23 Delegates, 15 States, One Mission: Advocating for Organic

The National Organic Coalition (NOC) is sending a delegation of 23 advocates to Washington, D.C., representing 15 states and a broad cross-section of the organic community— from farmers and food processors to co-ops, certification agencies, and environmental groups. Among the delegates are five farmers and three co-op participants who will bring firsthand perspective to the halls of Congress.

The fly-in comes at a critical moment for the organic sector, as key funding decisions and Farm Bill negotiations stand to shape the future of domestic organic production. Delegates will meet with both congressional leaders and USDA officials, seeking bipartisan support for the value organic agriculture brings to local communities across the country.

The delegation's advocacy will center on four policy priorities:

Strengthening the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). The NOP has lost roughly a third of its staff in the past year, threatening the integrity of the USDA organic seal and the agency's ability to intercept fraudulent organic imports. NOC is urging Congress to increase NOP funding to $25 million in FY 2027 and calling on USDA to protect existing staffing levels.

Bolstering the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP). Certification costs have risen sharply since reimbursement rates were last updated in 2008, and congressionally approved funds remain stalled at USDA. NOC is pushing for the release of FY 2025 and FY 2026 funds and advocating for the maximum reimbursement rate to be doubled from $750 to $1,500 per scope per operation.

Investing in Organic Research and Innovation. Nearly $100 million authorized by Congress for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) has yet to be released by USDA through a Request for Applications, delaying critical research that helps farmers and businesses solve pressing challenges in organic production.NOC is calling on USDA to act immediately to release these funds, and for Congress to increase OREI funding to $60 million in FY 2027, growing to $100 million by FY 2031.

Expanding Organic Dairy Market Data. Organic dairy farmers are navigating an economic crisis driven by weather disasters, market consolidation, and soaring input costs — yet USDA lacks the organic-specific data needed to respond effectively. NOC is urging Congress to direct USDA to improve organic dairy data collection so that policy responses reflect the realities of the organic market.

Across all four priorities, the NOC delegation will make the case that investment in organic agriculture is an investment in resilient farms, healthy food systems, and thriving rural communities.