Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree, with firsthand experience as an organic farmer, says the Trump administration’s proposals to cut USDA funding for organic agriculture programs “seem especially foolish and shortsighted” for a sector that is enduring growing pains. Writing at Civil Eats, Pingree argues that the integrity of the USDA “certified organic” seal must be protected.
In the wake of stories showing gaps in the certification process for organic products, Pingree said, “Maintaining the integrity of the USDA organic label won’t require a total change of the third-party certification system, [but] a number of steps are needed to strengthen the system.” She urged the administration to approve a rule on the humane treatment of livestock on organic farms and to put more money into monitoring compliance with organic standards. The Trump budget would cut funding for the agency that oversees the National Organic Program by 11 percent, she said.
“Last month, I had the chance to ask Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue about those cuts. While I appreciate his pledge to ‘double down’ ” on enforcement, I don’t know how it can be done with fewer resources,” wrote Pingree, a member of the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees USDA and FDA budgets.