We would add that there is a lot to be desired from both the Senate and House versions, at least as far we’ve seen (details on the Senate bill are forthcoming but there is an outline of sorts, and the text of the House version came out on Saturday, May 18). If we were forced to choose between the two, we’d go with the Senate version because it does include a meager increase in the Organic Cost Share Reimbursement Program, raising it from $750 annually to $1,000.
We know our farmers need at least a $1,500 cost share each year for it to really stop Georgia from losing Certified Organic farms. It also includes parts of other pieces of legislation that we will get into further below.
There are a few other pieces of the Senate bill that benefits Organic growers, the National Organic Program, and sustainable and organic ag research. But we are hoping and working for much more.
OUR LATEST TRIP TO DC
Georgia Organics Farmer Services Director Lauren Cox and Farmer Advocacy Director Michael Wall visited the offices of several Members of Congress on May 16 with our partners at the Organic Trade Association (OTA). In the meetings, we reminded the folks that we already knew about our farmers’ priorities, and introduced new folks to Georgia Organics and what our farmers are hoping to get out of this next Farm Bill.
On this trip we met with staff for:
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Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-03)
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Sen. Jon Ossoff (D)
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Sen. Reb. Raphael Warnock (D)
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Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-13)
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Rep. Austin Scott (R-8)
In the meetings, House Republicans liked the House version of the Bill (the House is currently run by Republicans), and Senate Democrats think their version is the better one (the Senate is currently controlled by Democrats).
