Organic farmers in New York are worried about pending Farm Bill proposals. The House passed one version while the Senate Agriculture Committee passed another.
Some organic farming groups are glad to see slight funding increases for conservation programs and cost-sharing initiatives in the Senate version.
Liana Hoodes, policy adviser for the Northeast Organic Farmers Association in New York, said organic or not, dairy farms struggle without a Farm Bill.
“The more the Farm Bill gets delayed, the more they continue to be uncertain about their next steps and that’s from how the crop insurance works to how the paid price for farmers works and research,” Hoodes outlined.
She noted the Senate Ag Committee version of the bill does not include language to improve data collection for organic dairies to better address challenges they face. Other improvements Hoodes pointed out the new version of the bill needs are cost increases for the organic certification cost-share and funding for farmers to transition to organic.
The last signed Farm Bill was in 2018, though it expired in 2023 and has been re-upped every year since, leaving funding at the initial 2018 levels.
Hoodes explained a major problem is funding to support research for organic farming is not growing, holding back potential for organic growers in parts of New York like the Hudson Valley.
“We don’t produce a lot of organic apples and that’s because it’s really difficult. There are so many diseases and pests that hit our apples. It’s very hard to grow organically. Why aren’t we doing research to find the tools for farmers to get into that organic market?” Hoodes asked.
Hoodes feels the Senate Ag Committee’s Farm Bill does not provide enough for organic growers but the 2018 funding levels are not supporting them either. The latest Farm Bill reauthorization expired at the end of September, leaving the next one’s fate uncertain.
Edwin is a reporter and producer in North Tonawanda, New York. He’s previously reported for the Niagara Gazette and the Ithaca Times. Edwin got an early start in radio interning for WBFO-88.7FM, NPR’s Buffalo affiliate. In 2018, he graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Journalism, and in 2022, graduated from Syracuse University with an M.S. in Communications.
