RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE MONTANA ORGANIC ASSOCIATION

To date, the following resolutions have been passed by the MOA Membership.

NOP and Organic Standards

Resolution 8.  MOA supports the current proposed farmer/consumer protection act which gives more power to the National Organic Program to control fraudulent imports of organic grains and other products. Adopted December 9, 2017.

Resolution 10.  MOA supports the enactment of the proposed livestock rule. Adopted December 9, 2017.

Resolution 23. MOA supports the USDA adopt and implement the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) as approved by the National Organic Standards Board. Adopted December 5, 2020.

Farming Practices

Ammonia Extracts
Resolution 29.  MOA supports the prohibition of ammonia extracts in the USDA Certified Organic Program. Adopted December 31, 2021. Biodegradable Mulch
Resolution 28.  MOA supports research that develops readily accessible biodegradable mulch that does not compromise USDA organic certification. Adopted December 31, 2021. Crop Insurance
Resolution 30.  MOA supports that all farming practices included in Organic System Plans of USDA Certified Organic producers be recognized as ‘good farming practices’ by the USDA Risk Management Agency and all crop insurance companies selling federally approved crop and livestock policies.  Adopted December 31, 2021. GMOs
Resolution 1.  Montana Organic Association supports the GMO liability for either the company that produces, develops or releases those organisms or livestock products. Adopted February 6, 2005.

Resolution 7.  MOA supports the position that seed patent holders to demonstrate that their GMO seeds contain mechanisms to prevent genetic drift or outcrossing as well as to prevent contamination of non-GMO crops in the food handling system before any new GMO crops are approved.  Adopted December 6, 2014.

Hydroponics
Resolution 24.  MOA supports the USDA Organic Production and Food Act provision that requires organic to be a production system that fosters the cycling of resources, promotes ecological balance and conserves biodiversity. Adopted December 31, 2021.

Resolution 25.  MOA supports the USDA Organic Crop Standard that requires that soil fertility and crop nutrients will be managed through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations, and cover crops, supplemented with animal and crop waste materials and allowed synthetic materials. Adopted December 31, 2021.

Resolution 26.  MOA opposes certification of hydroponic operations as organic.  Adopted December 31, 2021

Paperpots
Resolution 27.  MOA accepts the current use of paperpots but encourages the expeditious development of (a) non-synthetic alternative(s) to synthetic glue or other disallowed materials.  Adopted December 31, 2021. Soil Health
Resolution 20. MOA supports all efforts to improve soil health-building practices in organic production.
Adopted December 5, 2020.

Local Food Systems, Rural Development and Fair Markets  

Resolution 4.  The Montana Organic Association supports the inclusion of mobile slaughter units in the definitions in the Montana Codes of licensed inspected slaughter establishments. Adopted February 6, 2005.

Resolution 5.  The Montana Organic Association supports a preference for Montana grown or processed food for State-funded institutions. Adopted February 6, 2005.

Resolution 13. MOA supports federal, state, and private efforts to improve broadband internet across the state, in both urban and rural areas. Adopted December 5, 2020.

Resolution 15. MOA supports the Organic Certification Cost Share Program reimbursement rates to at least those set forth by Congress in the 2018 Farm Bill for 75% of organic certification costs or $750 maximum for each certification scope (crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling) or higher. Adopted December 5, 2020.

Resolution 18. MOA supports all efforts to process more of Montana’s organic food, which is produced in Montana and encourages the development of better distribution of these Montana products to local, regional, national, and international markets. Adopted December 5, 2020.

Resolution 22. MOA supports the US Postal Service’s mission is to provide the nation with reliable, affordable, universal mail service; that it adheres to the basic functions to bind the nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people; and that it shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities. Adopted December 5, 2020.

Resolution 31.  MOA supports Country of Origin labeling on all agricultural and food products sold in the U.S. Adopted December 31, 2021.

Resolution 32.  MOA supports competitive markets for agriculture and food products through policies that reduce current and future consolidation, limit mergers, redirect food and farmer subsidies toward local producers, and encourage local economic resilience by building regional food systems that support local producers and processors, and distributors and communities.  Adopted December 31, 2021.

Beginning Farmer and Rancher

Resolution 33.  MOA supports including components that include organic production in all technical, financial, and marketing assistance efforts to help existing organic, conventional, beginning, and underserved farmers expand and/or convert to organic production. Adopted December 31, 2021.

Resolution 34.  MOA supports efforts to provide continuing education on the benefits of organic farming systems. Adopted December 31, 2021.

Diversity and Racial Equity

Resolution 11.  Montana Organic Association is a registered non-profit membership organization 501(c) 6 and does not discriminate in its employment, membership acceptance or board selection practices on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, color, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political ideas, creed, or disabilities. Adopted December 7, 2019.

Resolution 35.  MOA supports efforts to recognize and begin to address current and historic institutional conditions and circumstances that have created an agriculture and food system in which there are inequities based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and other discriminatory factors. Adopted December 31, 2021.

Environment and Climate

Resolution 14. MOA recognizes organic farming as a means to mitigate the effects of unpredictable and extreme weather events. Adopted December 5, 2020.

Resolution 36.  MOA supports the rights of farmers and farmworkers to avoid exposure to agricultural chemicals. Adopted December 31, 2021.

Resolution 37.  MOA resolves that organic farming systems are best equipped to build resilience and mitigate the negative impacts of agriculture on the global climate.  Adopted December 31, 2021.

Research and Education

Resolution 2. Montana Organic Association supports the establishment of organic acres at the Montana Research Centers. Adopted February 6, 2005.

Resolution 6.  Whereas the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee has funded organic projects in Montana, the Montana Organic Association supports the voluntary check-off for organic wheat raised in Montana, and its continued support of organic research, projects, and education. Adopted December 2, 2007.

Resolution 9.  MOA supports organic research being funded closer to the percentage of organic food sold in the US. Adopted December 9, 2017.

Resolution 12. MOA supports tying the percentage of research devoted to organic agriculture at the federal and state level to an amount equal to or greater than the percentage of food which is sold in the US as organic. Adopted December 5, 2020.

Resolution 16. MOA supports having all county extension agents in Montana receive adequate instruction on organic methods to advise their constituents on this subject. Adopted December 5, 2020.

Resolution 17. MOA supports focusing on the value of nutrition, human health, environmental benefits, and dollars produced per acre or animal unit for organic production. Adopted December 5, 2020.

Resolution 19. MOA supports all efforts to develop organic biological controls of disease, weeds, and pests. Adopted December 5, 2020.

Resolution 21.  MOA supports developing a nutrient density label so farmers might have a way to receive or demand higher prices for higher values of what they produce. Adopted December 5, 2020.

RETIRED:

• • Resolution 3. The Montana Organic Association urges the United States Department of Agriculture to provide funding to assist the Montana Department of Agriculture to become an ISO 65 accredited certifier. Adopted February 6, 2005. Retired December 5, 2020.