Farm Bill
The farm bill is a huge package of legislation passed approximately every five years that impacts agriculture, farmers, food access, nutrition, etc. Not only do the policies and programs in the farm bill affect organic farmers, but the funding of those programs has a huge impact on how we are able to move more U.S. agriculture to organic methods and better support successful independent organic farmers.
Every five years, the farm bill expires and is updated: it goes through an extensive process where it is proposed, debated, and passed by Congress and is then signed into law by the President. Each farm bill has a unique title, and the current farm bill is called the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. It was enacted into law in December 2018 and expired in 2023. Last year, the farm bill was delayed. On November 15, 2023, the Senate voted to pass a House bill for a continuing resolution, which included an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill extends the farm bill through September 2024.
Our friends at National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition do a great job of outlining the different farm bill titles and components. Read more about the structure of the farm bill on their site here.
OFA has been working hard to get YOUR farm bill priorities included in the Farm Bill.
Learn More: Farm Bill Priority Issues
Organic Farmers & Farm Bill Advocacy
Organic Farmers Association is involved in helping develop priorities for the farm bill that would support organic agriculture. The farm bill is a massive bill that is the subject of huge amounts of lobbying, so we partner with many sustainable agriculture and organic organizations to help fight for programs that support a strong organic movement. Organic Farmers Association focuses our efforts on programs that support organic farmers.
For Organic Farmers, By Organic Farmers
Although OFA collaborates with many stakeholders, ultimately only U.S. certified organic farm members receive a vote to set the policy priorities we will advocate for in the farm bill. This allows OFA to truly represent the interests of organic farmers.