Policy

Conservation programs key to farm bill

Hudson, S.D. - One of the American farmer’s primary responsibilities is protecting our farmland’s soil and water.

photo of farmlandFarmer Dan Gillespie talks about the importance of supporting conservation programs in the farm bill 

For the long-term food security of our nation, we must have productive soils that are not washing away or depleted of nutrients and organic matter.

On my farm, I have used two important working land conservation farm programs to enhance the productivity of my land: the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program.

The 2012 Farm Bill

Congress is currently debating the Farm Bill, and OFRF is taking action to protect organic programs.

OFRF's 2012 Farm Bill policy platform includes advocating for the following initiatives:
◦Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)
◦Organic Data Initiative (ODI)
◦National Organic Certification Cost-share Program (NOCCSP)
◦National Organic Program (NOP)
◦Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative
◦Organic Crop Insurance

President Signs Food Safety Overhaul

On Tuesday, January 4th, 2011 President Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act into law. As signed, the bill contains amendments which protect small and mid-size organic family farmers.

In what is considered a sweeping overhaul of national food safety regulations, President Obama signed into law the Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510) on Tuesday, January 4th, 2011. The act gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) increased regulatory authority, but avoids a "one size fits all" approach that would unduly burden small and mid-sized organic farmers and stifle burgeoning local and regional food systems.

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