The Appropriations Process - Funding Organic Agriculture Programs in the Federal Budget

The federal appropriations process determines how much the government will be spending on various federal programs, including agriculture programs. OFRF will be working to protect and increase funding for our priority programs, including organic agriculture research.

2011 Appropriations Documents
OFRF's requests for the 2011 Budget

OFRF's 2011 testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture - submitted March 19, 2010

OFRF's 2011 testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture - submitted March 26, 2010

Organic Farmers Action Network Policy Alert: Make a Call for Organic Farmers Today.

August 19, 2009
OFRF's recommendations to the Appropriations Conference Committee on the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill.

July 31, 2009
Making the Case for Funding the Organic Production and Marketing Data Collection Initiative - stories from farmers highlighting the need for more comprehensive data collection about the organic industry.

May 11, 2009
OFRF submits revised official testimony to the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Agriculture Subcommittee on our 2010 Agriculture Appropriations requests.

March 31, 2009
OFRF's update and requests for the FY2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. Find out how our priorities fared in the FY2009 package and what our asks are for FY2010.

January 15, 2009
Letter from OFRF to leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Subcommittees of the Appropriations Committees, urging them not to cut funding for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) in the FY09 Budget. OREI was funded at $18 million for FY09 in the new Farm Bill, but the Senate proposed a $2 million cut in their FY09 budget.

September 2, 2008
Call Your Members of Congress Today – Tell Them to Protect Funding for Organic Ag Research! Organic farmers and activists won a much-needed boost to the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative in the 2008 Farm Bill, but now both the Senate and the President want to take some of that money away!

August 28, 2008
Letter from OFRF to USDA and the Office of Management and Budget protesting the Bush Administration's proposed $8 million cut to the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative.

August 1, 2008
The President's Amendments to his proposed FY09 budget which includes an $8 million cut to the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (from the $18 million mandated in the 2008 Farm Bill - see pages 16-17.)

July 21, 2008
The Senate's FY09 Appropriations Bill which passed the Senate on July 17, 2008 and includes a $2 million cut to the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (from the $18 million mandated in the 2008 Farm Bill - see Section 721(i).)

March 20, 2008
Written testimony submitted by OFRF to the Senate Agriculture Committee regarding 2009 appropriations requests for sustainable and organic agriculture

The 2008 Farm Bill

June 7, 2010
OFRF submits comments to the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture on the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is USDA's largest competitive grants research program.

April 17, 2009
OFRF submits comments on the Interim Final Rule for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The 2008 Farm Bill created a host of new policy opportunities for organic farmers, and the EQIP Interim Final Rule is the first significant rulemaking effort that will have far reaching impacts on US organic agriculture. Read our full comments and recommendations.

Also, read comments on the EQIP Interim Final Rule submitted by Jim Riddle, the Organic Outreach Coordinator at the University of Minnesota.

November 12, 2008
On October 27, 2008, USDA-CSREES held a formal listening session to gather input on the implementation of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. OFRF sent two beginning organic farmers, Jamie Collins and Jeremy Barker-Plotkin to Washington to deliver comments on the development of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. Read Jamie Collin's testimony.
Read Jeremy Barker-Plotkin's testimony.
Also, read testimony delivered by Zach Baker, OFRF’s Policy Associate.

August 11, 2008
OFRF is working to ensure that the conservation programs in the 2008 Farm Bill will be implemented to maximize benefits for organic growers. Below are some resources we've provided to the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service to help achieve that goal:

A sign-on letter to the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service providing comments that urge development of conservation programs in a way that benefits organic producers

A comparison chart compiled by the National Center for Appropriate Technology showing which of the requirements of the National Organic Program match the Natural Resource Conservation Service's production practices.

An annotated bibliography compile by the National Center for Appropriate Technology providing resources that compare organic systems to conventional systems in 5 different areas: nutrient management, biodiversity, yields, nutrition, and pesticide residues.

A list of technical assistance providers compiled by OFRF, who will be able to assist growers who are looking to transition to organic, and to assist organic growers with production challenges.

Farm Bill Implementation Fact Sheets
Organic Provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill
Research, Education and Extension Provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill