Washington, D.C.—During a time when Congress is considering how to allocate billions of dollars in funding, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) wants more of the available funds to flow towards organic by way of a Farm Bill extension and a Continuing Resolution to fund governmental operations or full FY25 appropriations. According to the association, the strength of the agricultural economy is dependent on the prioritization and the financial backing of vital programs within the organic sector.
During its meetings with congressional offices in D.C., OTA requested funding for three "forgotten" programs and the continuation of Organic Market Development Grants:
- Organic Data Initiative (ODI): Collecting accurate, segregated organic data via ODI is important for the understanding of market trends and addressing challenges faced by organic operations. Funding of $1 million for the next year is critical for the USDA to continue its initiative.
- Organic Certification Trade and Tracking Program (OCTT): $1 million in 2025 will enable the USDA to uphold organic standards and safeguard domestic farmers from fraud with the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule which was implemented to prevent fraudulent imports and protect consumer trust.
- Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP): Currently, the OCCSP receives $8 million in funding. An estimated $11 million is needed in 2025 in order for the OCCSP to continue helping organic operations balance out annual certification costs, supporting farmers and handlers in meeting USDA organic standards. With rising inflation and increased demand, current funding level would cause issues to reimbursement rates and disruptions forcing farmers out of certification or increased reliance on imported organic products.
- Organic Market Development (OMD): Launched in 2023, the Organic Market Development Grant Program provides opportunities for the U.S. to reduce its reliance on imported organic products and generate value for our farmers and business operations. The initiative has generated hundreds of applications and requests totaling $218 million for only $75 million in available funding to support the development of critical processing infrastructure to support farmers bringing new organic products to market.
With growing consumer demand for organic products, OTA is emphasizing that investing in these programs and will reduce dependence on imports and support American farmers.
