Blogs | May 2012

Udi Lazimy's picture

This is When It Matters Most

Udi Lazimy | May. 16th - 12:00am

The 2012 Farm Bill is currently being debated in the Senate, and there’s no better time for YOU to get engaged and demand a bill that will support organic agriculture!  Organic farming stands to gain a lot from the 2012 Farm Bill, including investments in organic research, promotion, certification assistance, conservation and crop insurance.

Faith Grant's picture

Senate Agriculture Commitee passes Farm Bill

Faith Grant | May. 15th - 11:46am

On Wednesday, April 26th, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012, also known as the Farm Bill, by a vote of 16-5.  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York was the only Democrat to vote against the bill.  The bi-partisan legislation includes $23 billion in cuts as compared to current Farm Bill spending levels in an effort to reduce the budget deficit while still funding the nation’s food and farm programs.  Overall, organic agriculture fared reasonably well in this round of the five-year food and farm policy drafting process.  Considering t

Udi Lazimy's picture

Let's Change the Farm Bill NOW

Udi Lazimy | May. 9th - 12:00am

The 2012 Farm Bill is currently being debated in the U.S Congress. While the Senate version of the bill, released the week of April 23rd, maintains many important programs that support organic agriculture, it is critical that we remain vigilant throughout the debate to ensure that legislators in the House hear from people around the country that we demand that they invest in an organic future for agriculture.

Faith Grant's picture

Conservation on the Farm Bill

Faith Grant | May. 8th - 12:00am

While the Senate Agriculture Committee was marking up the Farm Bill on Thursday, April 26th, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing on conservation, the second of eight hearings the House will hold in order to write its version of the bill.  Witnesses testified that cuts to conservation beyond the $6 billion from the Senate would have severe consequences.

Faith Grant's picture

The 2012 Farm Bill: Three reasons It's More Complicated This Time Around

Faith Grant | May. 1st - 12:00am

1. It's an election year.  Yes, 2008 was an election year, too, but both the House and Senate had already passed their versions of the bill by the end of 2007, giving Congress a great deal more time to reconcile their differences before the election.  Even with a presidential veto, there was still time to get it passed.  This time around, the election is less than seven months away, and neither the House nor the Senate have even drafted their own versions of a bill.  There may still be time to wrap things up, but only if Congress can move at warp speed between now and Election Day.