New help for organic producers

By Senator Tom Harkin

Guest contributor

Organic production is the fastest growing segment in agriculture, so it makes sense that the new farm bill included many provisions that relate directly to organic agriculture. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 provides resources such as direct help to organic producers, organic farming research, greater access to conservation programs, and increased specialty crop purchases. 

Senator Harkin

One of my goals over the years has been to increase support for organic and sustainable agriculture research. For the first time, the 2002 farm bill provides federal research funds for organic agriculture. The organic research and extension initiative will provide $3 million each year from fiscal years 2004 to 2008 for innovative research targeted to organic production and processing. In addition, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, I worked to include almost $20 million for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program in the Senate version of the Agriculture Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2003. The SARE appropriation has $15 million for research (a $2.5 million increase) and $4.75 million for extension and outreach activities.

The farm bill requires a study on the availability of organic feed to help identify barriers to the production of organic products. As part of this study, IowaStateUniversity will be surveying Midwest organic grain producers and dealers about their planting and harvesting intentions for 2002 through 2004. I was concerned about recent reports that some producers could not find adequate amounts of organic feed. By including provisions for this study in the farm bill, the integrity of any future organic labels for meat and poultry is assured.

In the past, too many producers were unable to benefit from farm bill conservation programs. This new farm bill invests more than any previous one in conserving our soil, water, wildlife and other resources. With an 80 percent increase above current levels, conservation funding in this bill will deliver solid environmental gains across Iowa and the nation. Besides increasing funds, the new farm bill strengthens and improves existing conservation programs and establishes new ones to fill gaps and meet new challenges. It also strikes a far better balance between taking land out of production and supporting conservation on working agricultural land. The changes will help ensure that producers who take a comprehensive approach to on-farm conservation are rewarded for their efforts.

Organic producers will benefit from many of the conservation programs in the farm bill, but most particularly with the Conservation Security Program (CSP). The CSP is an entirely voluntary system to reward farmers for both adopting new conservation practices and for maintaining existing ones on land in agricultural production.  It is open to producers of all types of crops, including those who have seen little or no benefit from previous USDA commodity and conservation programs.  Unlike any other program, CSP relies on incentives to encourage farmers to manage all resources on the farm -- soil, water, plants, animals and air -- comprehensively and sustainably.

To help organic producers and handlers meet the costs of organic certification, the farm bill provides $5 million for a national organic certification cost-share program. Producers may receive up to $500 through cost-share payments for 75 percent of the costs related to certification.

Under the farm bill a person who produces and markets only 100 percent organic products will be exempt from paying an assessment for commodity promotion check-off programs. This provision will give organic producers an option they have not had regarding contributions to generic commodity promotion programs.

I am confident that organic producers will benefit both directly and indirectly from many parts of the farm bill. Again, I thank you for all of your advice and support throughout the process of enacting this important legislation and I look forward to hearing from you as it is implemented and carried out.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee.