NORWICH, VT — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today joined Vermont farmers and the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) for a farm tour of Honey Field Farm. While visiting the farm, Senator Welch discussed the future of the Farm Bill and his fight to improve the bill for Vermont’s organic farmers, as well as the impacts of President Trump’s trade war on the industry. The Senator was joined at the event by farmers from Honey Field Farm, Luna Bleu Farm, Cedar Mountain Farm, Flying Dog Farm, Rockbottom Farm, and Strafford Organic Creamery. 

“We should be doing everything we can to make it easier for farmers to transition to and sustain organic practices. But the Republicans’ Farm Bill doesn’t meet the moment—it won’t help small and family farmers, and instead gives handouts to mega-farms and billionaires who never step foot in the field. I’m fighting to expand opportunity in Vermont and in rural communities across the country,” said Senator Welch. “It was a great joy to visit Honey Field Farm to listen and learn from Vermont’s hardworking farmers and the experts at NOFA-VT.” 

View photos from the event below:

Earlier this month, Senate Republicans’ partisan Farm Bill failed to advance in the Agriculture Committee. The bill is expected to be considered again by the Committee when the Senate returns to Washington in September. Senator Welch introduced several amendments and changes to Senate Republicans’ Farm Bill to better support organic farmers, including amendments to make it easier to enter the organics market, halt the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) reorganization plan, improve access to farm loans and credit, expand eligibility and access to conservation programs, support Farm to School nutrition programs, and cut red tape for small-scale meat producers in rural communities.  

Senator Welch has championed legislation to expand federal support for organic dairy farmers and ensure fair prices for family dairies, including the bipartisan Domestic Organic Investment Act and the Organic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields Act (O DAIRY) Act. The Senator also led 14 colleagues in introducing the Opportunities in Organic Act to reduce barriers to organic farming in Vermont. Senator Welch’s bipartisan bill, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, was signed into law earlier this year. 

Senator Welch is the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit. Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media.    

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