Criminal History Check. Whether they help give families or professional caregivers much-needed time off. OTA applauds proposed rule exempting organics from check-off programs by press release . Department of Agriculture ruled that organic farmers and handlers are exempt from paying into conventional. Organic industry check- off program proposed in Senate ag committee's farm bill. Organic industry check- off program proposed in Senate ag committee's farm bill. Bill also reauthorizes $2. Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Programby Sustainable Food News. April 2. 7, 2. 01. The U. S. Senate Agriculture Committee Thursday voted 1. The portion that goes into national programs is overseen by producers chosen by their state to sit on the. Marketing programs have evolved from emphasizing supply controls in the 1930s and 1940s to the current focus on generic advertising and promotion, food safety. With Florida as the largest concrete masonry state in the country, the Masonry Association of Florida decided to develop a statewide Check-Off Program. The Organic Trade Association (OTA) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) announcement of a proposed rule to exempt more organic farmers and handlers from paying into conventional commodity check-off programs. Thank you for inviting me to speak with you about the benefits of belonging to the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association – the ONLY national trade association representing your interests as a ready mixed concrete producer. The measure now goes to the full Senate for consideration. Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Committee is holding eight hearings over the next several weeks and will draft its own version of the bill. In the past, House members have targeted cuts in organic. Organic industry check- off in the future? The Organic Trade Association’s board of directors approved in 2. The funds collected would underwrite the type of commodity advertising campaigns that have proved successful, such as . The Other White Meat. We still know we have a confused consumer out there.”There are 1. And many members of the OTA already are already paying into industry promotion orders such as dairy, beef, and produce. For example, organic milk producers already pay the dairy promotion board about 1. Problem is, OTA’s promotion order would have to cover multiple commodities, and one of the government’s stipulations about participating in a check- off program is no company can pay into more than one promotion order. The provision in the Senate agriculture committee's version appears to allow all organic producers to opt out of payments to other commodity check- off programs. If the committee's version of the farm bill survives in the full Senate and negotiations with the House, a blueprint for the proposed check- off program would be designed and the USDA would schedule an industry referendum. The plan will probably need 6. Bushway said. She also sought to allay concerns among smaller producers and handlers of organic foods. She said some in the organic industry may “get really frightened because they think the government is just going to take their money.”Mark Kastel, senior farm policy analyst at organic watchdog, the Cornucopia Institute, who refers to OTA as a trade group “controlled by the corporate agribusinesses that have invested in organics,” said check- off programs amount to nothing more than “economic Robin Hood in reverse programs.”“I don't think the farmers would have any objection, whatsoever, if the manufacturers and major retailers wanted to tax themselves and invest in a fund for promotion,” Kastel told SFN in an earlier email. But a USDA- sanctioned promotional fund, that would be mandatory, would likely generate vigorous protest.”But Bushway said exemption levels will be set for smaller producers, so they do not have to pay into the check- off. She emphasized that industry would be setting the exemption levels. Bushway said what’s good about it that is a small producer can be exempt but still benefit from overall industry promotion and marketing efforts. Meanwhile, other provisions in the committee's version of the 2. Farm bill provisions hurting organics, according to OFRF, include: Drastic funding cuts for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, neglecting the need to support those farmers that ensure organic farming's future. Failure to reform organic crop insurance, leaving organic farmers having to pay an unfair surcharge for crop insurance and not receiving fair price elections. OREI from $2. 0 million a year to $1. Conservation Stewardship Program enrollment levels reduced to 1. Farm Bill levels of 1. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program- Organic Initiative (EQIP- OI) ignores unfair payment limit applied only to organic farmers using EQIP. Ignores additional research into public plant breeding via Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), the largest grant program that funds agriculture research at USDA. The committee's version of the bill also reauthorizes $2. Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program. The program would give priority to projects that: benefit underserved communitiesdevelop market opportunities for small and mid- sized farm and ranch operationsinclude a strategic plan to maximize the use of funds to build capacity for local and regional food systems in a community. The committee's bill would also fund a study on local food production, which would direct the USDA to conduct surveys and analysis and publish reports relating to the production, handling, distribution, retail sales, and trend studies (including consumer purchasing patterns) of or on locally or regionally produced agricultural food products. The committee did not fund the rural development title or key programs targeted at socially disadvantaged producers, nor did it make needed improvements in farm to school programs. Read the 2. 01. 2 Farm Bill Committee's Red- Line Summary of Manager's Amendment, which highlights changes between the Manager's Amendment and the Committee Print.
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