Showing posts with label farm bill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label farm bill. Show all posts
7/01/2010
5/07/2009
3-Week Window for Conversion to Organic
Organic and Transitional Farmers Restored to Rightful Status in EQIP*
*Washington, D.C. May 5, 2009* USDA today announced a special three-week sign-up for farmers in the process of converting to organic farming to receive technical and financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a move applauded by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and its grassroots member organizations across the country.
The organic conversion assistance was provided for by the 2008 Farm Bill but the plan went awry when the Bush Administration issued rules for the EQIP program just before leaving office which baffled state and local offices of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). As a result, in a majority of states organic farmers and transitioning farmers were simply not being served, in contradiction of Congress’ intent in the farm bill.
“This was a was a wrong that needed righting, and with today’s announcement USDA is not only setting it right, but doing so in an innovative and farmer-friendly manner,” said Aimee Witteman, NSAC Executive Director. “We thank NRCS and USDA leadership for listening to the concerns of organic farmers and applaud their new initiative.”
Today’s announcement sets aside $50 million out of the $1 billion EQIP program for a special three-week sign-up for farms converting to organic production, farms expanding their organic production, or existing organic farms who desire conservation support to reach even higher levels of environmental performance. The sign-up period begins Monday, May 11 and goes through Friday, May 29.
Six core conservation practices (conservation crop rotation, cover cropping, integrated pest management, nutrient management, rotational grazing, and forage harvest management) are being made available to transitioning organic farmers on a nationwide basis. Each state may then also add a variety of ‘facilitating’ conservation practices specific to the type of agriculture in their region.
“Obviously we would wish to have more than a very short three weeks to work with our farmer networks to get the word out and get farmers into local NRCS offices to sign up for this exciting new initiative,” said Witteman. “We will work quickly to get the word out far and wide and our member organizations with expertise in organic agriculture will be helping farmers understand their options under the new program terms.”
Organic farming has strong environmental benefits for soil and water quality, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity. In recognition of this fact, Congress retooled the EQIP program in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide a general EQIP priority for organic farming in the program overall as well as a specific EQIP subcomponent for farms converting in whole or in part to organic farming.
The new initiative addresses the special “organic conversion assistance?’ component of EQIP in particular. Funding under the organic conversion section of the farm bill is capped at not more than $20,000 per farm per year, and not more than $80,000 per farm in any 6-year period. Organic farmers may opt to compete in this special pool, with the tighter payment caps, or may opt instead to compete in the regular EQIP pool for which the 6-year cap is $300,000. However, under the terms of the new initiative announced today, farmers will receive higher payments, relative to conventional EQIP rates, for five of the six national core practices for organic conversion option. The higher payment rates reflect the higher management costs associated with the mandatory three-year organic transition period and the higher ongoing management costs associated with organic farming.
“We expect this program to evolve and grow over time,” said Witteman.
“NRCS has made a good faith effort to address the needs of organic farmers and appears to be willing to make this program even better on an iterative basis in future years. This is a very welcomed new day.”
Aimee Witteman, Executive Director
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
p: 202-547-5754
f: 202-547-1837
www.sustainableagriculture.net
Cheryl Ripperton Rettie, Bookkeeping & Member Services
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
PO Box 448, Pittsboro NC 27312
Tel: 919.542.2402 - Fax: 919.542.7401
cheryl@carolinafarmstewards.org
www.carolinafarmstewards.org
*Washington, D.C. May 5, 2009* USDA today announced a special three-week sign-up for farmers in the process of converting to organic farming to receive technical and financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a move applauded by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and its grassroots member organizations across the country.
The organic conversion assistance was provided for by the 2008 Farm Bill but the plan went awry when the Bush Administration issued rules for the EQIP program just before leaving office which baffled state and local offices of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). As a result, in a majority of states organic farmers and transitioning farmers were simply not being served, in contradiction of Congress’ intent in the farm bill.
“This was a was a wrong that needed righting, and with today’s announcement USDA is not only setting it right, but doing so in an innovative and farmer-friendly manner,” said Aimee Witteman, NSAC Executive Director. “We thank NRCS and USDA leadership for listening to the concerns of organic farmers and applaud their new initiative.”
Today’s announcement sets aside $50 million out of the $1 billion EQIP program for a special three-week sign-up for farms converting to organic production, farms expanding their organic production, or existing organic farms who desire conservation support to reach even higher levels of environmental performance. The sign-up period begins Monday, May 11 and goes through Friday, May 29.
Six core conservation practices (conservation crop rotation, cover cropping, integrated pest management, nutrient management, rotational grazing, and forage harvest management) are being made available to transitioning organic farmers on a nationwide basis. Each state may then also add a variety of ‘facilitating’ conservation practices specific to the type of agriculture in their region.
“Obviously we would wish to have more than a very short three weeks to work with our farmer networks to get the word out and get farmers into local NRCS offices to sign up for this exciting new initiative,” said Witteman. “We will work quickly to get the word out far and wide and our member organizations with expertise in organic agriculture will be helping farmers understand their options under the new program terms.”
Organic farming has strong environmental benefits for soil and water quality, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity. In recognition of this fact, Congress retooled the EQIP program in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide a general EQIP priority for organic farming in the program overall as well as a specific EQIP subcomponent for farms converting in whole or in part to organic farming.
The new initiative addresses the special “organic conversion assistance?’ component of EQIP in particular. Funding under the organic conversion section of the farm bill is capped at not more than $20,000 per farm per year, and not more than $80,000 per farm in any 6-year period. Organic farmers may opt to compete in this special pool, with the tighter payment caps, or may opt instead to compete in the regular EQIP pool for which the 6-year cap is $300,000. However, under the terms of the new initiative announced today, farmers will receive higher payments, relative to conventional EQIP rates, for five of the six national core practices for organic conversion option. The higher payment rates reflect the higher management costs associated with the mandatory three-year organic transition period and the higher ongoing management costs associated with organic farming.
“We expect this program to evolve and grow over time,” said Witteman.
“NRCS has made a good faith effort to address the needs of organic farmers and appears to be willing to make this program even better on an iterative basis in future years. This is a very welcomed new day.”
Aimee Witteman, Executive Director
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
p: 202-547-5754
f: 202-547-1837
www.sustainableagriculture.net
Cheryl Ripperton Rettie, Bookkeeping & Member Services
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
PO Box 448, Pittsboro NC 27312
Tel: 919.542.2402 - Fax: 919.542.7401
cheryl@carolinafarmstewards.org
www.carolinafarmstewards.org
11/04/2007
Farm Bill, Pollan
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/opinion/04pollan.html?ex=1194843600&en=5c0cb0a3e48e7c8e&ei=5070&emc=eta1
6/20/2007
Call or Fax TODAY, Farm Bill!
Phone calls or faxed letters are needed immediately, directed to members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to urge them to include organics in their Farm Bill Proposal. The Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Tom Harkin (D-IA) is finalizing his initial draft version of the 2007 Farm Bill as we speak, and has promised to include all of our organic priorities. Now the other members of the Committee need to hear from us about the importance of including organic provisions in the 2007 Farm Bill. If we can get all the organic priorities into the initial version of the bill with the active, or at least tacit support of a majority of the Committee members, it will put us on the path to victory without having to try to amend the bill later in the process.
PLEASE CALL OR FAX TODAY
The message is simple: I am a resident of the state the Senator represents and I am calling to ask Senator _______ to advocate for key organic provisions in the Committee’s Farm Bill proposal.
To compete for the huge increases in consumer demand for organics, U.S. producers need a fair share of federal support in the 2007 Farm Bill. This package will encourage domestic production of organic goods, keeping the economic and environmental benefits in this state and in the U.S.
Key provisions:
National Organic Certification Cost-Share ($5 Million/yr. mandatory funding.)
Organic Conversion Stewardship Incentives ($50 Million/yr. mandatory funding, equal split for financial and technical assistance.)
Fair Share for Organic Research (at least $15 Million/yr. mandatory funding for Organic Research and Extension grants; amend the National Research Initiative to include classical plant and animal breeding; adequate funding for organic data collection.)
Conservation Security Program (full mandatory funding and integrated application for organic producers.)
[See more background below. If you are able to engage the Senator’s staff in a longer conversation, this will help you communicate the importance of each specific item.]
It’s easy to call or write. Please call your Senator’s office (phone numbers below). Ask the receptionist to connect you with the staff person responsible for agriculture. If the agriculture aide is unavailable, leave your name, phone number, and the message above on the aid’s voice mail, or if necessary, with the receptionist.
If you prefer to write, fax a brief letter with the same points above, along with your name, address, and contact information (fax numbers below).
Background:
National Organic Certification Cost Share Program – The Organic Certification Cost Share Program was authorized in the 2002 Farm bill and provides modest assistance to help farmers cover the cost of organic certification, an expense that has risen considerably since the advent of USDA’s National Organic Program. The program received $5 million in mandatory funding in the 2002 Farm Bill, which was completely utilized by 2006. The program should be reauthorized in the next Farm Bill with increased funding to meet the overwhelming demand from the growing organic sector, and per farm payments should be increased to a maximum of $750 per year, an amount consistent with increasing USDA organic certification fees.
Organic Conversion – As a result of the high production standards required of organic producers, and the three-year minimum time requirements for converting land to organic production, the barriers to organic conversion are significant. It is critical that the standards for organic production remain high, because they are the underpinning of growing consumer demand for organic products. However, it is also critical that the new Farm Bill include financial and technical assistance to help farmers convert to organic production, including assistance for implementing organic conservation practices and for business and marketing planning. At least half of the funding allocated to transition support should be dedicated to technical assistance and education programs, due to the knowledge-intensive character of organic farming.
Research – USDA research programs have not kept pace with the growth of organic agriculture in the marketplace. Although organic currently represents about 3 percent of total U.S. food retail market, the share of USDA research targeted to organic agriculture and marketing only represents 0.6% annually. A coordinated strategy for scaling-up organic agricultural research, outreach and development should provide a mixture of funding methods and programs to gradually achieve an overall “fair share” spending total of approximately $120 million/year. This should include $15 million mandatory funding for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative competitive grant program that funds research and extension projects to meet the production, marketing and policy needs of the growing organic industry. Classical plant and animal breeding should be listed as one of the priorities for competitive research grants under the National Research Initiative, as public resources for classical plant and animal breeding have dwindled, causing limited access to germplasm and the diversity of seed variety and animal breed development that organic and sustainable farmers depend upon. Adequate funding should be allocated to expand the Organic Production and Marketing Data Initiative which requires USDA to collect and publish segregated organic data to meet the needs of organic producers, processors, and consumers.
Conservation Security Program - The Conservation Security Program is an innovative and proactive stewardship incentives program that was authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill. The CSP provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who develop and maintain conservation systems that solve critical natural resource and environmental concerns, rewarding them for investments of labor, management, and capital aimed at fostering healthy, productive, and non-eroding soils, clear air and water, energy savings, and wildlife habitat.
Despite its wide popularity with farmers and ranchers, the intent and scope of CSP have been stunted by repeated cuts to its funding levels. Changes need to be made to make it easier for organic producers to participate in the program.
110 CONGRESS: SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
Democrats
Tom Harkin (IA), Chair
202-224-3254
202-224-9369
Patrick Leahy (VT)
202-224-4242
202-224-3479
Kent Conrad (ND)
202-224-2043
202-224-7776
Max Baucus (MT)
202-224-2651
202-224-0515
Blanche Lincoln (AR)
202-224-4843
202-228-1371
Debbie Stabenow (MI)
202-224-4822
202-228-0325
Ben Nelson (NE)
202-224-6551
202-228-0012
Ken Salazar (CO)
202-224-5852
202-228-5036
Sherrod Brown (OH)
202-224-2315
202-228-6321
Robert B. Casey, Jr. (PA)
202-224-6324
202-228-0604
Amy Klobuchar (MN)
202-224-3244
202-228-2186
Republicans
Saxby Chambliss (GA) Ranking Member
202-224-3521
202-224-0103
Richard Lugar (IN)
202-224-4814
202-228-0360
Thad Cochran (MS)
202-224-5054
202-228-9450
Mitch McConnell (KY)
202-224-2541
202-224-2499
Pat Roberts (KS)
202-224-4774
202-224-3514
Lindsey Graham (SC)
202-224-5972
202-224-3808
Norman Coleman (MN)
202-224-5641
202-224-1152
Michael Crapo (ID)
202-224-6142
202-228-1375
John Thune (SD)
202-224-2321
202-228-5429
Chuck Grassley (IA)
202-224-3744
202-224-6020
*******************************
Liana Hoodes
3540 Route 52
Pine Bush, NY 12566
Phone and Fax: 845-744-2304
Liana@hvc.rr.com
National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture
P.O. Box 396, Pine Bush, NY 12566
845-361-5201
www.sustainableagriculture.net
PLEASE CALL OR FAX TODAY
The message is simple: I am a resident of the state the Senator represents and I am calling to ask Senator _______ to advocate for key organic provisions in the Committee’s Farm Bill proposal.
To compete for the huge increases in consumer demand for organics, U.S. producers need a fair share of federal support in the 2007 Farm Bill. This package will encourage domestic production of organic goods, keeping the economic and environmental benefits in this state and in the U.S.
Key provisions:
National Organic Certification Cost-Share ($5 Million/yr. mandatory funding.)
Organic Conversion Stewardship Incentives ($50 Million/yr. mandatory funding, equal split for financial and technical assistance.)
Fair Share for Organic Research (at least $15 Million/yr. mandatory funding for Organic Research and Extension grants; amend the National Research Initiative to include classical plant and animal breeding; adequate funding for organic data collection.)
Conservation Security Program (full mandatory funding and integrated application for organic producers.)
[See more background below. If you are able to engage the Senator’s staff in a longer conversation, this will help you communicate the importance of each specific item.]
It’s easy to call or write. Please call your Senator’s office (phone numbers below). Ask the receptionist to connect you with the staff person responsible for agriculture. If the agriculture aide is unavailable, leave your name, phone number, and the message above on the aid’s voice mail, or if necessary, with the receptionist.
If you prefer to write, fax a brief letter with the same points above, along with your name, address, and contact information (fax numbers below).
Background:
National Organic Certification Cost Share Program – The Organic Certification Cost Share Program was authorized in the 2002 Farm bill and provides modest assistance to help farmers cover the cost of organic certification, an expense that has risen considerably since the advent of USDA’s National Organic Program. The program received $5 million in mandatory funding in the 2002 Farm Bill, which was completely utilized by 2006. The program should be reauthorized in the next Farm Bill with increased funding to meet the overwhelming demand from the growing organic sector, and per farm payments should be increased to a maximum of $750 per year, an amount consistent with increasing USDA organic certification fees.
Organic Conversion – As a result of the high production standards required of organic producers, and the three-year minimum time requirements for converting land to organic production, the barriers to organic conversion are significant. It is critical that the standards for organic production remain high, because they are the underpinning of growing consumer demand for organic products. However, it is also critical that the new Farm Bill include financial and technical assistance to help farmers convert to organic production, including assistance for implementing organic conservation practices and for business and marketing planning. At least half of the funding allocated to transition support should be dedicated to technical assistance and education programs, due to the knowledge-intensive character of organic farming.
Research – USDA research programs have not kept pace with the growth of organic agriculture in the marketplace. Although organic currently represents about 3 percent of total U.S. food retail market, the share of USDA research targeted to organic agriculture and marketing only represents 0.6% annually. A coordinated strategy for scaling-up organic agricultural research, outreach and development should provide a mixture of funding methods and programs to gradually achieve an overall “fair share” spending total of approximately $120 million/year. This should include $15 million mandatory funding for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative competitive grant program that funds research and extension projects to meet the production, marketing and policy needs of the growing organic industry. Classical plant and animal breeding should be listed as one of the priorities for competitive research grants under the National Research Initiative, as public resources for classical plant and animal breeding have dwindled, causing limited access to germplasm and the diversity of seed variety and animal breed development that organic and sustainable farmers depend upon. Adequate funding should be allocated to expand the Organic Production and Marketing Data Initiative which requires USDA to collect and publish segregated organic data to meet the needs of organic producers, processors, and consumers.
Conservation Security Program - The Conservation Security Program is an innovative and proactive stewardship incentives program that was authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill. The CSP provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who develop and maintain conservation systems that solve critical natural resource and environmental concerns, rewarding them for investments of labor, management, and capital aimed at fostering healthy, productive, and non-eroding soils, clear air and water, energy savings, and wildlife habitat.
Despite its wide popularity with farmers and ranchers, the intent and scope of CSP have been stunted by repeated cuts to its funding levels. Changes need to be made to make it easier for organic producers to participate in the program.
110 CONGRESS: SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
Democrats
Tom Harkin (IA), Chair
202-224-3254
202-224-9369
Patrick Leahy (VT)
202-224-4242
202-224-3479
Kent Conrad (ND)
202-224-2043
202-224-7776
Max Baucus (MT)
202-224-2651
202-224-0515
Blanche Lincoln (AR)
202-224-4843
202-228-1371
Debbie Stabenow (MI)
202-224-4822
202-228-0325
Ben Nelson (NE)
202-224-6551
202-228-0012
Ken Salazar (CO)
202-224-5852
202-228-5036
Sherrod Brown (OH)
202-224-2315
202-228-6321
Robert B. Casey, Jr. (PA)
202-224-6324
202-228-0604
Amy Klobuchar (MN)
202-224-3244
202-228-2186
Republicans
Saxby Chambliss (GA) Ranking Member
202-224-3521
202-224-0103
Richard Lugar (IN)
202-224-4814
202-228-0360
Thad Cochran (MS)
202-224-5054
202-228-9450
Mitch McConnell (KY)
202-224-2541
202-224-2499
Pat Roberts (KS)
202-224-4774
202-224-3514
Lindsey Graham (SC)
202-224-5972
202-224-3808
Norman Coleman (MN)
202-224-5641
202-224-1152
Michael Crapo (ID)
202-224-6142
202-228-1375
John Thune (SD)
202-224-2321
202-228-5429
Chuck Grassley (IA)
202-224-3744
202-224-6020
*******************************
Liana Hoodes
3540 Route 52
Pine Bush, NY 12566
Phone and Fax: 845-744-2304
Liana@hvc.rr.com
National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture
P.O. Box 396, Pine Bush, NY 12566
845-361-5201
www.sustainableagriculture.net
5/06/2007
Twinkies Vs. Carrots
Compared with a bunch of carrots, a package of Twinkies is a highly complicated, high-tech piece of manufacture, involving no fewer than 39 ingredients, many themselves elaborately manufactured, as well as the packaging and a hefty marketing budget.
So how can the supermarket possibly sell a pair of these synthetic cream-filled pseudocakes for less than a bunch of roots?
You'll find the answer in this NYTimes article (link below) called "You Are What You Grow." Read the article. It will explain not only the answer to the above question, but why Americans are so obese and how our U.S. agricultural policy--the farm bill in particular--is going to continue fattening us up.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/magazine/22wwlnlede.t.html?ex=1178596800&en=400518717aae4dc1&ei=5070
So how can the supermarket possibly sell a pair of these synthetic cream-filled pseudocakes for less than a bunch of roots?
You'll find the answer in this NYTimes article (link below) called "You Are What You Grow." Read the article. It will explain not only the answer to the above question, but why Americans are so obese and how our U.S. agricultural policy--the farm bill in particular--is going to continue fattening us up.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/magazine/22wwlnlede.t.html?ex=1178596800&en=400518717aae4dc1&ei=5070
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