Organic Seedlings Grow in Washington
(And we're not Talking About the
White House Organic Garden)
May 1, 2009
In this Issue:
You can help shape the future of USDA research!
EQIP Interim Final Rule falls short on recognizing benefits of organic; OFRF comments are now available.
Meet with your member of Congress on organic agriculture budget priorities during upcoming Congressional recesses.
The latest on Obama nominations to USDA leadership positions.
Applications to Organic Ag Research Program double.
USDA data shows increases in number of organic operations by state.
Can WIC checks be used for organic in your state? Let us know.
Reminder: USDA seeking nominations for National Organic Standards Board.
Organic Farmers - Remember to look for your USDA Organic Growers Survey this month.
Job Opportunities at the USDA National Organic Program.
Gain experience and college credit as an OFRF Policy Intern.
You Can Help Shape the Future of USDA Research –
Your Input Needed by May 31, 2009
The USDA Research, Education and Extension Office (REEO) requests public input on the development of a “Roadmap” for USDA research, education, and extension. The REEO Roadmap will identify current trends and constraints, and major opportunities and gaps in federal agricultural research, education, and extension. The Roadmap will also be used to set the USDA’s research, education, and extension agenda. Read the Federal Register Notice for more information and instructions on how to submit comments.
OFRF will release an action alert with specific talking points through our Organic Farmers Action Network (OFAN). Stay tuned!
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EQIP Interim Final Rule Falls Short on Recognizing Benefits of Organic; OFRF Comments are Now Available
The deadline for submitting comments for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Interim Final Rule was Friday, April 17, 2009. OFRF has concerns that the Rule does not properly recognize the conservation benefits of organic. (Read our last action alert for more info.) Our comprehensive and detailed comments, with specific recommendations on how to better reward organic farming practices through EQIP are available on our website. We will keep you posted on the final changes made to the EQIP Rule.
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Meet With Your Member of Congress on Organic Agriculture Budget Priorities During Upcoming Congressional Recesses
Members of Congress will be in their districts/states from May 25-29 and from June 29 – July 3. They need to hear from farmers about the importance of funding sustainable and organic agriculture priorities in the 2010 budget, especially if they are on the Ag Appropriations Subcommittees in either the House or the Senate.
Read OFRF's priorities for the 2010 budget and our newly submitted testimony to the House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee for the 2010 Appropriations Bill. If your members of Congress sits on one of those committees (find out who represents you), please send them a letter requesting a meeting during one of the two upcoming Congressional recesses. Or if you can’t get a meeting, consider attending a town hall meeting – many members of Congress organize these when they are in their districts and advertise them on their websites. If you want some pointers on requesting a meeting with your elected officials, or if you schedule a meeting and want some talking points on sustainable ag priorities, please contact Tracy Lerman, OFRF Policy Organizer at tracy@ofrf.org.
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The Latest on Obama Nominations to
USDA Leadership Positions
While the appointment of US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack received much notoriety, many people may be unaware of other Obama nominations who could have far reaching impacts on US agriculture in the next few years. For OFRF’s work in organic agriculture and research, chief among those are the nominations of Kathleen Merrigan as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Rajiv Shah as Undersecretary of Research, Education and Extension (REE), and Edward M. Avalos as USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
Kathleen Merrigan was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture on April 3, 2009. Merrigan has a strong background in organic agriculture and is a former OFRF board member. Read a statement from OFRF Executive Director Bob Scowcroft commenting on her nomination, and the official USDA press release.
Rajiv Shah was nominated by President Obama on April 17th, 2009, and awaits Senate approval. Shah will oversee the four USDA-REE agencies: The Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). Shah currently serves as the Director of Agricultural Development Programs at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Read the official USDA Press Release announcing Shah’s nomination.
Edward M. Avalos was nominated by President Obama on Friday, April 24, 2009, to serve as USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Within his bailiwick is the National Organic Program (NOP). Avalos hails from New Mexico, where he worked for 29 years at the NM Department of Agriculture and established the NM Specialty Crops Program, a program that seeks to improve the economic viability of rural economies and market and promote value-added products and specialty crop projects. He receives positive reviews from sustainable and organic leaders in New Mexico. Read the official USDA press release announcing Avalos' nomination.
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Applications to Organic Ag Research Program Double
According to staff at USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), the number of applications and amount of funding requested for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI – USDA’s premier organic ag research competitive grants program) doubled since last year. For the 2009 OREI grant cycle, CSREES received 134 applications and just over $98 million in funding requests. As we mentioned before, it is critical that OREI receives a strong set of applications to justify the increased funding from the 2008 Farm Bill and future increases. The 2009 OREI grant cycle is now closed, but please consider applying for this program in 2010. We will let you know through OFAN and our SCOAR network about these funding opportunities.
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USDA Data Shows Increases in Number of
Organic Operations by State
USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) collects data from USDA-accredited State and private certification groups to calculate the extent of certified organic farmland acreage and livestock in the United States. Earlier this month, they released new data on the number of USDA certified organic operations by state for 2000-2007. From 2000-2007, the total number of US certified operations increased by 54%, from 6,592 in 2000 to 10,159 in 2007. For more information, read the article and download the table on the ERS website.
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Can WIC Checks be Used for Organic in Your State?
Let us Know
The Supplemental Food Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) is beginning the process of rolling out the new list of approved WIC foods, which includes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, soy milk, tofu and other food products. Designated agencies in each state are charged with developing and implementing new rules by October 1, 2009. State agencies have the option of allowing participants to use their new WIC vouchers in farmers markets. State agencies will also decide whether organic products (other than fruits and vegetables which have already been approved at the national level) will be permitted in the program.
Please contact your state agency to find out what your state is doing on these issues, and let them know you want them to allow vouchers to be used at farmers markets and organic products to be permitted in the program. Your state agency can be found on the WIC state agency webpage. Let Kate Fitzgerald, Senior Policy Analyst at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition know if you have any questions or what you hear back from your state agency. Email kfitzgerald@sustainableagriculture.net.
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Reminder: USDA Seeking Nominations for National Organic Standards Board
In our last OFAN update we told you about vacancies on the USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The deadline for submitting nominations is July 17, 2009. Please let Tracy Lerman, OFRF Policy Organizer know if you plan to nominate yourself or someone else. Email tracy@ofrf.org.
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Organic Farmers - Remember to Look for Your USDA Organic Growers Survey This Month
We announced in our last OFAN update that USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail a new Organic Production Survey to all known organic producers in the US in early May. If you are an organic farmer, please look for this survey in your mailbox in the coming weeks, and please complete the survey by June 17, 2009. The survey will collect information from 2008 on topics ranging from production and marketing to income and expenses. For more information, read the USDA Ag Census website.
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Job Opportunities at the USDA National Organic Program
The USDA currently has job openings in the National Organic Program (NOP). For the detailed job description and instructions on how to apply, visit the USA Jobs website.
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Gain Experience and College Credit as an
OFRF Policy Intern
OFRF is looking for a part-time policy intern in our Santa Cruz office to help us with research, outreach, and administrative support for the Fall of 2009. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to learn more about organic agriculture policy and gain some work experience. Read the full job description on our website. If you are interested, please send a cover letter, resume, and short writing sample to Tracy Lerman, OFRF Policy Organizer tracy@ofrf.org. This position is unpaid, but college credit may be available.
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Again, many thanks to all of you for your advocacy on behalf of organic agriculture. If you have any questions, thoughts, comments, concerns, or ideas, please contact Tracy Lerman, Policy Organizer at tracy@ofrf.org.
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