Latest OFRF News
NRCS and Organic Producers: What EQIP, CSP, and the Regenerative Pilot Program Can Do for Your Farm
EQIP, CSP, and the new Regenerative Pilot Program, administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, are great options for producers interested in boosting conservation on their operations.
The Proposed USDA Restructuring Will Hurt Farmers, Not Bring the Agency Closer to Them
By Vinnie Trometter, OFRF Policy Manager Record-high input costs, low commodity and specialty crop prices, and lack of access to markets are placing massive economic pressures on farmers. In January of this year, over 300 farm groups sent a letter to Congressional leadership issuing a dire warning that the long-term viability of American agriculture is under threat unless conditions change. Since then, the situation has only gotten worse. The war in Iran has spiked fertilizer prices during the peak spring planting season, affecting the vast majority of farmers who [...]
Meeting the Moment for Organic Research: A Novel Approach with Researcher and Extension Regional Meetups
OFRF is leading new Research and Extension Regional Meetups for organic research, extension, and specialists at organic conferences across the US.
Earth Day Spotlight: Organic Farming as Stewardship
In honor of Earth Day, we’re spotlighting four organic farmers from across the country who prioritize the health of the planet through land stewardship and working in partnership with natural systems.
Source: North Star Organics
Working with NRCS: North Star Organics’ Story and Recommendations
North Star Organics, owned and operated by Cheryl and Alan Kobernik, is a 40-acre certified-organic cherry farm located in Frankfort, Michigan. This is the story of how their organic cherry farm is using NRCS programs to meet conservation goals - and what they’ve learned from this experience.
OFRF Announces 2026 Farmer-Led Research Trials Cohort
OFRF announces the 2026 Farmer-Led Research Trials Cohort. Nine organic farms across the country have been selected to receive technical support for next round of innovative on-farm research trials.
Source: Mesta Meadows
Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Mesta Meadows
Mesta Meadows, a family-owned ranch in the Ozark Highlands, prioritizes responsible land and animal stewardship. Farmer Ed Crowley is participating in OFRF's Farmer-Led Trial Program to experiment with using forage species as a natural deworming agent for their lambs.
Post House Agriculture Committee Markup: How OFRF is Viewing Organic Research Priorities in the Farm Bill
Congressional authorization for the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) was included in the House Agriculture Committee’s Farm Bill markup on March 4, 2026, which could present an opportunity for Senate Agriculture Committee members to take a meaningful step in right-sizing federal funding for organic agriculture research this year.
The Power of Shared Narrative: Lessons from the Institute for Agroecology
Earlier this year, OFRF staff met with Shane Rogers, of the University of Vermont’s Institute for Agroecology, to learn more about their work and explore how narrative strategy and a joyful mapping project can help build a stronger food movement.
Growing Organic Grains and Pulses in the Northeast: What Does the Research Say?
Organic grain and pulse farmers in the northeast face challenges including finding crop rotations, effective and economical seeding rates, and weed management, to name a few. Organic research projects across the northeast have insights about these challenges and how farmers might address them.
