Action Needed to Save Organic Programs

The National Organic Coalition is urging supporters of organics to demand that crucial funds for organic programs be included in any Farm Bill action this year:  see www.nationalorganiccoalition.org.   No area of farming was hurt as much as organics by the earlier failure to pass a Farm Bill, since the January 1 (2013) extension cut off funding for organic research, organic certification cost share, the National Organic Program, and organic market research and data collection.  In Congress, representatives DeFazio (D-Oregon), Hanna (R-New York), Kind (D-Wisconsin), and Farr (D-California) are circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter that calls for funding of these key organic programs in any Farm Bill under consideration.  Contact your Congressional representatives and urge them to join in this call for support of organics.