will be meeting this spring on April 28, 29, and 30. The meeting will be held online once again, and all are welcome to attend virtually. The agenda, discussion documents and proposals, and other details are available online here.

Public comments will be received and addressed during two live webinars on April 20 and 22. All are welcome to attend the public comment webinars, but you must register in advance to deliver oral comments. Oral comment registration is now full. If you would like to be added to a waitlist, please email [email protected] by April 16, 2021.

NOSB Virtual Meeting Details

• Wednesday, April 28, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
• Thursday, April 29, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
• Friday, April 30, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern

Meeting materials including the agenda, public comment registration links, and other resources will be added to the NOSB Spring 2021 Meeting webpage as they become available.

• Members of the public will be able to hear the live comments, Board deliberations, and see all slides used. Only Board members may ask questions.

All public comment and Board deliberations will be recorded. A transcript of all the meeting days will be posted to the NOP website afterwards. Check the Spring 2021 Meeting page link above for more details and updates.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will be meeting this spring on April 28, 29, and 30. The meeting will be held online once again, and all are welcome to attend virtually. The agenda, discussion documents and proposals, and other details are available online here.

Public comments will be received and addressed during two live webinars on April 20 and 22. All are welcome to attend the public comment webinars, but you must register in advance to deliver oral comments. Oral comment registration is now full. If you would like to be added to a waitlist, please email [email protected] by April 16, 2021.

NOSB Virtual Meeting Details

• Thursday, April 29, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
• Friday, April 30, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern

Meeting materials including the agenda, public comment registration links, and other resources will be added to the NOSB Spring 2021 Meeting webpage as they become available.

• Members of the public will be able to hear the live comments, Board deliberations, and see all slides used. Only Board members may ask questions.

All public comment and Board deliberations will be recorded. A transcript of all the meeting days will be posted to the NOP website afterwards. Check the Spring 2021 Meeting page link above for more details and updates.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will be meeting this spring on April 28, 29, and 30. The meeting will be held online once again, and all are welcome to attend virtually. The agenda, discussion documents and proposals, and other details are available online here.

Public comments will be received and addressed during two live webinars on April 20 and 22. All are welcome to attend the public comment webinars, but you must register in advance to deliver oral comments. Oral comment registration is now full. If you would like to be added to a waitlist, please email [email protected] by April 16, 2021.

NOSB Virtual Meeting Details

• Friday, April 30, Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern

Meeting materials including the agenda, public comment registration links, and other resources will be added to the NOSB Spring 2021 Meeting webpage as they become available.

• Members of the public will be able to hear the live comments, Board deliberations, and see all slides used. Only Board members may ask questions.

All public comment and Board deliberations will be recorded. A transcript of all the meeting days will be posted to the NOP website afterwards. Check the Spring 2021 Meeting page link above for more details and updates.

NRCS Adds May 7 EQIP Application Cutoff for Iowa Farmers

DES MOINES, IA, April 6, 2021 — Iowa farmers interested in signing up to implement conservation practices on their farms have until May 7 to apply for USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications at USDA Service Centers statewide.

Through EQIP, the NRCS provides conservation planning and financial assistance to implement conservation practices such as no-till, cover crops, terraces, grassed waterways, nutrient management, manure management facilities, and pasture management.

This signup is the second for EQIP in Iowa during Fiscal Year 2021. NRCS held a December 2020 signup for Iowa agricultural producers. “We are seeking additional applications for many of our conservation initiatives and targeted conservation efforts,” said Jeff Matthias, Acting EQIP Coordinator for Iowa NRCS.

The May 7 signup cutoff includes all potential EQIP applications. Specific targets include livestock-related applications such as pasture improvements, along with targeted conservation efforts such as the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI), Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative (MRBI), Prairie Pothole Water Quality Initiative, Organic Initiative, and Wildlife Habitats Initiative including pollinator plantings and forestry.

In addition, Iowa NRCS is seeking applications for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP-EQIP) Fox River Water Quality Project in Appanoose, Davis, and Van Buren Counties in southeast Iowa.

Interested applicants should contact their local NRCS office. Due to the pandemic, USDA offices are currently open to visitors by appointment only. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead. USDA Service Center staff continue to work with agricultural producers via phone, email, and other digital tools.

More information related to USDA’s COVID response and relief for producers can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

Visit IOA and with board member, Paul Mugge at the Okoboji Blue Water Festival.

The theme of the festival is clean water, and events throughout the day in Preservation Plaza at the Arnolds Park Amusement Park help deliver that message. “Dozens of exhibitors will line the sidewalk to speak to the public about water quality and natural resource protection,” festival chair Greg Drees said. “The festival also resonates with youngsters, as they learn about watershed guardianship through our interactive family activities.”

Festival goers can stay tuned for regular updates, including an official confirmation. “Bigger and better next year has been our mantra since last year’s postponement,” Drees said. “We are planning an event that will entertain, educate and inspire.”

For more specifics on the event be sure to check out their website at: https://www.okobojibluewaterfestival.com/