Organic Farmers Travel to Washington D.C. to Advocate for Policy Changes
Farm Bill, USDA programs, and organic enforcement are key priorities
Washington, D.C., February 17, 2026—Organic farmers from across the country will attend the Organic Farmers Association’s (OFA) 9th annual Farmer Fly-In, March 2-5, 2026. Alongside organizational members and OFA staff, farmers will meet with legislators, House and Senate Agriculture Committee staff, and representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA to advocate for supportive policies on key issues in the organic farming sector.
Farmers will highlight the urgent need for a new farm bill that supports the interests of organic producers. This includes ensuring that farmers who have invested in the transition to organic certification can obtain the same USDA services and programs that conventional producers rely on, and that U.S. farmers can access the U.S. organic market share without interference from import fraud, corporate control, or consolidation. This is the right time for these conversations as the organic marketplace is growing; dollar sales for organic reached $71.6 billion in 2024, according to the 2025 Organic Market Report.
“Organic farmers are the best spokespeople to educate our legislators on what farmers need to continue to provide healthy food to our communities. Farmers are under a lot of strain, and it’s imperative that Congress works across the aisle to complete a farm bill to update the policies organic farmers need to thrive,” said Executive Director Kate Mendenhall.
The current farm bill has been extended three times, and although many farm bill programs were funded through the 2025 reconciliation package, key policy updates remain necessary.
Other key policy areas being advocated for include:
- Improving organic integrity
- Funding increased organic research
- Making USDA programs like credit and crop insurance work for organic farmers
- Expanding the Organic Certification Cost Share Program
- Providing assistance for organic dairy farmers
- Increasing organic infrastructure and domestic organic supply chains
- Preventing organic import fraud
OFA members will address these priorities during the Farmer Fly-In by building relationships with their legislators to craft policies that will ensure a better future for our country’s food system. They will emphasize the importance of investing in our domestic organic farmers to support national food security, rural development, and put American farmers first in the U.S. market. This year, 27 farmers and four members of organic organizations representing farmers from 19 states will attend.
For more information about the farm bill policies OFA and organic farmers are advocating for, visit organicfarmersassociation.org/policy.
OFA organic farmer members can be made available for interviews by contacting OFA Communications Manager Madison Letizia.
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About Organic Farmers Association
The Organic Farmers Association (OFA) provides a strong and unified national voice for domestic certified organic producers. OFA builds and supports a farmer-led national organic farmer movement and national policy platform by developing and advocating policies that benefit organic farmers; strengthening and supporting the capacity of organic farmers and farm organizations; and supporting collaboration and leadership among state, regional, and national organic farmer organizations.
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Organic Farmers Association members support a strong voice for organic farmers in Washington, D.C.
The Organic Farmers Association is the ONLY national organization where solely independent certified organic farms determine its policies and work agenda. OFA was founded on the belief that the voice of farmers like you should carry the most weight in agricultural policy decisions.
In recent years, OFA has made a difference by putting significant pressure on the USDA to finalize the Origin of Livestock Rule to help organic dairies and finalize the Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule to stop organic fraud and increase enforcement. We testified and advocated to allow paper pots for small-scale vegetable growers, introduced the ODAIRY Act of 2023, and advocated for stronger animal welfare standards for organic livestock and poultry production (OLPS Rule).
We have proved that farmer voices are stronger when we work together. Join us in this movement by becoming a member today!
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Membership
U.S. certified organic farmers should select this membership. Only farm members are eligible to vote on Organic Farmers Association policy positions and priorities. International farmers, or farms that are not certified organic, should select the Supporter Membership.
Supporter Membership
Not a certified organic farmer, but want to support the organic farmers that make our planet and food systems a better place? Supporter members will be connected to the discussions about policies that affect organic farmers, and be called to advocate on their behalf.
Organization Membership
Organizations that have a significant membership (or stakeholders) of certified organic farmers should select this membership. Organization Members receive the tools they need to advocate for policies important to organic farmers and extend their network.