1. USDA Organic: Emerging Issues & Opportunities Melissa R. Bailey, Ph.D. Director, Standards Division National Organic Program 1

2. Overview USDA Departmental Guidance on Organic USDA National Organic Program Overview Sound and Sensible Certification Training and Outreach Technical and Financial Assistance for Organic Organic Producer Survey Stakeholder engagement 2

3. USDA Departmental Guidance on Organic Secretary Vilsack’s May 2013 departmental guidance on organic agriculture outlined 5 priorities: Training and outreach Growing the sector Regulatory reciprocity (reducing paperwork) Research Data The USDA’s Organic Working Group defines annual projects for each of these priority areas. 3

4. Organic Policy Advisor role The Organic Policy Advisor: Is a permanent staff position advising the Office of the Secretary Coordinates USDA Organic Working Group, develops annual action plans Implements Secretary Vilsack’s 2013 Departmental Guidance on Organic Agriculture Participates on other inter-agency USDA initiatives 4

5. USDA National Organic Program 5

6. The National Organic Program (NOP) Mission: Ensure the integrity of USDA organic products in the United States and throughout the world Vision: Organic Integrity from Farm to Table, Consumers Trust the Organic Label Core Role: Implement the Organic Foods Production Act and the USDA organic regulations

7. USDA National Organic Program Implement Organic Foods Production Act: USDA Organic Regulations Crops, livestock, handling, wild crops, labeling, certification, accreditation, National List Accreditation and Oversight ~80 authorized certifying agents worldwide 25,000 certified organic operations Compliance and Enforcement Complaints, investigations, civil penalties, appeals National Organic Standards Board

8. Quick Facts About NOP Staffing: 43 employees Budget: FY 2012: $6.919 million FY 2013: $6.369 million FY 2014: $9.04 million 8

9. 2015 Regulatory Priorities In Clearance Origin of Livestock Proposed Rule Aquaculture Proposed Rule Pet Food Proposed Rule Biodiversity & Natural Resource Conservation Draft Guidance Other rules in progress: Sodium nitrate Nutrient vitamins and minerals Animal Welfare Apiculture 9

10. Market Access - International The United States has trade arrangements with several nations to facilitate the exchange of organic products and provide market opportunities for organic producers. Equivalency Agreements: – Canada – 2009 – European Union – June 2012 – Japan – January 2014 – South Korea – July 2014 Recognition Agreements: – India, Israel, New Zealand

11. Sound and Sensible 11

12. Market Access – Sound and Sensible 1.Maintaining organic integrity in a sound and sensible manner. 2.Certification that is Affordable, Accessible and Attainable for all operations. Affordable – Reasonable fees, reasonable compliance costs Accessible – Certifiers and technical assistance available locally Attainable – Clear and understandable standards, plain language, reasonable record keeping requirements

13. About the Projects Awarded Awards: 14 projects totaling $1.5 million National coverage: Southeast/Gulf States; New England; Northwest; California; Mid-Atlantic Diverse projects: certification tools (producers and inspectors), training and outreach, technology development, technical assistance, inspector mentoring Timing: – Projects will be completed by September 2015 – Final products will be available through NOP website for public use. 13

14. Training and Outreach 14

15. Training and Outreach Goals USDA Organic Working Group Training & Outreach Goals: 1.Update the Organic Literacy Initiative in early 2015 2.Work with external partners to distribute organic resources beyond the USDA Please suggest external partners for organic training materials! 15

16. Organic Literacy Initiative 16

17. Organic Literacy Toolkit 17 Where to find USDA resources on organic: www.ams.usda.gov/OrganicInfo usda.gov/organic

18. Supporting transition to organic goals USDA Organic Working Group “Growing the Sector” Goals: 1.Assess technical and financial resources for organic transition at USDA – how can existing programs support transition? 2.Create websites and fact sheets explaining resources for farmers and processors to transition to organic 18

19. Certified Operations Worldwide USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program 19

20. Technical and Financial Assistance 20

21. Organic Certification Cost Share Reimbursements for Organic Certification Costs Reimbursements for up to 75% of the cost of certification Maximum of $750 per year, per scope Short, simple applilcation forms Producers & handlers: apply to your state’s department of agriculture Educators & certifiers: please promote cost share through outreach 21

22. Conservation Activity Plans Conservation Activity Plans for Organic Producers USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service created a conservation activity plan that mirrors an OSP Important tool for transitioning producers: helps with paperwork and conservation implementation We need more organic Technical Service Providers to implement the plan. Please help us recruit organic experts. 22

23. Land Use History Affirmations Production practices Recordkeeping Commingling/contamination Maps Natural resource assessment Planned practices Pest management Soil Fertility Management Crop rotation Inputs OSP CAP Linking Conservation Activity Plans with OSPs

24. Crop Insurance New risk management tools for organic, small, and diversified producers Whole Farm insurance now available Contract price elections available since spring 2014 Creating new price elections for organic crops 24

25. Research Research Activities Organic-specific grant funding: $25 million annually Providing alternatives to common challenges: high-quality seed, nutrient management, disease control with natural materials, cover cropping strategies Long-term organic studies at USDA research facilities examine performance, yields, climate change impacts, and more 25

26. Organic Producer Survey 26

27. Organic Producer Survey: Data USDA will send out a new Organic Producer Survey in 2015 Data is important – helps USDA create new and better programs for organic producers and handlers Farmers: please complete your survey. Educators & certifiers: please spread the word to farmers about the survey. 27

28. Data highlights Organic data: Who are organic producers? Organic special tabulation, 2012 census – Includes state-by-state data on organic producers – Shows that organic producers are more likely to have direct-to- consumer sales and participate in non-traditional markets, like CSAs – Organic farms were more likely to invest in on-farm renewable energy – Organic farmers are younger, on average, and more likely to be beginning farmers www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/ Online_Resources/Special_Organics_Tabulation/organictab.txt 28

29. Stakeholder engagement Focus on stakeholder engagement through outreach and education We want to hear from you! 2015 webinar series will cover a broad range of topics, with time for discussion, questions and answers. – To get email invitations, sign up at the USDA National Organic Program website: www.ams.usda.gov/nopwww.ams.usda.gov/nop USDA & NOP will participate in several conferences and annual meetings this fall/winter. 29

30. Betsy Rakola USDA Organic Policy Advisor www.usda.gov/organic Betsy.Rakola@osec.usda.gov 30 Melissa Bailey Director, NOP Standards Division www.ams.usda.gov/www.ams.usda.gov/nop Melissa.bailey@ams.usda.gov