Opportunities in Organic Act
Sponsored By: Senator Peter Welch
Introduced
Summary
Consolidates and expands federal support for organic agriculture by replacing the national organic certification cost-share with an Opportunities in Organic program that would fund certification, transition assistance, technical help, and organic supply-chain development. It would prioritize socially disadvantaged farmers, small and mid-sized farms, and vulnerable or under-resourced regions.
Show full summary
- Producers and handlers would get federal certification cost-share payments up to $1,500 per operation. Payments above $1,500 are allowed in high-cost areas and for members of socially disadvantaged groups.
- Eligible nonprofit organizations would receive one-time, four-year transition and resilience grants to recruit transitioning producers, develop organic system plans, provide translation and recordkeeping help, run mentor programs, expand land access, and build cooperatives and handling operations.
- The Secretary of Agriculture would administer the program and expand regional USDA technical assistance. The program would require quarterly coordination among funded entities and annual regionally aggregated reporting on participants, transitions, barriers, and capacity.
*Would authorize $50 million for FY2027 and FY2028, $80 million for FY2029, and $100 million for each of FY2030 and FY2031, totaling $380 million in authorized appropriations through FY2031.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants and local help for organic transition
If enacted, the bill would fund grants to eligible nonprofits to help farms transition to organic and to build organic supply chains. Grants could pay for outreach, certification help, recordkeeping, business planning, training, mentor stipends, on-farm research, and supply-chain projects. Producer transition funding given by nonprofits would be for a four-year, nonrenewable term, and many funded activities would require the recipient to develop an organic system plan. The bill would also expand USDA regional technical help, teaching farms, and market-development work focused on socially disadvantaged and under-resourced regions.
Help paying organic certification costs
If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary of Agriculture pay certification costs for producers and handlers under the national organic program. The standard maximum payment would be $1,500 per producer or handler. The Secretary could approve payments above $1,500 for producers in regions with high certification costs or for socially disadvantaged producers. Payments would need to be certified to and approved by USDA.
New Opportunities in Organic funding
If enacted, the bill would create a USDA 'Opportunities in Organic' program. It would authorize $50 million for FY2027 and FY2028, $80 million for FY2029, and $100 million for each of FY2030 and FY2031 (about $360 million total). The program would target certified organic producers and handlers, socially disadvantaged and small or mid-sized farms, and eligible nonprofits. The bill would also add clear definitions for who counts as certified organic farms, eligible nonprofits, and socially disadvantaged farmers.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Peter Welch
VT • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
CO • D
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Kirsten Gillibrand
NY • D
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Angus King
ME • I
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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