Register now ( http://nofasummerconference.org/register-now); 

For more Summer Conference info, visit:  http://nofasummerconference.org

Throughout the month of August, fifty-eight partners throughout the state--including NOFA-NH--are coming together to highlight New Hampshire Eat Local Month, a month-long celebration of local food and New Hampshire farmers and producers. "All month long, we hope to inspire you to eat more locally grown, raised and made foods, meet the farmers, growers and chefs behind your food and learn new skills that keep you eating locally throughout the year," said Jen Risley of NH Farms Network.

Landscaping professionals transitioning to organic practices, and those already using chemical-free options who want to learn more, are invited to attend a 30-hour professional training course and sit for the accreditation exam. The NOFA Accreditation Course in Organic Land Care has been the definitive professional training course for landscapers, lawn care specialists, municipal groundskeepers, landscape architects and environmental educators to learn and adopt best practices for caring for the land without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Attendees who pass the accreditation exam become Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals (AOLCPs), joining over 500 NOFA AOLCPs in 20 states. 

R egister at: organiclandcare.net.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in New Hampshire announced that dairy producers can enroll for 2017 coverage in the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) starting July 1. The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides financial assistance to participating dairy producers when the margin--the difference between the price of milk and feed costs--falls below the coverage level selected by the producer. Read more . . .

For more information about the Margin Protection Program, visit FSA online or stop by a local FSA office.

In April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed new  Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) in an effort to  "bring greater  consistency and transparency" to the USDA organic standards.  If the new rules are finalized, the Obama administration is poised to institute a set of long-awaited changes that could improve animal welfare in four areas of organic livestock and poultry practices, including living conditions, healthcare, transport, and slaughter.

But there's no guarantee that the proposed rules will become law before the next administration takes over. Learn more . . .

What's more important, looking for the organic seal or the non-GMO verified logo? By definition, GMOs are strictly prohibited in organic farming and food production. Perhaps even more importantly, organic farmers do not use synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers to grow crops or feed, and they cannot administer antibiotics, growth hormones, and many other banned drugs to livestock. They are mandated to improve soil health and allow their livestock outdoor access, resulting not only in safer food, but food of superior nutritional quality. Non-GMO products are only verified not to contain genetically modified (GMO) ingredients. NonGMO farmers do use synthetic agrochemicals and petrochemicalbased fertilizers. They are not required to allow their livestock access to the outdoors or pasture, and are not restricted from administering a myriad of pharmaceuticals prohibited from use in organics. Read full newsletter . . .