OFRF - Policy Programs

OFRF Policy Programs

OFRF's Policy Program addresses public policy issues that are related to the foundation's overall mission. We conduct analysis of policy issues and provide education to inform the development of public policies that promote organic farming practices.

Join OFRF's Organic Farmers Action Network
By joining OFAN you'll receive free, periodic policy updates, which will help you effectively communicate with Congress on policy issues that
affect organic farmers and ranchers.

photo of Dale Coke before Capitol Building

Organic Farmers in Action

OFAN Farmer Testifies in D.C.
OFRF’s Organic Farmers Action Network sent organic farmer and policy advocate Dale Coke to Washington to talk to Congress about the impact of misguided food safety measures on organic farmers. Read more...

Organic Farmers Participate in July Farmer Fly-in
Four organic producers from around the country flew to Washington, D.C. to advocate for sustainable and organic agriculture policies. Learn more about the Farmer Fly-in and their experiences on getting involved.

photo of organic farmer Anthony Bozzuto and members of OFRF Policy Team

Federal Legislation for Organic Agriculture
Find out more about OFRF policy initiatives and information about key federal funding programs in support of organic agriculture.

Conservation Programs Resource Pages
Find out about opportunities to apply for USDA conservation programs and resources to assist you.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program - deadline to apply in most states is March 12, 2010!
Conservation Stewardship Program

Help Educate Congress about Organic Agriculture
Urge Your Representative to Join the Organic Caucus

Policy Documents

May 31, 2009
OFRF submits comments on the direction of USDA Research, Education, and Extension. USDA office of Research, Education, and Extension (REE) requested comments on the preparation of a roadmap for agricultural research, education, and extension at USDA. Read comments submitted by OFRF.

OFRF also signed onto comments submitted by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), and comments submitted by the Pesticide Action Network of North America (PANNA).

January 30, 2009
"Eight (sustainable) objections: Arguments challenging certification and metrics for marketing sustainability in agriculture," by Mark Lipson. Read»

Policy Brief
January 30, 2009
Organic Agriculture Policy Recommendations to the Presidential Transition Team

Social and Economic Policy Research
A new paper outlines social and economic research agendas for organic agriculture
A short paper by Dr. Kate Clancy with support of the Organic Farming Research Foundation helps outline a future publication on social and economic research needs for organic agriculture, as part of the National Organic Research Agendas (NORA) series. Click here to download Towards a Socioeconomic Research Agenda for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems: Preliminary Assessment of Topics. NORA is a product of the Scientific Congress on Organic Agricultural Research (SCOAR).

Your OFRF organic policy and action team in action. L to R: Santa Cruz-based staff members Tracy Lerman, Policy Organizer and Mark Lipson, Senior Policy Analyst, and Washington, D.C.-based staff member Ariane Lotti, Policy Associate. Photo by Ted Quaday.

Farm Aid policy panel

Keeping the Family Farm in Organic Farming, a discussion statement by Karen Anderson of NOFA-NJ and Mark Lipson, OFRF.

Policy

Organic Farmers Action Network

Federal Legislation

Congressional Organic Caucus

Biotechnology and Organic

Policy Internship