07 Sep 2012

USDA Information Available for You

By USDA Office of Communications

Have you ever struggled to find information on or someone to talk to about a USDA program?

The USDA has developed a guide to organic and organic-related programs, and is implementing a department-wide training program to improve service to current and prospective organic stakeholders.

USDA has also developed a toolkit that helps farmers and businesses answer the question, "is organic an option for me?"

Organic Literacy Initiative

In response to requests from the organic community, USDA developed these materials to help connect current and prospective organic operations with appropriate USDA resources.

 

Through this effort, USDA staff will be better equipped to help current and prospective organic customers:

  • Obtain technical and financial assistance.
  • Insure crops and livestock.
  • Access and fund research.
  • Secure loans.
  • Develop conservation practices.
  • Find current organic price information.
  • Access local, regional, and international markets.

By 2015, the USDA hopes to have 20,000 certified organic farmers and businesses in the United States. We're well on our way to achieving this goal, but we're not there yet.

We hope you will use and share these materials widely, helping current and prospective organic operations fully benefit from USDA services.

View Guide to Organic and Organic-Related USDA Programs

Access All Organic Literacy Initiative Materials

Includes training and outreach materials
Are You a USDA Employee?

In order to credit your training and track USDA participation, please access the organic 101 and 201 courses through USDA's AgLearn system. However, AgLearn is currently down for routine maintenance until September 12th.

Once AgLearn is back online, USDA staff will be invited to access these online training modules.

In the meantime, we welcome you to:

Thank you for your patience and help supporting organic agriculture!
About the National Organic Program (NOP)

The NOP facilitates trade and ensures integrity of organic agricultural products by consistently implementing organic standards and enforcing compliance with the regulations throughout the world. Learn more.
About the NOP Organic Insider

The NOP Organic Insider is intended to inform the organic community on a wide range of NOP functions, including organic standards, accreditation and international activities, compliance and enforcement, the National Organic Standards Board, training events, and the Cost Share program.

 

You are receiving this email because you elected to receive selected updates from the USDA National Organic Program. You may manage your profile to receive additional updates on other NOP functions or unsubscribe at any time by using the links below.
07 Sep 2012

Branstad, Reynolds praise trust fund management as Iowa's employers see $100 million in tax savings

By Rick Martin

(DES MONIES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today praised Iowa's management of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Funds, which for the second year in a row will allow a significant savings for Iowa's employers.

This year, Iowa employers will see $100 million in tax savings by moving from tax table four to table five. The average rate will fall from 2.4 percent to 2.0 percent for 2013.

"Our efficient, effective management of this trust fund will allow Iowa's employers more flexibility with their own dollars," said Branstad. "This is $100 million that will be reinvested in Iowa's communities, and is a clear sign that Iowa works to ensure that our valuable employers are successful in building Iowa's economy."

In 2013, over 52 percent of Iowa businesses will experience a zero rate.  Iowa is one of only six states in the country that provides a zero rate within the tax tables. Additionally, the new employer non-construction rate will decrease from 1.5 percent in 2012 to 1.1 percent in 2013.

"This is another positive signal we are sending to Iowa's employers," said Lt. Gov. Reynolds. "The state of Iowa is leading with sound management of our resources, and employers are counting on this stability when considering whether to locate or expand here."

Iowa Workforce Development is the state agency charged with collecting unemployment insurance taxes from employers and operating Iowa's unemployment insurance payment programs for workers. Annually, Iowa Workforce Development identifies the appropriate table for the following year. Unemployment tax rates are based on wages and recent unemployment benefit payments.  In 2013, the tax rate will move favorably to table five.

"This is exciting news for Iowa businesses and the economy," stated Iowa Workforce Development director Teresa Wahlert.  "While states across the country have struggled with the stability of their Unemployment Insurance Trust Funds, Iowa has moved the rates in a positive direction for businesses two years in a row."

"The people of Iowa have our commitment to carefully manage the trust fund in the coming year to continue this beneficial trend for Iowa businesses.  Iowa has one of the lowest UI tax rates in the nation," stated Wahlert.

Due to the design of Iowa's unemployment tax system developed under Gov. Branstad's administration in the 1980's and Iowa Workforce Development's diligent oversight of the UI Trust Fund throughout the national recession and initial recovery, Iowa businesses will benefit with an average decrease in taxes.

Throughout the state, Iowa Workforce Development provides critical services and resources to support the prosperity, productivity, health and safety of Iowans and their communities. Services are available in 15 regional centers, four satellite offices and hundreds of Access Points.

 

###

07 Sep 2012

Let's Call It Labor Week

By Ed Fallon
Dear Friends,

It's appropriate that America designates a day to recognize the incomparable contributions of labor unions. But with so many politicians (mostly Republicans) actively working to obliterate organized labor, we would do well to spend more than just a day discussing issues affecting America's workers.

With that in mind . . . Tuesday, Colin Gordon with the Iowa Policy Project talks about wage theft and the $600 million each year stolen from Iowa workers! Folks might be astounded to learn how many low-wage workers are not paid the wages they are legally owed. And if you think the State of Iowa is doing its job to crack down on violators and protect such workers, think again. For a little homework on the subject, check out the Iowa Policy Project's new report.

Wednesday, Chris Wilbeck of Greene County talks about the potential impact of a 5,000-head corporate hog confinement proposed for her area. Folks there are still reeling from an unsuccessful battle to stop a confinement earlier this year. If the second one is built, there would be 12,400 hogs within a two-mile radius of Chris' home. (To sort of put that in perspective for us city folk, the population density of two-square miles in Des Moines is 5,030 - and a hog produces twice as much excrement as an adult human!)

The confinement operator is Prestage "Farms," a huge enterprise with its corporate tentacles wrecking havoc in six states. To sign a petition to stop them, click here.

And let me just throw this out there: What is it going to take before Iowa Democratic lawmakers - who for years campaigned in favor of local control yet did nothing when they had power - free themselves from the chains of corporate money and stand with the people they pledged to support?

Thursday, we discuss why labor leaders are unhappy with Whole Foods' CEO John Mackey, who once said that binding arbitration is "not the way we normally do things in the United States" and that allowing workers to organize without a secret ballot "violates a bedrock principle of American democracy." As Mother Jones once pointed out, "Mackey's tired canard has been debunked over and over. Even the Wall Street Journal editorial board, home of anti-labor commentary, finally admitted . . . that the 'the bill doesn't remove the secret-ballot option.'"

Also, Thursday, Sonia Ashe with Iowa Public Interest Research Group discusses a new report on Super PACs. The report is called "Megaphones for Millionaires," and it's timely given the vast infusion of corporate money in the November election.

Friday, with one eye looking back at this week's Labor Day celebrations and one looking forward to an Iowa Legislature set to convene in just four months, we'll talk about some other issues affecting Iowa workers, including raising the minimum wage and the Earned Income Tax Credit.

So, join the conversation live, Monday-Friday, online from 12:00-1:00 pm on the Fallon Forum website. Call in at 244-0077 or toll free (855) 244-0077. And tune-in to Bradshaw, Monday-Friday from 1:30-2:30, also on the Fallon Forum website. Video and audio podcasts are available, too.

Thanks! - Ed

 

EVENTS

September 6 - Drinking Liberally (Des Moines)
You don't have to be a card-carrying liberal to enjoy political conversation and excellent libations at AJ's, 419 E Court starting at 8:00 pm every Thursday. If the revolution is going to start anyplace, it's over a frosty libation. Contact desmoines@drinkingliberally.org.

September 14-30 - World Premiere of "Sense and Sensibility" (Des Moines)
The book by Jane Austen has been adapted for the stage by Iowa's Kerry Skram. Performances are at the Des Moines Social Club's Kirkwood Theater, 4th and Walnut. For tickets, call MIDWESTIX at (515) 244-2771.

September 18 - Irish Jam at Open Sesame (Des Moines)
Discover the fusion of Lebanese and Celtic culture every third Tuesday of the month with Irish jigs and reels, Mideastern belly dancing, and Lebanese cuisine washed-down with a pint of Guinness. All musicians and patrons are welcome at 313 E. Locust St from 8:30-10:30 pm.

September 27 - Coleen Rowley 'Blowing the Whistle on War' (Des Moines)
At 7:00 pm at Plymouth Congregational Church, 42nd and Ingersoll, Iowa's own Coleen Rowley talks about the need to end our permanent war economy and state of perpetual war. Coleen grew up in New Hampton Iowa and was part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation before blowing the whistle on bad intelligence work in the wake of September 11. She was Time magazine's PERSON OF THE YEAR in 2002 and is an important voice in favor of government transparency. Contact Jeff Weiss at jjwcpm@yahoo.com.

October 3 - Jim Hightower: Taking Back Our Food and Agriculture (Fairfield)
Hightower gives the keynote at the Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors annual meeting at 7:30 pm at the Arts & Convention Center, 200 N Main St. An outspoken critic of CAFO animal production, Hightower will address what is needed to turn around our environmentally destructive, nutritionally compromised system of industrial food production. Contact Diane at drosenberg@lisco.com.

October 6 - The Shrinking Middle Class (Des Moines)
At Plymouth Church, 4126 Ingersoll Avenue, 10:00-2:00. Cost is $10 and lunch is provided for this presentation and panel discussion. Income inequality, rising costs, political corruption, and economic instability threaten our global household. This seminar will explore a variety of current problems and contemplate solutions surrounding the erosion of middle class political and economic power while providing a theological context for these contemporary struggles.

October 7 - Images of Peace Interfaith Prayer Service (Des Moines)
A 7:00 pm at DMACC Auditorium, Urban Campus, 9th and University for an interfaith prayer service featuring a video by Rodger Routh, presenting images of peace from various faith traditions and a variety of perspectives. At the end of the service people will walk to the Path of Peace Sculpture nearby to scatter the soil gathered from representatives of many different faiths at last year's Interfaith Service. Sponsored by the Des Moines Area Ecumenical Committee For Peace. Contact Eloise Cranke at (515) 262-5974 or Susie Paloma at (515) 480-1872.

October 20 - Contra Dance at Odd Fellows Hall (Des Moines)
Contra-Indications is hosting a contra dance at Odd Fellows Hall, 2904 Kingman Blvd, 8:00-11:00 pm, with lesson at 7:30 pm. Live music by Barn Owl Band; Jill Allen as caller. $10 adults; free under 12; $25 family maximum. Visit info@contra-indications.org.

 

07 Sep 2012

Personal Finance Article: High School Grads Need to Understand Credit

By Steve Burke

By Jason Alderman

If you've got a recent high school graduate who's getting ready to head off to college or join the workforce, let me share a few lessons I learned the hard way about managing personal finances that you can pass along to your kids.

Young adults are just starting to build their credit history. In the coming months they'll probably encounter many unfamiliar expenses - and many financial temptations. If they're not careful, a few ill-thought decisions made now could damage their credit for years to come.

Here are several actions your kids can take to build good financial habits and strong credit - and a few minefields to watch out for:

Probably the most fundamental tool to for young adults to help manage their finances is a basic checking account and debit card. A few tips to pass along:

  • Look for a bank/credit union that charges no monthly usage fee, doesn't require minimum balances and has conveniently located ATMs so you don't rack up out-of-network ATM charges.
  • Enter all transactions in the check register and review your account online regularly to know when deposits, checks, purchases and automatic payments have cleared.
  • Don't write checks or make debit card purchases unless the current balance will cover them - many transactions now clear instantaneously.
  • Banks must ask whether you want overdraft protection. If you opt for coverage, understand that overdrafts can be expensive - up to $35 or more per transaction.
  • Request text or email alerts when your balance drops below a certain level, checks or deposits clear, or payments are due.

Credit cards for young adults can be a useful tool, but they must be used responsibly. By law, people under 21 must have a parent or other responsible adult cosign credit card accounts unless they can prove sufficient income to repay the debt. If you allow your child to become an authorized user or joint account holder on one of your accounts, remember that any account activity, good or bad, goes on both your credit reports, so careful monitoring is critical.

Another way to build credit history is to start out with a "secured" credit card - a card linked to an account into which you deposit money. Typically you can charge up to the amount you've deposited and then replenish the account with more funds.

After they've made several on-time payments, have your kid ask the lender to convert it to an unsecured card, or to at least add an unsecured amount to the account. Just make sure that the lender agrees to report your payment history to at least one of the three credit bureaus; otherwise, the account does nothing to improve your credit.

If they qualify for an unsecured credit card, have your kids follow these guidelines:

  • Always make at least the minimum payment - on time - each month.
  • Strive to pay off the full balance each month; otherwise, the accumulated interest will add significantly to your repayment amount.
  • Avoid using credit cards for cash advances, which often incur upfront fees and begin accruing interest immediately.
  • Look for a card with no annual fee and also compare cash advance, late payment, balance transfer, over-the-limit and other fees.

For more tips on building and maintaining strong credit, visit What's My Score, a financial literacy program for young adults run by Visa Inc. (www.whatsmyscore.org).

07 Sep 2012

Bank workers fired over federal regulations, Grassley pursues answers

By Grassley Press
Friday, August 31, 2012

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is looking into the enforcement of federal regulations that are meant to protect consumers from financial fraud but might be penalizing bank employees for old, minor infractions that are not a threat to current financial consumers.  The Des Moines Register reported that Wells Fargo has fired workers including a 68-year-old customer service representative in Des Moines for putting a cardboard dime in a washing machine 49 years ago.  Grassley's staff has had an initial conversation with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the agency that promulgated the rule, to learn more.  His staff has asked the agency for a briefing to cover the topic in more depth, especially regarding allegations that banks including Wells Fargo are seeking waivers from the regulation for executives but simply firing low-level employees rather than pursue waivers for them.  Grassley also wants to know whether the firing of individuals for minor infractions, such as the washing machine incident, was an unintended consequence of the rules.  Grassley's staff also contacted Wells Fargo for a briefing on how the bank is implementing the rules.

 

Sen. Grassley comment:

"I intend to get to the bottom of how these rules can be applied fairly.  The intent of the law was to go after those who posed a potential danger to the financial system, not to target employees who may have committed petty crimes that are decades-old.  Congress gave the FDIC the responsibility to write these regulations.  We have a responsibility to make sure the rules make sense and have their intended effect of protecting the general public."
30 Aug 2012

AS ROMNEY ACCEPTS NOMINATION: Quad City Residents to Call on Bobby Schilling to Reject Romney Economy

By ActionNow.org

Voters to Demand That Representative Schilling Backs an Economy That Works for the 99% -- And An End to Outsourcing, Healthcare Cuts and Corporate Tax Breaks

 

 

(Quad Cities, IL) - On Thursday evening, as Mitt Romney accepts the Republican party's presidential nomination, local citizens who are calling themselves "99% voters" - low wage workers, seniors, community activists, students and more - will roundly reject the Romney Economy.

 

Cynthia Rivers and Sandra Leathers are best friends and among the laid-off and low-wage workers who have just returned from protesting the Romney Economy at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.

 

"I tried to meet and speak with my Congressman Bobby Schilling about these severe Medicare cuts, but was never granted a face-to-face meeting," says Rivers. "I've been to his office twice. I want him to stand with me and the 99% instead of his wealthy friends and colleagues."

 

As part of a nationwide movement rejecting "Mr. 1% -- and any members of Congress who also cater to the 1% at the expense of the 99% -- these citizens will speak out against the elements of the Romney Economy that are dangerous to the working and middle class. They will call on Romney and other Republicans - especially Representative Bobby Schilling - to reject outsourcing, tax breaks for the rich coupled with take hikes for the middle class, cuts to education and healthcare funding.

 

"I marched in the street and rallied at the RNC event in Tampa. Now I want to speak with Congressman Bobby Schilling about how to make the economy work for everyone, not just the richest 1%," explains Leathers.

 

WHAT: Say No to a Romney Economy

WHERE: Republican GOP Headquarters

1721 5th Avenue #100 in Moline, Illinois

WHEN: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 30, 2012

WHO: The 99%: low- wage workers, community activists, students and more

 

- 30 -

30 Aug 2012

5 Tips for Setting Up Shop in Paradise

By Ginny Grimsley
Entrepreneur Shares How He Traded Suit & Tie
for Flip-Flops & Cut-Off Jeans

Dreams come true, but not through wishful thinking, says John Berglund, a corporate executive turned "flip-flop perfumer."

After successful careers as an attorney, lobbyist, trade-association executive and bowling industry magnate, Berglund tired of the corporate rat race.  He was also tired of winters bundled in layers of long johns, shoveling snow.

"Everybody has their own version of paradise," says the author of A Beach Less Traveled: From Corporate Chaos to Flip-Flop Perfumer, (www.abeachlesstraveled.com). "Whether it's New York City, the Great Smokey Mountains or my personal favorite, the French-Caribbean island of St. Martin, paradise is within reach - with a little planning."

An essential part of that was deciding what to do for a living once he got there. Berglund would embark on his new career path as a perfumer with his wife of more than 30 years, Cyndi. How did he do it? He shares the strategies that worked - and some that didn't.

• Dream big ... and do it: Berglund remembers sunning on a pristine beach with his wife, listening to the gentle sounds of wind and turquoise seawater lapping on the shore. When Cyndi heard him order an adult beverage in French, she shook his arm to wake him for the morning commute to work ... in the dead of winter in Wisconsin. He was dreaming - literally. "I'd always had a high standard of living, which I've enjoyed, but it was time for me to risk a completely foreign scenario - in terms of business and lifestyle - and follow this dream."

• Business trends: Boutique perfumeries are where boutique wineries were three decades ago - they're personal, fun and interactive, Berglund says. They're not just about walking into a store and choosing a bottle from a shelf. He offers his customers a hands-on experience customizing their scents, and by using local ingredients, he offers visitors a meaningful souvenir of their stay. Berglund envisions his new business as a model at several vacation destinations.

• Fortitude amid real-world challenges: A dream is the spark to the journey, but moving to St. Martin, where the natives speak French and Dutch, and starting a business takes work. The hurdles for Berglund included the search for property, anxiety on closing the property deal, remodeling, acclimating to life there, obtaining a business license, moving and the language barrier. "These problems may be deal-breakers for many people, but part of the excitement of doing anything worthwhile is the fact that it's not easy," he says.

• A history of business sense: Creating an unprecedented cottage industry may seem like a long shot layered in wishful thinking. "But this isn't my first rodeo," Berglund says. "I've made several career moves throughout my life, and no matter how unlikely, I always came out okay." He acknowledges, however, that he was in the right phase of his life to pull off such a change. Plan and prepare so you're ready for change, he says. Risk is involved.

• Loved ones: Even though Berglund's children were grown and he was capable of achieving his dream, he needed to make sure Cyndi was on board. "You can do all the planning and troubleshooting that is necessary for a dream to work, but the one thing that can change the minds of the most passionate is the opposition of a loved one," he says. "It's worth a discussion with your family early in the planning process."

About John Berglund

John Berglund began his career as the chief county prosecutor at age 24 and then transitioned into a lobbyist and trade-association executive. Another career shift led him to being voted the bowling industry's most influential person for a decade. He followed his passion for chemistry, which he studied in college, and left the "rat race" for his Caribbean perfumery in St. Martin. Berglund lives with his wife of more than 30 years, Cyndi, who has significantly contributed to his dream job in paradise. The couple has two grown children.

30 Aug 2012

Local Retailer Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home Explains How Cooperatives Make a Difference

By Douglas Patch

Thursday, August 30, 2012 (Davenport, IA) As a local Davenport area business and a member of a cooperative, Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home helps explain how cooperatives can be beneficial to business owners and consumers alike. 2012 has been named the International Year of the Cooperative by the United Nations to draw attention and raise awareness around cooperative enterprises.

Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home is a part of the largest cooperative of flooring retailers in North America. As a member of the Carpet One Floor & Home cooperative, they are able to benefit from economies of scale when making purchases, advertising, merchandising their  stores and even training their employees ? all while maintaining their autonomy as a local business.

Because Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home benefits from their membership in a cooperative, they are able to provide their customers the value they're looking for without losing the personal touch of a local business.

"Our membership in the Carpet One Floor & Home cooperative has helped us remain competitive with big-box stores and survive through a rough economy," said Douglas Patch, of Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home. "We don't have to give up our independence, but we still have someone to lean on when we need advice or support."

There are several types of cooperatives. Carpet One Floor & Home is a Purchasing & Shared Services cooperative, but another familiar type of cooperative is a consumer cooperative. Many people are familiar with local food co-ops. There are also producer co-ops like those formed by growers and worker co-ops where the workers actually own the business.

Participating in or purchasing from cooperative businesses helps to keep more money in the local community. Local business owners are more likely to reinvest in the community and donate time to local causes.

Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home would like to help spread the word about the International Year of the Cooperative and help educate consumers on the benefits of participating in and purchasing from cooperatives. "Customers aren't surprised to find that we offer better service than big-boxes, but they are often surprised that we can give them the same value," says Douglas Patch.

To learn more about the International Year of the Cooperative visit their website at http://social.un.org/coopsyear/index.html and join Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home in spreading the word about cooperatives at Facebook.com/ChooseACoop.

About Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home
Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home is a locally owned flooring retailer serving the Davenport area. They are part of North America's leading floor covering co-op. Their showroom is known for carrying a broad selection of beautiful carpet, wood, laminate, ceramic, vinyl, and area rugs including exclusive brands like Bigelow and Lees. They offer a unique customer experience with the exclusive SelectAFloor merchandising system that simplifies the shopping experience and The Beautiful GuaranteeTM, which guarantees that the customer will be 100% happy with their floor. Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home is also the home of the exclusive Healthier Living Installation system. For more information visit NORTHWESTCARPETONEDAVENPORT.COM.

29 Aug 2012

Braley to Attend Harkin Retirement Security Event

By Amanda Bowman

Braley will be the special guest and panelist 

Dubuque, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will join Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) on Thursday for a discussion with Iowans on the retirement crisis. Following the event, the pair will travel to Independence where they will enjoy coffee at Em's Coffee Company, a local business whose owner, Emilea Hillman, testified at a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions subcommittee hearing on disabilities.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

 

2:00 PM CDT      Retirement Security Event with Sen. Harkin 

Hawkeye Community College

Tama Hall, Room 107A

1501 E Orange Road

Waterloo

 

4:00 PM CDT             Em's Coffee Company

324 First Street East

Independence

###
28 Aug 2012

Braley Discusses Small Business Advancements with Iowa Entrepreneurs

By Amanda Bowman

Congressman Braley toured Dubuque and Cedar Falls businesses

Dubuque, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) this week toured two small businesses that were assisted by Small Business Development Centers (SBDC's) in Eastern Iowa. Braley introduced the Main Street Stabilization Act in Congress that helps fifteen Iowa SBDC's provide customized, free and confidential business advice to any small business. Braley also introduced the Support our Startups Act that increases tax deductions available for new startup companies.

"These thriving small businesses are a great way to see important funding at the SBDC and local level making a difference," said Braley. "I have worked hard to ensure that small businesses in Iowa get the assistance they need to succeed. Far Reach and Dubuque Power Equipment, which both received advice from the SBDC, are two great examples of people getting the right information from good resources. I will do everything I can so that the Small Business Administration and SBDC are properly funded and can assist more Iowans to create successful businesses in the future."

Yesterday, Braley toured Dubuque Power Equipment, a shop owned by Karen Ohnesorge. Ohnesorge took a class from Terry Sullivan, director of the SBDC in Eastern Iowa, where she learned a great deal about starting a business, the risks involved, and ways the Small Business Administration could help her achieve her goals. Braley spoke with her about the course, and improvements she would like to see in the program.

Today, Braley toured Far Reach, a local web start-up whose employees were assisted by the UNI Innovation Incubator and the SBDC. After touring the facility, Braley spoke with employees Kate Washut and Chris Rous to discuss how the SBDC helped their company, and how it, and other state and government programs could help small businesses in the future.

 

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