Take Action!
Organic Certification Cost Share is at Risk
The 2018 Farm Bill expired on September 30, 2023. Rather than passing a new Farm Bill in 2023, Congress extended the Farm Bill for one year. But that Farm Bill extension is also expired now! Without Congressional action, core organic programs including the Organic Certification Cost Share Program will expire, leaving thousands of organic farmers with a huge net increase in their annual certification costs. The Organic Certification Cost Share Program will disappear in 2025 unless Congress passes a five-year Farm Bill with funding or includes sufficient funding in a stopgap bill this fall!
TAKE ACTION
Contact your Senators and Representative today to ask them to fund core organic programs in the Farm Bill. Click here to automatically send a message to your Members of Congress.
Take Action!
Support Organic in the Farm Bill!
On May 17, G.T. Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, released proposed legislative text for the House Farm Bill. Unfortunately, the bill fails to provide the necessary support to keep pace with the growing organic sector. You can read NOC’s full analysis of the bill here.
We need your help! Contact your Representative today to ask that organic receives its fair share of investment in the Farm Bill.
Take Action!
Support Organic Research in the Farm Bill
Organic agriculture is crucial for sustainable farming, biodiversity, a healthy food system, and combating climate change. However, the 2024 Farm Bill falls short in addressing the funding needs for organic agriculture research.
We are working in partnership with the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) to urge Representatives to support increased funding in organic agriculture research. By investing in the future of organic agriculture, we can unlock its full potential and contribute to a more sustainable and healthy food system for all.
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Previous Action Alerts
Opportunities in Organic Act (2023). NOC is asking Congress to support organic agriculture in the Farm Bill! The Opportunities in Organic Act has been introduced as a marker bill. This legislation would authorize a suite of flexible, easy to access tools to reduce barriers to organic agriculture, modernize reimbursements for organic certification, and increase technical expertise and support within public institutions and NGOs. Learn more.
Protect Organic Certification Cost Share (November 2023). The 2018 Farm Bill expired on September 30, 2023. Rather than passing a new Farm Bill, Congress planned to extend the current Farm Bill. Unlike larger Farm Bill programs which are automatically included in a Farm Bill extension, the Organic Certification Cost Share Program is too small to have ‘permanent baseline’ funding status. The Organic Certification Cost Share Program was at risk! Thanks to the advocacy of the organic community, legislation to avert a government shutdown and extend the 2018 Farm Bill includes $8 million in funding for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program! This is a big win. Learn more.