For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Trivers (301-229-6481)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 14, 2007) – In a 79 to 14 vote, the U.S. Senate today approved its version of the Farm Bill that included funding and direction for key organic priorities, according to Caren Wilcox, executive director of the Organic Trade Association (OTA).

"The Senate Farm Bill includes important steps to help strengthen the safety net for organic producers and manufacturers," Wilcox said. "These measures include funding for organic research, data collection, and transition to organic production, as well as eliminating the crop insurance premium for organic producers." Currently, organic producers must pay a 5% surcharge for crop insurance; yet, in times of loss, the producers receive not the usually higher organic crop price, but the lower conventional price.