Nelson To Glickman On Organic Standards: Do Your Best For Family Farms

Farm Aid
Wednesday, 14 June 2000

Willie Nelson Says Adjustments Needed to Aid Family Farmers

SOMERVILLE, Ma. - Farm Aid President Willie Nelson weighed in on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest organic rules draft today, saying the Department's second try moves the rules forward, but he strongly believes some parts need to be modified and strengthened.

In a letter to the USDA, Nelson said that he is pleased with many aspects of the rules, but he suggested rule changes regarding issues that are critical to the long term survival of family farmers, who make up roughly 80 percent of the organic producers in the country.

He called for closing apparent loopholes in the rules that could still allow genetically modified organisms (GMOs), sewage sludge and irradiation to be considered organic even though hundreds of thousands of consumers told the USDA two years ago they wanted these production elements prohibited in organic farming.

Nelson added that family farmers must not bear the brunt of the high cost of certification.

"By imposing high certification fees the USDA is once again telling our family farmers to get big or get out," said Nelson.

Nelson also said factory farm production techniques should be clearly banned in organic agriculture. Farm Aid points out that the current draft standards leave open the possibility for future inclusion of GMOs by leaving the final decision up to the Secretary of Agriculture, with no formal opportunity for public input. The rules, as drafted, also do not protect organic farmers from genetic drift.

"The effort to develop true organic standards has been going on now for almost ten years," Nelson said. "We're getting closer, but we can't claim victory yet. A few critical changes remain to be made."

Nelson commended the USDA on the parts of the rules that were done well, such as 100 percent organic feed provisions that allow no antibiotics or animal parts in organic feed.

Nelson and Farm Aid board members Neil Young and John Mellencamp were among the more than 200,000 people who offered critical comments on the USDA's original organic rules draft in 1998.

Over the past 15 years, Farm Aid has become a crucial part of the rural landscape. Nelson, along with Young and Mellencamp, have extended and deepened their commitment to family farmers by continuing to serve as Farm Aid board members and to speak on behalf of family farmers throughout the country. Farm Aid has granted more than $15 million to family farm groups, churches, and rural organizations since 1985.

For more information, or to contact Farm Aid, see their website at: www.farmaid.org