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2007 Organic Research Funding Increase Still In Limbo


New Senate Will Need to Hear From You


The US Department of Agriculture budget for Fiscal Year 2007 - which
started October 1, 2006 - has not yet been completed by Congress. As a
result, increased funding is stalled for organic farming research,
certification cost-sharing, and enforcement of organic standards. When
the 110th Congress convenes and takes up the unfinished work in January,
organic farmers will have the opportunity to communicate with
legislators about these budget issues. 

The 2007 appropriations bills have three key organic items that are in
play: research, enforcement of standards, and the certification
cost-share program. The most important item from OFRF's perspective is
the proposed increase in funding for organic farming research and
education. Thanks to Rep. Rush Holt (D-New Jersey) the House
appropriations bill increased funding by $3.145 Million for USDA's
organic research competitive grants. The Senate Appropriations Committee
only recommended an increase of $93,000. 

When the full Senate acts on the USDA Appropriations bill, OFRF and
other groups will seek an amendment that matches the increase passed by
the House. Several key Senators have indicated interest in supporting
such an amendment, or at least demonstrating Senate support for the
House-passed increase when the House and Senate negotiators meet to work
out the final bill. For more information on the organic research program
and the proposed increase, go here
<http://ofrf.hopto.org:81/CT00005303MzI2NDUA.HTML> . OFRF's press
release about the amendment is here
<http://ofrf.hopto.org:81/CT00005304MzI2NDUA.HTML> .

A funding increase is also slated for the National Organic Program
(NOP), the office that writes the organic certification rules and
oversees the certifiers and the National Organic Standards Board. The
budget line for organic standards and enforcement is set to go from $2
Million to $3.1 Million. These numbers are the same in both the House
bill and the Senate committee's package. 

However, the Senate committee version requires that USDA use $500,000 of
the NOP increase to continue funding the certification cost-share
program. This program provides reimbursement to organic farmers up to
$500/year for the cost of getting certified. Without new funding, most
states will run out funds this year. Since the House bill does not
mention the cost-share program, and USDA says it needs the whole NOP
increase for enforcement and writing standards, the Senate language
appears to be the only way to ensure that the cost-share will continue. 

A summary chart of organic provisions in the Agricultural Appropriations
process is here <http://ofrf.hopto.org:81/CT00005305MzI2NDUA.HTML> . The
website for the National Organic Program is here
<http://ofrf.hopto.org:81/CT00005306MzI2NDUA.HTML> .

Look for more updates and specific action alerts as the new Congress
convenes in January

 

 

Vicki Morrone

Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist

Michigan State University

C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems

303 Natural Resources Bldg.

East Lansing, MI 48824

517-353-3542

517-282-3557 (cell)

517-353-3834 (fax)

http://safs.msu.edu/ 

http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/

 

 


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