Monthly Archives: January 2018

January 30, 2018 – OFRF’s 2018 Organic Farming Research Conference was held on January 26^th.in partnership with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA) and Rutgers University.

The day-long session included twenty presentations by researchers from up and down the East Coast—including Rutgers University, University of Maine, University of West Virginia, and New York University—and as far away as the University of Hawaii and USDA-ARS North Dakota.

Topics ranging from fertility, soil health, and climate change, to animals, pests, nutrition, biodiversity and the environment, provided for a well-rounded day wrapping up with a quick dive into economics and marketing.

After the conference, a poster session and social gave attendees and presenters more time for networking and discussion. Guest speaker Mark Shepard, the founder of Restoration Agriculture Development and CEO of Forest Agriculture Enterprises, gave an informal talk and preview to his keynote presentation at NOFA’s conference the following day.

Shepard’s New Forest Farm is a planned conversion of a typical row-crops grain farm into a commercial-scale, perennial agricultural ecosystem using oak savanna, successional brushland, and eastern woodlands as the ecological models. Trees, shrubs, vines, canes, perennial plants, and fungi are planted in association with one another to produce food (for humans and animals), fuel, medicines, and beauty. Hazelnuts, chestnuts, walnuts and various fruits are the primary woody crops. The farm is entirely solar and wind-powered and farm equipment is powered by locally produced biofuels that are not taken from the human food chain.

In their follow-up surveys, attendees responded to a question regarding specific areas where there is a need for additonal research and education. They cited the need for more information geared to new and small farmers as well as specific extension assistance targeted to organic farmers. Other education and research priorities included more practical information on soil health, plant breeding, the use of beneficial microbials, cost-efficient inputs, pest and weed control, and livestock management.

Thank you to everyone whose contributions made this conference a success: Rutgers University, NOFA, all of our presenters, and everyone in attendance.

Results from all OFRF-funded research available in our online searchable database.

OFRF’s new series of Soil Health Educational Guidebooks are available to download here.

January 2, 2018 – The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced the availability of $17.6M in grants focused on organic agriculture research, education, and extension activities. These grants are funded through a competitive process by NIFA’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

“America’s organic industry continues to be one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. agriculture,” said NIFA Director Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy. “NIFA strives to support the development and deployment of science-based best knowledge and practices to organic producers to help them grow their businesses while solving critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems.”

The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) supports research, education, and extension programs that enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority areas include biological, physical, and social science research, including economics. Funded projects will aid farmers and ranchers with whole-farm planning by delivering practical, research-based information to improve their ability to develop an Organic System Plan required for certification.

Eligible entities include land-grant and other research universities, federal agencies, national laboratories, state agricultural experiment stations, research foundations, and other private researchers.

Applications must be received by March 1, 2018. See the OREI funding opportunity for additional information.

Resources from OFRF

In 2015, OFRF conducted a national survey of certified organic producers and hosted 21 listening sessions. We used the input we received from nearly 2,000 farmers to map the need for future research investment in the 2016 National Organic Research Agenda. We also published an analysis of USDA organic research investments. Together, these reports provide an in-depth understanding of the state of organic agriculture in the U.S., and the research needed to increase both the number of organic farms and acres.

Download the 2016 National Organic Research Agenda report.

Taking Stock: Analyzing and Reporting Organic Research Investments, 2002-2014 is available to download here.

Working with members of Congress, both Republican and Democrat, OFRF is championing the Organic Agriculture Research Act (H.R. 2436), a bipartisan bill to ensure organic research and extension programs around the country have the funding necessary to support all farmers with sound science, outreach, and education programs. Specifically, this bill reauthorizes the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and increases the annual funding from $20M to $50M. Given the dramatic growth of the organic industry, this overdue increase in funding will be instrumental in providing the research and extension support that American farmers need.