For Immediate Release:
February 23, 2010 |
Contact: |
Ted Quaday
Communications Director
831-426-6606 |
OFRF Fall Grant Round Emphasizes Organic Fruit Research,
Supports Farmer Education
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- A new round of research and education grants totaling $128,000 brought the Organic Farming Research Foundation’s (OFRF) total awards in 2009 to $255,000. OFRF’s organic farmer-led board of directors awarded seven grants in November after providing $127,000 to ten other projects in March 2009. Roughly half of the fall grants fund organic fruit production research.
“Organic fruit growers routinely face daunting challenges managing pests and nutrients,” says Grants Program Director Jane Sooby. “There are huge information gaps in this area. Our current focus on organic fruit production research is helping to narrow the gaps.” A special partnership with Stretch Island Fruit Company has supported OFRF’s fruit research and education grants since 2008.
Other projects receiving support in this latest round address cover crops for organic seed production, natural pest management techniques in fields and greenhouses, organic dairy feeding regimes and a farmer-to-farmer education program in Alabama.
“OFRF is determined to improve organic production systems through scientific research involving farmers and the research community. Organic farmers and those in transition are in constant need of new tools to improve production techniques,” says OFRF Executive Director Bob Scowcroft. “This latest round of grants reaffirms our commitment to the mission of continuous improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems.”
The foundation administers a competitive grants program as part of its mission. Proposals on all topics related to organic farming are welcome. Growers, researchers and educators are encouraged to review project proposal guidelines at ofrf.org/grants/apply.html. Contact Grants Program Director Jane Sooby at jane@ofrf.org or 831-426-6606 ext. 107 to learn more.
Additional Information on OFRF’s Fall 2009 Grant Awards
Chuck Ingels, Sacramento, CA; University of California Cooperative Extension, $27,624 to investigate cost-effective weed and nutrient management practices in organic pear orchards. (Two-year grant made in partnership with Stretch Island Fruit Company) Contact: caingels@ucdavis.edu, 916-875-6913
Ed Maltby, Deerfield, MA; Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA), $12,000 to provide easily accessible, searchable and downloadable information to certified and transitioning organic dairy producers by organizing the NODPA web information archive. Contact: emaltby@comcast.net, 413-772-0444
John Navazio, Port Townsend, WA; Organic Seed Alliance, $14,884, to develop superior cover crop varieties for organic seed production. Contact: john@seedalliance.org, 360-385-7192
Margaret Skinner, Burlington, VT; University of Vermont, $14,997 for year two of a study looking at creating a “guardian plant” system of integrated pest management for organic greenhouse production. Contact:
mskinner@uvm.edu, 802-656-5440
Kathy Soder, University Park, PA; USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, $15,000 to study the use of molasses as an alternative food source for dairy cows. Contact: kathy.soder@ars.usda.gov, 814-865-3158
Steve Tennes, Charlotte, MI; Country Mills Farms, $35,873 to study integration of bats into organic pest management programs. (Three-year grant made in partnership with Stretch Island Fruit Company) Contact: steve@tennes.com, 517-543-1019
Karen Wynne, Huntsville, AL; Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network, $7,680 to create awareness of organic production methods and National Organic Program compliance issues among Alabama farmers, ranchers and educators. Contact:wynnekaren@hotmail.com, 256-520-2400
About the Organic Farming Research Foundation
The Organic Farming Research Foundation was founded in 1990 to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems. OFRF sponsors organic farming research and education projects, disseminates the results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, and educates the public and policymakers about organic farming issues. The majority of OFRF’s board members are working organic farmers. Additional information available at http://ofrf.org
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