How OFRF is Viewing Organic Research Priorities in the Farm Bill

By Vinnie Trometter, OFRF Policy Manager

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) is excited to announce a pivotal milestone in organic agriculture funding: the first-time Congressional authorization of the Organic Transitions Program (ORG). This was included in the House Agriculture Committee’s Farm Bill markup on March 4, 2026, through an amendment led by Congressman Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07) and co-lead Congressman Lawler (R-NY-17), both champions of OFRF’s flagship legislation, the Organic Science and Research Investment (OSRI) Act.

The renaming of ORG to the Researching the Transition to Organic Program (RTOP) marks a significant advancement in the OSRI Act, which serves as the only legislative pathway in Congress aimed at increasing funding for two dedicated organic research programs under the USDA: the Organic Agriculture Research Extension Initiative (OREI) and ORG/RTOP.

As the Farm Bill moves forward, there is a growing sense of optimism that it will be voted out of the House, with the Senate gearing up for its markup as well. House Speaker Mike Johnson has labeled the Farm Bill a “must-pass” item this year, and it has been reported that Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Boozman (R-AR) is preparing a committee vote on the Farm Bill this spring.

The Senate has the potential to enhance funding through more flexible measures than the House, presenting an invaluable opportunity for Senate Agriculture Committee members to rectify federal funding for organic agriculture research. Currently, dedicated funding for organic research represents less than 2% of the USDA’s total research budget. This is particularly concerning given the significant growth of the organic sector, which has nearly doubled in size over the past decade. The organic industry rightfully deserves a fair share of dedicated research funding to sustain its rapid expansion.

With the Farm Bill’s focus shifting towards the Senate, OFRF’s advocacy efforts are now directed at promoting the Senate version of the OSRI Act, championed by Senators Fetterman (D-PA) and Schiff (D-CA). Many Senators are acknowledging the critical need for supporting organic agriculture research, and OFRF was encouraged by Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar’s (D-MN) acknowledgment of this necessity during her opening statements at the first Senate Agriculture Committee hearing post-House Farm Bill markup.

Are you eager to find out if your Senator supports the OSRI Act or want to reach out about it? For inquiries, please contact Vinnie Trometter, Policy Manager, at vinnie [at] ofrf [dot] org.

Yours in D.C.,

Vinnie