Ask Representative Max Miller (OH-7) to Support the Opportunities in Organic Act

Proposed by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the OEFFA-endorsed Opportunities in Organic Act recognizes the potential of the 2023 Farm Bill to provide organic producers with well-overdue support.

Organic agriculture offers broad economic benefits, safeguards our natural resources, provides resilience in our domestic supply chain, and positions farms and ranches to thrive, even in droughts and other extreme weather.

The U.S. needs to invest in comprehensive, easily accessible tools that build markets and remove barriers for organic and transitioning producers.

Right now, becoming organic and staying organic is hard for seasoned farmers, not to mention new ones. The bill would support more farmers by making certification more affordable, providing flexible funding to help farmers in the transition process, helping farmers find new market opportunities, and ensuring that places like the local USDA office and extension service are staffed with people who can understand and assist organic farmers.

We urge you to call on Congress to invest more in organic agriculture in this farm bill. It hasn’t received its fair share in the past.

CALL REPRESENTATIVE MAX MILLER NOW AND ASK HIM TO SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITIES IN ORGANIC ACT. After you’ve completed your call, this form will also give you the option of emailing him.

The Opportunities in Organic Act

Tools, programs, and resources for organic and transitioning producers should include:

• Ensuring certification costs and processes do not limit growth of organic agriculture;
• Providing underserved producers with support to access new markets and adopt beneficial practices; and
• Developing relevant technical assistance capacity for all producers on new marketing opportunities, building healthy soil, managing pests naturally, and protecting natural resources.

Existing programs to support organic agriculture, transition, and research do not adequately meet the unique needs of transitioning organic producers, especially those from underserved populations. Public investments in organic should be commensurate with organic’s growing share of the market and build on networks and programs developed through USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative:

• Organic certification cost-share
  • Cost-share payments cover up to $1500 in certification costs
  • Discretion to ensure certification costs are not a barrier for underserved producers and regions with limited organic production where costs might be higher
• Organic transition and resilience funds
  • Support for NGOs to build capacity to support organic transition, particularly for smaller scale and socially disadvantaged producers and underserved regions
  • Pass through funding for producers to offset transition costs and reduce barriers to transition
  • Investments in regional supply chains, including scale-appropriate equipment and infrastructure
  • Farmer-to-farmer mentorship and expanded skills for agricultural advisors
  • Expansion of organic farming systems with cover cropping, composting, crop rotation, biological pest management, and protection of natural resources
• Organic-relevant technical assistance
  • Resources for capacity and partnerships at public institutions and NGOs to deliver organic-relevant, regionally appropriate technical assistance, including education and market development