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New Toll-free Hotline Established for Farmers Interested in Organic Transition

The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), based in Spring Valley, WI, announced today a new toll-free Farmer Transition Hotline 888-551-4769 (GROW) for Midwest producers interested in making the transition to organic production.

MOSES board member Audrey Arner is a beef producer from Montevideo, Minnesota.  Arner says the purpose of the hotline is to give farmers the chance to get clear answers to questions about organic production and marketing.  "From production of produce and livestock to the marketing and final sale of the organic product, we now have practical information available for producers."

The new hotline will be staffed by long-time organic farmer, trainer and organic inspector, Harriet Behar, of Gays Mills, Wisconsin.  Behar has more than twenty years of experience in the organic community and has visited hundreds of farms.  Behar says "I'm really in a very supportive role.  I'm a sounding board for people's ideas, and I can show callers that the organic certification process is not as overwhelming as they thought.  I'm also here to help farmers understand the organic regulations and get through the paperwork."

Behar adds that while the certification process can seem daunting, it's ultimately worth it because of the significant price premiums which certified organic farmers receive.  In recent years, for example, certified organic dairy and grain producers have received two to three times the price they would receive for conventional products.

As consumer demand for organic food continues to rise, there continues to be a shortage of organic producers.  According to MOSES communication Coordinator Doug Nopar, "Undoubtedly we need more organic farmers and that is why this new hotline is so important."  Nopar says, "Be it dairy, beef, poultry, hogs, produce or livestock feed, the demand far exceeds current supply."

The MOSES has extensive resource materials for farmers interested in making the transition to organic production.  MOSES will organize the 18th annual Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse, Wisconsin, February 22-24, 2007.  More than 2200 people attended this event last winter, making it the largest conference of its kind in the United States.  For more information on the conference or other organic resources, go to www.mosesorganic.org or call 715-772-3153.

Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service, Inc. (MOSES)

PO Box 339, Spring Valley, WI 54767

715-772-3153  fax: 715-772-3162

info@mosesorganic.org    www.mosesorganic.org