2007 Organic Research Funding Increase
Still In Limbo
New Senate Will Need to Hear From You
The US Department of Agriculture budget for
Fiscal Year 2007 - which started October 1, 2006 - has not
yet been completed by Congress. As a result, increased funding
is stalled for organic farming research, certification cost-sharing,
and enforcement of organic standards. When the 110th Congress
convenes and takes up the unfinished work in
January, organic farmers will have the opportunity to communicate
with legislators about these budget issues.
The 2007 appropriations bills have three key
organic items that are in play: research, enforcement of standards,
and the certification cost-share program. The most important
item from OFRF’s perspective is the proposed
increase in funding for organic farming research and education.
Thanks to Rep. Rush Holt (D-New Jersey) the House appropriations
bill increased funding by $3.145 Million for USDA’s
organic research competitive grants. The Senate Appropriations
Committee only recommended an increase of $93,000.
When the full Senate acts on the USDA Appropriations
bill, OFRF and other groups will seek an amendment that matches
the increase passed by the House. Several key Senators have
indicated interest in supporting such an amendment, or at
least demonstrating Senate support for the House-passed increase
when the House and Senate negotiators meet to work out the
final bill. For more information
on the organic research program and the proposed increase,
go here.
OFRF’s press release about
the amendment is here.
A funding increase is also slated for the National
Organic Program (NOP), the office that writes the organic
certification rules and oversees the certifiers and the National
Organic Standards Board. The budget
line for organic standards and enforcement is set to go from
$2 Million to $3.1 Million. These numbers are the same
in both the House bill and the Senate committee’s package.
However, the Senate committee version requires
that USDA use $500,000 of the NOP increase to continue funding
the certification cost-share program. This program provides
reimbursement to organic farmers up to $500/year for the cost
of getting certified. Without new funding, most states will
run out funds this year. Since the House bill does not mention
the cost-share program, and USDA says it needs the whole NOP
increase for enforcement and writing standards, the
Senate language appears to be the only way to ensure that
the cost-share will continue.
A summary chart of organic provisions in the
Agricultural Appropriations process is here. The website for
the National Organic Program is here.
Look for more updates and
specific action alerts as the new Congress convenes in January.
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