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CCOF and the 2008 Farm Bill
The Farm Bill battle has been won but the war still wages. As we continue to work with our colleagues on implementing the 2008 Farm Bill that just passed, we still need your help. We will monitor the appropriations process in Congress to make sure they fund the programs that they authorized. We will work with USDA and other agencies to make sure that they design the programs the way we -- and Congress -- intended. And we will work with NRCS and other implementers here in California to make sure our farmers have access to these programs that are so important for organic farmers.
Current CCOF advocacy on Farm Bill Programs.
Farm Bill Implementation
CCOF's policy director, Claudia Reid, now serves on the California NRCS State Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), and was recently asked to serve on the STAC technical manual subcommittee to provide input into the NRCS technical manual regarding organic transition. Claudia will work closely with CCOF members and experts on CCOF's staff to help ensure that the NRCS manual on organic transition reflects the National Organic Program requirements.
Claudia also volunteered to represent CCOF on the STAC subcommittee on communication and outreach, which will include organizations such as ATTRA - the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD), and other organizations that specialize in extending Farm Bill programs to end users. This group will advise NRCS on how to reach out to a wide range of organizations so that the Farm Bill benefit accrues to all.
Please contact Claudia Reid at CCOF, the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, or the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) for ways to stay involved during the next crucial steps.
CCOF Celebrates Advocacy Victory with Fair Share for Organic in Farm Bill
The 2008 Farm Bill is a vast improvement for organic agriculture over the 2002 Farm Bill. In addition to the increased research, education and extension funding, the 2008 Farm Bill addresses other factors that are limiting organic production in the U.S., including:
- providing $5 million for collection of economic data about organic production and markets;
- providing $22 million to offset part of farmers’ organic certification costs;
- taking steps to eliminate bias against organic growers in crop insurance programs;
- establishing financial and technical support for conversion to organic production.
For details on 2008 Farm Bill provisions related to organic agriculture, please visit the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) website.
Get Involved! Advocate, Educate, Speak Out and Spread the Word
Contact Tracy Lerman at OFRF to sign up for updates and action alerts. For more information, email Tracy at tracy@ofrf.org.
- Speak Out! Respond to Farm Bill action alerts by sending emails or calling your Member of Congress; you can communicate directly with and/or find out who your representative is at: house.gov/writerep
- Write letters to the editor or op-ed pieces for your local newspaper
- Educate others! Host a meeting in your community about the Farm Bill
- Spread the Word! Encourage your friends and colleagues to get involved
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