Monthly Archives: July 2024

Tamara Masoud (she/her/hers)

Outreach & Engagement Intern, Summer 2024

email: outreach[at]ofrf.org

Tamara Masoud (she/her/hers) joins the OFRF team as the 2024 Outreach & Engagement Intern. With a BA in the History of Public Policy and Law at the University of California, Santa Barbara, she utilizes those research skills in her advocacy for food sustainability. She is passionate about ensuring food security and her devotion has been apparent in her past experiences. At UCSB she worked as a Resident Assistant for the Housing and Residential Services and hosted over 20 programs that focused on empowering communities and food sustainability. Notable programs such as Cookies & Calfresh, Green Wave Festival, and Farm Forward educated communities about food sustainability, SNAC resources, EBT qualifications, and farming techniques. Additionally, her experience as a CalFresh Advocate and Peer Mentor at the UCSB Basic Needs and SNAC Center trained her on governmental resources regarding food and financial aid. Through her previous positions, she has collaborated with local farmers and assisted over 600 members with EBT to allow better access to food resources and organic produce. Her dedication to making organic produce more accessible to disenfranchised communities drives her work and she hopes to continue to explore and network within the organic industry.

By |2024-12-24T16:59:03+00:00July 30th, 2024|Uncategorized|
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Championing Organic Research

The Vital Role of Salinas ARS and Its Advocates

By Elizabeth Tobey and OFRF staff

Various cover crops growing in the long-term organic systems trial at the ARS station in Salinas, CA

Imagine a farming method that not only enhances soil health and reduces the need for chemical inputs but also addresses climate change and provides economic benefits to local communities. This is the promise of organic agriculture, and nowhere is this more evident than at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) station in Salinas, Monterey County, CA. Despite the significant benefits, the future of this critical research is at risk due to underfunding. Fortunately, the region is lucky to have a strong organic champion in Rep. Jimmy Panetta. With the recent redistricting, the region also gained a member with a strong science and research background, Rep. Zoe Lofgren. We are encouraged that Rep. Lofgren has communicated she is ready to take up the mantle of defending and growing the research station.

The benefits of organic agriculture research are numerous: it serves not only the farmers who rely on it for informed decision-making but also the communities where research stations are located. These programs and agencies significantly benefit the rural communities participating in and hosting the research projects. They generate an impressive $20 of benefits for every dollar invested in public agricultural research. Organic research findings often also benefit conventional farmers, whereas findings from conventional ag research are frequently not applicable to the organic sector.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is a federal agency conducting agricultural research with stations across the country to address the evolving needs of American agriculture and beyond. Among these stations, the Salinas station stands out for its groundbreaking work in organic research. But that hasn’t always been the case.

Many years ago, organic agriculture was not a focus at the Salinas ARS, but OFRF saw the potential. We worked with Congressman Sam Farr, who represented the district at that time. Farr championed the organic research cause and secured dedicated funding that has allowed the Salinas station to become a shining example of the potential for and benefits of organic agriculture research.

Eric Brennan with cover crop samples at the Salinas station

That initial earmarked funding allowed the research station to hire Dr. Eric Brennan, a research horticulturist specializing in organic farming systems and climate-smart agriculture. Dr. Brennan is known for his work on cover crops, soil health, and sustainable farming practices, which he explains in plain language. His research aims to improve organic farming methods to enhance productivity and environmental sustainability. He often collaborates with farmers and other stakeholders to develop practical solutions for agricultural challenges. A prime example is Dr. Brennan’s research into the nutrient management services cover crops can provide.

In a monumental moment in policy-making, Dr. Brennan used his agricultural research experience to weigh in on Ag Order 4.0, a regulatory program that protects groundwater resources in California from agricultural runoff. Dr. Brennan’s research-backed testimony shifted the course of that decision, providing insights on the scientific flaws of the regulation as it existed and instead providing the groundwork for an amended regulation that provides nutrient management credits for producers who can meet thresholds on cover crop biomass (we highlighted his story previously here). His research continues to benefit farmers and ranchers throughout California and across the country. Brennan’s findings are available in various publications, articles, and videos.

The Salinas ARS station is now a hub of organic research. In the years since securing that initial funding, OFRF has facilitated numerous tours for policymakers there, including visits with the current congressman and organic champion, Rep. Jimmy Panetta.

From left to right: Rep Panetta, ARS Research Leader Bill Wintermantel, and researcher Eric Brennan during a site visit to the Salinas ARS station.

However, this critical research faces an uncertain future. A recent conversation between OFRF and the ARS staff brought up a concerning reality—this vital research program is significantly underfunded. The initial funding allocated in the early 2000s hasn’t grown despite the significant and steady growth of the organic sector and the costs of conducting research. The Salinas ARS serves as a shining example of successful organic research, and it desperately needs more resources to continue thriving and supporting organic farmers. 

Thankfully, Congressman Panetta has shown his leadership on organic research policy by recently organizing a group of legislators to send a letter to the appropriations committee, highlighting the station’s importance. We applaud Congressman Panetta and all who joined him for carrying on the legacy of support established by his predecessor, Rep. Sam Farr. However, the fight for adequate funding is still ongoing. The organic community must maintain and strengthen its voice to continue advocating for research like the work in Salinas.

How you can help:

  • Stay Involved: Get in touch if you’d like to be part of the effort to secure funding for the Salinas ARS organic research program!
  • Thank Congressman Panetta: Let him know you appreciate his support for organic agriculture research: find contact info here.
  • Learn More: Reach out to OFRF for additional information: contact gordon@ofrf.org

By working together, we can ensure that the groundbreaking research at the Salinas ARS continues to benefit organic farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole.

By |2024-07-29T18:52:47+00:00July 29th, 2024|News|
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Organic Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Ajay Nair

Integrating poultry, cover crops & vegetable production can reduce purchased inputs while increasing yields

Written by Brian Geier

Dr. Ajay Nair, Department of Horticulture Chair, Iowa State University

Organic farmers with successful Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems (ICLS) report benefits ranging from increased farm productivity and reduced inputs to improvements in soil fertility and increased nutrient density in food products. Additionally, organic farmers report site-specific benefits, for instance livestock grazing that provides unique options for crop pest control or decreases the need for mechanical cultivation (learn more about these specific benefits to organic farmers in OFRF’s Crop-Livestock Integration resources). 

While these benefits are becoming better understood, researchers at Iowa State University, led by Dr. Ajay Nair, wanted to look more closely at a specific crop-livestock integration scenario: poultry and diversified organic vegetable production systems. “Commonly researched and implemented methods of crop-livestock integration in the United States,” they write, “include grazing livestock on cover crops, rotational grazing of permanent pasture, and grazing livestock on crop residues such as corn or wheat. Several reviews on crop-livestock integration discuss its benefits, such as increased soil organic carbon, aggregate stability, enhanced nutrient cycling, and increased soil nitrogen (N). There is, however, limited research on the integration of animals in vegetable production.” Now, with funding from USDA’s Organic Agriculture Research & Education Initiative (OREI), Dr. Nair and a team of researchers across the country are evaluating poultry, cover crop and vegetable integration.  

Pastured Poultry: a unique fit for diversified vegetable production

Organic vegetable production systems are often highly diversified, requiring intensive management techniques and quick turnaround times between crops. Poultry, which require less space and are easier to move than other livestock could prove to be a unique fit for organic vegetable farmers. Add to that the relatively low capital investment and many growers and researchers wonder if integrating poultry with vegetables could be profitable while still meeting food safety and National Organic Program requirements. “‘How will I integrate poultry? Where? When?’ That was the number one question our growers had,” explains project lead, Dr. Nair.

Above, left: the three rotations in the study are: 1) vegetable > vegetable > cover crop (V-CC), 2) vegetable > cover crop > poultry (V-CC-P), and 3) vegetable > poultry > cover crop (V-P-CC). Above, right: a floorless coop moves around a cover crop in a plot where treatment 2 (V-CC-P) is being evaluated.

The research evaluates the effects of pasturing poultry in movable, floorless coops through vegetable and cover crop rotations. The multi-state project, which involves research in Iowa, Kentucky and California won’t conclude until August of 2024, but it already has several key findings:

  1. Poultry and cover crops can successfully be integrated with vegetable production systems.
  2. Where poultry are integrated with vegetable production systems, nitrogen inputs can be reduced while vegetable yields are increased.
  3. In field tests at Iowa State University, over time, more weeds accumulated in systems where poultry were integrated with vegetables than in systems without poultry.  
  4. Birds in this study are more efficient at converting food to meat. The Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) of birds in this study is almost double that of conventionally raised broilers. 

The impact of USDA funding for organic research & farmers

Dr. Nair, a professor at the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Science who in July of this year became the Department Chair, credits the USDA/NIFA’s Organic Research and Extension Initiative for making projects like his possible all over the country.

“OREI is the foundation for several of the organic projects that happen across the country, and we are very thankful for NIFA for having such a dedicated program for organic growers. It serves as a good platform for us to reach out to organic growers and for organic growers to reach out to us.” -Dr. Ajay Nair

You can learn more about this project and the importance of OREI in this video excerpt from OFRF’s interview with Dr. Nair in early 2024:

This research is funded by the USDA/NIFA’s Organic Research and Extension Initiative. To learn more about OFRF’s advocacy work to protect and increase this type of funding, and how you can help become an advocate for organic farming with us, see our Advocacy page.

By |2024-07-23T18:21:33+00:00July 17th, 2024|News|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Verdant Phoenix Farm

Written by Jose Perez, OFRF’s Research & Education Engagement Coordinator

Rhianna Simes, M.S.Ed. owns and operates Verdant Phoenix Farm, a 10 acre urban farm and education center located in Jackson County, Oregon. The farm is managed as a no-till production system and is certified organic. Rhianna operates the farm as a research and education hub, hosting educational workshops, hands-on demonstrations and farm tours. She sells nursery stock, seeds, basketry willow, plant starts, and other products through the farm stand and on their website. Additionally, Rhianna has been breeding fava bean, and popcorn (working towards a ‘Phoenix Blackberry’) for years. Rhianna’s farm vision is inspired by the work of Masanobu Fukuoka, Rowen White and Dr. Elaine Ingham, to create thriving agroecosystems.

Image at right: A close up of the soil after tarps were removed.

Occultation tarping

Rhianna has been using occultation tarping to terminate cover crops and manage weeds while protecting soil health for years. In two different locations, she converted 10 acre hay fields into no-till,  row cropping systems using only occultation tarping. To do this, in 4-6 week increments, she places a vinyl tarp on top of the soil to act as a ‘smother’ which encourages the biological activity of the soil to eat the organic matter on the soil (and under the tarp). In the past, farmers employed solarization, but this method allows sunlight to heat the soil, but does not encourage the biological activity which happens only in the darkness (occult = dark). By not allowing any light through, occultation tarping supports the soil food web, and can help suppress weeds, terminate cover crops and protect the soil from erosion. This practice has a lot of potential to help small scale organic farms, especially in no-till systems. Occultation removes the need for tilling to terminate weeds and crops. Rhianna is passionate about sharing the multiple benefits of using occultation tarping in small farms, but she has often found a lack of trusted information and research demonstrating the usefulness of this practice. 

The farm trial

With technical support from OFRF, Rhianna decided to create a farm trial that would compare the use of occultation tarping in no-till and tilled conditions. This means that she is investigating two different practices in the same trial: tarping and tilling. Soil sampling will be the primary way to measure differences in these practices, and will evaluate soil parameters such as soil organic matter, carbon mineralization potential and aggregate stability. Yield of planted crops will also be compared among treatments. 

Rhianna began the farm trial in a non-cultivated field in mid-April. Before placing the tarps, she took a baseline soil sample and sent it to Oregon State University Soil Lab for analysis. As planned in her research design, she laid tarps on the no-till fields for 6 weeks, and in late June she removed the tarps and direct seeded the field with a reliable polyculture that includes popcorn, bush beans, radish, basil, beets and fava beans. Rhianna and the OFRF team are excited for the yield and soil sample data that will be taken after harvest this fall. 

Rhianna is invested in this farm trial in the long term, as she has been awarded additional funds from Western SARE Farmer / Rancher grant  to continue this research for 3 years. At OFRF we are excited to be part of Rhianna’s effort to investigate the potential of these practices for small scale organic farmers in the region and beyond.

Below images: On the left – A view of the tarping and tilling trial. On the right  – another view of the farm trial showing tarping and non tarping areas.

“The OFRF Farmer-Led Trial program offers an incredible opportunity for farmers to explore innovations we have developed. OFRF provides financial assistance to offset expenses of the project, and access to technical assistance from their trained professionals. This program has given me the courage and support I needed to pursue my research in no-till farming through occultation tarping, and to share the impacts so that others benefit. I feel honored to be part of this effort.” – Rhianna Simes, M.S.Ed., Verdant Phoenix Farm, owner/ farmer/ organic soil nerd

“The OFRF Farmer-Led Trial program removes barriers for organic farmers to conduct research on strategies that can and will revolutionize farming. We are innovators in our fields, and the solutions we create today are the answers to tomorrow’s challenges. This program helps to legitimize the research, and trial and error experimenting that, as farmers, we do everyday.” – Rhianna Simes 

To learn more about the work Rhianna does, check out the Verdant Phoenix Farm website https://verdantphoenix.com/about/

This story is part of a series profiling farmers who are taking part in OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials (FLT) program. Farmers receive technical support from OFRF to address their challenges through structured on-farm trials. To learn more about OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials Program, visit our website page at https://ofrf.org/research/farmer-led-research-trials/

By |2024-10-29T17:58:21+00:00July 15th, 2024|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News|
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Dakota Moore (he/him/his)

Research & Education Intern, Summer 2024

email: research[at]ofrf.org

Dakota Moore (he/him) brings a diverse blend of academic training and practical experience to his role as the new Research and Education Intern at OFRF. He completed his B.S. in Agriculture and Environmental systems at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, where he gained a solid foundation in agricultural science and sustainability. Dakota also has extensive hands-on farming experience. He was raised on the historic Moore Family Farm in Warsaw, North Carolina, which has been around since 1833, and grew up immersed in the values of sustainable and regenerative agriculture. Dakota has dedicated his career to understanding and promoting sustainable farming, and he is excited to bring that passion and experience to OFRF and help advance organic farming systems.

By |2024-12-24T17:01:42+00:00July 11th, 2024|Uncategorized|
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From Global Insights to Local Impact, an intern perspective

Cultivating Knowledge and Confidence During my Internship with OFRF

By Marina Vergara. Marina joined OFRF as the Research & Education Intern for Winter & Spring of 2024. We are grateful for her contributions to our work and wish her all the best in her next chapter. 

I came into my internship at OFRF with one primary goal: to learn as much as I could about the organic farming sector in the United States. After working internationally and studying an international field in graduate school, I decided that I wanted to transition my work to be closer to home. I thought this role was the perfect opportunity to begin this transition. After completing two 10-week internship periods with OFRF’s Research & Education team, I feel more knowledgeable about organic farming in the U.S., and more confident in my professional self and abilities. This role has prepared me for my next step: working at Waltham Fields Community Farm in Waltham, Massachusetts, as their Community Outreach Farmer.

I focused my internship on supporting the development of OFRF’s upcoming Research Hub, a project developed in direct response to 2022’s NORA Report findings, where survey respondents shared a need for a centralized, all-encompassing organic farming research hub. It was a great opportunity to be a part of such a meaningful project: a project that is directly responding to the needs of the organic community, and a project that will be used by the organic community at large.

Throughout my internship, I’ve been able to take the time to explore the research being done in organic farming in the U.S. One of my first tasks was to edit and confirm an outreach list for the upcoming Research Hub, which allowed me to delve into the individual work being done by organic farming researchers and professionals. I took this opportunity to read through the work and familiarize myself with the breadth and depth of organic research and initiatives taking place in the United States. From soil science studies to organizations supporting youth involvement in organic agriculture, I learned a lot about the sector as a whole.

I have also had the opportunity to sit-in on meetings between the Research & Education team and farmers who are part of the first cohort of the Farmer-Led Trials program. These meetings have given me some insight into what it can be like to support an organic farmer in conducting their own research, which is something I think I could be interested in pursuing in the future. Through attending these meetings, I saw firsthand some ways to work with farmers in developing and refining their research questions, and creating a research design and plan. I also learned ways to work with farmers collaboratively, making sure to put their interests first, and working together to design their research plan to fit the scientific method’s parameters.

In addition to my knowledge, my professional confidence has also grown during my time with OFRF. I was encouraged by the members of the Research & Education team to share my opinions during meetings and give feedback like any other member of the team. I worked closely with my supervisor, bouncing ideas back and forth to build the user experience for the Research Hub. I also had the opportunity to take ownership of my projects. While updating the Research Hub outreach list, I wanted to increase the number of contacts we had from 1890 and 1994 Land Grant Institutions. When I brought this idea up to my supervisor, I was encouraged to take it on, and was supported in my work.

 Next, I will begin my role as Waltham Fields Community Farm’s Community Outreach Farmer. In this role, I will be working on an eleven-acre organic vegetable farm, which will allow me to put the organic farming knowledge I’ve gained during my internship into practice. I will also be managing three of their community outreach programs, bringing the farm’s produce to areas of the community that typically lack access to fresh, organically grown produce. This feels like my natural next step into the organic farming space.

 I am leaving OFRF a more knowledgeable and confident professional version of myself. I am excited to take these skills to my next position as a Community Outreach Farmer. Thank you to all of OFRF’s staff who have supported me during my time here. I learned so much from everyone, and am grateful that I was able to spend time working with such a dynamic team over the past couple of months.

By |2024-12-24T17:01:57+00:00July 10th, 2024|News|
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The Importance of Community and Collaboration in Organic Agriculture Research

Community is one of the most potent tools organic agriculture both relies on and fosters. The challenges we all face—from climate change to food security—are far-reaching and intimately connected, requiring collective action and shared knowledge. An intentional effort to build community among research and extension officials that farmers rely on is a necessity for fostering innovation, resilience, and sustainability.

At OFRF, we are acting on that intention. We don’t just believe collaboration is the cornerstone of progress; we are actively building the foundation for it. By creating structured space and time for researchers and extension professionals within an ecoregion, we can enhance the impact of our own work and that of those researchers and extension officials. We are proud to be involved in the Transition to Organic Partnership Program for the Western and Southwestern States (TOPP-W/SW). Through this involvement, we have embarked on an initiative that brings these intentions to fruition.

Through TOPP-W/SW, we have launched a regional Research/Extension Affinity Group. This is a dedicated effort to foster connections between researchers studying problems and extension agents who are often the first to hear of an issue or challenge farmers are facing. This group is more than a network; it aims to be a vibrant community of professionals committed to collaboration and mutual support. Ultimately, this group has been designed to:

  1. Foster Collaboration: By bringing together researchers and extension agents from across the W/SW states, we create a platform for sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices. This collaboration is crucial for tackling complex issues in organic agriculture and developing innovative solutions that benefit all.
  2. Provide Resources and Learning Opportunities: Access to grant funding and other resources is a common challenge. Our affinity group facilitates learning from each other’s experiences, offers guidance on navigating funding opportunities, and provides tools to help researchers and extension agents more effectively support the farmers they work with.
  3. Enhance Enjoyment and Fulfillment: The work we do in organic agriculture is challenging but incredibly rewarding. By building a community where members can share their successes, challenges, and experiences, we create an environment that nurtures personal and professional growth, making the journey more enjoyable and fulfilling.

The importance of community to organic production cannot be overstated. When we come together, we amplify our collective strengths, remedy our weaknesses, and ultimately create a powerful force for improving systems. Community fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, which encourages the exchange of ideas and knowledge, building a foundation of support and collective action that is essential for overcoming the challenges of our time and achieving our goals of a just and sustainable society.

As we continue in this effort, we hope you will join us! Whether you are a researcher, extension agent, farmer, or advocate, your participation is what differentiates success from failure. Together, we can break down the silos that separate us and foster a thriving community that advances the organic movement towards a sustainable future.

Let’s continue to build bridges, share knowledge, and support each other in our common goal of widespread adoption and simultaneous improvement of organic agriculture. The Research/Extension Affinity Group for the W/SW is just the beginning. With your involvement and energy, we can expand this collaborative effort and make a lasting impact on the organic farming community.

If you’re interested in hearing more about this group, especially if you live in one of the W/SW states (AZ, CA, HI, NM, TX, UT), reach out to Gordon at gordon@ofrf.org today! Together, we can and will make a difference.

Eat well,

Gordon

By |2024-07-11T18:31:43+00:00July 3rd, 2024|Gordon's Policy Corner, News|
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Julia Nelson (she/her/hers)

Policy & Advocacy Intern

email: advocacy[at]ofrf.org

Julia Nelson (she/her/hers) joins the OFRF team as the Summer 2024 Policy & Advocacy Intern. Julia is a current MS student at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, studying Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. She got her BA from Colby College, where she studied Environmental Policy and Anthropology. She previously worked to expand local food systems in Maine, first as the Operations Manager for a foodtech startup that provides an online platform for wholesale buyers to purchase directly from local farmers. Following that experience, she served as the Gleaning & Local Procurement Coordinator for an anti-hunger organization, facilitating the rescue and purchase, as well as the processing and distribution, of (literal) tons of local produce for food access programming. After completing her graduate studies, she hopes to work on food & agriculture policy and is specifically interested in regional food supply chains, values-based procurement, and the intersections between nutrition and sustainability. Outside of work and school, she enjoys spending weekends running, skiing, and surfing around New England, as well as cooking delicious dinners with friends and family.

By |2024-12-24T17:02:16+00:00July 2nd, 2024|Uncategorized|
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