Spring 2022 ORGANIC REPORT 36 Setting Up Priorities for Organic for Next Farm Bill Legislative Affairs Megan DeBates I T SEEMS like just yesterday that the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law. Now, the fruits of that labor are finally being implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In fact, the Organic Trade Association’s top priority for the last farm bill was giving USDA’s National Organic Program more tools, authority, and resources to combat global fraud in organic. New regulations for the organic sector are set to debut this spring that will implement those critical provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill via the release of the Strengthening Organic Enforcement final rule. As the ink barely dries on that rule, Congress will have already kickstarted the process for developing the next farm bill as the current bill expires and must be renewed by 2023. Although Congress has written and passed many farm bills over the years dating back to the 1930s, organic did not make its debut until 1990 when that year’s Farm Bill included the Organic Foods Production Act—legislation that established national organic standards and led to the creation of USDA’s National Organic Program. Over the past 30 plus years, organic agriculture has made many advancements in each subsequent farm bill. WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT ABOUT THE 2023 FARM BILL? Several factors will make the next farm bill negotiations different than the development of the 2018 Farm Bill. Farm bills are drafted by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, and the Chairs and Ranking Members from both political parties make up the leadership of the committee. They are oftentimes referred 2002 X Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) is established and funded at $3 million per year to advance research on organic agriculture. X Organic Production and Market Data Initiatives (ODI) is established, ensuring that USDA is segregating and collecting data on organic production. X Organic Certification Cost-Share Program (OCCSP) is established and funded at $5 million to assist producers and handlers in obtaining organic certification, allowing them to receive up to $500 to assist in certification fees. 2008 X Organic research funding more than quadruples to $20 million per year. X Organic certification cost-share funding more than quadruples to $22 million, and authorizes up to $750 per certificate holder to assist in certification fees. X Organic data collection receives $5 million in funding. X The National Organic Program (NOP) is authorized to receive up to $11 million in annual funding. X Reduces barriers for organic and transitioning farmers under conservation and technical assistance programs including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and establishes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program Organic Initiative (EQIP OI). X Organic commodities are authorized to receive Market Access Program (MAP) funding to promote U.S. organic products overseas and increase exports. X Reduces barriers, defines and recognizes organic under the crop insurance program including requiring USDA to establish and implement organic price elections. HISTORY OF ORGANIC IN FARM BILLS 1990 X Organic Foods Production Act authorizes national standards for products marketed under the organic label.
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