The Organic Trade Association announced the industry plans to ask for its own check off in the first quarter of 2015. Iowa organic producer Ron Rosmann who farms near Harlan says he has mixed feelings about having an organic check off.
Rosmann says another concern is that many check offs have large administrative costs and that would need to be dealt with if this plan were to go forward. He also says the organic industry has ways to enhance its own research rather than getting it through a check off.
He says he’s also concerned that larger organic producers could benefit from a check off at the expense of smaller organic farmers.
An Organic Trade Industry spokesperson says one problem that has to be addressed is that some officials believe the organic industry by its very existence disparages conventional agriculture. And check off rules generally do not allow one sector of agriculture to be critical of others.