Mark Haines

Debarment was proposed because on November 17, 2023, Mark Haines was found guilty of mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341, and of conspiracy to defraud the United States (i.e., the Internal Revenue Service), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. In the Plea Agreement of April 17, 2023, HAINES stipulated that he promoted and sold conventional grain as organic and that from 2015 through 2018, planted conventional seeds rather than organic seeds for organic crops, used prohibited chemicals, and marketed and sold the resulting crops as organic. HAINES also admitted that he took several actions to conceal the fraudulent scheme from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the National Organic Program (NOP). For further information contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agency Exclusions POC.