Organic Processing Vo1.6 #1

(continued from page 15)

has been provided to implement this provision, but the 2008 Farm Bill now provides $5 million in mandatory funding for this initiative and authorizes additional discretionary funding as well (Section 10302). This will serve to jumpstart organic data collection efforts at the USDA, including a national survey of organic producers to follow up on the 2007 Census of Agriculture.

Organic Crop Insurance. Lastly, a number of farmers looking to transition to organic production have been deterred by the expensive and inadequate federal risk management options for organic farmers. Organic farmers are currently charged a 5 percent surcharge on federal crop insurance and are reimbursed at the lower conventional rate for their crop instead of the higher organic rate if they suffer a loss. The 2008 Farm Bill includes a provision that will

address this differing treatment by requiring the removal or reduction of the surcharge based on the results of a study to be conducted. Procedures are being put in place to allow for reimbursement and crops will be added as data allows.

Resources For More Information

For the latest updates on Farm Bill implementation, appropriations, and program opportunities, see:

• Organic Farming Research Foundation, www.ofrf.org

• Organic Trade Association, www.ota.com

• National Organic Coalition, www.nationalorganiccoalition.org
• Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, www.sustainableagriculturecoalition.org

• Center for Rural Affairs, www.cfra.org

• Natural Resources Conservation Service, www.nrcs.usda.gov

_mT_eh_me OT^bbO_toAu^es _pr_irr _nsg _e_eha _op_sin_pi lic^r^s-c_e_cbT _ys_oar _me_msa_ed _n_mde _at_ks^uaA_ns _et_rh^iss_tyoso_cc _sei _ao_niaia _nr_Ntit_oio _dg_onn _ar _thn_thfo(O _eic_Ar _mt ^Th^A_pi_un^ee)_bd_rois i _lu_cr ic^s^agt_t_.a^hn^eic _.ry GMEaTke yCouOr vNoicNe EheCardTaEnd D t t^ro_taoeg^p_taonquo _sonndull _oe _corgccdeeaaic _toswdlt_io^y_utyra_yn _maoll^u_mnrepc _isapucain^ed_{uc ogl}s _nbfuitt _eoifooxp _itutermnrm^era^ttⁱi^so^en L _yshssers w^ew^aw ^rn.omtao.cr^eom^at _iein all ₍₄₁₃or call _e) _x7_t7_.4₁-₉7511, ness

ndustr^ry^oCnsi^gul_ncoti _erv_ga _1ati _9nn _8ig _ia st ₅c

Spreading the Word and
Sowing Seeds for Continued
Farm Bill Success

There are several steps that can be taken right now and in the future that will significantly impact the organic industry and Farm Bill funding in years to come. One of the most important actions to take, besides looking into funding for your own company, is to talk to your suppliers and farmers. Make sure that your employees who are in contact with farmers are aware of the Farm Bill opportunities so that they can pass the word on. When you help organic farmers, you help the industry as a whole by creating a more efficient domestic supply chain.

“Every processor in this industry should be interested in telling farmers about the Farm Bill because we all need to help increase organic production. The consumer wants more homegrown organic. Everyone has a keen interest in the farmer knowing about these things and many of the farmers out there really have not heard the news,” said Lynn Clarkson, president of Clarkson Grain, who has been actively involved with the 2008 Farm Bill. “This funding and developments such as organic crop insurance will help keep organic farmers that might have gone elsewhere, and attract those who otherwise might have not considered getting into organic.”

Organic Valley has also been educating its farmers on the Farm Bill. Melissa Hughes, general counsel for Organic Valley, said the company is talking to farmers, but even more importantly, it is getting farmers involved in local workgroups, which are