Senator Toomey has introduced an amendment in the Senate Farm Bill that would strike out the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program    

Senator Merkley has introduced an amendment that would fix organic crop insurance so that it works for organic farmers   

  Amendments are being voted on beginning THIS AFTERNOON -- PLEASE CALL NOW*
to Protect Organic Certification Cost Share and

Fix Organic Crop Insurance 

 * We're not sure of the schedule of Amendment voting, so if you don't get to it today -- please call as soon as you are able

Find your senators here or  

Call the Senate switchboard and they'll connect you:  (202) 224-3121.  

Here's the Message:  

TALKING POINTS: 

National Organic Certification Cost Share is important for all organic farmers, and:   

• Keeps organic production in the United States -- meeting strong US consumer demand for organic with US organic product 
• Keeps a diversity of farms certifying
• Maintains organic certification as a gateway to the market, as farmers grow beyond direct sales
• Encourages new entry into certified organic
• Encourages processors to certify and grow their organic production, providing Value-Added processing infrastructure for farmers    

 Crop Insurance must be fixed to work for Organic Farmers: 

• The farm safety net should work for diverse sectors of U.S. agriculture, including organic.
• Organic farmers face unjustifiable barriers to participation in crop insurance which must be removed.  
• The 2008 Farm Bill took an initial step in addressing these barriers -- the 2012 Farm Bill must direct the USDA to develop and publish organic price elections.