The Agriculture Department set a 60-day comment period on its proposal for an annual survey of organizations that certify that farms and ranches meet federal standards to be designated as organic producers. “The survey will collect the number of operations that are certified organic for each State, along with the number of acres certified for the various crops, and the number of head of livestock and poultry certified as organic. The data will be used by NASS as administrative data so that future needs to collect organic data from farm and ranch operations can be kept to a minimum,” said the Federal Register notice.
USDA also said 85 organizations in 31 states and the District of Columbia will receive $59 million in grants and loans through two rural economic development programs. One of the recipients, Kentucky Highlands Investment Corp, is the lead agency for the state’s Promise Zone and received $500,000 to replenish a revolving fund for “microloans” to very small businesses in a region of persistent poverty. Along with the program of microloans, USDA provided funds through a program of grants to utilities to pass on to local businesses to retain or expand employment.