On Thursday, February 20, Organic Farmers Association sent a letter to newly confirmed Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins welcoming her to the agency, urging her to restart paused payments to farmers and the organizations that support them, and providing a briefing on issues of top-line importance to organic farmers.

OFA asked that Rollins:

• Provide Strong Organic Integrity Enforcement to Ensure Stable Markets for U.S. Farmers:
• Provide Thorough Oversight and Accreditation of certifying agencies to ensure consistent interpretation of the organic regulations.
• Ensure existing USDA programs are functional for organic farmers

Read the full letter here.

Take Action:

Call 1-833-ONE-USDA to express your concern and share your story if you have been impacted by funding disruptions.

Introduce yourself: My name is ____. I live/farm in (city, state). 

Farmers and the organizations that support them are relying on grants and loans promised through signed contracts for programs such as the Organic Market Development Grant Program, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), and others. If that funding is not delivered, they will face economic harm possibly including bankruptcy or loss of their family businesses. 

Share how you’ve been impacted by disruptions in USDA funding.

Thank Secretary Rollins for restarting some NRCS funding programs, and urge her to unpause all federal funding promised to farmers and the organizations that support them.