Taylor Reid
2012 Farm Bill hearings were kicked off at Michigan State University's Kellogg Center in East Lansing, Michigan.

The 2012 Farm Bill Debate Begins
First Field Hearing Held In Michigan in late May;
Next Field Hearing to Take Place in Wichita, KS on August 25

Post by Udi Lazimy, July 26, 2011

It's not every day, or even every year, that we have the opportunity to shape federal legislation that sets the direction of agriculture in the U.S. Every five years, Congress takes up the Farm Bill, and the preliminary debate for the 2012 Farm Bill has just begun. This discussion began with the first Farm Bill field hearing held in Michigan on May 31.

The 2008 Farm Bill contained important provisions that advance organic farming, including programs for organic research, certification cost share, and conservation. Supporters of organic are needed in full force at upcoming 2012 Farm Bill hearings to let Congressional decision makers know how crucial these and other organic initiatives are to the health of people, land, and our economic future.

Senator Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, presided at the Michigan kick-off briefing. A diverse crowd attended the hearing, including organic farmers and supporters. Kristen Holt, President of Quality Assurance International, provided an excellent profile of Michigan's organic farming sector, showcasing its accelerating growth and subsequent benefits to the state’s agricultural economy.

OFRF submitted testimony urging Congress to maintain and build upon the key programs from the 2008 Farm Bill that support organic farmers. 

Members of Congress will continue to hold 2012 Farm Bill hearings and listening sessions in their districts. Members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees are currently reaching out into their constituents to gauge the opinions and interests of farmers, consumers, business leaders, and researchers.

The Senate Agriculture Committee’s next scheduled field hearing is in Wichita, KS, on August 25.  Other members of the agriculture committees are scheduling round tables and listening sessions throughout the country, and it’s important for organic advocates to attend and engage policy makers.

Stay Tuned!
To date, a complete schedule of upcoming Farm Bill hearings has not yet been posted. We’ll continue to share information about Farm Bill field hearings and listening sessions as this information becomes available. We will also share information with members of our Organic Farmers Action Network who live in the regions where the hearings are being held. Join OFAN now to get our latest updates!

Please contact Udi Lazimy, Policy Program Organizer, udi@ofrf.org, to share information about your experience at a field hearing or listening session and to notify us when you find out about a hearing in your area.