ADVOCACY

Organic for Climate
Organic Policy
Policy Recommendations

Organic for Climate

Organic for Climate

Climate change poses critical risks for farmers and ranchers, and endangers the soil, water, and other resources on which food production depends. Rising temperatures have already intensified droughts, heat waves, and storms, making it harder to grow crops and raise livestock.

The good news is that organic systems that emphasize soil health help farmers and ranchers increase resilience to the impacts of climate change. There is also extensive research demonstrating the potential of organic systems to reduce agriculture’s contribution to climate change (i.e., mitigate climate change).

Organic systems do this by capturing and storing more carbon (CO2) in the soil (carbon sequestration).

They also release fewer greenhouse gases.

Learn More

OFRF Organic Policy: on the Hill and in the Fields.

OFRF has been amplifying the voice of America’s organic farmers and researchers for three decades. Our leadership in organic policy yields support through Congress, USDA, and state governments. OFRF’s unique strategy directs advocacy on Capitol Hill and regional grassroots throughout America. We are joined by thousands of advocates, just like you, who are committed to making organic farming the leading form of agriculture in America.

Our goal is to provide you with the best information to sustain powerful organic advocacy in your community.

Please feel free to use the following Organic Advocacy Tools. You may always contact us if you need additonal items, we’ll do our best to support you in raising the voice of organic farmers.

Find out who represents you in Congress by searching a database by your zipcode or state.

Find Your Representative

Policy Recommendations

Strengthening Organic Agriculture Research (SOAR) Act Sign-on Letter (May 2023)

Strengthening Organic Agriculture Research (SOAR) Act info sheet (May 2023)

Group Support of Climate Solutions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (August 2022)

Written Comments for NOSB Meetings (April 2022)

Letter to USDA National Organic Program to Protect Native Ecosystems (March 2022)

Group Support of Extending OTECP Deadline Application (December 2021)

OFRF Comment on Climate-Friendly Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program (November 2021)

OFRF Letter to Leadership to Support Ag Research (October 2021)

Group Support of $28 Billion Investment of USDA Agriculture Conservation Programs (October 2021)

OFRF Equity Comment (August 2021)

OFRF Comment on NIFA 2023 Priorities (June 2021)

OFRF Comment on Climate Action (May 2021)

Comments on Proposed Revisions to NRCS Conservation Practice Standards (April 2021)

Letter to Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary, USDA (April 2021)

OFRF USDA Agency Recommendations 2021 (April 2021)

Letter to Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary, USDA (March 2021)

Letter to USDA: Organic Organizations and Farms ask USDA to Swiftly Finalize Rule to Save Family Organic Dairy Farms (January 2021)

OFRF Letter to the Agriculture Research Service (December 2020)

OFRF Letter to Biden Administration/Transition Team (November 2020)

OFRF Research Priorities for Organic Agriculture and Climate Change (August 2020)

OFRF Organic for Climate Policy Recommendations 2020 (August 2020)

Policy Recommendations on Organic Agriculture, Climate Mitigation and Resiliency (November 2019)

Policy Statements

Building Resilience Through Agricultural Research in the Upcoming Farm Bill (November 2022)

Farm to Fork – Statement on Reconciliation Bill (September 2021)

Comments to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, Fifth National Climate Assessment (August 2020)

Comments on the 2020 Agriculture Innovations Agenda (July 2020)

Comments to the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis (June 2020)

Interim Final Rule for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) (May 2020)

USDA Agriculture Research Service 2021-25 Action Plan for National Program 212 Soil and Air (May 2020)

National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agency Services (April 2020)

Second Order Draft of Assessment Report 6 (AR6) from Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (March 2020)

Environmental Quality Incentives Program Interim Final Rule, NRCS (February 2020)

Conservation Reserve Program Interim Final Rule (February 2020)

Appropriations Request Fiscal Year 2021 (February 2020)

Conservation Stewardship Program Interim Final Rule, NRCS-2019-0020 (January 2020)

Policy Recommendations on Organic Agriculture, Climate Mitigation and Resiliency (November 2019)

USDA National Organic Standards Board Research Priorities (October 2019)

Testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives, Agriculture Committee, Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research (June 2019)

2018 Research, Education, and Economics Farm Bill Implementation Listening Session (March 2019)

National Organic Program; Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices; Withdrawal (January 2018)

USDA NIFA Stakeholder Priorities in Research, Education, and Extension (December 2017)

Comments Responding to the 2017 FY 2017 Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program-Organic Transitions (July 2017)

Comments Responding to the 2017 Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative Request for Applications (June 2017)

Organic Livestock and Poultry Practice Rule (June 2017)

Proposed Organic Research, Promotion, and Information Order (April 2017)

Testimony for Fiscal Year 2018 to House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (April 2017)

Visioning of United States Agricultural Systems for Sustainable Production Comments Submitted on Behalf of Organic Farming Research Foundation (March 2017)

OFRF Comments FFAR Open Board Meeting (October 2016)

OFRF Comments on the Use of the Term “Natural” in the Labeling of Human Food Products (May 2016)

Testimony to the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Agriculture Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies (March 2016)

OFRF Comments to the Science and Technology Policy Office to Identify Sources of Agricultural Innovation (December 2015)

OFRF Comments on the Importance of Organic Agriculture Research to the National Organic Standards Board (October 2015)

OFRF Comments to the Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (October 2015)

OFRF Comments on Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (August 2015)

OFRF Comments to Food and Agricultural Research (June 2015)

OFRF Testimony to the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee (March 2015)

OFRF Policy Statement: Research and Promotion Order (January 2014)

OFRF Policy Statement on GMO (November 2013)