The organic farming community is grieving the loss of Russell Libby, who died on Sunday at the age of 56 from cancer. Mr. Libby was known as one of the nation's leading voices for organic farming.

A new report released by the USDA's Advisory Committee of Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture received condemnation by the National Organic Coalition-- an alliance of organizations focused on maintaining the integrity of organic standards.

Jigmi Thinley prime minister of Bhutan, the small Himalayan country situated between China and India, has announced that the nation is planning to convert all its agricultural land to organic farms, reports Rodale.

A "conspiracy" between corporate agribusiness and the USDA is being dubbed "The Organic Watergate" by the nation's leading organic farming watchdog, The Cornucopia Institute.

Promising new research coming out of France shows that a dramatic reduction in pesticide use can be achieved without a negative impact on crop yields, according to the Pesticide Action Network of North America.

The 2012 GRAMMY Awards airing this Sunday, February 12th will be a night of firsts (and not just because Skrillex has 5 nominations). Chipotle, the fast casual Mexican-inspired restaurant chain will run its first national television advertisement during the awards ceremony and the longest commercial to air during a GRAMMY awards ceremony.

Shamrock Farms is under fire from the USDA for questionable “split operation” livestock management practices that could get their organic certification revoked. The USDA investigation is in response to a formal complaint by the Cornucopia Institute, an organic industry watchdog that first inspected Shamrock in 2008. Cornucopia found “inadequate, overgrazed pasture adjacent to their milking facility,” and learned from Shamrock employees that “the confined cows had not been out in weeks.” Federal organic regulations require that cows be grazed, a practice that some factory-scale dairies shirk according to Cornucopia’s investigations.

More good news for organic farming enthusiasts. Despite longstanding opinions that organic farming could not successfully challenge the perceived efficacy or durability of conventional farming, or the big push from Monsanto and other manufacturers of genetically modified seeds that claim to provide higher yield and less dependence on pesticides, the benefits of organic farming are becoming more apparent and desirable.

In efforts to meet a pre-Thanksgiving holiday break deadline, the House and Senate ag committees are working via a joint panel to create the national food and farm policy for the next five years, with what could have significant repercussions for the nation's farmers markets.