2008 Press Releases
Historic meeting further promotes organic provisions in 2008 Farm Bill
News Release
Contact: Barbara Haumann 413-774-7511, Ext. 20
For Immediate Release
GREENFIELD, Mass. (Aug. 13, 2008) -In an historic meeting arranged by the Organic Trade Association (OTA), representatives of the organic community met with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Bill Implementation Team Monday to discuss the implementation of organic provisions within the 2008 Farm Bill.
"This was an historic opportunity to present key information on the significance of these organic provisions to the team charged with developing the rules implementing the Farm Bill," said David Gagnon, OTA's Interim Executive Director.
The OTA-led group included representatives of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), National Organic Coalition, Center for Food Safety, Rodale Institute, National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), Food and Water Watch, Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and Florida Organic Growers.
OTA made arrangements for the meeting co-hosted by USDA Deputy Under Secretary Floyd Gaibler of the Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services and Lowell Randel, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Congressional Relations. Also attending were agency representatives from the Agricultural Marketing Service, National Resources Conservation Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, Risk Management Agency, Agriculture Research Service, and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.
During the meeting, OTA spokespersons and other participants stressed the importance of National Organic Program funding, organic production and market data, research needs, organic crop insurance provisions, the national cost share certification program, and provisions for organic agriculture in conservation programs. Particular emphasis was given for a well-implemented nationwide USDA support system for conversion to organic agriculture.
"This meeting was very important as we shift from legislative advocacy to the hard work of implementation. Our wins in the Farm Bill must be integrated into each agency's work plan as directed by the USDA leadership, but it won't happen automatically," said Mark Lipson, Senior Policy Analyst for the Organic Farming Research Foundation. He added, "The broader organic community must continue to work together, share the workload, and present a united front. This is essential to our success."
The USDA Farm Bill Implementation Team is charged with crafting 70 Farm Bill implementation rules by 90 days after the June 18 enactment date of the 2008 Farm Bill, including the conversion provision.
In other related news, OTA is organizing a one-day educational event, "Growing U.S. Organic Agriculture: Accessing the 2008 Farm Bill," on Nov. 12 in Chicago, IL, at the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business.
At the event, farmers, State Departments of Agriculture, Extension Service agents, certifiers, farm associations, land grant colleges, and others will learn how to access the new organic provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill, including crop insurance, data collection, research funding, certification cost share, funding for the National Organic Program, and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. More information will be available soon at www.ota.com, or contact Marissa Potter (mpotter@ota.com).
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The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. Its 1,700 members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA's mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy.
Headquarters: P.O. Box 547, Greenfield, MA 01302 USA (413) 774-7511 fax: (413) 774-6432 www.ota.com
Canada: P.O. Box 6364, Sackville, NB, Canada E4L 1G6, East (506) 260-7537 West (250) 335-3423 Ottawa, (613) 482-1717
Washington, D.C., Office: (202) 338-2900
