Advocacy for Agriculture
NOFA Vermont is engaged with a broad range of public issues of interest to our members and related to our programs in organic agriculture, local food systems, and consumer education.
Some of our recent work…
2009 Food Safety
In the wake of the recent peanut butter food-borne illness outbreak, calls by members of Congress, the Obama Administration, consumer groups and the public to revamp and tighten-up food safety regulations have reached a fever pitch. Six food-safety-related bills have been introduced in Congress; each proposes new food handling, processing and record-keeping requirements that would affect farmers, food manufacturers and marketers - both large and small.
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HR 2749 Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009: July 23rd Letter from Peter Welch supporting the Farr-Kaptur Amendment
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Read NOFA Vermont's Policy Note on this Issue
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Further Resources and Information from the NOFA Interstate Council (including HR 875)
- MOFGA's Food Safety Legislation Update, April 30, 2009
2007 Farm Bill
- Farm Bill Recommendations
- Testimony Regarding the Farm Bill Before the U.S. Senate Agriculture, March 12, 2007
- Testimony submitted to the US House Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, “Impacts of Organic Dairy Farming in Vermont”
National Organic Standards
- Vermont Organic Farmers Comments to the NOSB, May, 2009
- Vermont Organic Farmers Comments on NOSB Recommendations, November, 2008
- A Proposed Pasture Rule At Last! The USDA "Gets it Right" (Mostly), November, 2008
- Pasture Standard Position Letter to Secretary Johanns
- Comments on 'Handling Regulations for Leafy Greens'. December 2007
State Level
- Vermont Housing and Conservation Board Proposed Cuts, May, 2009
- Testimony regarding H.125 - Farm Fresh Milk Restoration Act of 2009 March 26, 2009
- Vermont Compost Company Action Alert: July 14, 2008
- Testimony regarding H.522, An Act Relating to the Viability of Vermont Agriculture
Contact NOFA-VT for additional information about the above, other issues that we have been working on and any issues that are of concern to you.