Who We Are
NPSAS is a 33-year-old grassroots educational organization and has worked to:
- Advocate for better federal and state farm/food policies
- help Northern Plains farmers convert their farms to organic systems,
- increase the region's land grant research in organic and sustainable agriculture,
- protect the integrity of the organic label,
- promote healthy trade relationships in the organic industry, and
- develop local food systems.
NPSAS's constituency is farm families and others interested in sustainable agriculture. Members are located primarily in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana, as well as neighboring states of Iowa, Wyoming, and Nebraska.
An important component of our education and outreach is the NPSAS Annual Winter Conference, a two-day event featuring keynotes, concurrent workshop sessions, beginning organic farming seminar, seed savers exchange, and trade show. The Summer Symposium and Farm Tour is held during the growing season touring an actual farm. NPSAS events concentrate on utilizing member farmers' knowledge and expertise. Foodstuffs served at all NPSAS events are locally sourced and organically produced.
NPSAS publishes a quarterly newsletter consisting of research, industry news, new educational resources, articles written by member producers, organizational news, events, marketing resources, and more. NPSAS also maintains a resource library, "how to" publications, and this website featuring position papers, articles, upcoming events, a directory of producers who market directly to consumers, extensive links to other resource sites, and more.
Membership is open and based upon yearly dues.
If you are interested in joining our mailing list, please Email Us . We hope our communications will keep you informed about and engaged in sustainable agriculture issues. We do not sell or give away our mailing lists.
"NPSAS does a commendable job of weaving together the human and environmental elements of complex farming issues, with a unique ability to ignite that which is most honorable and creative in the human spirit. Theirs is an articulate and impassioned voice deserving a wide audience."
Local Harvest, Ocean Group