Midwest Farm Faker Commits Fraud

A Midwest farmer is accused of making millions of dollars by scamming people into believing his corn and soybeans were organically grown.

On July 7^th, James Clayton Wolf of Minnesota was charged in federal court with felony wire fraud. According to CBS News, Wolf falsely labeled the crops on his rural farm as organic- defrauding grain buyers and undermining the organic labeling system.

Get our free mobile app

According to the Star Tribune, Wolf used chemical fertilizers and pesticides on his corn between 2014 and 2020 which he falsely labeled as organic. He also bought non-organic grain, which he did not have a license to purchase, and sold it to buyers as organic.

Wolf’s organic farming certificate was revoked back in 2020. However, CBS News says he continued to dell non-GMO grain as organic through an “associate”.

In order to be considered organic and use the USDA Organic Seal, there are strict production, handling, and labeling standards. According to the USDA, in order for crops to qualify for the organic classification they must:

• Be grown on land that hasn’t had substances applied to it for at least three years before the harvest of an organic crop.
• Soil and crop nutrition are managed through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations, cover crops, and animal and crop waste materials.
• Pests, weeds, and diseases are controlled through management practices that include physical, mechanical, and biological controls.
• Must use organic seeds
• Genetic engineering and sewage sludge use are prohibited

Wolf is accused of wire fraud which is punishable with up to 20 years in prison.