By Lily Hawkins, Policy Director

Farmer Fly-in

Last week, 33 OFA farmers, members, and staff representing 19 states visited Washington DC. After a day of policy meetings and advocacy training, they visited Capitol Hill and conducted over 80 meetings with their Representatives’ and Senators’ offices, as well as staff from the Agriculture Committees, USDA NOP, and HHS. Stay tuned for a full recap in our special April edition of the Organic Voice Magazine.

Farm Bill

On March 5th, the House Agriculture Committee advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R.7567) in a 34-17 vote. This bill, which will move on to the House Floor, is intended to reauthorize the 2018 Farm Bill that originally expired in 2023, but has since been extended several times and now through September of this year.

While a new Farm Bill is essential for the functioning of our food system, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 contains several missed opportunities and harmful measures.

The bill does include a few wins for organic. We applaud the inclusion of language from the Organic Dairy Data Collection Act. This is a vital step toward providing the transparency and data infrastructure necessary to support the unique economic needs of organic dairy producers.

The bill also includes an amendment introduced by Rep Tony Weid (R-WI) that would allow USDA to develop risk-based organic certification procedures with the aim of making certification less burdensome for low-risk producers.

However, the bill represents a significant missed opportunity to invest in the growth of the organic sector. With flat funding for organic research, certification cost-share, and technical assistance, the bill fails to keep pace with consumer demand and the needs of climate-smart farmers.

Furthermore, the bill contains several measures that OFA strongly opposes. 

Pesticide Preemption & Public Health: The bill currently shields chemical companies from liability and preempts the authority of state and local governments to regulate pesticide usage or limit pollution. OFA strongly supported the Pingree Protect Our Health Amendment, which aimed strip these harmful provisions and restore the ability of communities to protect themselves from chemical exposure. The amendment was voted down in committee

Undermining State Sovereignty (Anti-Prop 12 Provisions): The House draft includes measures designed to nullify California’s Proposition 12 by prohibiting states from setting production standards for livestock raised outside their borders. This ignores the 2023 Supreme Court ruling and threatens the ability of states to implement animal welfare standards that consumers demand. While some claim this protects small producers, it actually undermines the market premiums that many high-standard farmers rely on.

Reductions in Conservation Funding: According to CBO calculations, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) faces a budget authority cut of approximately $1 billion over the next four fiscal years. Reducing EQIP funding restricts the ability of farmers to implement essential conservation practices, making it harder for producers to transition to or maintain organic certification during a time of increasing environmental volatility.

Next Steps:

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 must still pass a vote on the House floor. Meanwhile the Senate is expected to introduce their own version of a Farm Bill, which will need to pass both the Agriculture Committee and on the Senate Floor. The 2 bills would then need to go to conference committee so that they are aligned, and then go back to pass in both the House and Senate before being signed into law by the President. While it is possible that this could happen in 2026, deep political divides and slim majorities in both chambers present significant challenges.

OFA will continue to advocate for a Farm Bill that meets the needs of organic farmers!