UNITED STATES - Crop insurance, nutrition benefits, funding for major programs, and more are just some of the key parts of the Farm Bill that directly impact the agricultural sector. However, after the five-year period ending September 30, 2023, and the last Farm Bill—which was put into action in 2018—Congress was unable to craft new legislation, leaving the crucial bill to expire.

As the industry faces the potential repercussions of the expiration and waits until December to see what will happen next, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) has released a statement on the matter.

“The Organic Trade Association is disappointed Congress has been unable to craft a new Farm Bill. This critical and usually bipartisan legislation charts the course for the nation’s agriculture and nutrition programs and is key to the continued success of the organic marketplace,” said Tom Chapman, Chief Executive Officer of OTA. “We need Congress to act immediately to get the next Farm Bill taken care of. Important updates to organic regulation need to be made, supportive research and risk management tools to organic farmers must be provided, and policies that strengthen the resiliency of the organic supply chain must be implemented. We urge lawmakers to seriously deliberate and complete a new Farm Bill before the end of the year to avoid harmful disruptions in the organic and agriculture sectors.”

For more updates on the Farm Bill and its potential programs, keep a tab open to AndNowUKnow.

Organic Trade Association