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Re: comments on UDSA/NOP cost and benefits to organic farmers and handlers
Hello Sal,
Everyone starts farming with little or nothing, except for those who inherit
land, equipment, money, etc. In no way is organic farming going to even out
the material differences generated by cunning, previous generations, hard
work or greed. And in a real sense, the greater inheritance that anyone can
pass on to our children is the ability to think, set ones direction for the
future and be innovative. Life is really what we each make of it. Like it
or not, how our life is in the USA, in the latter part of the twentieth
century is the individuals choice, each farmer or person's choice. If a
farmer does not make over $5000 gross a year, it is their choice and they are
entitled to do so. If the gross income is less than $5000 annually, under
OFPA, they still have to conform to the standards, etc, but do not have to be
certified. If you have a gross over $5000 per year and want to use the label
"organic", my suggestion is join the group and pay $250-$275 for organic
certification. If a potential organic farmer is serious about commercial
organic farming for a livelihood, you will be amply repaid for your
certification expenses. A potential organic farmer will gain more knowledge
on the practices and systems of organic farming by understanding the National
Standards. A potential organic farmer knows that their market has a degree
of protection from farmers and handlers selling organic who have not met the
recognized and agreed upon standards of organic farming and handling.
Consumers recognize the certified organic farmer as meeting their
expectations and being willing to meet the National Organic Standards.
Again Sal, I would like to indicate my appreciation for your viewpoints and
right to express them. Perhaps, the opportunity I have always seen in my
life is to define a problem and work with others to seek a solution that
benefits the consensus. Condemning the US government, the California State
government or the certifiers without a factual basis is to me an error in
tactics. I am in agreement that passage of OFPA was a preemptive move by
some organizations and members of the organic community without offering
consultation with organic farmers. Organic farmers made the best of it, by
rewriting the original legislation (recognizing the consumers need for a
clear, consistent and uniform national definition) and came up with a very
clear and effective piece of national legislation, OFPA. We have taken 6
years to get Proposed Rules out, which has allowed the organic handling
business, organic consumer base and organic farming to mature. The practices
and sophistication of organic farmers and the organic market place between
six years ago and now is immense. Issuing of the Proposed Rule in a real
sense is right on time. We are now communicating by email, which likewise
with the internet, six years ago virtually did not exist. The impact is
gigantic, of highest priority democratically empowering large segments of
the US population to participate in a Final Organic Rule.
I think your strategic defense of small and I would include moderate size
farms is excellent, but again tactically structured incorrectly. Anyone
intending to organic farm at the $5000 or even $25,000 level needs to look at
the realistic cost. With few exceptions cost of production including
shipment to the market is at least two thirds to three quarters of the gross
(which does include in the analysis a nominal pay scale to all production
workers including the owner(s)) which means very little net income to a farm
family in these gross income categories--$1,250 and $6,250 net incomes
annually at 75% cost of production respectively. The annual net income for a
defined "small farm" in California (gross $250,000 being the maximum) yields
a net income of $62,500. A goodly and reasonable net income even for
California although we all know their are many uncontrollable variables. To
me all these calculations are theory, that only come into viable economic
reality with efficient biological, labor, mechanical and marketing management
and skills. In fact, the Organic Foods Production Act, if implemented as it
is written, is the only breath of fresh air for small to moderate size farms
in years. I think all of our efforts should be to implement with the least
cost and paperwork consistent with a quality National Program possible.
Rather then me complain about the inadequacy of governments, certifiers or
the Organic Program, my work is to make it work for certified organic farmers
handling operations and consumers.
Best Regards, Eric
In a message dated 97-10-05 07:14:43 EDT, sals@rain.org writes:
<< Subj: Re: comments on UDSA/NOP cost and benefits to organic farmers and
handlers
Date: 97-10-05 07:14:43 EDT
From: sals@rain.org (sal)
To: Erorganic@aol.com, sals@rain.org, sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu
CC: smallfarm-mg@maat.reeusda.gov
It has been said of me that I sound angry.I am and in this time in
history when the family farm is disappearing in record numbers.the UDSA/NOP
is being cruel and heartless saying that a small farm is $5000 or less and
anything over $5000 should be taxed. In this day of farm aid, in this day
while we are trying to get to help to small family farmers and save the
small farm the last thing they need is a tax if they chose to farm organic.
This just showed me that the USDA/NOP is a heartless bunch of people that
only want to tax the poor in order to support their own exsistance.
The average size of farms in Virginia increased from 181.97 acres in 1982
to 196.51 acres in 1992, an increase of nearly 8 percent. At the same time,
the number of farms decreased by 18.6 percent from 51,859 to 42,222. The
amount of land in farms fell by 12 percent from more than 9.4 million acres
in 1982 to just under 8.3 million acres a decade later.
So farm size is increasing while the big fish eat the little fish. It
looks to me like a small farm would fall at about 50 acres or less.
There is a direct link between small farmers and the promotion of
sustainable agriculture efforts. In order to encourage this link, we should
not tax the small organic farmer.
this taken from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center on
loss of small farms
http://www2.ncredc.org/ncredc/papers/smfarmses.html
A loss of 13,544 farms (18.6% of the 72,792 present in 1982
A loss of 2,049 minority farms (38.3% of the 5,352 present in 1982)
A loss of 6,627 small farms (22.1% of the 29,968 farms of less than 50
acres present in 1982)1
Here it is again 50 or less acres is considered a small farm. I think
anything under 50 acres should qualify for the small farmers exemption
http://www.cfarm.com/nosb/OrganicCrop/4farmer.htm
I do not know where the USDA/NOP came up with the $5000 number but I can
not get by the very first line in the NOP. it states that those selling
only $5000 will be qualify for the small farmers exemption. This number is
way to small and the NOP will be a burden on the small farmer that we so
much want to save. This oppression on the poor would make a wise man mad.
The introduction of new crops, animal enterprises, and new methods of
structuring agricultural production make the effective delivery of
agriculture technological, financial management, and marketing services to
diverse clientele more important than in the past. Organic farming give
the small farmer hope and we should help them not tax them. All the people
that are trying to save the small farmer should take note of what these
people are doing by taxing the small farmer. Most people with small farms
have to work off farm just to keep it together and the NOP wants to take
money out of their mouths.
there is something wrong when those who
are trying to straighten out agriculture are being taxed and burdened with
inspections and paperwork while those who continue to pollute and deplete
are subsidized and allowed to continue,
Go ! Farm Aid save the small farmer from loosing their farm
Booo! NOP just another tax on the poor. >>
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