Suggested Outline and Talking Points for Submitting Testimony
To Chairwoman Stabenow and the 2012 Farm Bill

 
Dear Chairwoman Stabenow:
 
1.     Introduce yourself, your farm, and explain where you are from.

2.     Discuss organic agriculture as it relates to job creation, sector growth, and other meaningful strengths you would like to identify.  Some suggestions:

·     Organic agriculture is the fastest growing sector of U.S. agriculture, keeping farmers on the land, and providing jobs to rural America.
·     The organic farming sector includes 4.1 million acres of organic cropland, farmed by over 14,500 organic family farmers, with representation in all 50 states.  
·     For ten years, the industry has grown at an average annual rate of 20 percent, and continued to experience positive growth through the economic downturn.
·     It has grown from $3.6 billion in 1997 to $29 billion in 2010.  
·     The sector has come out of the recession hiring employees, adding farmers, and increasing revenue.
·     It creates jobs in rural America and provides lucrative market opportunities for American family farmers.
 
3.     Discuss organic agriculture’s role in the 2012 Farm Bill as it relates to some of Stabenow’s identified overarching principles:

·     Chairwoman Stabenow has identified the following overarching principles that will shape the 2012 Farm Bill:
o   conserving our natural resources,
o   supplying healthy foods for the growing world population,
o   revitalizing rural communities,
o   and strengthening the agricultural economy and providing a strong safety net.
·     Organic agriculture has, and can continue to achieve goals and objectives aligned with these principles with the support of the 2012 Farm Bill.  (see descriptions of Key Programs below)

4.     Explain how the Farm Bill should invest in the sector:

·     The Farm Bill should invest in this growing sector in the following ways:
o   Provide research and market information that farmers need to be successful,
o   Help offset the costs of organic certification, and
o   Enforce the organic standards.
o   Reward organic farmers for being responsible stewards of their land
 
5.     Identify the Key Programs:
 
·     The key programs that do this are:
 
Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)
·     OREI is a competitive grants program.
·     It is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
·     It is dedicated to organic research and extension activities.  
·     Research projects funded by OREI help farmers be successful and improve and increase production.
 
The National Organic Certification Cost-share Program (NOCCSP)
·     This cost-share program helps certified organic farmers and handlers offset the costs of certification by providing a small reimbursement of no more than $750 per year, capped at 75% of total certification costs.
·     This small reimbursement helps to reduce the barriers to organic certification for farmer and handlers and is critical to small, mid-sized, and beginning farmers.
 
Organic Data Initiative (ODI)
·     ODI is a small but incredibly significant initiative that funds basic USDA data collection on the organic sector, including the 2008 Organic Production Survey.  
·     Data collection that is on par with the services provided to conventional producers must continue for organic agriculture.
 
National Organic Program (NOP)
·     NOP provides essential regulatory functions that support the survival and growth of the sector.
·     It ensures the integrity of the organic seal,
o   enforces the national organic program standards,
o   accredits certifiers,
o   develops equivalency agreements,
o   and handles complaints.  
·     NOP ensures that consumers are getting what they pay for when they choose foods with the organic label.
 
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative
·     Organic systems are incredibly important in achieving conservation goals.
·     This initiative allows organic farmers to gain access to the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through a cost-share for organic farmers implementing conservation practices.
 
6.     Thank Senator Stabenow, and if you feel comfortable, invite her to visit your farm.

Facts and Figures About the Organic Industry That Could be Used in Your Testimony:

·     The organic industry has grown from $3.6 billion in 1997 to $29 billion in 2010[1] <#_ftn1>
·     The industry had an average annual growth rate of 19% from 1997-2008[2] <#_ftn2>
·     The organic sector grew by 8% in 2010[3] <#_ftn3>
·     96% of organic operations nation-wide are planning to maintain or increase employment levels in 2011[4] <#_ftn4>
·     There are 14,540 organic farms and ranches across the country[5] <#_ftn5>
·     There are 4.1 million acres of land currently in organic management[6] <#_ftn6>
·     There are organic farms in all 50 states[7] <#_ftn7>
·     78% of organic farms report planning to maintain or increase organic production levels over the next five years[8] <#_ftn8>
·     Organic products represent 4% of U.S. Retail market sales[9] <#_ftn9>