Washington, DC
July 20, 2007
The Executive Director of the
Organic Trade Association (OTA)
today thanked the members of the House Agriculture Committee for
including key provisions in the 2007 Farm Bill that will help
the organic industry continue to meet growing consumer demand
for organic products.
"I am delighted with the support organic agriculture is
receiving in this Farm Bill," said OTA Executive Director Caren
Wilcox. "The House Agriculture Committee included important
provisions that will fund expanded research into organic
production, direct USDA to provide timely domestic and
international market data on organic crops, and instruct
companies selling crop insurance to provide equitable products
to organic farmers."
Wilcox thanked Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand for her leadership in
establishing a program to provide cost share certification and
technical assistance for farmers making the transition to
organic production. Gillibrand's amendment authorizes $50
million to provide farmers with the mentoring and technical
expertise required to transition land from conventional to
organic production. Transitioning land to organic production is
a three-year process.
Wilcox praised the leadership of Committee Chairman Collin
Peterson. "Organic farmers across the country owe the chairman a
thank you for putting the needs of the organic industry into
this Farm Bill. We are also grateful for the commitment of
Dennis Cardoza, chairman of the Subcommittee on Horticulture and
Organic. We appreciate all that Chairman Cardoza has done to
highlight organic agriculture and to work with us on improving
the safety net for organic agriculture."
In addition to the Gillibrand amendment, key provisions for
organic agriculture in the 2007 Farm Bill include:
-
Eliminating or reducing the 5%
organic premium for crop insurance and providing
compensation for crop loss at the actual price of the
organic crop. Currently, compensation is provided at the
price of the conventional crop. In addition, the Federal
Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) would be required to
submit an annual report to Congress detailing progress made
in developing and improving federal crop insurance for
organic crops.
-
$22 million to help farmers
pay for organic certification. The certification cost-share
program would provide up to $750 per farmer, increased from
the current $500, to help cover the costs of organic
certification. Farmland is deemed organic by USDA accredited
certifiers.
-
$3 million for organic price
and production data. USDA collects reams of data on
agriculture prices and production, and will now include data
on organic prices and production. In addition, information
will be used to analyze crop loss data for organic
production - leading to better risk management tools for
organic producers.
-
Extending the Organic Research
and Extension Initiative to examine optimal conservation and
environmental outcomes for organically produced agricultural
products, and to develop new and improved seed varieties
that are particularly suited for organic agriculture. The
committee authorized $22 million per year for each fiscal
year through 2012.
-
The committee also included
language making loans for water and soil projects to organic
producers a priority, and permitted organic transition to
begin at the end of CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) and
gave recognition for organic farmers to have access to EQIP
(Environmental Quality Incentives Program) Conservation
Innovation grants. Each fiscal year, $5 million will be used
for outreach to organic and specialty crop producers.
Wilcox also thanked Rep. Steve
Kagen who spearheaded an effort to increase funding for organic
research commensurate with the organic percentage of the
marketplace. Currently, organic represents 3% of the agriculture
market; Kagen proposed spending 3% of the research budget on
organic research initiatives.
The House of Representatives is expected to consider the 2007
Farm Bill next week, and OTA is recommending support for the
bill.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based
business association for organic agriculture and products in
North America. Its 1,600 members include growers, shippers,
processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors,
importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA
encourages global sustainability through promoting and
protecting the growth of diverse organic trade. |
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