Wins for Organic in House Agriculture Spending Bill
The House Committee on Appropriations has approved an agriculture spending bill with significant wins for organic.
The bill would boost funding for the National Organic Program (NOP) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from $18 million to $20 million annually. The NOP is responsible for overseeing the growing organic industry, which stands at nearly $62 billion in sales annually in the U.S. There are currently more than 45,000 organic farms and operations in 153 countries. The NOP is charged with ensuring that the USDA organic standards are enforced in a uniform way around the globe and investigating complaints of fraud.
In addition to increased organic program funding, the report accompanying the bill urges the NOP to increase enforcement efforts to ensure full compliance with the soil health and pasture requirements of USDA organic standards.
“As a voluntary, holistic form of ecological farming that prioritizes soil health and receives third-party oversight, organic agriculture is a ready solution for the climate crisis,” said Abby Youngblood, Executive Director of the National Organic Coalition. “Strengthening soil health and pasture requirements in the organic program will help maximize the climate benefits of organic agriculture.”
The bill and the report accompanying the bill include several additional wins for organic:
Organic Certification Cost Share Program — The report directs the USDA Farm Service Agency to provide a full explanation of accounting errors that led to cuts in the organic certification cost share program in 2020 and urges USDA to restore “reimbursement levels of 75 percent of annual organic certification costs, including the restoration of prior years.”
Organic Dairy Oversight — The report directs USDA to strengthen enforcement of organic dairy production standards, particularly for “large, complex dairy operations.”
NOSB Backlog — The report also includes provisions requiring USDA to address the backlog of National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) recommendations by publishing in the Federal Register and seeking public comment on an action plan for NOSB recommendations that have languished at USDA.
Organic Research — The bill includes a $1 million boost in funding for organic research through the Organic Transitions Program, which is slated to receive a total of $8 million annually. The bill’s report also directs the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at USDA to “develop a five-year plan for organic food and agriculture research encompassing all relevant crop, animal, nutrition, and natural resource national programs.” Congress is also directing ARS to conduct additional research to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the agricultural sector. These critical research programs will help farms mitigate and adapt to extreme weather and climate chaos.
Organic Data Collection — The bill includes $500,000 for the Organic Data Initiative to expand organic data collection efforts.
Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land (TOTAL) Survey — The report directs USDA to “provide comprehensive data on land ownership, tenure, landowners’ transition plans, and lease agreements available to beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers to understand the trends that lead to secure land tenure and thriving farm businesses” though the TOTAL survey. This survey is important because land access is a major challenge for beginning, socially disadvantaged, and young farmers, including organic farmers.
Climate Change Funding — The bill would provide $347.4 million for new investments across USDA focused on climate change research and assessment; measurement and monitoring; greenhouse gas emissions mitigation; carbon sequestration; and clean energy technologies.
NOC would like to thank House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Bishop (D-GA), Ranking Member Fortenberry (R-NE), and Subcommittee Member Chellie Pingree (D-ME) for their leadership in securing these key wins for organic farmers, consumers, and businesses.
Today’s action is the next step toward passage and enactment of the final legislation. The bill will go next to the House floor for a vote. The Senate has not yet drafted its agriculture spending bill.