NOFA Vermont Policy & Advocacy Survey

NOFA Vermont is committed to advocating for policies that strengthen our food system by supporting sustainable farming practices, improving economic opportunities for farmers, and expanding access to local and organic foods for all Vermonters.

Maintaining an active voice in our political process is a critical goal of NOFA Vermont, and input from our members and supporters helps to inform this work. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey and let us know what policy initiatives are most important to you.

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* 1. Are you a NOFA Vermont member?

Yes

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* 2. Which of the following best describes you?

Farm owner

Homesteader/gardener

Farm employee

Supporter of organic food and farming

Activist

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* 3. Have you ever taken political action (such as calling/writing a legislator, attending a rally, testifying, or volunteering for an organization) on a food or farming issue?

Yes

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* 4. If yes, which issue(s) have you taken action on?

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* 5. Please rate the following policy initiatives in terms of their importance to you:

	Not a priority	Somewhat important	Very important	High priority
Protecting pollinators	Protecting pollinators Not a priority	Protecting pollinators Somewhat important	Protecting pollinators Very important	Protecting pollinators High priority
Improving animal welfare standards	Improving animal welfare standards Not a priority	Improving animal welfare standards Somewhat important	Improving animal welfare standards Very important	Improving animal welfare standards High priority
Protecting the integrity of the organic label	Protecting the integrity of the organic label Not a priority	Protecting the integrity of the organic label Somewhat important	Protecting the integrity of the organic label Very important	Protecting the integrity of the organic label High priority
Transparency in food labeling	Transparency in food labeling Not a priority	Transparency in food labeling Somewhat important	Transparency in food labeling Very important	Transparency in food labeling High priority
Incentivizing organic farming methods	Incentivizing organic farming methods Not a priority	Incentivizing organic farming methods Somewhat important	Incentivizing organic farming methods Very important	Incentivizing organic farming methods High priority
Agricultural tools to mitigate climate change	Agricultural tools to mitigate climate change Not a priority	Agricultural tools to mitigate climate change Somewhat important	Agricultural tools to mitigate climate change Very important	Agricultural tools to mitigate climate change High priority
Reducing herbicide/pesticide residues in food	Reducing herbicide/pesticide residues in food Not a priority	Reducing herbicide/pesticide residues in food Somewhat important	Reducing herbicide/pesticide residues in food Very important	Reducing herbicide/pesticide residues in food High priority
Ensuring a fair wage for farm workers	Ensuring a fair wage for farm workers Not a priority	Ensuring a fair wage for farm workers Somewhat important	Ensuring a fair wage for farm workers Very important	Ensuring a fair wage for farm workers High priority
Food safety	Food safety Not a priority	Food safety Somewhat important	Food safety Very important	Food safety High priority
Improving water quality	Improving water quality Not a priority	Improving water quality Somewhat important	Improving water quality Very important	Improving water quality High priority
Fair pay price for farmers	Fair pay price for farmers Not a priority	Fair pay price for farmers Somewhat important	Fair pay price for farmers Very important	Fair pay price for farmers High priority

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* 6. What, in your opinion, are the one or two greatest obstacles to a thriving local, organic farming economy? Please explain.

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* 7. If you are a farm owner, tell us about any local, state, or federal regulations that have either helped or hindered the success of your farming operation.

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* 8. If you own or operate a farm that is not certified organic, which of the following reasons best explains why you choose not to be certified organic?

Certification is too expensive

The record keeping is too time consuming

Becoming certified would not add value to my business

I have major issues with the National Organic Program standards

Other (please specify)

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* 9. If your farm is certified organic, do you have any concerns with the current organic standards or list of allowed substances? Please explain.

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* 10. Please tell us about any specific policy issues, regulations, or legislation that you want NOFA Vermont to actively work on.

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* 11. What actions, if any, are you willing to take to assist NOFA-VT with our advocacy efforts? (Please check all that apply.)

Call/write my legislators

Attend a public hearing

Testify at a public hearing

Write a letter to the editor

Attend a rally

Sign a petition

Submit written public comments

Share NOFA-VT action alerts

Distribute educational materials

Participate in a letter writing campaign

Join a local food policy council

Join a NOFA-VT policy committee

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* 12. NOFA Vermont values the participation of our members and supporters in everything we do! If you'd like to get involved in our policy initiatives, please leave us your contact information.

Name

Email address