NOC 2025 PRE-NOSB MEETING
& Organic Summit
RESOURCES

Organic Summit
Tuesday, May 20

• Agenda & Participant Commitments

• Slide Deck

• List of Acronyms

• Meeting Summary & Key Takeaways

DC Update on Organic Policy (Presented by Steve Etka)

1. Organic Regulations

   • Call to Action - Strong Organic Rules are Essential to Grow Organic

   • Pet Food/Mushroom Rule Rescinded - Comment to USDA by June 11

   • Executive Order 14219 on February 19, 2025 —Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President's "Department of Government Efficiency" Deregulatory Initiative

     • White House Fact Sheet on Repealing Unlawful Regulations (April 9, 2025)

     • Memorandum - Directing the Repeal of Unlawful Regulations (April 9, 2025)
       

2. Appropriations

   • FY 2026 Appropriations Priorities

   • House Letter to Support Organic in FY2026 Appropriations
     

3. Reconciliation & Farm Bill

   • What the Reconciliation Bill Means for Organic

   • NOC Blog: NOC Supports Farm Bill Marker Bills to Strengthen Organic

   • NOC Blog: Passing a Farm Bill in 2025 May Be Difficult – Here’s Why

   • Marker Bills endorsed by NOC

   • For anyone who is worried about cuts to SNAP, our colleagues at FRAC have an action alert out on that topic. https://secure.everyaction.com/lmBv70YdQkCuGFcip4BvgA2?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=d43bb62b-ae8d-4ecd-bbc2-2183dfb65893

4. NSAC Blog Post - USDA Programs Freeze: What We Know

5. TOPP impact report https://www.organictransition.org/impact-report/

   
   

6. NOC Advocacy Webpage: How and Why to Make the Case for Organic with Members of Congress

   
   

7. Other resources mentioned:

   • This report summary offers good data on the number of farmers in organic: https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/110884/EIB-281_summary.pdf?v=98558

   • Millennials, Gen Z putting high value on organic’s health benefits https://ota.com/about-ota/press-releases/younger-health-conscious-consumers-are-embracing-organic-ota-survey-shows

Farmer Panel

• Bridget Burgess, Hirzel Farms (Ohio), bburgess@hirzel.com

• Maynard Mallonee, Mallonee Family Farm (Washington)

• Robert & Dakota Moore, Moore Family Farms (North Carolina)

• Stoni Tomson, New Tradition Farm (Vermont)

  
  OFA engagement opportunities

  1. Workgroup interest form: https://organicfarmersassociation.org/workgroups/

  2. Farmer circles: https://organicfarmersassociation.org/farmer-circles/

  3. Farm Bill Marker Bill tracker: https://organicfarmersassociation.org/farmbilltracker/

  4. Farmer Helpline: https://organicfarmersassociation.org/farmerhelpline/

For some collaborative movement building https://agsolidaritynetwork.com/page/welcome-page

Organizational Panel

• Jessica Hays Lucas, Grassroots Organizer (NOFA-VT)

• Matt Kneece, Policy Director, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA)

• Melissa Spear, Executive Director, Tilth Alliance

• Nicole Wolcott, Grassroots Policy Organizer (Federal), Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA)

  • (OEFFA Policy Instagram: Go follow us! https://www.instagram.com/oeffapolicy/)
    

Connection & Reflection

• Shared document for collective inspiration: https://tinyurl.com/OrganicCollectiveInspiration

USDA Q&A with Erin Morris and Chris Purdy

• NOP Update to the NOSB - Spring 2025

Thank you to the Organic Summit Co-Sponsor:

Spring 2025 Pre-NOSB Meeting
Monday, April 28

Pre- NOSB Meeting Resources:

• Meeting Agenda & Participant Commitments

• Slide Deck

• List of Acronyms

  
  

NOSB Update

1. NOSB Update Topics (presented by Steve Ela)

2. NOSB Proposals and Discussion Documents for the Spring 2025 NOSB Meeting

3. NOC Spring 2025 Comments to the NOSB

Compost Panel

Panelists

• Caleb Goosen, Organic Crop and Conservation Specialist, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association

• Dr. William Brinton, Will Brinton Foundation & Student Advisor, University of Maine

• Neil Edgar, Executive Director, California Compost Coalition

Resources

1. NOSB Discussion Document: Synthetic Compostable Polymers

2. NOSB Proposal: Compost Production for Organic Agriculture

3. NOC Comments to NOSB on Synthetic Compost Feedstocks - see pages 5-20

4. NOC Blog Post: Synthetic Compostable Packaging Does Not Belong in Organic Compost

5. Slides presented by Dr. William Brinton