The Farm Bill is Done! Hearings were first held in Spring 2011 Nine votes were taken in the House, Senate, or in committees This farm bill was the first full conference report for the 113 th Congress

Projected Farm Bill Spending Nutrition 79% Crop Insurance $89.8 billion Conservation $56 billion $756 billion Commodities $44.4 billion Other 1% $8.2 billion Source: Congressional Budget Office Projections, January 2014

NFU Priorities – Overall Outcomes Included Partially included Not included Success rate 22 out of 27 issues are at least partially addressed.

Organic in the farm bill The National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program – Funded at $11.5 million annually (up from $5 million) The Agricultural Management Assistance Act – $1 million annually for 16 underserved states – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont – Producers in AMA are eligible for reimbursement under NOCCSP as well

Local & Regional Food Systems Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program – $30 million annually Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive grant program – For organizations administering farmers markets and grocery store programs that encourage fruit and vegetable consumption for SNAP participants

Community Food Projects Addresses food access issues for low-income families and individuals $4.8 million in funding in 16 states this year Association of Africans Living in Vermont New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts Windham Regional Community Council, Inc. Promote Comprehensive strategies to address food, farm, and nutrition issues with a regional focus

Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative Funded at $20 million per year Example project from Univ. of Vermont $759,516 to develop technical training and support for agriculture service providers and farmers in certified organic dairy production systems

Organic Production and Market Data Initiatives $5 million over five years (one time funding) ODI is a multi-agency initiative that ensures USDA collects organic statistics, conducts organic price reporting, and releases organic economic reports

National Organic Program $5 million in one-time mandatory funding for technology and modernization upgrades

Organic Crop Insurance USDA is required to offer price elections for all organic crops by 2015 to reflect the actual retail or wholesale prices received

Checkoffs Provision in farm bill to exempt organic producers from having to pay into conventional checkoffs Provision to allow the organic sector to establish a checkoff under the 1996 generic act if they choose to do so

NFU policy on checkoffs NFU supports voluntary checkoffs and our support is determined by the extent to which producers who are actively involved in production agriculture control the programs Research and promotion are for the sole benefit of domestic family farmers Board of non-processing domestic producers elected by domestic producers assessed

National Farmers Union