Farm Bill Update –
Significant Wins on Organic;
Conservation Security Program Still Needs Funding!
The House Agriculture Committee approved its version of the Farm Bill last week (July 18th and 19th). Thanks to your phone calls and letters, organic agriculture fended off several proposed attacks and won some significant victories in the committee mark-up. However, the $3.1 billion cut to the Conservation Security Program (CSP), an important program that protects natural resources by rewarding environmental conservation measures that farmers implement, was not rectified during full committee mark-up.
As the revised bill moves to the House floor for a vote on July 26, this is our last chance to put pressure on Congress to restore the $3.1 billion cut from CSP. Rep. Colin Peterson (D-MN), House Agriculture Committee Chair, has left it in the hands of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the Speaker of the House, to find funding for the Conservation Security Program. Please call your Representative TODAY and urge him to pressure Speaker Pelosi to restore the $3.1 billion cut to the Conservation Security Program. Without restoring these cuts, farmers hoping to make environmental and conservation improvements to their land will lack the financial assistance to do so.
Phone Rap: “Hi, my name is ______ and I am a constituent. I urge Rep. Matheson to contact House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and ask her to find the money to restore the $3.1 billion that was cut from the Conservation Security Program in the Farm Bill. The Conservation Security Program rewards farmers who implement farming systems with strong environmental and conservation benefits, and helps to protect soil, water, and other natural resources.”
Update on Organic Priorities in the Farm Bill
Organic Research and Extension – Great progress, but still needs more funding.
The Organic Research and Extension Initiative, the main competitive grants program for organic agriculture research, was funded at $5 million/year in mandatory funding, plus another $25 million in discretionary annual appropriations authority. The mandatory funding is an increase of $2 million/year from the previous farm bill, but falls far short of the $15 million/year in mandatory funding that we had been advocating for. Organic agriculture research is among the most important factors necessary for increasing U.S. organic farming capacity. OFRF will continue to push for $15 in mandatory funding in the Senate version of the Farm Bill. The House Agriculture Committee Bill does include $3 million in mandatory funding over 5 years for organic data collection and analysis.
Organic Certification Cost Share – Preserved!
The Organic Certification Cost Share Program helps defray the cost of organic certification for farmers by up to 75% of the total cost of certification. The program was reauthorized with mandatory funding of $22 million over the life of the farm bill. This is a significant increase from the $5 million it had during the last Farm Bill, but falls short of our request for $25 million. Amendments offered by Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-NY) and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to reduce cost-share funds were both withdrawn due to vigorous grassroots opposition.
Organic Conversion Assistance – Passed!
Representative Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced a successful amendment that creates an Organic Conversion Assistance Program. This program would provide technical assistance and educational assistance to farmers wishing to convert to organic practices, and financial assistance of up to $10,000 per year for three years for farmers. The program was authorized for $50 million over the life of the farm bill, which is a far cry from the $50 million in mandatory funding we were advocating for. But the establishment of this program is a big win and will provide us with a platform to push for more funding down the road.
Fair Share for Organic Research in USDA-ARS Research Budget – Passed!
Representative Steve Kagen (D-WI) introduced a successful amendment urging the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to increase its support for organic research to at least a fair share based on the organic share of the market, including support for the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center to disseminate research results. The current percentage of the USDA-ARS budget that goes towards organic is less than 1%, yet organic accounts for 3% of the U.S. retail market. This amendment will allow research funding to grow commensurate with the organic share of the market.
Organic Practices Made Eligible for CSP Enrollment – Passed!
Representative Tim Walz (D-MN) introduced an successful amendment that makes organic farming practices eligible criteria for Conservation Security Program Enrollment and creates a streamlined and producer friendly process for applicants to apply for both organic certification and CSP. These improvements in the program design make it even more important for organic growers to support funding for CSP.
Conservation Security Program – Needs more funding.
Funding for the Conservation Security Program h $3.1 billion. Without this funding, there will be no funding for new enrollees for this innovative environmental program over the next 5 years. CSP is an innovative and proactive stewardship incentives program first authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill. The CSP provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who develop and maintain conservation systems that solve critical natural resource and environmental concerns, rewarding them for investments of labor, management, and capital aimed at fostering healthy, productive, and non-eroding soils, clear air and clean water, energy savings, and wildlife habitat.
Stay tuned for continued updates and action alerts! Visit our Federal Legislation page for more detailed information on the Farm Bill Process.
Join OFRF's Organic Farmers Action Network by visiting https://ofrf.org/subscribe/ofan.html.
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