Organic Agriculture After the 2024 Election: What’s at Stake
With most election results now confirmed, we can see that the path forward for organic farming faces new challenges.
Election Results
In the Presidential election, Donald Trump received both a majority of the popular vote, with a margin of about 1.6 percentage points, as well as a decisive victory in the electoral college. Starting with the next Congress in January 2025, Republicans will take control the Senate by a margin of 53 to 47. This is a shift – currently, the Senate is under Democratic control and is split 51 Democrats (this includes 2 Independents who caucus with the Democrats) to 49 Republicans.
Republicans have also retained narrow control of the House of Representatives, which gives the Trump Administration a ‘trifecta’ with GOP control of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives.
Several key Members of Congress who served previously on the Agriculture Committee and are supporters of organic have lost their elections including Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Representative Marc Molinaro (R-NY). However, many organic champions on both sides of the aisle who have sponsored legislation to advance organic are still in office.
New Challenges Facing the Organic Sector
The National Organic Coalition (NOC) identifies the following challenges in our ongoing efforts to expand and protect organic agriculture:
1. Funding for Organic Programs is at Risk
Looking ahead, securing the necessary funding to sustain and grow the organic sector could be increasingly difficult. GOP leaders are pushing to reduce federal spending, which threatens critical programs for organic farms and businesses.
USDA National Organic Program (NOP): The National Organic Program at USDA oversees more than 46,000 organic operations in more than 100 countries. Adequate funding is essential to ensure it can continue to enforce organic standards and detect fraud. NOC has previously worked with Congress to secure funding increases to support these efforts.
Organic Certification Cost Share Program: This important program, which is funded through the Farm Bill, is set to expire unless Congress takes action this fall. If it expires, thousands of organic farmers will face a significant rise in their certification costs.
Overseeing Organic Imports: The USDA urgently needs additional funds to maintain and upgrade its data and tracking systems to effectively monitor organic imports and ensure their compliance with U.S. standards.
Without sufficient funding, organic farmers in the U.S. will be at risk of being undercut by fraudulent imports, threatening the integrity of the organic market.
2. Protecting Strong Organic Standards
The success of the organic sector hinges on maintaining strong, clear, and fair organic standards. Over the past four years, the USDA has made significant updates to these standards, addressing loopholes and ensuring a level playing field for all businesses. The National Organic Coalition (and the organic community more broadly) strongly support these updates.
It’s crucial that policymakers—including President-elect Trump, the new Agriculture Secretary, and Congressional leaders—understand the direct link between robust organic standards and a thriving organic marketplace. Organic is a voluntary certification program, and organic businesses are asking for strict, clear regulations to safeguard their success. Continued progress in updating the standards is vital to meet emerging challenges and ensure fair competition for organic businesses.
3. New Legal Risks for Organic Regulations
Recent Supreme Court decisions could create new hurdles for organic regulations. In the Loper Bright decision earlier this year, the Court overturned a longstanding principle known as Chevron Deference, which meant that federal judges typically deferred to the expertise of agencies like the USDA when interpreting unclear legislation. With this precedent gone, federal judges may have more influence over policymaking, which could lead to legal challenges to organic regulations.
In a separate ruling, Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors of Federal Reserve System, the Court altered the timeframe for challenging USDA regulations, further complicating the legal landscape. These rulings could lead to costly and lengthy legal battles that may undermine the integrity of organic standards.
4. Equity in Organic
Beyond organic-specific challenges, a Republican trifecta could broadly impact agriculture, including the organic sector. Some of these broader challenges might include:
Increased Vulnerability for Immigrant Farm Labor: the incoming administration has made stricter immigration policies one of its top priorities, which could make immigrant farm workers more vulnerable to exploitation or face greater legal and economic challenges, impacting the labor force that many organic farms rely on.
Rollback of “DEI” Initiatives at USDA: Efforts to increase “diversity, equity, and inclusion” within the USDA could see a reduction or elimination, potentially reversing progress at the agency level to support minority and socially disadvantaged farmers, which may widen gaps in access to resources for organic agriculture.
Impact on Funding and Programs: Programs designed to support equitable access to organic farming resources might face budget cuts or restructuring, reducing funding available for minority, immigrant, and marginalized organic farmers.
Why This Matters
These challenges are serious and could threaten the continued success of the organic industry. NOC is committed to advocating for the funding, standards, and legal protections that organic agriculture needs to thrive. Without the right support, organic farmers could face increased costs, unfair competition, and legal uncertainties that make it harder to run successful, sustainable businesses. We must ensure that lawmakers understand the importance of maintaining core organic funding and strong, clear regulations to preserve the integrity of organic farming for the long term.
Join the Effort to Protect Organic Agriculture
The National Organic Coalition (NOC) is calling on all members of the organic community to take action and make their voices heard. Together, we can ensure the continued success of organic farming by protecting core funding and strengthening our advocacy.
Here’s how you can help:
Take Action Now: Contact your Members of Congress and urge them to protect essential organic funding in the Farm Bill. This funding is crucial for the future of organic agriculture.
Build Stronger Relationships with Your Representatives: Reach out to your elected officials and develop a connection with their staffers who handle agricultural issues. Not sure who to contact? NOC can provide you with the information you need. Just let us know!
Stay Informed and Get Involved: Subscribe to NOC’s newsletter for the latest updates, action alerts, and resources to help you stay engaged and effective in advocating for organic agriculture.
NOC’s Future Advocacy
Right now, it’s more important than ever for the organic community to make our voices heard and educate both new Members of Congress and the incoming Agriculture Secretary about the critical role organic farming plays in our economy and in protecting natural resources. Organic agriculture builds healthy soil, ensures clean water, and improves air quality—and we need leaders who understand its value.
While Congress may still complete the Farm Bill by the end of this year (NOC has been pushing for its completion before 2024 ends), it’s likely that negotiations will stretch into 2025. That means the organic community must be ready to act. Here’s what we need to do:
1. Reintroduce Organic Legislation: Ask key organic champions to reintroduce legislation for inclusion in the next Farm Bill that supports organic farming and strengthens the sector.
2. Engage with the New Agriculture Secretary: Make sure the next Agriculture Secretary understands the unique needs and immense value of organic agriculture. We must ensure that organic farmers and businesses have the resources they need to thrive.
3. Secure Funding for the National Organic Program (NOP): Advocate with Members of Congress, especially those on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, to secure necessary funding for the National Organic Program (NOP). Adequate funding is essential for the USDA to maintain the integrity of organic certification, protect against fraud, and ensure that all organic operations meet strict standards.
4. Stay Committed to Equity in Organic. We will be looking to organizations who are leaders in this work, so we can follow, support, or amplify their messages as appropriate. The organic movement can only be stronger if it supports equity, intentional inclusion, and prioritization. We will work within the current system to ensure these values are met.