legislation
Legislation would protect organic industry
Despite the chaos of the U.S. House of Representatives, a bipartisan effort is underway to ensure organic standards continuously evolve and improve. H.R. 5973, the Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO) 2023,... more »
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance endorses legislation
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, has endorsed nutrition and organic... more »
Bill would boost organic research, priorities at USDA
The Organic Science and Research Investment Act seeks to promote organic research priorities at the USDA and through expanded funding at research agencies and universities. Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Bob Casey, D-Pa., Peter Welch, D-Vt.,... more »
Rural advocacy group criticizes USDA funding blocking
Rural Voices USA, an organization that promotes the interests of rural Americans, is expressing opposition to Republican efforts delaying passage of the U.S. Department of Agriculture FY24 funding bill. Lawmakers must meet a Sept. 30... more »
Specialty crop alliance applauds farm bill priorities
SCFBA applauds bipartisan legislation on farm bill priorities Farm bill priorities supported by specialty crop alliance The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of... more »
Sarah Frey of Frey Farms to advise House Committee on Agriculture
Sarah Frey, founder and CEO of Illinois’ Frey Farms, has been appointed to serve as an Advisor to the chair of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture. Frey will advise the U.S. House of Representatives’... more »
GOP USDA budget cuts criticized by Rural Voices USA
Rural Voices USA, an organization that promotes the interests of rural Americans, is criticizing a House GOP proposal to cut USDA FY24 funding. The organization warns the zeroing-out of USDA rural funding would harm rural... more »
Western Growers applauds $4 billion for drought relief
The climate spending and tax bill, passed by the U.S. Senate on Sunday night, includes $4 billion in drought-relief funding. The funding, through the Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation, was one of the demands Sen.... more »
Court rules Washington growers must pay for rest breaks
The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that piece-rate workers must be paid separately for their rest breaks, a decision that will have a significant impact on the way the state’s growers pay their employees. Dan... more »
Michigan Farmers Union members meet with lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
Michigan Farmers Union (MFU) members and more than 270 fellow farmers, ranchers and fishermen from across the country met in Washington, D.C., Sept. 16-18 for the National Farmers Union annual Fall Legislative Fly-In. “Meeting with our... more »