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AS we hear the news of the government shut downs and reduced staff to no staff, here is an update about the USDA National Organic Program, shared to you from the National Organic Coaliton. From: National Organic Coalition <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: National Organic Coalition <[log in to unmask]> Date: Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 9:54 AM To: vicki morrone <[log in to unmask]> Subject: USDA National Organic Program closed due to government shutdown View this email in your browser<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__mailchi.mp_ebf4f9d4c9ca_usda-2Dnational-2Dorganic-2Dprogram-2Dclosed-2Ddue-2Dto-2Dgovernment-2Dshutdown-3Fe-3De03c985537&d=DwMFaQ&c=nE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=eGU42KErkdd3t2QFeuLhJQ&m=xy4-vqM99RvyLibAYkb-42KkiyJdJJ_kRrkKG9_GvfE&s=7VKSnf2NWvl_Hz7vsB1wvBpV23rbPqnl3aEDPMxSkMU&e=> [Image removed by sender.] Thank You Farm Bill Advocates – We Have a Bill! Government Shutdown Impacts National Organic Program at the USDA The partial government shutdown is now moving into its third week and it’s one of the longest government shutdowns in U.S. history. Employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture are furloughed, with significant impacts on the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), which is responsible for enforcing the organic regulations, facilitating the work of the National Organic Standards Board, and overseeing certifying agents. While enforcement activities by certifying agents will continue, enforcement activities conducted by the NOP, including investigations, suspensions of certifiers and operators, and issuance of penalties for violations, cannot be performed until the USDA is reopened. For more information about how the NOP is impacted, see the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service guidance<https://ota.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=002145caa576890ae8569e728&id=052710fac5&e=9c047c3788> regarding the status during a shutdown. The Farm Service Agency, which now operates the organic certification cost-share program alongside state agencies, is also closed due to the shutdown. The shutdown will likely slow down implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill, which was signed into law on December 20. If the shutdown continues over the long-term, it could impact the annual NOP training for certifying agents at the end of January and the Seattle National Organic Standards Board meeting in April. Two public nutrition programs administered by the USDA, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, could run out of money if the government shutdown continues through February and beyond. Letting these programs lapse would be unprecedented and would affect tens of millions of Americans. The House of Representatives is expected to pass several standalone spending bills this week to reopen large parts of the government, including the Agriculture Department. The Agriculture Appropriations bill under consideration by the House would achieve big wins on behalf of organic by increasing funding for the NOP and for organic and sustainable agriculture research. This bill, however, is unlikely to move forward at this time in the Republican-controlled Senate because Senate GOP leaders have indicated that they will only bring forward legislation that has support from President Trump. President Trump wants $5.6 billion for a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, which is not included in the House legislation. “This shutdown could end tomorrow or it also could go on for a long time,” he said this past Sunday. NOC would like to thank our member organizations, Network Affiliates<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nationalorganiccoalition.us17.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D2dcd31b9f740c722eb5d5f62d-26id-3D833201f5c6-26e-3De03c985537&d=DwMFaQ&c=nE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=eGU42KErkdd3t2QFeuLhJQ&m=xy4-vqM99RvyLibAYkb-42KkiyJdJJ_kRrkKG9_GvfE&s=e5brBj9yb0LopGWWjJe6sNOvcS0wbQn9Whsl8GQ4xfM&e=>, and the many farmers and individuals who advocated on behalf of organic and good food policies in the 2018 Farm Bill. Thank you for responding to our action alerts, reaching out to your elected officials, and following the play by play during this long and arduous process! Our collective voices made a difference in the outcome. Thanks to the advocacy of folks like you, we were able to: * Save the organic certification cost-share program. This program was completely eliminated in an earlier version of the House Farm Bill. * Significantly increase funding for organic research. Funding for the OREI program will increase to $50 million in 2023. This amount more than doubles the current level of funding and provides permanent baseline funding for this critical program, which means it's less likely to be cut in future farm bills. * Expand resources and authority to deter fraud in the marketplace and strengthen enforcement for organic imports. * Continue critical funding for organic data collection. And more! Read the full details in NOC’s 2018 Farm Bill Organic Scorecard<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nationalorganiccoalition.us17.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D2dcd31b9f740c722eb5d5f62d-26id-3D1fdfaa1b09-26e-3De03c985537&d=DwMFaQ&c=nE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=eGU42KErkdd3t2QFeuLhJQ&m=xy4-vqM99RvyLibAYkb-42KkiyJdJJ_kRrkKG9_GvfE&s=mk-bnGYbsCnqeu2PehdlmwwZ0f5ae5LECrrFWWz4X6c&e=>. Unfortunately, the bill contains deeply troubling provisions that impose statutory changes on the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), the USDA advisory board responsible for keeping toxic substances out of organic production and processing. NOC has been consistently and vocally opposed to these and other changes to the NOSB – we appreciate your advocacy on this issue and believe your voice made a difference in fending off other proposed changes that would have weakened the structure and authority of the Board. Save the Date: NOC Pre-NOSB Meeting on Tuesday, April 23 in Seattle NOC’s Pre-NOSB Meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 23 at the Seattle Renaissance Hotel. Please RSVP<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nationalorganiccoalition.us17.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D2dcd31b9f740c722eb5d5f62d-26id-3D1c77ae7558-26e-3De03c985537&d=DwMFaQ&c=nE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=eGU42KErkdd3t2QFeuLhJQ&m=xy4-vqM99RvyLibAYkb-42KkiyJdJJ_kRrkKG9_GvfE&s=oH254i_Zolk4nNZ6Fq3dGnLK3IWFxnR6E-FRXED6r3U&e=> if you plan to participate. The Pre-NOSB meeting serves as a public forum for diverse stakeholders to discuss some of the most urgent and challenging issues impacting the organic community. The National Organic Standards Board will meet from Wednesday, April 24 until Friday, April 26 at this same location. Learn more<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nationalorganiccoalition.us17.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D2dcd31b9f740c722eb5d5f62d-26id-3D23a97c781b-26e-3De03c985537&d=DwMFaQ&c=nE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=eGU42KErkdd3t2QFeuLhJQ&m=xy4-vqM99RvyLibAYkb-42KkiyJdJJ_kRrkKG9_GvfE&s=ZDs8neXkdVHpvktI0lcRe-T06tdcjTmBiGjf9dEQb64&e=>. We hope you will join us in Seattle! GMO Disclosure Rules Will Leave Consumers in the Dark [Image removed by sender.] On December 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released long-awaited final regulations for the mandatory disclosure of foods produced using genetic engineering (GE or GMO), which it calls "bioengineered foods." The final regulations include provisions which will leave the majority of GMO derived foods unlabeled; discriminate against more than 100 million Americans; and prohibit the use of the widely known terms “GMO” and “GE.” “The USDA has betrayed the public trust by denying Americans the right to know how their food is produce,” stated Andrew Kimbrell, executive director at Center for Food Safety. “Instead of providing clarity and transparency, they have created large scale confusion and uncertainty for consumers, food producers, and retailers.” Learn more<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nationalorganiccoalition.us17.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D2dcd31b9f740c722eb5d5f62d-26id-3Dc526be67ef-26e-3De03c985537&d=DwMFaQ&c=nE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=eGU42KErkdd3t2QFeuLhJQ&m=xy4-vqM99RvyLibAYkb-42KkiyJdJJ_kRrkKG9_GvfE&s=_le6y-o6iDDjIgzdJsuXbEluyusj7MwjmIQONyq94m0&e=>. New Guidebook on Organic Agriculture and Climate Change In December, the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) released a guidebook, Organic Practices for Climate Mitigation, Adaptation, and Carbon Sequestration<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nationalorganiccoalition.us17.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D2dcd31b9f740c722eb5d5f62d-26id-3D3c505427ba-26e-3De03c985537&d=DwMFaQ&c=nE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=eGU42KErkdd3t2QFeuLhJQ&m=xy4-vqM99RvyLibAYkb-42KkiyJdJJ_kRrkKG9_GvfE&s=4_m6QAuHsmktShr_6WRI2X-l-W6XcqvWYAC4JJjyFDI&e=>. This guidebook examines organic farming practices that sequester soil carbon and minimize nitrous oxide and methane emissions. The guide includes practical advice for reducing an organic farm’s “carbon footprint” and adapting to climate disruptions already underway. Research shows that building soil health through sustainable organic management practices can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and lessen the impacts of climate change on production. Learn more<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nationalorganiccoalition.us17.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D2dcd31b9f740c722eb5d5f62d-26id-3Db0ef17e278-26e-3De03c985537&d=DwMFaQ&c=nE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=eGU42KErkdd3t2QFeuLhJQ&m=xy4-vqM99RvyLibAYkb-42KkiyJdJJ_kRrkKG9_GvfE&s=rd_CitdfKvdO6ZgR6HmEKjEHC-exQZcEpzQJfMr2QYQ&e=>. Real Organic Project Seeks Public Comments on Provisional Standards The Real Organic Project provisional standards for a new add-on label were created in Winter 2018 by the Real Organic Standards Board. The standards are based on the principal that healthy soil is the foundation of organic farming. The Real Organic Project is asking the organic community to provide feedback on its crop and livestock standards. Please send comments via email by February 2, 2019, to [log in to unmask] with the subject line Standards. Learn more<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nationalorganiccoalition.us17.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D2dcd31b9f740c722eb5d5f62d-26id-3D92ff9538ef-26e-3De03c985537&d=DwMFaQ&c=nE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=eGU42KErkdd3t2QFeuLhJQ&m=xy4-vqM99RvyLibAYkb-42KkiyJdJJ_kRrkKG9_GvfE&s=JMmLvM5V6AXvSRPNY0LVGDOOCLRjwE5nSpqatvlPSOk&e=>. NSAC Seeks Coalition Director The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is seeking an energetic, passionate, experienced and collaborative Coalition Director to provide executive level leadership to NSAC, its staff, governing body, and membership. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is identified. Early applications are encouraged, and applications will be considered as they are received. Learn more<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nationalorganiccoalition.us17.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D2dcd31b9f740c722eb5d5f62d-26id-3Dc11b875053-26e-3De03c985537&d=DwMFaQ&c=nE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=eGU42KErkdd3t2QFeuLhJQ&m=xy4-vqM99RvyLibAYkb-42KkiyJdJJ_kRrkKG9_GvfE&s=aLxZrJ9njNQ0fHNJUFh7XmyL-kDJ22wrlZQIgmSNmL0&e=>. IFOAM North America Seeks Executive Director IFOAM North America is a new regional body of the world’s first international organization for organic agriculture. IFOAM NA’s Mission is to educate the public, provide a forum to exchange ideas and engage in North American-specific activities to advance organic agriculture and its principles, in partnership with IFOAM Organics International and the global organic community. IFOAM North America has put forward a request for proposals for an Executive Director who would be responsible for carrying out the IFOAM North America strategic plan. Learn more<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nationalorganiccoalition.us17.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D2dcd31b9f740c722eb5d5f62d-26id-3D64a9f53d9e-26e-3De03c985537&d=DwMFaQ&c=nE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=eGU42KErkdd3t2QFeuLhJQ&m=xy4-vqM99RvyLibAYkb-42KkiyJdJJ_kRrkKG9_GvfE&s=_N9I1PMBvtjdJH3uA80UHW7mib0Wjlp4dVlMEOURgc0&e=>. Help Strengthen the Future of Organic! [Image removed by sender.] The unified voice of the National Organic Coalition members is one of the ONLY national efforts to work comprehensively on both legislative and regulatory issues that affect organic production from the perspective of farmers, consumers, environmentalists, and business. 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