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The first objective will be to increase in North Dakota the understanding of the organic agriculture market and increase awareness of what opportunities in organic production could exist for North Dakota producers. North Dakota farmers already grow a wide variety of organic crops, including soybeans, hard red spring wheat, rye, oats, sunflowers, barley, yellow flax, peas, corn, beef cattle and alfalfa. Organic agriculture offers a significant opportunity for North Dakota producers. The intent of this project is to continue increasing awareness of this opportunity through education and research and continue actions to take advantage of the opportunity.
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The second objective is to continue UMC/NGP's research on the impact of private sector protocols and the trend towards a globally harmonized system of on-farm production protocols on the region's producers and to develop regional strategies for gaining marketplace advantage for producers and processors in the Region through this research and analysis. The work will include development of the AmeriGAP system of protocols that could be benchmarked with the GlobalGAP standard.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The first objective will be to increase in North Dakota the understanding of the organic agriculture market and increase awareness of what opportunities in organic production could exist for North Dakota producers. North Dakota farmers already grow a wide variety of organic crops, including soybeans, hard red spring wheat, rye, oats, sunflowers, barley, yellow flax, peas, corn, beef cattle and alfalfa. Organic agriculture offers a significant opportunity for North Dakota producers. The intent of this project is to continue increasing awareness of this opportunity through education and research and continue actions to take advantage of the opportunity. The second objective is to continue UMC/NGP's research on the impact of private sector protocols and the trend towards a globally harmonized system of on-farm production protocols on the region's producers and to develop regional strategies for gaining marketplace advantage for producers and processors in the Region through this research and analysis. The work will include development of the AmeriGAP system of protocols that could be benchmarked with the GlobalGAP standard.
<P>APPROACH: Procedures Objective 1: (One-year Work Plan): Produce a financial analysis of organic production in ND that can be used as a decision-making tool for producers to help determine if they want to transition to organics. Produce an analysis of near-term, long-term and international markets for organics that can be used as a decision-making tool for producers to help determine if they want to transition to organics. Convene an "Organics Summit" to help producers learn about the economic potential of organics, how to transition to organics and how to enter the market. Develop a traveling education program about organics lasting one-half day in cooperation with NDSU Extension and hold the program in 4-6 locations in North Dakota. <P>
Procedures Objective 2: Keep current existing research and data on the major global private sector protocols, industry protocols and American private sector protocols currently in place. Continually update the research paper "Private Sector Protocols: Threats and Opportunities for American Farmers" that contains the findings of research to date and make that available to USDA, farm organizations, appropriate agriculture, consumer and environmental NGOs, Congressional leaders in agriculture, leaders of the major private sector initiatives, and major newspaper, television and radio outlets. Organize in cooperation with GlobalGAP and conduct a study program in Europe on private sector protocols with a focus on GlobalGAP. Continue membership in GlobalGAP. Organize a regional conference to discuss regional strategies for development of a regional protocol system