By Lily Hawkins, Policy Director

Republicans “trifecta” in the November election means new USDA appointments and Ag committee changes

Last month, Donald Trump won a second term in the White House. Republicans also retained control of the House by a narrow margin and took the majority in the Senate, winning 53 seats to Democrats 47.

A number of current Agriculture Committee members did not win reelection. This includes Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Representatives Molinaro (R-NY), Chavez Deremer (D-OR), and Caravejo (D-CO). However, a number of organic champions did retain their seats, including Representative Newhouse (R-WA) and Pingree (D-ME).

In the House Agriculture Committee, Chair GT Thompson is likely to retain his leadership position. Current House Ranking Member David Scott is being challenged for the position by Angie Craig (D-MN) and Jim Costa (D-CA). 

The Senate Agriculture Committee will most likely be chaired by current Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is favored to be the next Ranking Member.

Presidential incumbent Donald Trump recently announced Brooke Rollins as his pick for Secretary of Agriculture. Rollins is the current president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, and served as the acting director of the United States Domestic Policy Council under President Trump. She earned a degree in agricultural development from Texas A&M University. 

A one-year Farm Bill Extension is increasingly likely, and another short-term funding patch is possible

With the incoming Republican control of Congress and the White House, a new Farm Bill coming out of the lame duck session is highly unlikely, and lawmakers are discussing a possible one-year extension.

House Republicans rejected Farm Bill language put forward by Senate Democrats in November. That draft language included a number of provisions that OFA has advocated for including: 

  • OREI Plus-Up: Increased funding for Organic Research and Extension Initiatives (OREI) to $100 million by 2029.
  • Organic Research Coordinator: A dedicated position to oversee organic research efforts.
  • Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI): Continued funding for OMRI.
  • Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG): Provisions to support organic agriculture through CIG.
  • Organic Integrity Database (OID): Improvements to the OID to better serve organic dairy producers.
  • Crop Insurance Reforms: Reforms to organic crop insurance programs.
  • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): Removal of caps on organic practices and establishment of a CSP-Organic Initiative.
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and National Organic Program (NOP) Crosswalk: Improved data sharing between NRCS and NOP.

While an extension will keep key USDA programs running, it’s crucial to advocate for an extension that protects organic producers. 

Any extension must be drafted to specifically include continued support for so-called “orphan programs” that lack baseline funding in the Farm Bill. 

  • Organic Certification Cost-Share Program – this program is vital to small farms and businesses, and helps keep producers in the organic program. Level funding the program at $8 million is no longer enough due to rising costs of certification. Congress should provide at least $11 million for the OCCSP in a Farm Bill extension. 
  • Organic Data Initiative – Collects essential data on organic agriculture
  • Organic Certification Trade and Tracking Program – Critical fraud prevention program

Take action now and urge your Senators and Representatives to fight for organic certification cost-share.