Congressman Doug LaMalfa, a Republican representing Northern California’s first district, joined a bipartisan effort to increase funding for the USDA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI). The bill, originally sponsored by Reps. Chellie Pingree of Maine, Dan Newhouse of Washington, and Jimmy Panetta of California, seeks to renew OREI and increase its funding to $50 million per year.
“California agriculture adds more than $47 billion a year to our state’s economy, responsible for over half of all the fruits, nuts, and vegetables grown in the country,” said LaMalfa in a statement issued by the Organic Farming Research Foundation. “As markets and consumer demands change, it’s important we provide our farmers and ranchers with the tools they need to keep up and remain competitive. The OREI program does just that, and I’m proud to support this legislation.” There are 234 certified organic operations in the first district of California, according to the Organic Trade Association.
The Organic Agriculture Research Act is endorsed by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the California Farm Bureau Federation, California Certified Organic Farmers, and the Organic Trade Association. So far, 50 House members have endorsed the bill.