National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture

Senate Voting on Farm Bill Soon –
Call your Senator To Support Organics Today!

The Senate leadership is quickly mounting pressure on the Agriculture Committee to finish the Farm Bill. Right now, many confidential negotiations are underway in preparation for the Committee’s Farm Bill mark-up on October 23. Agriculture Committee Chair Tom Harkin has drafted a Farm Bill with strong organic provisions. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly clear that other Committee members are giving short shrift to key sustainable and organic agriculture programs. We must ensure that our organic priorities are included in the Senate Farm Bill.

The timeline is short and your Senators need to hear the importance of including organics in the Farm Bill – please contact them TODAY and urge their support for our Farm Bill organic goals! Below are our specific Farm Bill asks and your Senators’ contact info. When you call, ask to speak to the agriculture aide.

Organic Goals for the Farm Bill

$25 million/year in mandatory funding for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI).
$25 million over 5 years for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program.
An Organic Conversion Program to help farmers switch to organic practices with at least 50% of funding for technical assistance.
$2 billion in new funding for the Comprehensive Stewardship Incentives Program (CSIP), which includes the new and improved Conservation Security Program and support for organic practices.

Calls and faxes are more effective than emails. You can call your Senator’s office through the US Capitol Switchboard (just ask for your Senator’s office): 202-224-3121 or visit congressmerge.com/onlinedb.

Thank you for taking action!

Recent Farm Bill Developments

After a few scheduling delays, the Senate Agriculture Committee is now scheduled to mark up the Farm Bill the week of October 22. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Tom Harkin’s (D-IA) draft Farm Bill includes strong provisions for organics, sustainable agriculture, conservation and food security. A number of Senators on the Agriculture Committee, however, are not supportive of Harkin’s draft, including Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND). Conrad is drafting an alternate version of the Farm Bill, which has attracted other Agriculture Committee members, and he has been vocally opposing mandatory funding for organic agriculture research. Although several Agriculture Committee members have said they support organics, no one besides Harkin has emerged as a champion. Senator Harkin needs stronger backing from other Committee Members in order for his Farm Bill to retain its sustainable and organic provisions.

For more information on the Farm Bill, go to:

Organic Farming Research Foundation’s Farm Bill Update [pdf]
NCSA Farm Bill Website
Sustainable Agriculture Coalition