Farmers to Advocate for Organic Dairy Policies in Washington D.C.

Farm Bill, Organic Dairy Protections, and Infrastructure to be Discussed

Washington, D.C., July 14, 2025—Organic dairy farmers and representative farmer organizations will gather in Washington, D.C. on July 22, 2025, to meet with legislators to advocate for supportive policies on key issues within the organic dairy farming sector. 

The Organic Farmers Association (OFA) is hosting a special Organic Dairy Fly-In to advocate for the inclusion of organic dairy data collection language in one of a number of possible pieces of legislation. OFA hosts an annual Farmer Fly-In each spring to coordinate meetings between farmers and their representatives and senators, as well as USDA and House and Agriculture Committee Staff to discuss critical policy support for organic farmers.

The introduction of the O DAIRY Act (2023) and the Organic Dairy Data Collection Act (2024), and the inclusion of dairy data language in the Farm Bill drafted in 2024 was celebrated by OFA’s members, who have pushed for dairy-focused support from Congress for years. However, with the future of the Farm Bill in question farmers must continue to advocate for these policies to support organic agriculture.

Organic dairy farmers have faced numerous crises in the recent past. Family-owned organic dairy farms support rural communities, fight environmental degradation, and provide a local supply of high quality milk. However, increased market consolidation in processing and a shrinking field of buyers led to family farmers receiving low pay-prices for many years. And recent unpredictability in energy and feed costs has meant that these pay-prices often do not cover the cost of production. Additionally, since 2016, dairy states have been losing family organic dairy farms at an alarming rate. In Vermont, for example, over 35% of organic dairy family farms have folded or left organic. 

“Organic farmers are uniquely positioned to inform national policymakers about the real challenges they face on their farms and to help shape effective, grounded solutions for expanding domestic organic agriculture. When farmers come to Washington, D.C., their voices take center stage where decisions are made,” said Policy Director, Lily Hawkins.

In addition to these key priorities, farmers will highlight the urgent need for a new Farm Bill that supports the interests of organic producers as a whole. OFA members will be discussing with legislators why Farm Bill funding isn’t just helpful, it’s essential to growing our food system and domestic food production through innovative practices that boost productivity and preserve natural resources. It’s important we invest in our domestic organic farmers for national food security, rural development, and putting American farmers first in our domestic market.

Anyone looking to get involved or support organic farmers can visit the OFA website and take action: organicfarmersassociation.org/take-action 

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 (madison[@]organicfarmersassociation.org).

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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.