"Unprecedented - House of Representatives Walks Away from Farm Bill - Our Next Moves"
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Future Harvest - CASA
Sep 19, 2012, 1:56:49 PM9/19/12
to FH-CASA Topic Advocacy/ Policy
It is now official: the House of Representatives has decided to do
NOTHING about the Farm Bill before leaving this Friday September 21 to
hit the campaign trail in their home districts. Neither a 2012 Farm
Bill nor an extension of the 2008 Farm Bill will come out of Congress
before the November 6 General Election.
This is the first time in the past 75 years of US agricultural
policy that anything like this has taken place. What does this mean?
Effective this October 1, the USDA will no longer have a law under
which to conduct its business (technically, it reverts to a Farm Bill
passed in 1949). What are the practical impacts of this?
The Commodity Subsidy, Conservation (Title 2), Crop Insurance,
and SNAP (food stamps) programs will not suffer an immediate impact
and will be allowed to continue as they are for the time being. Dairy
programs will be severely impacted by the beginning of 2013, and dairy
producers are seriously worried. Even worse, funding for well over 30
smaller rural development, research, beginning farmer, minority
farmer, and other programs will expire on October 1 and remain dormant
unless and until either a 2012 Farm Bill or an extension of the 2008
Farm Bill with specific provisions to restore funding for these
programs is adopted.
Among programs that will lose funding on October 1 are the
following 10 high-priority beginning farmer, rural development, and
sustainable/organic programs:
• Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
• Outreach & Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers
• Value-Added Producer Grants
• Farmers Market Promotion Program
• National Organic Certification Cost Share Program
• Organic Production & Market Data Initiatives
• Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative
• Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
• Rural Energy for America Program
• Conservation Reserve - Transition Incentive Program
The House of Representatives did pass a six month "continuing
resolution" (CR) to keep all government agencies up and running for
the next six months. However, this is not the same as a Farm Bill
extension, and it does not restore funding for any of the above-
mentioned programs. Furthermore, the particular CR that was passed
cuts the Conservation Stewardship Program and three other conservation
programs severely enough so that no no acreage can be signed up for
these programs unless and until a new Farm Bill or extension restores
funding. The Senate is expected to vote on this CR before the end of
this week.
What Can We Do Now?
We can - and must - collectively build pressure on Congress
to complete and pass a final 2012 Farm Bill during the post-election
"lame duck" session, a Farm bill that maintains robust funding for
these important programs and for conservation. At the very least,
Congress must enact an extension of the 2008 Farm Bill that maintains
this vital funding, and effects needed budget savings through
effective reforms to commodity and crop insurance subsidy programs.
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and some of its
most active partners, such as Organic Farming Research Foundation, are
rapidly coming up with creative strategies to impel Congress to meet
its responsibility to the nation's farmers and to the nation's food
system. Watch for additional updates over the coming days and
weeks.
Individuals can help by contacting our Representatives in
Washington, DC this week to let them know how important this issue is,
and that we expect effective action before the end of the year. You
are probably sick and tired of me saying this, but it is true -
messages from Rep. Goodlatte's constituents (6th district) to his
office, 202-225-5431, are especially important. We don't need to
badger our Senators - the Senate passed a 2012 Farm Bill - and our
Senators helped out by voting for several key Amendments that resulted
in a significantly better bill than came out of the Senate Ag
Committee.
Following is one specific action we can all take part in this
week.
America's first Organic Phone Flash Mob!
Join hundreds of callers on September 19, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. EST in the
first American Organic Phone Flash Mob to Congress. Leaders and
supporters of organic farming will be gathering in Baltimore, MD at
The Organic Summit (http://www.theorganicsummit.com/os12/public/
SessionDetails.aspx?SessionID=1006495), where OFRF will present The
Organic Political System: How Organic Farmers' Voices are Best Heard
in the American Political Conversation.
At 3 p.m. EST, hundreds of callers will compel Congress to Support
Organic Farmers and Stop Stalling on the Farm Bill.
With the 2012 Farm Bill hanging in the wind, OFRF will lead
constituents in a mass plea to Congress to move on the Farm Bill
before the November elections and to sustain organic programs that are
most critical to our health and prosperity.
In our presentation, we will highlight America's extraordinary
opportunities in organic production and why the U.S. Government must
invest in what is the fastest growing form of agriculture in America.
Our presentation will also include a video (http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=CXMG5g1pbLE) that illustrates how easy it is to call your
Representative. The presentation will culminate with an audience
participation Phone Flash Mob to Congress.
Join the Phone Flash Mob! Pick up your phone and call Congress on
September 19 at approximately 3:00 p.m. EST and say:
"Hi, my name is _______ and I live in _______. I am callling to ask
that you please support the organic initiatives in the 2012 Farm Bill.
Please invest in organic research, certification cost share, and
transition assistance programs for farmers."
Find your Representative's phone number here: http://whoismyrepresentative.com/
Make sure your Representative knows about OFRF's report, Organic
Farming for Health and Prosperity (http://ofrf.org/news/organic-
farming-health-prosperity-indeed).
This is a science-based, peer-reviewed report on the multiple benefits
of organic farming in North America. The report engages leading
scientists, researchers and experts in organic agriculture who
contribute perspectives on the multiple benefits of organic farming.
Lets Dial It Up for Organic Farmers,
Maureen Wilmot, Executive Director, OFRF
NOTHING about the Farm Bill before leaving this Friday September 21 to
hit the campaign trail in their home districts. Neither a 2012 Farm
Bill nor an extension of the 2008 Farm Bill will come out of Congress
before the November 6 General Election.
This is the first time in the past 75 years of US agricultural
policy that anything like this has taken place. What does this mean?
Effective this October 1, the USDA will no longer have a law under
which to conduct its business (technically, it reverts to a Farm Bill
passed in 1949). What are the practical impacts of this?
The Commodity Subsidy, Conservation (Title 2), Crop Insurance,
and SNAP (food stamps) programs will not suffer an immediate impact
and will be allowed to continue as they are for the time being. Dairy
programs will be severely impacted by the beginning of 2013, and dairy
producers are seriously worried. Even worse, funding for well over 30
smaller rural development, research, beginning farmer, minority
farmer, and other programs will expire on October 1 and remain dormant
unless and until either a 2012 Farm Bill or an extension of the 2008
Farm Bill with specific provisions to restore funding for these
programs is adopted.
Among programs that will lose funding on October 1 are the
following 10 high-priority beginning farmer, rural development, and
sustainable/organic programs:
• Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
• Outreach & Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers
• Value-Added Producer Grants
• Farmers Market Promotion Program
• National Organic Certification Cost Share Program
• Organic Production & Market Data Initiatives
• Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative
• Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
• Rural Energy for America Program
• Conservation Reserve - Transition Incentive Program
The House of Representatives did pass a six month "continuing
resolution" (CR) to keep all government agencies up and running for
the next six months. However, this is not the same as a Farm Bill
extension, and it does not restore funding for any of the above-
mentioned programs. Furthermore, the particular CR that was passed
cuts the Conservation Stewardship Program and three other conservation
programs severely enough so that no no acreage can be signed up for
these programs unless and until a new Farm Bill or extension restores
funding. The Senate is expected to vote on this CR before the end of
this week.
What Can We Do Now?
We can - and must - collectively build pressure on Congress
to complete and pass a final 2012 Farm Bill during the post-election
"lame duck" session, a Farm bill that maintains robust funding for
these important programs and for conservation. At the very least,
Congress must enact an extension of the 2008 Farm Bill that maintains
this vital funding, and effects needed budget savings through
effective reforms to commodity and crop insurance subsidy programs.
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and some of its
most active partners, such as Organic Farming Research Foundation, are
rapidly coming up with creative strategies to impel Congress to meet
its responsibility to the nation's farmers and to the nation's food
system. Watch for additional updates over the coming days and
weeks.
Individuals can help by contacting our Representatives in
Washington, DC this week to let them know how important this issue is,
and that we expect effective action before the end of the year. You
are probably sick and tired of me saying this, but it is true -
messages from Rep. Goodlatte's constituents (6th district) to his
office, 202-225-5431, are especially important. We don't need to
badger our Senators - the Senate passed a 2012 Farm Bill - and our
Senators helped out by voting for several key Amendments that resulted
in a significantly better bill than came out of the Senate Ag
Committee.
Following is one specific action we can all take part in this
week.
America's first Organic Phone Flash Mob!
Join hundreds of callers on September 19, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. EST in the
first American Organic Phone Flash Mob to Congress. Leaders and
supporters of organic farming will be gathering in Baltimore, MD at
The Organic Summit (http://www.theorganicsummit.com/os12/public/
SessionDetails.aspx?SessionID=1006495), where OFRF will present The
Organic Political System: How Organic Farmers' Voices are Best Heard
in the American Political Conversation.
At 3 p.m. EST, hundreds of callers will compel Congress to Support
Organic Farmers and Stop Stalling on the Farm Bill.
With the 2012 Farm Bill hanging in the wind, OFRF will lead
constituents in a mass plea to Congress to move on the Farm Bill
before the November elections and to sustain organic programs that are
most critical to our health and prosperity.
In our presentation, we will highlight America's extraordinary
opportunities in organic production and why the U.S. Government must
invest in what is the fastest growing form of agriculture in America.
Our presentation will also include a video (http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=CXMG5g1pbLE) that illustrates how easy it is to call your
Representative. The presentation will culminate with an audience
participation Phone Flash Mob to Congress.
Join the Phone Flash Mob! Pick up your phone and call Congress on
September 19 at approximately 3:00 p.m. EST and say:
"Hi, my name is _______ and I live in _______. I am callling to ask
that you please support the organic initiatives in the 2012 Farm Bill.
Please invest in organic research, certification cost share, and
transition assistance programs for farmers."
Find your Representative's phone number here: http://whoismyrepresentative.com/
Make sure your Representative knows about OFRF's report, Organic
Farming for Health and Prosperity (http://ofrf.org/news/organic-
farming-health-prosperity-indeed).
This is a science-based, peer-reviewed report on the multiple benefits
of organic farming in North America. The report engages leading
scientists, researchers and experts in organic agriculture who
contribute perspectives on the multiple benefits of organic farming.
Lets Dial It Up for Organic Farmers,
Maureen Wilmot, Executive Director, OFRF
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