Date: 4/27/2012 8:01:58 PM ( 12 y ) ... viewed 1059 times
2012 Farm Bill Maintains Support for Organic Farming Research and Certification Assistance Programs
The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee passed a version of the 2012 Farm Bill on Thursday, sending a clear message to America that organic farming deserves renewed investment. Overall, organic agriculture fared quite well in this drafting process. The Senate took a fiscally responsible step to invest in an organic economic boon provided by organic agriculture.
"Organic growers are not only helping to supply healthy products to our schools, families and communities, but these farmers are also making a major contribution to the American economy."
Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman, Senate Agriculture Committee
Organic Farm Bill Mark Up Highlights : )
Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), the largest research grant program dedicated to organic agriculture, maintains funding at $80 million over five years through 2017.
Organic Production and Market Data Initiatives (ODI) program, an interagency collection of critical market data on organic agriculture production, maintains funding status at $5 million total over 5 years.
Organic Certification Cost Share receives increased funding through the Agricultural Management Assistance program at $11.5 million per year through 2017.
The National Organic Program (NOP) receives increased funding of $15 million annually and additional $5 million funding for technology upgrades.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), including the Organic Initiative (EQIP-OI), increases from $7.325 billion to $8.05 billion over five years.
The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a feasibility study on a proposed Organic Research and Promotion ("Checkoff") program.
Organic Farm Bill Mark Up Lowlights : (
Drastic funding cuts for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, neglecting the need to support those farmers that ensure organic farming's future.
Failure to reform organic crop insurance, leaving organic farmers having to pay an unfair surcharge for crop insurance and not receiving fair price elections.
$4 million funding cuts to OREI from $20 million a year to $16 million a year.
Conservation Stewardship Program enrollment levels reduced to 10.3 million additional acres each fiscal year from the 2008 Farm Bill levels of 12.8 million acres per year.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program-Organic Initiative (EQIP-OI) ignores unfair payment limit applied only to organic farmers using EQIP.
Ignores additional research into public plant breeding via Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), the largest grant program that funds agriculture research at USDA.
The House Agriculture Committee is holding eight hearings over the next several weeks in Washington, DC and will draft its own version of the bill. In the past, House members have targeted cuts in organic. Your support of organic farming, with pressure on Senators and Representatives, really helps as this bill moves forward.
Keep on Keepin' ORGANIC!
Maureen Wilmot
Executive Director
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