Policy & Advocacy Newsletter

Najee Quashie, Interim Communications Director & Project Manager at NOFA/Mass, discusses the need for Congressional action on the Farm Bill before the year is up. Happy Holidays from the NOFA/Mass family!

The Farm Bill, a comprehensive piece of legislation renewed every five years, shapes agricultural and food policy in the United States.

Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Democratic Senator from Michigan, introduced S.5335 on November 18th, an updated Farm Bill that includes key organic provisions like:

Increased reimbursements for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program,
An authorization to continue parts of USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative,
Expanded funding for organic research and more.

Unfortunately, the bill may not be passed before the year ends due to partisan gridlock. Not to mention, Senator Stabenow plans to retire in January. Keep in mind the Farm Bill has not been updated in six years, instead getting one-year extensions after it expired in 2022. Hence, Senator John Boozman’s (R-AR) proposal to extend it until 2025.

NOFA/Mass urges Congress to pass Senator Stabenow’s Bill and/or a one-year extension to secure funding for vital organic programs, including those at risk of expiring, such as the Organic Certification Cost Share Program, which supports farmers’ transition to organic.

USDA Economic Research Service – Direct Spending Effects for the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018

Source: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This chart represents the percentage breakdown of the Farm Bill passed in 2018. The overall cost was estimated to be $867 billion. Since then, the nutrition category has increased by about 3.9%.

What happens if nothing gets passed?

If Congress does not pass an updated Farm Bill or a one-year extension before 2025, key organic programs will lapse. These include:

The Organic Certification Cost Share Program – Helps organic farmers and businesses afford the cost of getting certified organic. With more farms becoming certified and expenses rising, last year’s funding of $8 million isn’t enough. Congress must provide at least $11 million to keep this program running in the Farm Bill extension or through emergency funding.
The Organic Data Initiative – Gathers essential data to help support and grow organic farming.
The Organic Certification Trade and Tracking Program – Helps the USDA enforce organic rules and stop fraud in organic products.

While Congress Debates, Families & Farmers Deal with Uncertainty

About 80% of the Farm Bill’s funds are allocated toward nutrition, rising significantly in 2021 due to the Biden administration’s revision of the Thrifty Food Plan—a USDA tool used to estimate the average cost of a nutritious diet.

Without an extension, the 42.1 million families who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program per month would lose this benefit, contributing to the hunger crisis.

Meanwhile, farmers are stuck with 2018 funding levels, failing to meet today’s needs due to climate change, extreme weather, rising input costs, labor shortages, market volatility, pests and diseases, and more.

Given the timeline Congress is working with, if they do not pass an updated Farm Bill before 2025, Congress may be in a similar position at the end of next year. With a new administration entering the White House, it is unlikely that this will be one of their top priorities to begin 2025.

Source: Congressional Research Service. This chart represents the projected Farm Bill cost from 2025 to 2034 courtesy of the Congressional Budget Office.

Actions You Can Take Now!

Contact your Member of Congress – You elected your Congress member to office, so you can voice your opinion on any bill they are working on. Use this Congress member finder by typing your home address, city, and state.
Sign the National Organic Coalition’s Petition – The National Organic Coalition is a nationwide group of organizations and businesses working together to support and expand organic farming. They represent everyone from farmers and ranchers to organic companies, retailers, certification agencies, consumers, and environmental advocates.
Join the NOFA/Mass Policy Committee to Voice Your Opinions – NOFA/Mass has policy committee meetings every third Tuesday of the month from 7-8 pm. These meetings are open to anyone, so if you want to join, email Laura Davis at [email protected]. She’s checking her email and checking it twice.