Proposed Farm Bill Weakens Organic Standards - Your Help is Needed!
BY National Organic Coalition | May 02, 2018
Save U.S. Organic Family Farms!
Under pressure from corporate lobbyists, Senator Roberts is planning to weaken the organic standards. His Farm Bill legislation would gut the authority of the National Organic Standards Board and put corporate interests above the needs of family farmers.
This could end organic as we know it!
We are deeply alarmed by this threat. The National Organic Standards Board determines which materials can be used in organic farming and is the heart of the transparent, democratic process that upholds the integrity of organic seal. Gutting the authority of the board could end organic as we know it.
Keep the organic standards strong!
Consumer trust in the organic seal and the future of American organic family farms is at stake. Do not let Senator Roberts open up the organic standards to the dictates of special interests and the addition of toxic pesticides and GMOs. We need more support for organic in the Farm Bill, not a sneak attack aimed at taking this healthy, sustainable option away!
TAKE ACTION NOW - CALL YOUR SENATORS:
PLEASE TARGET YOUR ACTION ALERT TO SENATE AG COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE
Senate Ag Committee Democrats: Debbie Stabenow (MI), Patrick Leahy (VT), Sherrod Brown (OH), Amy Klobuchar (MN), Michael Bennet (CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Joe Donnelly (IN), Heidi Heitkamp (ND), Bob Casey Jr. (PA), Tina Smith (D-MN).
Senate Ag Committee Republicans: Pat Roberts (KS), Chairman, Mitch McConnell (KY), John Boozman (AR), John Hoeven (ND), Joni Ernst (IA), Chuck Grassley (IA), John Thune (SD), Steve Daines (MT), David Perdue (GA), Deb Fisher (NE), Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS)
Call the Capitol Switchboard:
202-224-3121
*Enter your zip code to connect with your Senators.
Ask to speak with the staffer who works on agriculture or leave a message with whoever answers the phone. Use these talking points:
- -I’m calling as a constituent and an organic farmer/consumer.
- -I urge Senator XX to oppose any attempts to weaken the organic standards in the Farm Bill. First and foremost, I urge Senator XX to oppose any changes to the National Organic Standards Board.
- -I urge Senator XX to create a level playing field for U.S. organic family farms and stop organic import fraud by fully funding the National Organic Program, fully funding organic certification cost-share, and increasing funding for the Organic Research & Extension Initiative to $50 million.
Background:
Led by Senator Roberts, the Senate Agriculture Committee is considering Farm Bill legislation that would change the structure and authority of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) and make it easier for industrial operations to cash in on organic at the expense of family farmers. The NOSB is at the heart of the transparent, democratic process that upholds the integrity of the organic seal. Changes that weaken the NOSB could be the end of organic as we know it.
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is made up of 15 dedicated public volunteers from across the organic community. The Board advises the Secretary of Agriculture on a wide variety of topics related to organic standards, including what materials should be allowed in organic farming. The Board currently has statutory authority to keep toxic substances out of organic production.
The organic standards must remain strong to ensure trust in the label and to create a level playing field for the vast majority of organic farms and businesses that are playing by the rules.
The science is clear that organic farming is better for people and the planet. It protects eaters, farmers, farmworkers, and rural communities from exposure to toxic pesticides. It conserves water and soil resources. And it’s a climate change solution - it emits fewer greenhouse gases than industrial agriculture and builds healthy soil that traps carbon in the ground, where it belongs. Organic farming also improves farmers’ incomes and boosts rural economies.