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Say YES to permanently exempting all organically certified operations from paying into federal mandatory check-off programs

Say NO to setting up an Organic Check-Off

There are a lot of things organic farmers need to know about the Organic Check-Off program which the Organic Trade Association (OTA) is very actively lobbying Congress to pass. It is critical that all organic farmers understand how this will impact them and immediately express their views on this important issue.

  1. Did you know that the mandatory federal Organic Check-Off Program being pushed through Congress RIGHT NOW can’t promote organic as anything different than other farm products?
  2. Did you know that any generic promotion of organic product will just increase organic imports and lower the price paid to US farmers
  3. Did you know that the mandatory federal Organic Check-Off Program will be another tax imposed on organic farmers’ already limited income?
  4. Did you know that the Organic Trade Association is attempting to force through an application to the USDA to establish an organic check-off under the USDA’s very restrictive and bureaucratic structure? In exchange for support for their proposal, OTA is giving away free iPads!
  5. Did you know that once an Organic Check-Off Program is set up all exemptions from check-off programs for any organic operations will disappear?
  6. What will be next – a multi-commodity check-off to support genetically grown crops!

As individuals, you can sign this petition that says that you DO NOT support the establishment of an Organic Check-off program but you DO support a permanent exemption which would exempt all organically certified operations from paying into federal mandatory check-off programs. Please go to: https://nofa.wufoo.com/forms/online-petition-organic-checkoff-program/

As an organization, you can sign on to a letter that states your organization is opposed to the creation of an Organic Check-off Program but supports exempting all organically certified operations from paying into any of the existing check-off programs. To sign on to the letter please send an email to ednodpa@comcast.net with NO to an Organic Check-Off in the subject line.