NOC, OFA, & OFRF ask Secretary Perdue to protect organic during the coronavirus pandemic
On April 2, the National Organic Coalition, Organic Farmers Association (OFA), and Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) sent a letter to USDA Secretary Perdue. The recently enacted CARES Act includes a $9.5 billion emergency fund to assist farmers impacted by coronavirus, “including producers of specialty crops, producers that supply local food systems, including farmers markets, restaurants, and schools, and livestock producers, including dairy producers.”
NOC, OFA, and OFRF are asking that the Secretary provide farmers with emergency direct payments, financial assistance for farms setting up virtual platforms to facilitate the sale of their products, and an increase for the certification cost-share program. We would also like to see the USDA reopen the sign-up period for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program to allow new and existing DMC participants a chance to reconsider their coverage decisions for 2020 given the extraordinary and unforeseen dairy market collapse related to the pandemic.
We are urging USDA to continue with Strengthening Organic Enforcement and Origin of Livestock rulemaking without delay. Finalizing these two new regulations is critical for the economic viability of the U.S. organic sector.