In March 2016, MFAI, in collaboration with GrassWorks, Inc. and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and with significant assistance from NRCS Wisconsin, released a report which analyzed the Conservation Stewardship Program in Wisconsin.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law in 2011, envisions tremendous changes to food safety policy, particularly regarding harvesting, handling, and processing of fresh produce. As people who support local farmers and the access to fresh, healthy, and affordable foods that they help provide, you have the opportunity to voice your opinions on these rules and make sure that the FDA implements fair food safety provisions on all producers.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law in 2011, envisions tremendous changes to food safety policy, particularly regarding harvesting, handling, and processing of fresh produce. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been given the task of drafting rules to implement FSMA. The FDA’s first draft of these rules would put severe and prohibitive cost burdens on many small and mid-size farm operations through its provisions related to use of manure and compost, water testing, simple value-added processing techniques, and other provisions. The good news is that FDA is actively encouraging comments on these rules. The comment period is open until November 15, 2013. Comments on how FSMA will impact you as a farmer or a consumer can be submitted during this time. As people who support local farmers and the access to fresh, healthy, and affordable foods that they help provide, you have the opportunity to voice your opinions on these rules and make sure that the FDA implements fair food safety provisions on all producers. The Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, with collaboration from community partners in Milwaukee and Madison, has organized training workshops to help you submit comments to the FDA.