Organic Agriculture Policy

Standing Up for the Integrity of the Organic Label

The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 created a National Organic Program (NOP) within the USDA that provides a consistent framework and third-party certification system for products labeled “organic.”

The national organic standards are built on the shoulders of Indigenous practices and informed by decades of farmer experience.

Maintaining the integrity of the organic label involves ongoing work. The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) was created to provide independent oversight of the NOP. The NOSB makes recommendations on the production, handling, and processing of organic products.

The NOSB accepts comments from the organic community twice each year and your voice is important to maintain a strong organic program that consumers can trust.

OEFFA helps farmers attend NOSB meetings and provide comments to the board during webinars and in writing. In addition, we encourage farmers to send us their input, which we can include in OEFFA’s comments to the NOSB.

When the NOSB hears directly from farmers, they listen. Join our Organic Caucus to be part of the movement!

Investing in Organic Agriculture and Climate Solutions

Farmer and consumer interest in this voluntary, market-based certification is growing across the country despite organic and transitioning producers receiving minimal support from state and federal agriculture programs and land-grant universities.

Through advocacy, we, along with our national partners, have worked toward improved organic programs and standards, like Organic Certification Cost Share, the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards, and Strengthening Organic Enforcement.

Key research programs at the Economic Research Service, the Agricultural Research Service, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture need and deserve continued funding to show the return on investment organic operations offer for environmental health and farmers’ bottom lines.

Likewise, OEFFA members advocate for more dedicated Extension staff trained in organic, as well as mentorship programs to support producers transitioning to organic. Through participation in the recent Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), OEFFA has supported 11 mentor pairs, helping to secure more organic operations in the future.

Jim Jacobs

Organic producers, like Jim Jacobs, use innovative production methods to steward the land. Jim takes time to advocate with us in DC and educate his fellow farmers about his organic farming practices.

Scott Myers

Organic farmers, like Scott Myers, are calling for climate change solutions. He has led OEFFA conference workshops, spoken with the media, and hosted on-farm soil health events highlighting practices that sequester carbon.

Kristy Buskirk

Deeply focused on soil health, farmers like Kristy Buskirk (pictured left) have been taking strides to provide local healthy food to their communities, starting with farming practices that promote healthy soil.