Smith: Stabenow should push support for organic farming in Farm Bill

As a farmer born and raised on an organic family farm in Michigan and a new mom, I’m grateful for Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, for making Michigan healthier for farmers and families.

She will soon have the chance to cement her legacy as a climate leader and champion for farmers by bolstering organic farming in the upcoming federal Farm Bill.

Michigan’s farmers do it all, from growing fruits and vegetables to raising livestock. Many of us also protect people and the environment by doing it organically. We earn the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic seal by building healthy soil, pasturing our animals, and avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.

To ensure our farms are resilient and thriving, we need opportunities for producers — especially for historically underserved and limited resource producers — to take advantage of the large and growing organic market. And to do that, we need resources to help farmers transition to organic farming.

The upcoming Farm Bill provides the perfect opportunity to expand opportunities with flexible funding for organic farmers and the organizations that support them, relevant technical assistance, and new market opportunities.

Stabenow has fought to ensure that the USDA has the necessary resources to meet consumer’s high expectations for organic food and foster the continued growth of the farming of it in Michigan. As a result of her leadership, USDA has strengthened opportunities in this sector, from cracking down on fraud and tightening rules to the $300 million Organic Transition Initiative that USDA began rolling out in 2022.

Stabenow has steadfastly built systems that improve access to organic opportunities for all types of food and farming businesses nationwide. Her legacy includes the popular certification cost-share program that puts certification in reach for more farms, permanent funding for research programs that help farmers continue to improve best practices, and data initiatives that track and quantify the many positive impacts of organic farming.

As we continue to adapt to a changing climate and markets, we need comprehensive support for organic agriculture now more than ever.

More than 80% of Michigan households already buy organic food, and the state has more than 800 certified organic businesses and 300,000 organic acres — imagine how those numbers could grow if this type of farming received as much public support as other types of agriculture.

In her final year as the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Stabenow has the opportunity for one last push to make organic accessible to everyone.

Finishing the Farm Bill this year with broad support for organic farming will be the perfect way for Stabenow to cap her legacy.

Jessica Smith is a longtime member of the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) and current chair of the policy committee.