Congressional Organic Caucus

February 16, 2005
September 22, 2004
February 26, 2004
September 3, 2003
April 10, 2003

Organic Caucus Legislative Briefing, February 16, 2005

Agenda:

Welcome and Introductions - 10 mins

Presentation of 2005 legislative priorities (including 2006 appropriations)- 30 mins. Appropriations, Budget, and Programs

USDA AMS National Organic Program- OTA
USDA AMS Organic Certification Cost-Share- NOC and OFRF
USDA Research, Education, and Economics:

• Agricultural Research Service (organic set aside) - OFRF
• Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (integrated organic program)- OFRF and Jim Interim National Program Leader for Organic Agriculture
• Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (NRI-IFAFS) - SAC
• Agricultural Marketing Service- (organic price reporting) - OFRF/OTA
• National Agriculture Statistics Service (organic census follow up )- OFRF
  EQUIP/ organic transition - OFRF

Updates- 15 minutes

• Arthur Harvey lawsuit- NOC and OTA
• Guidance clarification (missed deadline)- NOC
• ANSI/ Peer Review of the USDA NOP-NOC

Discussion of future topics, ideas and strategies- Caucus Co-Chairs- 15 mins

Organic Caucus Legislative Briefing, September 22, 2004

Agenda:

New data on organic industry

Research
a) Progress on Inter-personnel Assessment for organic at the USDA-CSREES
b) Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) & Organic Transition Program Competitive Grants
c) USDA-ERS organic data collection

Appropriations Update
a) House: info and updates from offices of Nethercutt, Farr, Walsh, Goode
b) Possible Conference Report language regarding organic research at the USDA-ARS
c) Possible news from the Senate on organic (speaker: Phil Karsting, on behalf of Senator Kohl)

USDA National Organic Program
a) Status of "guidance documents"
b) Update on Senate meeting with USDA NOP staff (staff from offices of Cochran, Leahy, and Harkin invited to share thoughts on their recent meeting)
c) American National Standards Institute (ANSI): ongoing peer review

Farm Bill and Authorizing legislation: updates and status check

Caucus Business
a) New member recruitment
b) Upcoming events (NOSB meeting, OTA hill day, etc)
c) Jan/Feb 2005 briefing (and possible reception) planning

Organic Caucus Legislative Briefing February 26, 2004

Agenda:

A meeting for staff of House Organic Caucus members and other agriculture LAs, to discuss 2005 priorities for organic agriculture. This will be a great opportunity to plan, strategize, ask questions and hear updates on organic legislative issues

The Organic Farming Research Foundation will be presenting recommendations on agriculture appropriations for key USDA programs of high importance to the organic agriculture industry. Also planning on attending are representatives of the Organic Trade Association, the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, the National Organic Coalition, and the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture.

Organic Caucus Legislative Briefing, September 3, 2003

OFRF will present a series of short talks focusing on topics of current importance to the organic sector. Each speaker will provide a short background, factual data, and an assessment of the legislative aspects for their topic. Supporting printed material will also be provided.

Welcome and Introductions (10 minutes)

Update on FY 04 Appropriations for Key Organic Programs
Speaker: Brise Tencer, OFRF (10 minutes)

The Organic Agricultural Industry's need for Increased Public Plant Breeding for Organic Agriculture
Speaker: Nick Maravell, Organic Farmer, Potomac, Maryland

This presenter will address the decline of public plant breeding capacities, and the specific needs of organic producers in relation to seed availability, genetic diversity, and desirable traits. (10 minutes)

Current Research in Organic: Food Safety
Speaker: Dr. Mary Mulry, Board President, Organic Materials Review Institute

This speaker will give an overview of current research on food safety issues surrounding organic products, focusing on pathogens and pesticide residues. This data will be discussed in the context of public policy debates and misconceptions about organic foods. (10 minutes)

Implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act
Speaker: Bob Gray, LLC, representing the Organic Trade Association

As we approach the first anniversary of the implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act, this speaker will provide an overview of USDA National Organic Program. This presentation will provide information on both progress and shortcomings of the implementation effort. Current concerns include appointment of executive staff for the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), creation of a Peer Review Panel, and aspects of the National List Technical Advisory Panel (TAP). (10 minutes)

Questions and Answers (10 minutes)

Introductions
Members introduce the Caucus: why the Caucus was formed, its importance to members' districts, relevant current legislation.

Legislative Briefing
3 speakers, 7- 10 minutes each

Cathy Greene of USDA Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS) will give an overview of the growth patterns in U.S. organic production in terms of acreage and sales.

Steve Ela, a Colorado organic tree-fruit farmer and Vice President of the Organic Farming Research Foundation's board of directors) will follow with a discussion of his farm, the research he has been involved in and how he markets organic products.

Laurie Drinkwater of Cornell University will discuss yield comparisons between organic and conventional production, research she has been involved in at Cornell University and with the Rodale Institute.

Q and A (legislative or regulatory issues)
Panelists:
Bob Gray of the Organic Trade Association (OTA)
Brise Tencer of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
Michael Sligh of Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI)