For Immediate Release
News Release
Contact: Holly Givens 413-774-7511, Ext. 18

Greenfield, Mass. (May 15, 2008) -The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is pleased that the Farm Bill has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate by majorities far beyond the two thirds vote necessary to override any Presidential veto. While OTA hopes that the President will not veto the bill, it will work to see that a final bill is passed if there is a veto.

The bill as just passed would increase mandatory spending on organic agriculture and programs to over $100 million over the life of the bill, roughly four times what the last Farm Bill provided. The bill also cites organic agriculture as eligible for many programs within the bill which have been difficult for organic farmers to access in the past. Some other programs such as support for the National Organic Program are "authorized" and OTA will support them in the future in the Appropriations Committees in order to have them fully implemented.