More Organics Please!

Why organics in the upcoming the Farm bill? Read the organic sign-on letter outlining why we need more support for organic agriculture in the Farm Bill.

Read our summary of organic priorities in the Farm Bill.

House Ag Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture Hold Historic Farm Bill Hearing on Organic Agriculture
The Ag Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture held the first hearing ever dedicated solely to organic agriculture and the Farm Bill on April 18th, 2007. Food and Farming Member, Mark Lipson of the Organic Farming Research Foundation, was one of twelve witnesses. Read the testimony and press reports on the hearing. For a summary of the House and Senate hearings, click here.

California Coalition for Food and Farming and Organic Farmers and Businesses Urge Rep. Cardoza to expand support for organic agriculture in the Farm Bill
With the Democratic take over of the House of Representatives, California Congressman Dennis Cardoza has assumed leadership of a newly established Agriculture Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture. The California Coalition on Food and Farming, together with the Organic Farming Research Foundation, and others had drafted this letter to Cardoza outlining a set of proposals to expand public support and investment in organic agriculture. The letter was presented to Mr. Cardoza by CAFF and CCOF Board member Cindy Lashbrook in February at a listening session in his district. The letter has been signed by more than 100 California organic farmers, businesses and organizations. (Read our press release). Several organic growers, Food and Farming and OFRF met with staff afterwards and provided more information about our organic and local food system proposals. An even larger California Food and Farming delegation met with Cardoza's staff in Washington DC and continued to press for inclusion of these proposals in the Bill. You can hear a story about organic farmers’ interests in the Farm Bill on the California Report: "California organic growers want a seat at the Farm Bill Table." We are pleased that Representative Cardoza has indicated that he will be including a number of organic agriculture proposals as his Committee begins mark up on the EAT Healthy America Act in the month of May. We will keep you posted on

Our organic priorities in the Farm Bill:

Key priorities for organic agriculture outlined in the sign-on letter:

• Increase funding for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) and prioritize support for organic conservation practices so that more organic farmers can participate in the program
• Reauthorize Organic Certification Cost-Share at $25 million.
• Establish a National Organic Conversion and Stewardship Incentive Program at $50 million annually that prioritizes small and mid-sized growers and the adoption of advanced 100% organic farming conservation systems.
• Provide mandatory funding for the CSREES-Integrated Organic Program (IOP) of at least $15 million/year.
• Ensure that the proposed Specialty Crops Economic and Policy Research Institute incorporate a specific focus on organic agriculture.
• Establish equitable fee structures in crop insurance programs as well as reimbursement rates for organic losses based on historical payments for the organic crops.
• Increase funding for the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) to $20 million to build direct farmer-to-consumer marketing ventures.
• Authorize $45 million in annual mandatory funding for regional planning and technical assistance pilot projects targeting distribution and processing infrastructure for small and mid sized growers to serve local, regional and institutional markets.