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Past Updates
WA State Legislative Update - 05/15/05
Hi all,
The 2005 legislative session just ended with good and bad news for sustainable agriculture and the Network’s legislative budget priorities. Our two priorities for new funding were WSU’s Biologically-Intensive and Organic Agriculture (BIOAg) program and for the WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs. We also kept a sharp eye on the 'carry forward' funding of WSDA's Small Farm & Direct Marketing Program in the budget, which was re-funded at current levels for 2005-7. Additionally, in the final budget, the legislature approved the Network's request for an additional $150,000/biennium for WSDA's Small Farm & Direct Marketing Program! This means that the program is now funded at $300,000/biennium. The new funds will be targeted toward two areas for which the program has high demand from producers and other stakeholders: assisting farmers and communities in development of local marketing initiatives, and assisting small farmers in complying with regulations. Special thanks to Representative Kelli Linville for her work to secure the funding. We are very excited to see the legislature's support for expanding this successful program!
Many thanks to all of you for your help in these campaigns!
WIC/Senior FMNPs
Great news for small farmers, low-income families and seniors: The budget passed by the legislature includes an additional $250,000 for the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and $682,000 for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. This funding will allow the programs to operate at the same level as 2004, when they were expanded with federal funding. The extra state funding this year replaces the federal funding. Special thanks to Representative Kelli Linville, who championed the funding for the WIC FMNP.
BIOAg
Unfortunately, the legislature did not fund WSU’s BIOAg program. Legislators did not grant any new funding to WSU at all, including the joint WSU/UW “Research and Technology Transfer” initiative focused on biotechnology/life sciences. WSU’s top priority in the capital budget, $57 million for construction of a Biotechnology/Life Sciences building, was rejected by the Legislature as well.
Thank you to all of you who called, wrote and visited your legislators and otherwise helped the Network’s BIOAg campaign. Special thanks go to the Washington Toxics Coalition and PCC Natural Markets for the considerable organizational resources they put into this effort, and to Representative Kelli Linville for her leadership and efforts to get the BIOAg program funded during this legislative session.
Though we did not get funding for the BIOAg program in the budget, several good things came out of the campaign that will advance sustainable agriculture in Washington State:
We gained the support of many legislators for more programs on sustainable and organic agriculture at WSU. The legislature sent a clear message to WSU that they should prioritize sustainable agriculture in their budget requests. A proviso in the budget language states "The University shall give consideration to reprioritizing agricultural research funding to allow for expansion of the center for precision agricultural systems and development of the biologically-intensive and organic agriculture program." Through the Network’s campaign, the visibility of BIOAg and WSUs’ Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources increased significantly.
We also gained the support of key administrators in WSU for development of the BIOAg program. WSU’s Agriculture Research Center Director Ralph Cavalieri and Interim Dean of Cooperative Extension Linda Fox stated in a letter to legislators in the last week of the session, "We are enthusiastically supportive of the additional capabilities that new resources added to WSU in support of the BIOAg program would bring…the BIOAg request clearly fill(s) existing gaps in our capabilities and programs."
The Network formed new partnerships and gained support from a broad base of organizations across the state for BIOAg, ranging from the city of Dayton’s (Columbia County) Economic Development Committee to the Cattle Producers of Washington, Washington Farmers Union, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association.
We also began the important process of building awareness within the legislature about the issue of biopharming – using plants and animals as vehicles to produce drugs and industrial chemicals in the field. Biopharming is a significant issue that will be with us for years to come; we need to make policymakers aware of the potential impacts of this technology.
We opened many doors in this legislative session. The Network will continue to work for resources at the federal and state level and through other means to fully implement the BIOAg program. The demand for this type of program will only continue to rise. Thank you again for your support and involvement.
Bonnie Rice, Director
Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network
P.O. Box 6054
Bellingham, WA 98227-6054
phone: (360) 527-9426
fax: (360) 527-2615
email: [email protected]
web: www.wsffn.org
NEW FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ORGANIC PROGRAM AT WSU
Grassroots groups celebrate announcement by Senator Patty Murray
Contact:
Bonnie Rice, Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network (360) 527-9426
Chris Feise, WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources (206) 725-0106
(Bellingham, Wash.) Washington's sustainable agriculture community celebrated news today from Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash) that she has secured $300,000 in the Senate agricultural appropriation bill in Congress for a new organic and biologically-based farming program at Washington State University (WSU).
"These funds will jump start a new, precedent-setting program at WSU that will help all types of farmers - organic and non-organic - across the state," said Bonnie Rice, Coordinator of the Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network (WSFFN), a broad-based, statewide advocacy group for sustainable agriculture. "We greatly appreciate Senator Murray's efforts to secure funding for organic research in Washington."
WSFFN has been working with WSU for the past year on development and funding of a
comprehensive program on organic and biologically-based agriculture that will
encompass research, teaching and extension areas of WSU. While WSU faculty have conducted some research and education on organic in recent years, the new program will put a spotlight on organic and biologically-based agriculture and bring a focus that hasn't been there in the past. The federal funds are critical to getting the program off the ground. WSFFN met with several members of Washington's congressional delegation to build support for the program.
"Agricultural research is critical to the prosperity of Washington state's farmers,"
said Murray. "I was proud to secure funding for the organics research initiative, which will provide important new tools to our state's growers."
Washington state's organic industry is growing rapidly. The number of organic farms has doubled since 1995 to over 500 today with more than 40,000 acres certified organic or in transition to organic. Sales of organic foods in the state top $140 million
annually.
"This program is a direct response to the rapidly growing public demand for organic
food and farmer demand for such research and educational programs," said Chris Feise, Director of WSU's Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources. "WSU can help Washington agriculture take advantage of changing public values and a changing market, and in the process help to increase the economic viability of Washington producers. This is the right direction for WSU."
"Organic farmers need support from WSU, and we're glad to see that the College of
Agriculture and Home Economics is recognizing the importance of the industry," said Rice. She also pointed out that many 'conventional' farmers are now incorporating aspects of organic into their farming operations, and therefore will benefit from the program as well.
The new funds will be used to develop certified organic experimental land at WSU for crops including apples, berries and vegetables, to develop organic weed control
methods and organic seed production technology, and to study the effect of organic production practices on aspects of food quality such as nutritional content.
Sen. Murray says she expects the appropriations bill to receive final congressional approval by October. WSU's College of Agriculture and Home Economics and WSFFN have also developed a proposal for $1.8 million in state funding for the program, though WSU's president has not yet approved its inclusion in the University's budget request for 2003.
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Saturday April 12, 2003
VICTORY!
Organic Trade Association calls congressional repeal victory for consumers, and for true organic producers
GREENFIELD, Mass. (April 12, 2003)-The organic industry and consumers choosing organic products can celebrate now that Congress has repealed a rider contained in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill that weakened organic livestock feeding requirements.
"Congress has done the right thing to repeal Section 771. The organic industry and consumers can breathe a sigh of relief and rejoice that this issue has been put to bed in a timely fashion. It truly was a bad egg, but legislators now have disposed of it," said Katherine DiMatteo, executive director of the Organic Trade Association, the business association for the North American organic industry.
She added, "We truly hope legislators have learned that we will not stand by when anyone tries to undermine organic standards by resorting to backroom deals."
The Supplemental Appropriations Bill approved today by both the House of Representatives and Senate included an amendment repealing the offending language that, in effect, allowed organic livestock producers to feed their animals less than 100 percent organic feed and still market the resulting meat, dairy and poultry products as organic.
The quick action to repeal Section 771 came as a result of a major push by key senators and representatives supportive of organic agriculture and practices, as well as the Organic Trade Association, its members, associated groups, and consumers.
"Thanks particularly to Senators Patrick Leahy and Olympia Snowe and Representatives Sam Farr and Ron Kind in the House for sponsoring the repeal bills, 71 Senators and 105 Representatives signed on as co-sponsors of bills to repeal Section 771. Getting this response took a monumental effort by our members, affiliated associations and groups, and consumers who barraged their legislators and contacted the media with the message that Section 771 was a major mistake that had to be corrected immediately," said DiMatteo.
She added, "This is a moment to celebrate. However, it proves once again that we must remain vigilant to make sure consumers get what they want: that products labeled as organic in the marketplace truly meet stringent standards that are certified."
Representing the $11 billion organic industry in North America, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) is a membership-based business association. Its mission is to encourage global sustainability through promoting and protecting the growth of diverse organic trade. OTA's approximately 1,200 members include growers, shippers, retailers, processors, certifiers, farmer associations, brokers, consultants and others. Learn more at the OTA website: www.ota.com or its consumer website: www.theorganicreport.org.
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