September Farm Bill Update
As we head into the final stretch of 2024, we want to share NOC’s analysis of some critical developments in Washington that could impact organic policies. With Congress back in session for just a short three weeks in September, their main priority has been passing a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded before the September 30 deadline. The latest news in that effort is that House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to bring a six-month CR coupled with a bill called the SAVE Act to the floor today! The controversial SAVE Act, which is opposed by the White House, requires voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship at the time of registration.
Speaker Johnson’s chances of passing this CR are slim.* And right now, a Farm Bill extension is NOT part of either the House or Senate CR legislative packages.
While there is still hope for a post-election push for a new five-year Farm Bill, another one or even a two-year Farm Bill extension seems like the most likely outcome this fall. There is also some talk on Capitol Hill of moving an “ad hoc” emergency farmer assistance package through Congress after the election, as an addendum to the Farm Bill extension bill.
NOC has joined with many agricultural groups calling for Congress to renew the five-year Farm Bill before the end of 2024. But if this doesn’t happen, we need to make sure organic programs are funded through whatever version of the Farm Bill extension/emergency farmer assistance package is moving.
*Update on 9/19 - yesterday evening the House voted down Speaker Johnson’s proposed CR. The bill failed largely because of the inclusion of the controversial SAVE Act.
**Update on 9/26 - On Wednesday, September 25, lawmakers passed a bill to fund the government, including the USDA, for three months until December 20. The bill does not include an extension of the Farm Bill. The bill garnered bipartisan support - the vote was 341-82 in the House and 78-18 in the Senate. Republicans cast all the dissenting votes in both chambers.
Cost Share Program is at Risk
NOC’s biggest concern in the Farm Bill extension is for the future of the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which faces a potential shortfall for 2025. When the Farm Bill was extended last fall, NOC and other organic groups successfully advocated for additional funding for the OCCSP, organic data initiatives, and NOP technology upgrades, which are critically important for the implementation of the Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule. The $8 million in funds that we secured last year for the OCCSP, combined with left over funds from previous years, was enough for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) at USDA to continue to provide organic operations with a $750 annual reimbursement per operation per scope in 2024.
But a flat $8 million in funding this fall would result in cuts to the program in 2025. NOC is advocating to secure $11 million for the OCCSP in the Farm Bill extension (or through an ad hoc emergency assistance package) – this will be a heavy lift given that we are asking for an increase for a program that does not even have permanent status.
Paying to get certified is one of the biggest challenges faced by small and underserved farmers. Without Congressional action, this program will expire, leaving thousands of organic farmers with a huge net increase in their annual certification costs. A lapse or reduction in funding, which would be a repeat of cuts to the program in 2020, could have a big impact on which operations remain in the organic certification program and would come at a time when most operations are seeing significant increases in certification costs.
Action is Needed
NOC is communicating with key Agriculture Committee members in the House and Senate about the importance of the OCCSP and the need for $11 million in funding in the Farm Bill extension/emergency assistance package.
We will also mobilize farmers, individuals, organizations, and companies to communicate directly their Congressional representatives about the need for cost share funds once Farm Bill extension negotiations are underway. Stay tuned for action alerts on this topic!