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July 3, 2018
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News that impacts organic production
Senate Agriculture Committee passed bipartisan farm bill
Now it will go to committee to decide how to hash out differences between the house and senate
ORGANIC FARMERS ASSOCIATION STATEMENT ON SENATE FARM BILL
June 8, 2018 (Kutztown, PA) – The
Organic Farmers Association (OFA) applauds the Senate Agriculture Committee for releasing a bipartisan
bill that supports organic farmers’ needs and priorities for future
growth.
The Organic Farmers Association thanks Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member Stabenow and members of the committee for recognizing consumers’ demand for more local organic food and including farm bill provisions
that will equip American farmers with what they need to meet that demand through increased domestic production. Especially, the Organic Farmers Association recognizes the work Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Jon Tester
(D-MT) did to include important organic legislation in this Farm Bill.
“Organic Farmers Association is pleased to see some wins for organic farmers in the Senate Farm Bill,” says Dave Colson, Organic Farmers Association President and owner of certified organic New Leaf Farm
in Maine. “American family organic farmers encourage Congress to work toward a bipartisan farm bill that supports the growth of healthy food and families.”
Organic Farmers Association thanks our members—including many organic farmers from across the country who reached out to their Senators to voice their policy needs and priorities while the committee was
in negotiations. We will all need to stay active and follow farm bill development to ensure organic provisions remain in the bill.
Priorities set by farm members of the Organic Farmers Association that were included in the bill are:
· Commitment to
organic integrity by including important tools and funding for the National Organic Program to ensure and enforce organic standards throughout the supply chain.
· Full and mandatory
funding for the organic certification cost-share program, which supports farmers to enter the organic market by reimbursing some of the annual fees for organic certification;
· An increase
in funding for organic research. The bill incrementally increases funding for the Organic Research and Extensive Initiative (OREI) program from its current $20 million per year to $50 million per year by 2022. Organic research is imperative to support farmers’
ability to overcome organic production challenges and continue to meet the growing consumer demand for organic food;
· Full funding
for the Organic Data Initiative (ODI), USDA’s organic data collection program that provides accurate market and production information for the organic community.
Update 6/26/18
Taking the Next Steps for Organic in the Farm Bill
http://ofrf.org/news/taking-next-steps-organic-farm-bill
In a sweeping show of bipartisanship, the Senate voted 86-11 to pass their version of the Farm Bill. With the House passing a different version of the bill without Democratic support,
lawmakers will meet later this summer to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate bills. With the current Farm Bill set to expire on September 30, 2018 there is a lot riding on this process.
Here is a comparison of some of the organic provisions.
Both the House and Senate bills have strong support for organic policies. We would like to express our appreciation for all of the hard work and efforts that members of Congress put in
to advance organic agriculture.
Working closely with both Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate, the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) will continue to advocate strongly for the inclusion of robust
organic provisions in the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is important for all Americans. We strongly encourage the members of the Congress to work toward a bipartisan solution that supports America’s farmers, consumers, communities.
OFRF is in DC working every day to bring farmer voices to Congressional representatives from both parties. Now, more than ever, we are dependent on our supporters like you. A lot is at stake.
Call your representatives today if you want to share your opinion of what is important with regard to the Farm Bill.
To find your representatives in the House visit: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
or call (202) 224-3121
To find your representative in the Senate visit: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/MI
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Vicki Morrone
Organic Farming Specialist
Center for Regional Food Systems at Michigan State University
480 Wilson Rd
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-282-3557 (cell)
sorrone11 (skype)