OFA Celebrates Finalization of OLPS
For years, Organic Farmers Association and others in the organic community have advocated for more clear and stringent standards for organic livestock and poultry production. Today, the new Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) Rule was filed in the Federal Register. OFA applauds the release of this long-awaited rule, which we have advocated for before Congress and the USDA for years.
OLPS clarifies the production standards of avian and mammalian livestock to support consistent enforcement across producers and re-establish a strong organic label that assures consumers that USDA-certified organic livestock products meet a robust and uniform standard valuing both environmental and animal welfare. The rule:
- Clarifies living conditions, healthcare, transportation, and slaughter practices to support animal welfare for mammalian livestock species.
- Establishes poultry indoor and outdoor space requirements and stocking density limits, and clarifies that enclosed porches are not considered outdoor spaces.
USDA organic standards have always required outdoor access for poultry and livestock as well as living conditions that allow animals to express their natural instincts and the majority of organic livestock farmers uphold these standards. However, these regulations have not been consistently enforced and some certifiers have allowed large poultry companies to use narrow, enclosed porches instead of true outdoor access. This inequitable enforcement and interpretation has created an unfair playing field for organic livestock farmers and has undermined consumers' confidence in the organic label.
“OFA celebrates the finalization of the OLPS rule," says Kate Mendenhall, Executive Director, Organic Farmers Association. “These new standards will close loopholes in poultry production, laying important steps towards a more level playing field for organic poultry producers and improving animal welfare. We encourage the USDA to keep working towards high organic integrity. This is a step in that direction and there’s more work to do.”
While celebrating this important step for animal welfare, OFA recognizes that some important details were not included in the final rule. Notably, the rule allows five years for both layer and broiler producers to comply with the new rule, rather than three years as OFA recommended. Additionally, the rule failed to provide clarity around animal welfare standards for organic swine production. OFA will conduct an in-depth analysis of the rule in the coming days.
Find the final rule on the federal register and an OLPS fact sheet on the rule from the USDA.
O DAIRY Act of 2023 Introduced
ORGANIC DAIRY GROUPS APPLAUD INTRODUCTION OF O DAIRY ACT
Organic dairy farmers around the nation are facing an economic crisis caused by weather-related disasters, market consolidation, and skyrocketing energy and feed costs brought on by unstable global markets and inflation. Today, Senator Peter Welch of Vermont introduced the Organic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields Act (O DAIRY ACT) to provide long-needed support for organic dairy producers. The bill will provide improved data collection, support to help cover dramatically increased input costs, and key investments in infrastructure.
The O Dairy Act of 2023 would provide crucial support to the organic dairy industry in the United States. Specifically, the bill:
- Extends ELAP to organic dairy farmers facing losses due to factors like organic feed shortages and increased input costs that result in a net income decrease of more than 10% in a given year.
- Requires the USDA to streamline the payment process under this program.
- Mandates improved data collection for organic dairy, including cost-of-production data for organic milk, feedstuff prices, and other production-related costs.
- Establishes the "Organic All Milk Price Survey" to collect and report data about organic milk prices.
- Requires the USDA to publish periodic reports for organic milk, equivalent to data reported for conventionally produced milk.
- Directs the USDA to develop a proposal and submit a report to Congress with recommendations for implementing an organic dairy safety net program.
- Establishes programs and positions to boost infrastructure investments, research, and innovation within the organic dairy sector, including authorizing funding for on-farm processing infrastructure.
Endorsing organizations include:
Organic Farmers Association, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Straus Family Creamery, Center for Food Safety, and National Organic Coalition.
"Organic dairy farmers in Vermont and around the country are facing an ongoing economic crisis fueled by supply chain volatility, increased input costs, and pay prices below their cost of production," says Grace Oedel, Executive Director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont. "These farms combat climate change, produce nourishing food, and keep our rural communities healthy. We're grateful for Senator Welch's leadership in bringing this bill forward to provide much needed support."
"Family run organic dairy farms provide healthy food and environmental stewardship to rural communities across the country. The O DAIRY Act can provide much needed investments to alleviate the economic crisis these farmers are facing, and provide valuable data collection to inform future support for the industry," says Kate Mendenhall, Executive Director of Organic Farmers Association. "We applaud Senator Welch for championing this important work."
“It is very encouraging to see the introduction of the O DAIRY Act. The organic dairy industry has faced several unique challenges over the last five years that have resulted in several farms across the country closing their doors. While acknowledging that there is still more work to be done, organic dairies like mine see this as a huge step towards providing stability to organic milk sheds across the country,” says Zach Cahill, Board President of Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance. “The organic dairy community applauds the numerous folks who have stepped up to fight for the rural communities that this Act will help support.”
"This bill will provide for the collection of organic dairy production data—the same type of data that has long been compiled for conventional dairy”, says Kathie Arnold, a co-owner/operator of Twin Oaks Dairy LLC in Truxton, NY that has been producing organic milk for 25 years. “The data is as essential for organic dairy as it is for conventional in providing a basis for good decision-making and policy development.” Arnold also states that, “A lack of adequate processing facilities has caused a loss of markets for organic dairy farms in some regions of the country and this bill will provide support for additional processing capacity. Without sufficient processing plants, organic dairy farmers’ milk cannot reach the consumer.”
Download OFA's O DAIRY Act Fact Sheet
TAKE ACTION
Ask your legislators to support organic dairy farmers in the 2023 Farm Bill.
For more information contact Lily Hawkins - Organic Farmers Association, Policy Director
Make Change for Organic Farmers During Organic Harvest Month
For organic farmers, September may just feel like the month that comes after the dog-days of summer. With the little bit of relief the transition to a new season provides before looking toward winter, it’s easy to just keep moving and not acknowledge the successes and hard work that results in this month’s harvest. So, this September we’re going to celebrate organic farmers and the healthy organic food they grow and raise in honor of Organic Harvest Month.
Designated as Organic Harvest Month, September, when harvests are at their peak in many regions of the U.S., is a great time to support the farmers who steward clean air, soil, and water and make a positive impact on our planet for the next generation. To mark the occasion and continue our mission of providing a strong and unified national voice for organic farmers and supporting a farmer-led national organic farmer movement, OFA is launching the Make Change for Organic Farmers campaign. We’ll be sharing a few stories of organic farmers this month, but also launching a fundraising campaign to support our members and work.
Our goal is to raise $5,000 to continue our mission and work in strengthening organic farmer voices like yours in D.C. during the final few months of this Farm Bill year.
There’s a strong possibility the Farm Bill draft won’t be released in September and we’ll need to continue our intense advocacy in our key priority areas later into the year. As we work to have organic included in climate and USDA programs, and ensure organic integrity and keep organic fraud at bay, we’ll need to lean into our advocacy and policy work even harder in the upcoming months.
Make Change for Organic Farmers Campaign
This unique campaign uses “set and forget” automated monthly donations to make it even easier to support OFA’s mission. All you need to do to support OFA this month is donate your spare change from your everyday purchases by joining our Make Change for Organic Farmers campaign.
By helping OFA raise $5,000 this September in honor of Organic Harvest Month, you can ensure we can keep working to make organic farmers’ voices heard on our Farm Bill policy priorities.
OFA was created to build the collective power of organic farmers and make the issues organic farmers care about heard by changemakers. This September, with just your spare change, you can help us Make Change for Organic Farmers and make an impact this fall in D.C.
Stay tuned throughout the month for stories and campaign updates from the OFA team. And of course, take a moment to celebrate the hard work of organic farmers in your community and network.