OCIA International

06/20/2024

OCIA Nicaragua has been busy this past week holding trainings for grower groups, processors, brokers, and inspectors at PRODECOOP, R.L. in Palacaguina, Nicaragua! OCIA International trainer Lebi Perez worked with over 50 people to cover new changes to organic production regulations and standards.

06/17/2024

Nancy Vogelsberg-Busch, an OCIA-certified producer in Home, KS, recently underwent her annual inspection with OCIA. Her family has been farming and ranching organically in northeast Kansas since 1878 and her certified organic beef company, Bossie's Best, provides delicious products to its customers!

06/11/2024

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is currently accepting applications for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). The program offers a cost share match of 75% of eligible certification costs, up to a $750 maximum, for certified organic operations. The deadline to apply for the 2024 fiscal year is July 7, 2024.

🔗To learn more and apply for the OCCSP, visit https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/occsp/index

06/08/2024

Jack Geiger will be hosting this year's farm tour at his certified organic operation in northeast Kansas. Alongside a tour of his operation, he will be covering organic w**d management and answering your questions about organic production and marketing. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn from his 35+ years of organic experience!

🔗RSVP at https://ocia.org/geiger-farm-tour-rsvp-form/

**dmanagement

05/30/2024

Are you interested in learning about organic w**d management strategies❓

Jack Geiger will be covering all things w**d management in organic row crops at the Geiger Farm tour on August 3rd, 2024!

🔗To RSVP for the tour, visit https://ocia.org/geiger-farm-tour-rsvp-form/

05/28/2024

Organic production is the only third-party independently verified and USDA-accredited production method. It adheres to a federally overseen set of guidelines prohibiting synthetic herbicides, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). These guidelines are designed to improve soil health and water quality, promote ecological balance, and support biodiversity.

05/25/2024

OCIA Treasurer Randy Mosel was recently highlighted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture NOP for his work to teach producers about organic w**d control methods and the Transition to Organic Partnership (TOPP) program. At the Nebraska W**d Control Association conference in Norfolk, NE, Randy spoke with farmers about alternative w**d control options and introduced over 70 farmers to TOPP!

05/23/2024

🟢Did you email us?🟢
If you recently contacted our info email, [email protected], and didn't receive a response, please reach out again! We appreciate your patience and have now resolved a technical issue that may have prevented us from receiving your email. We look forward to hearing from you!

05/20/2024

🟢DID YOU KNOW?🟢
Askegaard Organic Farm received OCIA Research and Education's 2024 Farmer of the Year award! This sixth-generation family operation in Moorhead, Minnesota, has been certified with OCIA since 1995. Mark Askegaard and daughter Beth McConnon operate the farm together, where they grow organic wheat, oats, soybeans, and flax.

🔗To read more about Askegaard Organic Farm and this award, visit https://ocia.org/2024/05/17/putting-health-first-askegaard-organic-farm/

05/10/2024

Have you registered for the farm tour on August 3rd at Geiger Farm? Don't miss out on the opportunity to hear from presenters like Nate Powell-Palm!

➡️To learn more and register, visit https://ocia.org/geiger-farm-tour-rsvp-form/

04/26/2024

Congrats to Michelle, who received a $1,000 scholarship from OCIA Research and Education for her work with organic agriculture! Each year, OCIA R&E awards scholarships to graduate students studying organic and sustainable agriculture.

04/23/2024

Congratulations to Marc, from Delaney Farms in Syracuse, NY, who received a microgrant through OCIA Research and Education! OCIA R&E awards microgrants on a biannual basis to support research and education connected to organic agriculture.

04/22/2024

☀️Happy Earth Day!☀️
Across the world, people in the organic supply chain are working to feed the world in a sustainable way!

To learn more about how OCIA is supporting this mission, visit
➡️ https://ocia.org/about-2/

04/18/2024

Congratulations to Ben, who was the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from OCIA Research and Education! Each year, OCIA R&E awards scholarships to graduate-level students studying organic and sustainable agriculture!

04/15/2024

Have you completed an RSVP for our next farm tour this summer? Don't miss out on the opportunity to network with producers, learn about the specifics of organic production, and take a tour of Jack Geiger's organic operation!

To learn more and RSVP, visit ➡️ https://ocia.org/geiger-farm-tour-rsvp-form/

04/11/2024

Join Amanda Brewster, our executive director, in Mt. Vernon, MO to learn more about organic production!

04/10/2024

OCIA's newest edition of our quarterly newsletter, The Communicator, is now available in English and Spanish! Follow the link below to read about:
🟢Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE)
🟢Transitional Production Plans
🟢TOPP Mentorship Program
AND MUCH MORE!

➡️https://ocia.org/2024/04/09/the-communicator-spring-edition/

03/23/2024

Ignacia Paredes, one of our legal representatives, has been visiting with some of our OCIA-certified operators in Peru!

03/18/2024

🟢DID YOU KNOW?🟢

OCIA is offering a $100 referral bonus for currently certified OCIA members who refer a producer to us! The referral bonus is valid after the new operator has paid their certification fees.

➡️To apply for a referral bonus, visit https://ocia.org/resources-2/referral-bonus-application/ !

03/14/2024

Meet our team!

René has been an inspector for OCIA since 1999! He has carried out inspections in Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. Since 2015, he has worked as an OCIA representative in Nicaragua. In his free time, René enjoys reading and writing, and has edited numerous books on organic agriculture and natural pest management.

03/11/2024

Join Tessa Tripp, one of our certification specialists, for a workshop designed to help ag consultants and advisors guide producers transitioning to organic! We want to help YOU help farmers!

➡️Learn more at https://www.organicagronomy.org/workshop-fargo-nd-march-2024.

03/08/2024

Meet our team!

Karla is the main contact for operators in Latin America seeking certification. She helps organize documentation between operators and the OCIA review team. In her free time, Karla enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also loves going dancing!

03/07/2024

❗Plains TOPP is starting to make mentorship matches❗

🟢Mentees must be interested in transitioning to organic.
🟢Mentors must have 3 years of organic experience and will receive $3,000 in compensation per year of participation.

➡️Learn more about the program at https://www.organictransition.org/mentorship-program/ !

03/05/2024

❗Help support organic agriculture in the Farm Bill❗
The Opportunities in Organic Act will help reduce barriers to organic agriculture, enhance organic certification reimbursements, and increase support and technical assistance for producers.

➡️To contact your Congress member about supporting the Opportunities in Organic Act, visit https://secure.everyaction.com/MzGybh7mv0-_M-nWT7qx5A2.

03/01/2024

Have you gotten your new OCIA gear yet? If not, don't wait - our store closes March 4 at 8 a.m.!

➡️To get your new gear, visit https://stores.inksoft.com/ocia_international/shop/home.

02/29/2024

🟢REMINDER!🟢

The USDA's Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Final Rule will be implemented on March 19, 2024. The rule's amendments strengthen organic control systems, promote traceability from farm to market, and enforce USDA organic regulations.

➡️To learn more, visit https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/strengthening-organic-enforcement.

02/16/2024

OCIA Apparel Store. Grab your OCIA Gear. The store will remain open until March 4th.

02/03/2024

The USDA National Organic Program Recently recognized OCIA International for our work in Organic Certification, awarding us the 2024 National Program Director's Award

OCIA International Receives 2024 National Organic Program Director’s Award Feb 3, 2024 | News Organic Certifiers Recognized for Quality Data and Collaboration The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) recognized the work of accredited organic certifiers with awards for extraordinary support of the N...

01/05/2024

The Winter Issue of OCIA International's quarterly newsletter, The Communicator, is available online NOW!

In addition to updates from the board and executive director, the Winter Issue of the Communicator includes information about:
🟢 Strengthening Organic Enforcement
🟢 OCIA's Annual General Membership Meeting
🟢 Research & Education's new Director of Operations, Dr. Sarah Diamond
🟢 and more!

The Communicator is accessible on OCIA International's website: https://ocia.org/2024/01/05/the-communicator-winter-2024-edition/

12/21/2023

Happy holidays!

OCIA International will be closed Monday, December 25; Tuesday, December 26; and Monday, January 1 to allow staff to gather with family and friends over the holidays.

We are excited to continue working with our wonderful operators and partners in the organic industry in 2024.