Issues
Agriculture Farm Bill Organics
The popularity of organic products is growing
fast. Organic now accounts for about three percent of the
overall food market and six percent of the market in fresh
fruit and vegetables. Yet the USDA’s Agriculture Research
Service (ARS) only spends one percent of its research budget
on organic projects. I authored a successful amendment to
the Senate Farm Bill that calls on the USDA to designate research
money for organic projects in proportion to their market share.
Each of the important existing programs for organic farmers,
which I supported in my Rural Opportunities Act, received
increased funding in the Senate Farm Bill. This includes vital
support for Organic Agriculture Research and Extension, assistance
for farmers and producers wishing to make the transition from
traditional to organic production, and the National Organic
Program. Wisconsin is a leading state in organic production,
and I am pleased that the bill included funding for these
vital programs.
Dairy
| Ginseng | Livestock
| Organic
| Local Foods |
Bioeconomy
| Broadband Access
| Health Care |
Payment Reform
| Office of Small
Farms | Benefits
Eligibility
Agriculture Main
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