July 2023

By Lily Hawkins, Policy Director

House and Senate Approve Agriculture Appropriations Bills

The House and Senate have each approved agriculture spending bills for next year. While funding levels for key organic programs remain essentially level from 2023 in both bills, the House bill would cut more than $8 billion from the USDA’s operating budget.

In addition to deep cuts to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) the Republican-backed House bill includes damaging cuts to research and technical assistance programs, market opportunities, and equity initiatives. The bill also contains riders that would stop the Biden administration’s efforts to increase competition in agriculture and restrict Secretary Vilsack’s use of Commodity Credit Corporation funding.

Now the House and Senate must work together through the conference process to write and pass consensus legislation. The deadline for passing a final spending bill is September 30, 2023.

OFA Supports Organic-Friendly Farm Bill Marker Bills

OFA is supporting several bills that, if included in the final text of the Farm Bill, will create and improve programs that are crucial to organic farmers.

Opportunities in Organic Act (S. 1582 and H. 3650)

The Opportunities in Organic Act will build on USDA’s Organic Certification Cost Share Program and Organic Transition Initiative to remove barriers to organic production by allowing cost-share payments that cover 100% of certification costs. It will also provide flexible funding for organizations to support organic transition and for organic operations to offset costs and reduce barriers associated with the transition process, and by improving technical assistance available through public agencies, universities, and NGOs.

Strengthening Organic Agriculture Research Act (HR 2720)

Investing in organic research has significant benefits for all farmers, as well as for rural communities and ecosystems. The Strengthening Organic Agriculture Research Act, or SOAR act, will provide additional funding for several important organic research programs.

In addition to the marker bills that have already been introduced, OFA is participating in conversations that we hope will lead to the introduction of strong marker bills to support organic producers in the following ways:

• Improve data collection, build a functioning safely net, and invest in regional infrastructure for organic dairy
• Improve crop insurance access and functionality for organic producers
• Ensure continuous improvement of the organic standards.

Urge your Members of Congress to support organic farmers in the Farm Bill

Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program Application Period Closes this Month

In May, USDA announced the launch of the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP), which will provide certified organic dairy producers with funding to help cover projected marketing costs in 2023.

Organic dairy producers can apply for the program by contacting their local USDA Service Center. They will need to produce documentation showing their 2022 production and proof of organic certification in addition to completing an application form.  Click here for a helpful template for pulling together the required information created by our friends at Northeastern Organic Dairy Producers Alliance and Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance.

Applications are due July 26th. Since less than 50% of the funds earmarked for the program are expected to be released in the first round, OFA will be advocating for additional rounds of disbursement.

NOP publishes new Human Capital Initiative Resources

The National Organic Program (NOP) has published new resources in its Growing the Organic Workforce course in the USDA Organic Integrity Learning Center. These free resources are intended to promote organic market development, protect organic integrity, and enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Newly added topics include Organic Education Curriculum Resources, Introduction to Organic Sector Careers, and an Organic Inspector Career Snapshot

You can access these resources by setting up an account at the Learning Center Access sign-up page, or logging in to your existing account here.

OFA signs on to the position statement Organic Agriculture is Soil-Based

Organic farmers have repeatedly prioritized prohibiting hydroponic production from organic certification because organic is based in the soil. And a group of organic certifiers has refused to certify hydroponic operations because they do not believe it is allowed under the National Organic Standards. The USDA National Organic Program disagrees and has previously issued noncompliances to these agencies.

Soil is inherent in organic agricultural production and critical for a healthy planet and healthy food system. OFA farmer members have voted to oppose organic certification of hydroponic production and urged the NOP to revoke the organic certification of such operations (See the full policy position here) because organic agriculture depends on soil health.

Organizations and farmers are signing on in support of the organic certification agencies who have received non-compliances, and to say that organic farming must be based in the soil.

Support organic farmers and organic integrity by signing on to the Soil Statement.