Only Small Change for Organics in $100 Billion Farm Bill

[nosmokes]

even though it's the fastest growing segment of the market and the one that shows the most promise for being able to feed us w/o adding to the global warming crisis and supports small family farms and rural america as well as developing countries, even the new democratically controlled congress isn't willing to do what needs to be done and shift the major focus to sustainable methods and practices done locally by small farmers.
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original-OCA<sustainable food news

Congress Still Offering Nickels and Dimes for Organics in USDA's Annual $100 Billion Budget

* Cardoza's organic subcommittee hears USDA's farm bill proposals
Congressional members say specialty crops need bigger role in legislation
Sustainable Food News, Mar 1, 2007

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture held a hearing Wednesday to review the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) proposals for specialty crops and organic agriculture in the 2007 Farm Bill.

Subcommittee Chairman Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) said specialty crops, including organic, comprise a substantial percentage of American agriculture, but receive far less than their fair share in federal support.

"Many of the crops covered by this subcommittee have waited far too long to become part of federal farm programs," Cardoza said. "We must look for resourceful and innovative ways to weave non-traditional commodities into existing programs and create new ones that suit the unique needs of these industries."

The subcommittee heard testimony from USDA Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner, who outlined budget figures under the specialty crop title to the USDA 2007 farm bill proposals, which the agency released on Jan. 31.

"The farm bill proposal recognizes the needs of the organic agricultural industry and identifies several initiatives to assist it," Conner said.






















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