National Organic Coalition - NOC

08/12/2026

The Senate Farm Bill failed to pass out of committee last week on a 10-11 vote. Over 100 amendments were filed ahead of the markup, including several key organic priorities. Chairman Boozman has since announced plans to reconvene the committee on Sept. 15 for another vote.

We break down where things stand for organic priorities and what might come next: https://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/blog/2026/8/12/farm-bill-markup-fails-in-committee

07/02/2026

After 12 months of no movement, the Organic Certification Cost Share Program final rule is set to publish in the Federal Register tomorrow. We still don't know when farmers can expect their long-overdue reimbursements, but this is a real sign that USDA is finally taking steps to get this money out the door.

Thank you to the organic community for staying relentless on this. Farmers joined NOC in meeting with USDA leadership in March to press them on the delay. USDA and Congress received thousands of letters combined through our action alert. And we kept working with Congress to keep the pressure on — thank you to Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Senator Peter Welch for pressing the Secretary on this in recent hearings. We are grateful to USDA for taking action.

NOC will keep a close eye on this to make sure the money actually gets out the door. For organic operations: note the deadline for applying for Program Year 2025 and 2026 cost share funding is Dec 31, 2026.

📩 Stay updated: https://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/subscribe
📖 Learn more about the delays: https://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/blog/2025/12/12/usda-cost-share-delays-are-hurting-organic-farms-your-voice-can-help

06/18/2026

Thank you to everyone across the organic community who wrote letters, contacted policymakers, and spoke up about the risks USDA’s reorganization posed to the National Organic Program.

Because of that collective advocacy, current NOP team members based in the National Capital Region will not be required to relocate to USDA’s regional hubs.

This is an important outcome for retaining experienced staff and protecting institutional knowledge. It also supports the NOP's ongoing ability to uphold organic integrity.

There is still a long road ahead to rebuild staffing and capacity across the NOP and USDA but today we want to recognize what the organic community helped accomplish together. Onward!

05/22/2026

Thank you for using your voice. 811 messages in 4 days letting the Senate know: the House Farm Bill wasn't good enough for organic and we expect you to do better.

Organic farmers are counting on the Senate to step up on supporting the National Organic Program, certification cost-share, organic research, market development, and protections against import fraud. Your voice is how that happens.

Haven't written yet? There's still time: 👉 https://secure.everyaction.com/wb-a8pb3jEiwwqDy-QSM9w2

05/19/2026

On April 30, the House passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 — the most significant movement on a new Farm Bill since 2018. While the vote is an important milestone, the bill falls short of what organic farmers and businesses need.

❌Flat funding for the National Organic Program, despite the fast pace of growth in the organic marketplace, which reached more than $76.6 billion in sales in 2025, up 6.8 percent from 2024.
❌No relief for rising certification costs, even as costs have risen more than 85% since 2012
❌Flat funding for organic research, which effectively means a cut for organic research support.
❌ Missing tools to help farmers transition to organic and reach growing markets.

The Senate now takes up its version of the Farm Bill. This is a critical moment for our community to engage.
Please take a moment to write to your Senator and urge them to fight for a Farm Bill that supports organic and family-scale farms. → https://secure.everyaction.com/wb-a8pb3jEiwwqDy-QSM9w2

05/06/2026

Are you planning to attend the spring Pre-NOSB and USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meetings in Omaha? We can’t wait for the open-dialogue that comes with getting the organic community together in-person! Learn more and register for the in-person Pre-NOSB meeting here: https://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/events. We hope to see you in Omaha!

05/05/2026

A new report from Friends of the Earth U.S., a NOC network affiliate, is a powerful reminder of why the USDA organic label matters and why its integrity is worth protecting. The report highlights a growing issue: the rapid rise of “regenerative” food labels that vary widely in their standards. The analysis finds significant differences between regenerative labeling programs—particularly when it comes to pesticide use and verification systems.

The bottom line: USDA organic, and the labels that build on it, remains the most reliable and enforceable standard when it comes to chemical use and soil health.

Read the press release & report: https://foe.org/news/new-report-finds-regenerative-food-labels-are-a-confusing-patchwork/

A new analysis of regenerative food labels reveals a rapidly expanding — but inconsistent — marketplace that risks causing consumer confusion.

05/04/2026

The House passed the Farm Bill, but it falls short for organic farmers. The Senate must do better. Read our analysis and stay tuned for how you can take action: https://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/blog/2026/5/1/house-farm-bill-falls-shortsenate-must-do-better-for-organic

House Passes Farm Bill, But Major Gaps Remain for Organic On April 30, the House passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 by a vote of 224–200 , marking the most significant movement on a new Farm Bill since 2018. After years of extensions and stalled negotiations, the vote repres

04/21/2026

We are excited to be hosting a Pre-NOSB meeting for organic community members on Monday, May 11, at KANEKO in Omaha, Nebraska!

Meeting topics include:
✅Updates on DC organic policy including the status of the Farm Bill and impact of USDA policies on organic
✅A panel discussion with local farmers
✅A Q&A with the USDA National Organic Program
✅And more!

Learn more & register here >> https://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/events

Thank you to our meeting co-sponsors:
OneCert Organic Certification
Organic Farmers Association
OCIA International
Center for Rural Affairs

04/07/2026

NOC is hosting a Pre-NOSB meeting on Monday, May 11 in Omaha, Nebraska in connection with the Spring 2026 USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting.

Join fellow organic community members to hear directly from regional farmers, discuss NOSB meeting agenda items, and talk about how to advance organic agriculture with Congress and USDA.

We hope you can join us! Learn more & register here >> https://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/events