The House Committee on Appropriations Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee included language in their FY20 bill last week instructing USDA to implement the 2015 Origin of Livestock Rule. The Organic Farmers Association is asking for your help to encourage the Senate to close loopholes that exist by including the same language in their bill.

Please call or email your Senator’s Agriculture Legislative Assistant this week to ask that they reach out to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies to include the following bill language in their FY20 proposal.

To find your Senator’s Email & Phone Number: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Talking points for an email/phone call:

Dear Staff,

I am an organic farmer/consumer and member of the <<YOUR ORGANIZATION>> in the state.  One of our top appropriations priorities has been to tell USDA to close loopholes in the Origin of Livestock Rule. The House bill includes this language. We want to put all organic dairy operations on a level playing field, this requests helps level that playing field.

Could you please reach out to staff on the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee to ask them to include the following language in their FY 20 bill:

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue a final rule based on the proposed rule entitled ‘‘National Organic Program; Origin of Livestock,’’ published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 23455):Provided, That the final rule shall incorporate public comments submitted in response to the proposed rule.

This is the same language included in the House bill. Please let me know if you have any questions.

 Sincerely,

<<Your Name>>