EQIP deadline extended, OFAN Farmers in DC, Farm Bill Hearings, and More
May 6, 2010
In This Issue
Features
Issues Update
Resources
Duly Noted
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FEATURES States Still Accepting Applications for EQIP Organic Initiative
Farmers can still apply for a 2010 contract under the USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative. States have extended March and April deadlines into late spring. Applications will be accepted at least through the end of June. Millions of dollars remain available. Iif you are interested, you should apply. For more information visit your local NRCS office. You can get more information about the Organic Initiative at OFRF’s EQIP Resource Page.
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OFRF Sends Farmers to Washington
Last month, farmer advocates Richard Price, Sue Baird, Heather Darby and Melissa Spear traveled to Washington, D.C. through OFRF’s Organic Farmers Action Network. The farmers attended the Organic Trade Association Policy Conference, an event co-sponsored by OFRF. In addition, they participated in a listening session with the USDA Organic Working Group.
A major policy goal for the Washington trip was preventing cuts for organic agriculture research funding in the 2011 budget. As we have reported before, President Obama’s proposed 2011 budget includes a 20 percent cut to dedicated organic research funding. Among the meetings were discussions with staff of the Agriculture Subcommittee Chairs of both the House and Senate Appropriations Committee, Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI). These meetings are in addition to our ongoing campaign work and Congressional visits that OFRF policy staff regularly conduct.
At the USDA Organic Working Group listening session, organic advocates from across the country spoke about the status of organic from the consumer, industry and farmer perspectives. Representatives from nearly all of the USDA’s 27 agencies attended as well. The evolution of organic in the USDA was best described by OFRF Senior Policy Analyst Mark Lipson: “We began as an exotic, invasive species but now organic farming and food is becoming a full-fledged part of the native ecosystem here at USDA.” Read the full report on OFRF’s website.
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2010 Conservation Stewardship Program Sign-up Coming Soon (We Hope)
We reported in our last OFAN update about the lack of a 2010 sign-up for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). CSP is a program that rewards farmers for on-farm conservation practices and provides funding to install new practices. (Learn more about the program on our CSP Resource Page.)
As reported by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, there has recently been slow progress on CSP, and we expect to see a 2010 sign-up soon. We will keep you posted through OFAN as soon as the 2010 sign-up is announced.
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ISSUES UPDATES
Searching for Organic in USDA’s Flagship Competitive Grants Research Program
As we reported in last month’s OFAN update, the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) released six of the seven Requests for Applications (RFAs) for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). Funded at $262 million in 2010, AFRI is USDA’s largest competitive grants research program.
While AFRI is expected to receive the lion’s share of research funding for future years, the Obama Administration is proposing to cut USDA’s dedicated organic research programs by 20 percent in 2011. USDA officials have suggested that AFRI and other USDA research programs will make up the difference.
However, the number of organic research projects AFRI will fund remains uncertain. On one hand, the word “organic” appears only twice throughout the AFRI RFAs’ 367 pages, while programs supporting transgenic and nanotechnology projects are much more conspicuous. On the other hand, numerous opportunities do exist for organic researchers to “read themselves in” to the stated funding priorities, which is the advice USDA officials offered during the Organic Working Group listening session referred to above. (Read the full AFRI analysis in our SCOAR Bulletin.)
In order to ensure that AFRI funds support organic projects, the program must receive numerous proposals from organic researchers. Additionally, individuals with organic research expertise, including educators and farmers, are needed to apply to serve on AFRI review panels.
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Organic Research Needs Reported to USDA Stakeholder Meeting
OFRF and other organic farming representatives were among those gathered in Washington, D.C. on April 13 to provide advice for USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The Institute invited a wide range of research stakeholders to comment on priorities for investigating plant and pest biology.
OFRF and others described research strategies for improving and scaling organic systems outward as a path for meeting the "Five Grand Challenges" articulated by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and NIFA Director Roger Beachy. These challenges are climate change, bio-energy, food safety, childhood obesity, and international food security.
Heavy emphasis was placed on public-domain plant and animal breeding capacities and the need for varieties selected for performance in organic systems. Organic speakers also stressed that USDA's research and education mission must make even bigger changes in order to deliver the multi-disciplinary, systems-level science that the Grand Challenges require.
Below are links to testimony delivered by OFRF and our partners.
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Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in GE Alfalfa Case
As we reported in our last OFAN Update, the U.S. Supreme Court will be ruling on its first case dealing with genetically engineered (GE) crops, Monsanto vs Geertson Seed Farms. On April 27, the high court heard oral arguments on the legal merits of an injunction against genetically engineered alfalfa ordered by a lower court. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the injunction until USDA completes an analysis of the crop’s environmental impact, known as an environmental impact statement or EIS.
The Supreme Court's decision in this case could have far-reaching impacts that may ultimately weaken federal environmental laws. A court ruling overturning the injunction before the EIS is final would allow GE alfalfa to be planted, thus threatening organic alfalfa with GE contamination. It could also set a precedent against courts ordering injunctions for potentially environmentally threatening substances that have not undergone an EIS.
OFRF signed onto a “Friend of the Court” brief, one of seven filed supporting the lower court’s decision. The Supreme Court is expected to hand down a decision sometime in June.
More info:
“Center for Food Safety Presents Arguments Before Supreme Court on Biotech Alfalfa” – True Food Now
“GE Alfalfa Before the Supreme Court” – The Seed Broadcaster
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Food Safety Bill Stalled in Senate
The Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510), a bill that strengthens the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ability to enforce food safety rules, is stalled in the Senate as it debates higher profile finance reform legislation. Further complicating possible passage of S. 510 is a proposed amendment fiercely opposed by business and grocery industry interests that would ban the health-threatening food packaging chemical bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA. If the Senate does pass S. 510, a joint House-Senate conference committee must work out differences between that bill and the House food safety bill (H.R. 2749) passed last August.
OFRF is concerned that S. 510 would conflict with organic regulations and be financially injurious for small-scale producers. Encouragingly, after months of negotiations between Senate leadership and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (of which OFRF is a member), S. 510 now contains a number of amendments that, while not making the bill perfect, allay some potential impacts on small-scale and organic producers.
In the meantime, both the FDA and the USDA are accepting comments until May 24 on the development of food safety regulations. The FDA’s request for comments concerns fresh produce and specifically asks for guidance on a number of categories, including size of operation, compliance with organic regulations, and coordination with environmental goals. Read the FDA’s Federal Register notice and the USDA’s Federal Register notice concerning meat.
More Info:
Q&A: National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Policy Director Ferd Hoefner on S. 510 in Food Safety News
Part 1 - 4/28/10
Part 2 - 4/29/10
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House Ag Committee Begins 2012 Farm Bill Hearings
On April 21, the House Agriculture Committee began holding Farm Bill Hearings in preparation for the 2012 Farm Bill. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack testified before the Committee at the first hearing in Washington, D.C. Field hearings took place in Iowa (April 30), Idaho (May 1), California (May 3), and Wyoming (May 4) with several more are scheduled throughout the country. The House Agriculture Committee is also seeking feedback from the public about the next Farm Bill and the future of farm policy. You can submit your comment on their webform.
OFRF Board Member and organic farmer John Teixeira testified at the hearing in Fresno on Monday, May 3. (Read his comments on our website). Teixeira, who has been farming for 40 years and 20 years organically, focused his comments on the importance of supporting organic farmers through USDA research, conservation, crop insurance, credit, and disaster payment programs.
More Info:
“A New Vision for the 2012 Farm Bill?” – Civil Eats, 4/23/10
“Peterson Sends Positive Signals on Farm Bill” – Ag Mag, 4/20/10
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Healthy Kids Need Healthy Soil and Water
The Senate Agriculture Committee recently passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, a bill that substantially increases support for child nutrition programs, making it possible for schools to serve more local, fresh and healthy food to students. Unfortunately, the committee voted to pay for part of this important bill with a $2.8 billion cut from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
OFRF, along with a broad coalition of environmental, sustainable agriculture, and food security groups, signed onto a letter to President Obama urging that funding for the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act come from closing tax loopholes and making smaller cuts to a broader range of agriculture programs rather than one large cut to a conservation program. OFRF is also continuing to advocate against President Obama’s proposed 2011 funding cuts of more than $1 billion to federal conservation programs.
More Info:
"Groups Urge Ag Funding Fairness" - Something to Crow About, 4/26/10
"Sen. Lincoln's Nutrition Plan Pits Kids Against Clean Water - Needlessly" - Ag Mag, 3/26/10
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Watch the Department of Justice’s Hearing on Seed Industry Consolidation
As we’ve reported before, the USDA and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) are holding joint hearings to examine consolidation in the agriculture sector. The first hearing, held on March 12 in Ankeny, Iowa, dealt with consolidation in the seed industry. The DOJ posted the hearing video and written transcripts on their website. The next hearing will be on May 21 in Normal, Alabama, and will deal with consolidation in the poultry industry.
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OFRF Signs Group Letter Opposing USDA/FDA Stance on GE Labeling
This week, the Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL) is meeting in Quebec City to discuss labeling standards for genetically engineered ingredients in food. The CCFL is part of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a United Nations agency that develops international food safety and labeling standards.
OFRF signed onto a letter submitted by Consumers Union urging USDA and FDA to drop their opposition to labeling of GE foods. Previously, the two agencies submitted a draft joint position paper to the Codex Commission opposed to labeling foods containing GE ingredients. The position paper states that such labeling would indicate that GE foods are somehow different than non-GE foods and would therefore be misleading and deceptive. The Codex Commission has previously issued a document stating that countries should be allowed to develop their own approaches to GE food labeling.
More Info:
"More than 80 groups urge FDA and USDA to change U.S. position on food labeling" - Consumers Union, 4/20/10
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RESOURCES
“Age of Enforcement” at the USDA National Organic Program
At the most recent meeting of the National Organic Standards Board, USDA National Organic Program (NOP) Administrator Miles McEvoy delivered a presentation on the accomplishments and priorities of the NOP. Calling his appointment to the USDA the “Age of Enforcement,” McEvoy highlighted the actions his agency is taking to uphold the integrity of the USDA Organic label and how the agency is managing the increased budget it received in the past two years. You can download the slides from McEvoy’s presentation from the NOP website.
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Bringing Farmer Voices to the Media
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) started an initiative called Farm and Agriculture Resources for the Media (FARM). FARM includes training tools, webinars and other resources to help farmers share their personal stories with the media. The initiative also includes a database of sustainable farmers who are available to speak to the media on agricultural issues. Read the NSAC blog article about FARM for more info.
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DULY NOTED
Sustainable Agriculture Advocates Among Time’s 100 Most Influential People for 2010
Several notable sustainable agriculture advocates, including USDA Deputy Secretary (and former OFRF board member) Kathleen Merrigan, author Michael Pollan, urban farming icon Will Allen, and animal scientist Temple Grandin are rubbing shoulders with pop superstars, international political leaders, former vice presidential candidates, and world class athletes on Time Magazine’s 2010 list of 100 most influential people. Read the full article on Time’s website.
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Once again, we could not advocate effectively for organic agriculture if we did not have the support (including financial support) of organic farmer advocates such as you. Please send any questions, comments, clarifications, corrections, advice, well-wishes, and recipe ideas to Tracy Lerman, OFRF Policy Organizer, at tracy@ofrf.org.
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