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Organic Insider Article Archive

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Category: Politics - Count: 64

The White House

MAHA Assessment Report Targets Pesticides

In an unprecedented move, this government document specifically calls out two widely used chemicals — glyphosate and atrazine — and their possible side effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption and birth defects. Overall, the report painted a very bleak picture of America’s health, and as someone who was on antidepressants for nearly eleven years, I was extremely pained by the state of mental health of our young people. Here are my 5 takeaways from the White House press event for the report and the one thing that I believe was missing from many analyses of the report. The strategic recommendations about how to address these findings are due in August.

U.S. Senators John Fetterman and Adam Schiff introduce the Organic Science and Research Investment Act

Key provisions of the bill include improved coordination of organic research at the USDA, increased funding for the USDA’s Organic Research and Extension Initiative, and a new statutory grant program to assist producers transitioning to organic practices.

Senator Cory Booker Introduces Bill to ‘Honor Farmer Contracts’

Booker’s bill, also introduced in the House by Representative Gabe Vasquez, would require the USDA to release frozen grant funds and prohibit the termination of existing contracts.

Lawmakers Face Angry Farmers

Members of Congress faced fiery town halls with concerned farmers and laid-off USDA employees during last week’s recess.

Organic Farmers Association

Organic Farmers Head to D.C. to Advocate for Policy Needs

Farmers, organic organizations and the Organic Farmers Association will be in the nation’s capital on March 4th to advocate for supportive policies on key issues, including the next Farm Bill, USDA funding freezes and fraudulent imports.

Kailee Tkacz Buller to serve as USDA Chief of Staff

Kailee Tkacz Buller recently served as the president & chief executive officer of the National Oilseed Processors Association and the Edible Oil Producers Association, in addition to having previously held numerous leadership roles across the USDA in the first Trump administration.

new senate ag committee

Investigate Midwest

New Senate Agriculture Committee Leadership has Extensive Ties to Industry Heavyweights

Big Ag having such tremendous influence in D.C. makes it exceedingly challenging for organic.

How RFK, Jr. Could Shake Up the Food Industry

He is expected to work to eliminate processed foods from school lunches and push for the removal of dyes from cereals and other items.

Successful Farming

Trump taps Brooke Rollins for Secretary of the USDA

It is unclear how closely Brooke Rollins will be working with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is a big advocate for organic and regenerative.

Big Ag is Alarmed by RFK, Jr.’s Nomination

RFK, Jr. and his antagonistic attitude toward GMOs and toxic pesticides is not sitting well with Big Ag.

Sen. Cory Booker calls for Toxins to be Removed from School Lunches

The Safe School Meals Act targets “toxic ingredients” on school trays across America, proposing standards that would keep kids safe from poisons that can’t be seen on the plate.

tim walz organic food

Democratic VP Pick Tim Walz has Long Centered Food Policy

Gov. Walz seems to understand the connection between food and climate change, and he also established a universal free school breakfast and lunch for Minnesota kids, which allowed kitchen workers to prepare lunches from scratch, with locally grown produce.

Organic Farmers Association

Non-Profit Groups laud Improved Organic Agriculture Policies in the Farm Bill

The Farm Bill framework from the Senate Agriculture Committee will allow the National Organic Program to keep pace with the growth in the organic sector in a variety of different ways.

U.S. Rep Chellie Pingree

Rep. Chellie Pingree Leads Push to Aid Organic Dairy Farmers

$83M is remaining in unspent funds in the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program.

National Organic Coalition

Organic Advocates Secure 2024 Cost Share Funding

Legislation to avert a government shutdown and extend the 2018 Farm Bill includes $8 million in funding for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program.

The Farm Bill Expired. What Happens Now?

Congress did not pass this critical omnibus bill by the September 30th deadline. Here’s what to expect.

Sen. Peter Welch Introduces Bill to Reduce Barriers to Organic Agriculture

The Opportunities in Organic Act of 2023 is designed to help farmers pursue organic agriculture by offering a suite of easy-to-access tools, expert technical assistance and flexible funding for underserved farmers and ranchers.

House Agriculture Appropriations Bill Would Gut Key Farm Programs

Instead of leveling the playing field for small farmers, the bill would allow global corporations to pull money and resources out of rural communities and undermine the resilience of our food supply.

Biden pushes GMO 2.0 Agenda

A very troubling and disheartening development for those who believe that genetically-engineered food is not the way forward.

Highlights from Biden’s Conference on Hunger and Nutrition in America

Shockingly, this was the first big and official White House meeting to discuss food and nutrition issues in more than 50 years.

Center for Food Safety

Biden’s Executive Order to launch a National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative

Center for Food Safety’s Bill Freese gives his take on what this all means.

Center for Food Safety

Biden Administration Rejects Legal Petition to Phase Out Use of Toxic Agricultural Pesticides on National Wildlife Refuges

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has denied requests by conservationists and members of Congress to phase out the use of agricultural pesticides on national wildlife refuges.

National Organic Coalition

Key Wins for Organic in Spending Legislation

In the just-passed $1.5 trillion spending package to fund federal government activities for the rest of fiscal year 2022, the National Organic Coalition scored important funding gains and increased enforcement efforts for soil health and pasture requirements.

Center for Food Safety

Sen. Cory Booker Reintroduces Legislation in Congress to Reform Pesticide Regulation and Protect Farmworkers

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) has reintroduced legislation to protect children and farmworkers by banning dangerous pesticides like paraquat, neonicotinoids and organophosphates.

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