Farm Bill

I'm glad to see that the farm bill has provisions for organic farmers. According to Jean Caspers-Simmet's article on AgriNews, "The bill contains $22 million in mandatory funding for offsetting the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certification. Farmers can be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of the cost not to exceed $750 per year." Caspers-Simmet spoke with Ellen Huntoon, US Senator Tom Harkin's staffer on the Senate Agricultural Committee who indicated that $78 million over 5 years is intended for production and marketing practices. I hope this can give the organic farmers some of what they need to take their message to their consumers.