Organic Report Fall 2021 - Flipbook - Page 6
C ONNECTING THE GRE AT I D EA S
Organic Trade Association develops new State Organic Advocacy
Network to share successful programs and push organic forward
By Maggie McNeil
F
rom Pennsylvania to California, from Oregon to
Georgia, and throughout the Midwest, innovative and
diverse programs, energetic advocacy efforts, and
powerful coalitions are expanding organic agriculture and
pushing the organic sector forward:
• In Oregon, advocacy efforts and financial support from
Oregon Tilth, the Organically Grown Company and the
Oregon Organic Coalition have made possible the
establishment of two full-time organic extension agents in the
state, with up to five more in the works.
• In California, state policymakers have on their desks a
comprehensive Roadmap to an Organic California, prepared by
CCOF, on how to use organic agriculture to address climate
change, economic insecurity, and health inequities.
• In Wisconsin, a workshop on the care of large organic animals
co-hosted for veterinarians by Organic Valley and the state
government has enabled some 90 veterinarians from three
states to better serve their clients with organically raised
animals.
• In Georgia, organic peanut production has increased, and the
organic growers have a lucrative market for their 2021 crop
through the new Georgia Organic Peanut Association
cooperative, helped out by critical operating funds from
Georgia Organics.
• And for farmers transitioning to organic in Pennsylvania, the
state’s farm bill enables them to take advantage of individual
agricultural consulting services from the renowned Rodale
Institute…for free.
Lots of good things are happening in lots of places. But the
problem is that often those impactful and forward-looking
programs and successful advocacy campaigns don’t get
disseminated to other organic producing areas, or potential
organic areas. Large animal vets in New York state and
Colorado could use more training in caring for organic
animals; peanut farmers in Florida and Texas would welcome
some input on how to go organic and market their crops; and
of the scores of agricultural extension agents positioned across
the Midwest’s fertile growing regions, only a handful have an
in-depth knowledge of organic agriculture.
“There is tremendous variability between states in the
support of organic agriculture,” says Laura Batcha, CEO and
Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association. “Statelevel policy and actions can have a dramatic impact on organic
farming, and advancements can often be achieved on a faster
timeline at the state level. But often state advocacy happens
without the benefit of experience from efforts in other states,
or without a coordinated strategy about what types of state
policy can have the most direct impact on organic farms.”
To address that challenge and provide a platform and
networking system to support state-level organic advocacy and
6
Oregon State Rep. Peter Buckley addresses attendees at
the annual Organically Grown in Oregon event supported
by a wide coalition of stakeholders.
Organic Report • Fall 2021
