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Organic Agriculture
Organic farming
is among the fastest growing segments of agriculture. Senator Leahy, known as the "father" of the
national organic standards, led House and Senate conferees to include expanded
organic provisions in this Farm Bill.
NEW!
Exemption of Certified
Organic Products from Assessments: The farm bill
exempts farmers who produce and market 100% organic products from paying
assessments under commodity promotion laws.
NEW!
National
Organic Certification Cost-Share Program: The 2002 farm bill establishes and provides
$5 million in funding for a national organic certification cost share program
to assist producers and handlers of agricultural products in obtaining
certification under the National Organic Program established under the Organic
Foods Production Act of 1990. Each
producer or handler will be eligible for a reimbursement of up to 75 percent of
its costs of certification, not to exceed $500.
This program was initially created as a 15-state pilot by Leahy in crop
insurance legislation. Last year,
Vermont received
$164,000 to assist organic certification.
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