The Environmental Working Group, an organization dedicated to exposing threats to health and environment and to finding solutions, is circulating an on-line petition designed to pressure the federal government to include strong provisions for organic farming in this year’s farm bill.
According to Agricultureonline, “About one-half of one percent of the USDA’s $2 billion research and education budget goes to organic agriculture. It’s a 15 BILLION dollar industry, however, in order to meet demand for organic foods in this country, retailers are already importing from such nations as China, Mexico and Argentina. And the U.S. lags behind countries in Europe and elsewhere in helping farmers make the switch to organic production.”
The farmer’s group asks for the following from the government in its upcoming farm bill to increase the ability of this country to produce the levels of organic produce currently in demand:
- Increased spending on organic agriculture research, education and information.
- More financial help for farmers when they pay for certification as organic
- Full funding for the Conservation Security Program (CSP), a USDA program for working farms that isn’t strictly for organic farms
So, go over there and sign the petition. Organic produce is bloody expensive. Please lend a hand to help ensure organic produce has a chance to get far less expensive and much more widely available.
Thank you
[...] environmental policy, and better consumer choices, gave a shout out to my blog and specifically my post about an online petition for organic farming to be highlighted in this year’s federal farm bill. I was [...]