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Rodale Institute’s Jeff Moyer Elected to Chair
USDA National Organic Standards Board
KUTZTOWN, PA -- Jeff Moyer, farm director of the Rodale Institute, has been elected as the 2009 chair of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The board elected Moyer at its meeting last week in Washington, D.C., elevating him from the 2008 vice-chair role. His five-year board term began three years ago.
“This is a critical time for the organic movement and industry as forces try to dilute its hard-fought integrity with marketing terms such as ‘sustainable’ and “natural,’” said Moyer, who has worked at Rodale Institute for more than 33 years. “It’s critical that we protect the standards and also continue to educate the public about the value of the ‘USDA Organic’ seal.”
Tim LaSalle, CEO of the Rodale Institute, emphasized the importance of organic as a solution to many of the key issues of our time, including global warming, human health challenges and worldwide hunger. “Organic agriculture provides critical human and ecological health benefits, so any erosion in standards is to steal from not only our own health but that of our children. We are pleased to know Jeff Moyer will lead this important board in assuring that the standards are maintained.”
The NOSB is the U.S. organic community’s high-profile and all-volunteer advisory body to the National Organic Program (NOP), which sets USDA organic policy as part of the Agricultural Marketing Service. The board receives robust levels of comment from a broad range of constituent organic groups and individuals at and between its multi-day meetings held several times per year.
The NOSB is the USDA’s only advisory group with statutory power mandating its advisory involvement. It functions under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, requiring it to have a high level of interaction and transparency. The board provides guidance on developing standards for substances and practices to be used in certified organic production, handling and processing.
“I value Jeff’s wealth of experience in organic agriculture and regulation. Furthermore I believe Jeff's unique leadership skills, along with his management and technical background, are what the Board requires to continue providing effective and timely results for the benefit of the organic community,” said Rigoberto Delgado, who steps down as NOSB chair on January 20, 2009. “I am pleased to say that Jeff's work with the Board has reflected his strong commitment to the principles and integrity of organic agriculture, and mirrors the values of the organization which he represents, the Rodale Institute.”
Moyer manages the 333-acre Rodale Institute research farm. He has refined the farm's cover cropping and crop-rotation systems, and was instrumental in developing its no-till roller/crimper, a tool which makes possible organic no-till crop farming.
He has helped countless farmers make the transition from conventional, chemical-based farming to organic or biologically sustainable methods. Throughout his national and international agricultural leadership, Moyer has brought a practical farmer’s perspective and approach to developing the future of organic agriculture.
He holds a farmer/grower seat on the board, and sits on the crops, livestock, materials and executive committees. He also worked with the aquaculture group which issued the NOSB’s first proposed rules for fish production at last week’s session. The current board is comprised of four farmers/growers, two handlers/processors, one retailer, one scientist, three consumer/public interest advocates, three environmentalists and one USDA accredited certifying agent (who sits on various committees).
Preparing to lead the board as it grapples with a new round of important issues—from creating guidance documents on biodiversity, to the definitions of what is considered “agricultural” or “non-agricultural” as substances for food handling or processing—Moyer affirmed what he said after that first year: “We do our best to protect the integrity of the organic industry but still allow for the expansion of the fullest range of products as organic continues to go mainstream.”
The Rodale Institute's mission is to provide farmers with the know-how, tools, and techniques they need to succeed; policy-makers the information they need to best support our farmers and the food production system that is best for our health and environment; and consumers with the resources they need to make informed decisions about the food they buy and eat.
Rodale Institute grew out of the vision of J.I. Rodale who in the 1930s asserted that healthy soil = healthy food = healthy people. Bob Rodale expanded on J.I.'s pioneering work in organics, building an institution dedicated to both innovative research and education. Learn more at www.rodaleinstitute.org.
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Moyer is the perfect man for
Moyer is the perfect man for the job. His past accomplishments in the organization is very much recognized by those preceded by him. I think he's bound to bring the organization better opportunities for farmers and farm managers.
Proposed N.O.P. rules
Two of the proposed rules that would affect our Certified Organic beef and lamb operation are ill-conceived and unnecessary.
The first is shade.
We are in the intermountain hi-desert region which is too dry to naturally promote the growth of trees. This dry climate is however ideal for the raising of Organic grazing animals as internal parasites are much less of a problem than in humid areas. Artificial shade would be prohibitive where we have rotational grazing of many pastures in rough terrain. The presence of shade promotes poor distribution of manure across th pastures.
The second is the fencing of all bodies of water.
We have several small streams or sloughs which are seasonal, the fencing of which would interfere with irrigation equipment.
These proposed rules would eliminate many Organic ranches across the west.
Being a Farmer
I think the writer of the comment above makes a very important contribution to the discussions of who makes decisions on a farm, how we in agriculture got to the place where our soils are degrading, and how research is being conducted across the country. In many cases we (farmers) have placed too much trust in the folks who said they had the answers to our problems, and only had an answer to their own.
The fact is there are many types of farmers and while here Rodale Institute I may wear a researcher/manager hat, I also have my own farm. There is a delicate balance between the decisions we may make on the farm and the knowledge used to help guide the NOSB and the expectations of the “farmer/grower seat”.
It is true that much of my work, while taking place on a farm, is actually directed at making improvements on other farms. I've led a team of researchers and farm ops folks in intentionally taking risks (in trying unproven biologically based practices that might work) that farmers can’t afford to do on their own farms to this extent. By using donated and grant dollars, my expertise has been applied to research to develop organic systems that build soil, cut input costs and produce higher-value food—all, which we than make available for FREE to farmers who DO have to make a living. The work of Rodale Institute on soil-health, composting and crop-rotation without fertilizer and pesticides research differs from research paid for by agribusiness and multinationals. We aren't working to develop products to later be sold to farmers but rather work directly through on-site and on-farm research, connecting and adapting our experience with their particular situation.
It is m goal to use my involvement with many other farmers over the years, in many places, and in many situations, to represent their concerns about practical, economic realities as a FARMER on the board. Over the past three years I have consistantly voiced the concerns of farmers and consumers in maintaining the integrety of the USDA's organic seal.
The challanges ahead for organic production and our agricutural soils are real. The market place is flooded with contradictory labels that confuse and frustrate consumers. There are new crop and livestock production products rushing out the door that attempt to corner a portion of every producers profits. As we all try to manuver through this maze we need a strong NOSB and farmers committed to supporting our work.
The Rodale Institute's mission is to provide farmers with the know-how, tools, and techniques they need to succeed; policy-makers the information they need to best support our farmers and the food production system that is best for our health and environment; and consumers with the resources they need to make informed decisions about the food they buy and eat.
Rodale Institute grew out of the vision of J.I. Rodale who in the 1930s asserted that healthy soil = healthy food = healthy people. Bob Rodale expanded on J.I.'s pioneering work in organics, building an institution dedicated to both innovative research and education. Learn more at www.rodaleinstitute.org.
sustainable lifestyle
namaskar...
Being a farmer
I applaud Jeff Moyer in his appointment.
I do however question the usage of the word "farmer". To my way of thinking there are several different descriptive words that need to be clarified. A "farmer" is one who has a direct financial interest in the success of his crops, by this I mean if your crop fails you have no income and still have expenses to pay. A "farmer" has the risk of having negative income. A "farmer" also stands the chance of losing a lifelong investment that cannot be recovered.
A "farm manager" is an individual who is responsible for the day to day running of a farm. A "farm manager" is typically an individual who is paid a salary to perform a set of tasks that oversee the operation of a farm. A "farm manager" typically does not have a direct financial interest in the farm other than it being a job that may be lost due to lack of performance. A "farm manager" very seldom if ever faces the spectre of negative income. A "farm manager" may lose thier job, but they do have the option of finding another job.
A "farm researcher" is an individual or group of individuals who investigate the realitive success or failure of various systems involved in assorted agronomic practices. Seldom if ever is income related to success or failure of a certain progect. Seldom if ever are they chastised or suffer financial disaster if thier system does not work. Or are they held accountable for the long term effects.
I applaud all who are involved in the agriculture segment of our society. I do however question the attitude of some "farm researchers" and "farm managers" in thier approach to the sincereity and commitment of "farmers". It does make a difference to us "farmers" whether or not certain systems succeed or not. Do not forget that the reason our ground, our crops, and our food are in the condition they are in now is because we have been told in the past by "farm researchers" that thier way was the best way. If high science in the past worked as well as they said then why are there 75% fewer farmers now than 50 years ago? It is my sincere hope that "Organic" and "Biological" systems of farming will be the wave of the future. However as long as "farmers" are out here, we still need to make a living at it. How many people are willing to invest $1,000,000-$2,500,000 to make $50,000 a year to live on, knowing full well that thier chances at the casino are probably better than thier chances of success with this years crop and insueing markets.
In closing I wish to extend my deepest regrets to all "farmers" who in the past have lost thier ground and thier way of life by listening to those who were supposed to help us. When thier systems failed they told us it was our fault in some manner. To all "farmers" still in business, when the practices of "farm managers" and "farm researchers" fail, whose fault is it really? Thiers for believing thier way always works, or ours for believing them in the first place. As with all things we are told in life, the best approach is to take all advice "with a grain of salt".
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