Bad to Worse?
ACTION ALERT
Tell Congress to protect organic standards in the farm bill!&hashtags=farmbill,organic,regenerativeag @OrganicConsumer | Tell Congress to protect organic standards in the farm bill!&hashtags=farmbill,organic,regenerativeag @OrganicConsumer | Read the Full Article
Whew! Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted down the House version (H.R. 2) of the Farm Bill, a bill that could cripple conservation programs intended to promote organic and regenerative agriculture practices.
Unfortunately, this terrible Farm Bill was defeated for reasons that have nothing to do with food or agriculture. Worse yet, it will be back. The House is set to vote on H.R. 2 again, on June 22.
Meanwhile, we’re waiting to see what’s in Senate’s Farm Bill, which could end up being just as bad for organic standards as the House version. The Senate is also expected to vote in June. But unlike the House version, the Senate’ bill will be bipartisan—which means it’s sure to pass.
We’d like to think that the Organic Trade Association would stand with consumers to oppose any attempts to use the Farm Bill to erode organic standards. But that’s not likely, given the group’s track record. (More on that here).
Our best hope is that dysfunction in the House will force Congress to extend the 2014 Farm Bill and give us another chance for a better Farm Bill, when the new Congress takes office in 2019.
In the meantime, please let your Senators know that you want them to protect organic standards.
Read ‘Will Congress Use the Farm Bill to Undermine Organics?’