by Catherine Haug, February 5, 2012
The NOSB, or National Organic Standard Board:
- Assists the Secretary of Agriculture in developing standards for substances to be used in organic production; and
- Advises the Secretary on other aspects of implementing the national organic program.
See Montana Organic Association’s NOSB page for the summary of the NOSB’s Fall 2011 meeting.
We in Western Montana have a unique opportunity right now to effect the decisions of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), because the new NOSB chairman lives in Polson: Barry R. Flamm. His contact info: 295 Montana Landing, Polson MT 59860; (406) 883-2858; barryexplorer (at) yahoo (dot) com [NOTE: email address disguised for security).
According to the MOA’s Organic Matters Winter 2012 newsletter about Barry:
“During his career as an environmental scientist, Barry distinguished himself as a conservationist and wildlife advocate. During an assignment in Vietnam, he observed first-hand the use of agent orange and returned to the state to publish a paper on its adverse environmental impacts. Barry started the first certified organic sweet cherry orchard in Montana and is a co-founder and past vice-chair of MOA.”
See also the Missoula Independent, October 27, 2011 article, Barry Flamm’s Frontier: The organic pioneer may never run out of things to do