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Working with NRCS: North Star Organics’ Story and Recommendations

Written by Rebecca Champagne, PhD, OFRF Conservation Scientist

OFRF is currently working with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a cooperative agreement to help build institutional knowledge of NRCS staff and equip them to better support the unique needs of organic and transitioning-to-organic farmers across the country. As part of this work, we are helping tell the stories of organic farmers and their experiences working with NRCS. We hope other farmers can use this information to learn more about NRCS and feel inspired to pursue conservation programs for their farm. For more information regarding our cooperative agreement with the agency, please reach out to Rebecca Champagne, OFRF Conservation Scientist, at rebecca@ofrf.org.

Meet North Star Organics

organic farmers, Alan and Cheryl, of North Star Organics, stand in front of weathered red barn wall, beneath a hand painted sign that says Welcome to North Star OrganicsNorth Star Organics, owned and operated by Cheryl and Alan Kobernik, is a 40-acre certified-organic cherry farm located in Frankfort, Michigan. They bought the farm in 1985 and recently celebrated their 40th season in operation. Out of the 40 total acres, 26 acres are dedicated to fruit production of tart and sweet cherries. In total, they currently have 2,600 tart cherry trees and 180 sweet cherry trees.

The Koberniks have historically machine-harvested their cherries and delivered them to a processor for juice, freezing, or drying. They used to bring their cherries to CSAs in the state and even did some mail orders for repeat customers and some chocolatiers. One of their biggest markets the past several years was the on-farm pick-your-own (PYO). This used to be a thriving market for them, but has started to slow in recent years due to lower crop yield caused by the effects of extreme weather and new pests moving into the region.

“Organic 20 years ago had a lot of excitement, but it seems to be fizzling out with processors. Processors want bigger contracts and not smaller producers. It’s hard to meet their threshold.”

North Star Organics began the process of transitioning their farm to organic production in 1999 and has been certified since 2002. The Koberniks mentioned the difference between conventional and organic crop prices as one reason for seeking certification. “Production was becoming unsustainable. When we started the transition to organic, the price for conventional cherries was just $0.04 per pound. We decided to go organic as a niche market.” They also attended a local agricultural conference that year and learned more about how organic production could help them sustain their operation beyond just economic reasons.

Organic crop price premiums can help farmers stay competitive, and the various programs offered by NRCS can help finance conservation practices and assist farmers in achieving sustainability goals, thereby hedging against production risks.

Working with NRCS

The Koberniks first learned about NRCS and the agency’s programs through their own research and from agricultural groups in the state. “Our local office didn’t reach out to farmers back when we first bought the farm,” they stated. However, the planner they currently work with, Scott Hughey, makes a point to visit farms and property owners in the area to directly establish relationships.

“I just want to serve all the farmers/land owners in my area, try to understand their perspectives and priorities, and provide them all with the same level of service,” said Scott.

Their relationship with the regional NRCS planner and hearing from other farmers about their experiences is a big reason the Koberniks were motivated to pursue technical and financial assistance through the agency. Reflecting on the past few decades, The Koberniks noticed fewer farmers in the state getting together at events where those conversations can be shared organically.

“Fewer farmers are getting together now in Michigan at things such as Farm Bureau events and trade shows. The average farmer age is older, and the ag community is more behind in technology. A lot of outreach and materials are done electronically and not through the mail. And, a lot of folks don’t trust the government and won’t pursue programs because they don’t want government staff on their farms. We believe farmer education on NRCS is important!”

North Star Organics is currently utilizing the NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). This program is designed to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners address a variety of resource concerns on a farm, including soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and mitigation against extreme weather effects. Their contracts consist of cover crops (radish, clover, and oat mix) to build soil health, habitat for pollinators, and enhancing windbreaks by planting food producing trees and shrubs. North Star Organics has also used the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to assist with a storage facility for on-farm fuel storage, including Agrichemical Handling Facilities and Heavy Use Area Protection for high traffic areas.

Since implementing their contracts, Cheryl and Alan have noticed positive changes on their farm. They have seen a visual increase in pollinator populations, and addressing soil health has helped them cut costs. “Our compacted soils were alleviated from the radish in the cover crop. Scott taught us a lot about building soil organic matter (SOM). Now we are consistent with our soil testing (using the Haney Soil Test) so we can better understand what’s going on.”

The Koberniks describe their experience working with NRCS as very positive and helpful. But, they also acknowledged that some farmers have different experiences and may have to advocate more for themselves and for organic operations. When describing how their planner helped them, the Koberniks said:

“[Scott] sat with us at the kitchen table and helped us fill out paperwork. There was no pressure on anything. You, as the farmer, have to do the lift if you really want it, but he guided us through it.”

Lessons, Challenges, and Recommendations

The lessons and challenges that North Star Organics has encountered offer valuable insights for other farmers interested in participating in federal support programs. They also highlight areas where NRCS could improve processes and staff training. For farmers, navigating federal conservation programs and making them work within an organic production system can be a significant challenge. Organic farmers may face extra hurdles in meeting certification standards and finding service providers with organic literacy who can help them succeed.

The Koberniks again emphasized how their experience with NRCS was positive, but there were still a couple of unexpected challenges. They found that they couldn’t always follow the contract timelines, so a contract modification was needed. “It’s important to talk with your NRCS planner along the way about what’s going on,” said Cheryl. They also mentioned that there are many guidelines and regulations to follow, but they personally didn’t feel that these interfered with their ability to work with NRCS.

They hope NRCS staff and other organic farmers will read this story and see how positive experiences can arise from working with NRCS. They hope more organic farmers will get involved with the agency, and urge NRCS to communicate more effectively with organic farmers. Additionally, they hope that NRCS will promote organic-specific initiatives to help farmers get involved and pursue conservation programs in the first place. For other organic or transitioning to organic farmers, the Koberniks emphasized “Be relentless, and advocate for yourself!” They also think it is important for farmers who are considering working with NRCS to do a bit of background research on their own, and come prepared to talk with NRCS about what they’re hoping to do on their farm.

Scott offered the following advice for NRCS staff working with organic producers – “As an NRCS planner, you have to become really well versed in the practices that are adopted in your county. Ask, “what are they already adopting? What could they also adopt to advance conservation?” Conservation can sell itself, you just have to help producers along and give examples of where conservation practices are working in that area.”

Interested in NRCS Programs? Here Are a Few Helpful Resources

If you’re a farmer considering applying for CSP, EQIP, or other NRCS programs, here are some helpful links and tips to get started:

This case study was produced with support from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) under Cooperative Agreement No. FBC24CPT0013867. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USDA-NRCS.

All photos credit North Star Organics.

By |2026-04-15T10:58:12-04:00April 15th, 2026|News|
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Basics of Organic Certification & Standards for Extension Agents in the South

A foundational guide for Extension Agents and Technical Service Providers (TSPs).

This factsheet provides a concise overview of the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations, designed to help you effectively support farmers in the south as they navigate organic certification and the 36-month transition period.

What’s Covered:

  • The Certification Roadmap: A step-by-step breakdown from developing an Organic Systems Plan (OSP) to the final on-site inspection.
  • Recordkeeping Essentials: A checklist of mandatory logs, including field history, seed sources, and soil amendments.
  • Crop & Land Standards: Rules on buffer zones, crop rotations, and OMRI-approved materials.
  • Livestock & Pasture: Requirements for organic management timelines, grazing (DMI), and animal welfare.

Additionally, three organic experts based in the south, Eva Worden (Worden Farm, Punta Gorda, FL), Juan Carlos Rodriguez (Florida Organic Growers), and Danielle Treadwell (University of Florida) share advice for extension agents and technical service providers when working with organic producers.

Prefer to listen? Watch our Organic 101 for Extension Agents in the South webinar.

In the first half of this informative session, you will learn the basic principles of organic certification and become familiar with organic standards. During the second half, three organic specialists share their experiences with collaborative work involving organic farmers and extension agents.

Certified Crop Advisors can earn 1.0 Professional Development Continuing Education Unit (CEU) following completion of the webinar.

By |2026-04-09T16:18:03-04:00April 9th, 2026|Certification & Compliance, Resource|
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Post House Agriculture Committee Markup: How OFRF is Viewing Organic Research Priorities in the Farm Bill

How OFRF is Viewing Organic Research Priorities in the Farm Bill

By Vinnie Trometter, OFRF Policy Manager

The Organic Farming Research Foundation is happy to report that first-time Congressional authorization for the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) was included in the House Agriculture Committee’s Farm Bill markup on March 4, 2026. This was through an amendment filed by Virginia Congressman Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07), a co-lead with Congressman Lawler (R-NY-17) on OFRF’s flagship bill, the Organic Science and Research Investment (OSRI) Act.

Authorization of ORG, and renaming it the Researching the Transition to Organic Program (RTOP), is a key component in the OSRI Act, which is the only legislative vehicle in Congress aimed at increasing funding for the two dedicated organic research programs under USDA: the Organic Agriculture Research Extension Initiative (OREI) and ORG/RTOP.

It is increasingly likely that this year the Farm Bill will be voted out of the House, with the Senate also marking up its version. House Speaker Mike Johnson lists the Farm Bill as a “must-pass” item for this year, and it has been reported that Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Boozman (R-AR) plans to vote on a Farm Bill in his committee this spring.

Without getting into too much detail, the Senate can increase funding for programs through less draconian measures than the House. The wiggle room created here is an opportunity for Senate Agriculture Committee members to take a meaningful step in right-sizing federal funding for organic agriculture research. Dedicated funding for organic research currently stands at less than 2% of the USDA’s research budget. This is despite organic foods being a much larger proportion of the overall food landscape, and the industry almost doubling in size over the last ten years. Plain and simple, the organic industry deserves its fair share of dedicated organic research if it wishes to continue the explosive growth it is on.

Since the center of gravity for the Farm Bill is shifting toward the Senate, OFRF advocacy efforts will focus on promoting the Senate version of the OSRI Act, led by Senators Fetterman (D-PA) and Schiff (D-CA). In this chamber, the research community is grateful that so many Senators recognize the importance of supporting organic agriculture research. OFRF was also pleased to hear Ranking Member on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), mention the importance of supporting organic agriculture and agriculture research when she delivered her opening statements for the first Senate Agriculture Committee hearing post-House Farm Bill markup. We are hopeful these good tidings, forged through decades of collective outreach by researchers and the organic industry, will help ensure that organic research funding is increased in the Farm Bill.

Want to know if your Senator is a co-sponsor of the OSRI Act or ready to reach out to them about it? If so, please contact Vinnie Trometter, Policy Manager, at vinnie [at] ofrf [dot] org.

Yours in D.C.,

Vinnie

By |2026-03-26T11:56:02-04:00March 30th, 2026|Gordon's Policy Corner, News|
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The Power of Shared Narrative: Lessons from the Institute for Agroecology

Have you ever seen a “Map of Joy” before? What would you add to it? Along with several other interactive projects, the Map of Joy in the Food System is one of the tools that the UVM Institute for Agroecology employs to help build collaboration and shared vision of a thriving local food system.

Learning from the UVM Institute for Agroecology

Shane Rogers, UVM, IFA

Earlier this year, OFRF staff met with Shane Rogers, of the University of Vermont’s Institute for Agroecology, to learn more about their work. In mid-2025, Food Solutions New England (FSNE) transitioned much of its programming from their longtime home at the University of New Hampshire to a new institutional partnership with the University of Vermont’s Institute for Agroecology (IFA). As they navigate this transition, IFA is continuing FSNE’s communications and narrative strategy work, as well as regional policy efforts like the New England Integrated Policy Program.

Shane is the Outreach and Narrative Lead for IFA. With a background in journalism, he worked at a number of community newspapers after college, and eventually found himself in Washington D.C.. His love for food eventually combined with a desire to work in advocacy and brought him to rural Vermont, where he became involved with statewide and regional food systems organizations. More recently, he has honed in on a focus on narrative strategy, answering the question of what it means to organize a network of communicators to do this work together.

So, What is Narrative Strategy?

Shane describes narrative as a “shared interpretation of how the world works.” In other words, it’s “the guiding ideas behind the communications or the work that you’re putting out there.” Developing a shared narrative takes time, trust, and relationship building within the group or community. But Shane also points out that many folks working in movement-building spaces probably already have a shared narrative, even if we haven’t taken the time to define it or write it down. It’s the messages that resonate with the people you work with. Developing a narrative framework within a collaborative group can take time. But Shane emphasized that moving slowly with collective energy behind you is stronger in the long run than “going it alone” and then trying to convince everyone else that your way is the right way.

Identifying the messaging that makes sense for your community is key to understanding shared narrative, for instance, the environmental benefits of organic farming practices, or the peace of mind that comes from feeding your family organic food.

Once you’ve identified that narrative, using it strategically is the practice of intentionally shaping public understanding. It’s using those stories to communicate and share values, and build culture. Narrative strategy is the way that movements build the overarching stories that influence what people see as normal, acceptable, or possible. First, you identify the core narrative. Then you frame it intentionally for specific audiences.

Shared Vision, Different Vocabulary

Having a shared narrative doesn’t mean that everyone will talk about it in the same way. Shane explained that when a group or organization creates a shared narrative, it’s often in lofty language, almost nonprofit jargon. But each participating organization or group can take that vision and translate it into the language that works for their community or audience. Narrative is also not limited to the words you use. If you think of it as a way to build and shape culture, you can widen the frame to see that narrative includes the space you meet in, the programming you offer, the ways that you engage, and how you show up. These are all ways that you create a story, shift an understanding of what is normal or acceptable, and begin to create culture that is aligned with the values of your shared narrative.

Shane also reiterated that individuals or even individual organizations aren’t the only carriers of the narrative. It’s essential to look at who else is telling a similar story, and to seek out opportunities to lift those voices up.

Along those lines, Shane also pointed out that, as narratives are created within communities, it is critical to ensure that all voices and perspectives are represented. One way to do this is to invite specific groups to be reviewers. Especially if there are essential perspectives you want to include, but who don’t want to be part of the work of crafting the narrative. This can be a way to offer people or groups a seat at the table, while giving them the opportunity to opt out of all the “legwork” involved in identifying the narrative.

How Does a Map of Joy Fit In?

Map of Joy, from IFA

Shane told us the story of working with a community of practice to identify their shared narrative. As part of the process, they realized that joy was something that was often forgotten in their work in the food system. It just “didn’t fit” into the work most of the time, and they wanted to change that. They decided to celebrate joy, and to allow people to define what joy meant to them individually. The result is the Mapping Joy in the Food System project, which Shane pointed out is brilliant in its simplicity. It utilizes a free ArcGIS mapping tool and collects input through a Google Form, which then populates the map. The process allows individuals to define their own joy, sharing a sentence or a short story, and sometimes a photo of a moment or experience of joy in the food system. The map currently includes things like a story of a farm giving someone who was “down on their luck” a job, and who then ended up staying on for 5 years! Other points on the map include the bite of a fresh berry, all the amazing insects, and sharing carrots with neighbors. The project has seen entries come in from all over the world, and IFA now releases a monthly moment of joy to highlight the experience and multiply that joy through sharing it—an example of narrative strategy in action.

“Because in trying to articulate what, perhaps, joy is, it has occurred to me that among other things—the trees and the mushrooms have shown me this—joy is the mostly invisible, the underground union between us, you and me, which is, among other things, the great fact of our life and the lives of everyone and thing we love going away. If we sink a spoon into that fact, into the duff between us, we will find it teeming. It will look like all the books ever written. It will look like all the nerves in a body. We might call it sorrow, but we might call it a union, one that, once we notice it, once we bring it into the light, might become flower and food. Might be joy.” – Ross Gay, The Book of Delights

To learn more about IFA, their work, and get involved, visit https://www.uvm.edu/instituteforagroecology.

We also strongly recommend joining IFA’s Food System Communicators Community of Practice and reviewing Shane’s guide on helping organizers develop, align, and test shared narratives: Strategic Collective Communications: A Workbook for Building Solidarity and Reshaping Communications.

By |2026-03-25T12:34:17-04:00March 25th, 2026|News|
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Growing Organic Grains and Pulses in the Northeast: What Does the Research Say?

By Brian Geier, OFRF Communications Manager. This article was originally published in the winter 2026 issue of The Natural Farmer. 

Organic grain farmers depend on complex relationships amongst several moving parts of niche organic systems: from our soils, climate, microbes, insects, and diseases to specialty seed sourcing, post-harvest processing, and unique market needs. 

In our quest for good info, we might wonder what research has been done on organic grains, and if any results might be helpful. But getting these answers can be overwhelming. Research findings can be difficult to decode, organic solutions might be few or far between, and specificity for our crop or region might be missing. 

Through work with the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), I’ve seen a few programs and resources that I think could help organic grain and pulse growers in the Northeast, and across the country. Here is a roundup:

Introducing the Organic Research Hub

The new Organic Research Hub (“The Hub”) is a curated, searchable collection of science-backed resources for organic production. It can be searched by keyword, topic, region, or production category. For example, here are a couple noteworthy highlights from a search for grain and field crops in the northeast:

The main challenges of grain production in the northeast are outlined in an eOrganic webinar featuring work led by Dr. David Benscher (Cornell University). They are:

  • finding crop rotations, 
  • sourcing seed,
  • identifying seeding rates, 
  • weed management, 
  • grain drying, 
  • insect and rodent control during storage, and 
  • qualities for niche markets. 

The webinar delves into each challenge and presents unique considerations for crops and regions. Buyers for niche markets prefer different grain qualities. Buyers of grain for bread prefer a higher protein content. Malters are more concerned about germination. Distillers may prefer a lower protein content. Knowing your niche market is key. As the “Ten Keys to successful malting barley production in New York” publication from Cornell states, “Have a marketing plan before you plant.”

There are unique challenges with fertilization of overwintering organic grains. Research by Dr. Ellen Mallory at the University of Maine (UMO), addresses ‘Topdressing Organic Hard Winter Wheat to Enhance Grain Protein.’ Meeting the fertility needs of overwintering grains with pre-planting applications risks winter leaching. Spring applications of manure can be tricky given the 90 days-to-harvest rule for organic. Research shows that later applications of nitrogen lead to higher protein levels in grains. This resource helps growers understand the when, what, and how much to topdress for best results.

Organic grain growers in the northeast are experiencing increases in weed pressure under organic management over time. This sobering reality is addressed in a video on Weed Control in Organic Spring Cereals, also from UMO, which highlights the unique and significant weed management challenges for organic grain producers. Aside from strategies before or during planting like crop rotations or high density plantings to help organic grains out-compete weeds, growers have few options other than mechanical cultivation after the crop germinates. Grain growers can look to tine-weeding to control very young weeds, but one wet spell at the wrong time in spring and growers may miss their window. This resource focuses on in-row weeding setups, one example being the Schmotzer EPP cultivator that is controlled by hydraulic-assisted manual steering. These types of setups can be more effective at disrupting weeds that have passed the early “thread” stage than tine-weeders, and cheaper than high density planting.

Farmer-Led Resources

Organic farmers’ #1 source of information is other farmers (source: National Organic Research Agenda). Farmer-friendly resources from OFRF that grain growers may find useful include a suite of resources and a webinar on crop-livestock integration (CLI), farmer-led trials, and organic researcher spotlights. Here are a few takeaways:

In the CLI webinar, farmer Raymond Hain discusses grazing pigs at the Grain Place Foundation in the last year of pasture in their 9-year crop rotation, before opening up fields for grain and soy. The pigs, moved in 10 acre paddocks, help prepare the ground for planting. And they are left for longer periods in some places to help eradicate bindweed. 

In other CLI resources, farmer Mike Bronkema reports that protein content of grains following crop-livestock integration at Shady Side Farm is double that of conventional grains. Reduced need for mechanical cultivation and increased nutrient densities are two of several benefits of CLI that all organic farmers on the CLI project spoke to OFRF about.

In other CLI resources, farmer Mike Bronkema reports that protein content of grains following crop-livestock integration at Shady Side Farm is double that of conventional grains. Reduced need for mechanical cultivation and increased nutrient densities are two of several benefits of CLI that all organic farmers on the CLI project spoke to OFRF about.In farmer-led trials, important work is being done with sourcing seed, variety trials, and evaluating grain qualities for niche markets. With assistance from OFRF, organic farmer Kristin Swoszowski-Tran at Ledoux Grange is testing a new crop (teff) using commercially available seed and seed-bank accessions, while Bob Quinn of the Quinn Institute tests wheat on their farm alongside a baker who evaluates for preferred qualities. 

It is also worth mentioning Dr. Dil Thavarajah (Clemson University), an organic researcher who OFRF recently highlighted. While not in the northeast, her work presents advancements in grain and pulse breeding for organic systems. Her work brings seed from all over the world to test on farms in her region. The international aspect is critical for organic systems, she says, because conventional lines of pulse crops in breeding programs in the US are highly inbred and not very diverse. Her project creates breeding pipelines to speed the development of new pulse crops that are:

  1. Suitable for organic crop rotations with existing cash crops,
  2. Have high protein content and quality,
  3. Are resilient to climate extremes in her area.

Organic farmers report decreased needs for mechanical cultivation following crop-livestock integration. Photo: Mike Bronkema.

Moving Forward and Making Connections

This article is far from comprehensive but I hope these resources and The Hub can be useful for growers to find the specific information most useful to you. At The Hub, there is also an Organic Farming Extension Directory to help connect growers and organic experts for future research needs. The Hub and the Directory are living resources open to additions. Feedback or suggestions for additions can be submitted via a form on OFRF’s website or by contacting OFRF staff. If farmers, ranchers, researchers, extension agents, or anyone has suggestions for additions to these resources, OFRF welcomes your input.

By |2026-03-19T12:30:06-04:00March 17th, 2026|News|
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Basics of Organic Certification & Standards for Extension Agents in the Northwest

A foundational guide for Extension Agents and Technical Service Providers (TSPs).

This factsheet provides a concise overview of the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations, designed to help you effectively support farmers in the Northwestern US as they navigate organic certification and the 36-month transition period.

What’s Covered:

  • The Certification Roadmap: A step-by-step breakdown from developing an Organic Systems Plan (OSP) to the final on-site inspection.
  • Recordkeeping Essentials: A checklist of mandatory logs, including field history, seed sources, and soil amendments.
  • Crop & Land Standards: Rules on buffer zones, crop rotations, and OMRI-approved materials.
  • Livestock & Pasture: Requirements for organic management timelines, grazing (DMI), and animal welfare.

Additionally, three organic farmers based in the Northwest, Beth Hoiknaki of Goodfoot Farm in Philomath, Oregon, April Jones Thatcher of April Joy Farm in Ridgefield, Washington, and Diane Green of Greentree Naturals in Sand Point, Idaho, share advice for extension agents and technical service providers when working with organic producers.

Prefer to listen? Watch our Organic 101 for Extension Agents in the West webinar.

In the first half of this informative session, you will learn the basic principles of organic certification and become familiar with organic standards. During the second half, three farmer panelists share their experiences in becoming certified organic producers in the West.

Certified Crop Advisors can earn 1.0 Professional Development Continuing Education Unit (CEU) following completion of the webinar.

screenshot of the front page of a factsheet titled "Organic 101 for Extension Agents and TSPs - Basics of Organic Certification and Standards"
By |2026-04-08T17:06:01-04:00February 18th, 2026|Certification & Compliance, Resource|
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Policy Developments in 2025 and How They Are Affecting Small Farms

Katelyn Hemmer, Policy & Programs Intern

By Katelyn Hemmer, OFRF Policy & Programs Intern, Winter 2025-26

Despite messaging around reinvigorated support for small farms, USDA’s policy choices over the last year have revealed a widespread erosion of resources for small farmers. Small farms have been the cornerstone of community for centuries, and it’s no different today. Making up 85% of all farms in the U.S., small family farms keep money in the local economy, conserve land for the next generation, and provide security in the face of global supply chain issues. Although the USDA’s financial assistance programming has by and large been utilized by larger and larger operations, the past year has resulted in a historic level of staffing cuts, leading to fewer resources for small and mid-size farmers and overall a widespread sense of uncertainty.

Key changes to agriculture policy & programs in 2025 affecting farmers in 2026:

NRCS Program Cuts & What It Means for Farmers

Over the past year of program cuts and cancellations, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was hit hard. NRCS provides many types of support to farmers including technical assistance, engineering, and conservation plans. NRCS cost share programs give farmers the opportunity to try more sustainable methods of production without risking their business on the initial infrastructure investment. NRCS programs have been backed up for years. Funding is competitive, with 43-44% of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) applicants and 53-55% of Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applicants awarded contracts. Farmers who secure cost share contracts develop a specific design plan based on technicians’ assessment of the land, and they must follow that plan exactly to receive reimbursement. Much of the work at field offices involves site visits to develop these plans, answer farmers’ questions, and confirm site requirements. Even before this year’s cuts, NRCS employees were stretched thin.

The NRCS lost almost one in four of their employees between January and September of 2025. Many offices were reduced to one or two employees or closed altogether. In rural areas, the closure or severe reduction in staff of an NRCS office means that an already lengthy, bureaucratic process has slowed to a snail’s pace. Of the thousands of employees who were fired or took deferred resignation, only 30 were located in D.C.–– the rest were from field offices around the country. This means that the cuts didn’t “optimize the USDA workforce and stop wasteful spending,” they terminated the contracts of people who provided direct support to farmers in the form of site visits, grant support, and system design. Specific agricultural experience takes years to build and is often location-based. For example, a conservation plan for a farm in New Mexico will not work for one in New York due to differences in their agroecological regions. The cuts to NRCS have created difficulty and uncertainty for farmers with current contracts, hindered the ability of offices to begin new projects, placed the responsibilities of entire offices onto one or two employees, and limited the ability of farmers to farm how they choose to. The lost time and experience resulting from these cuts will impact the efficacy of the agency and farmers’ future conservation efforts.

In December, USDA secretary Brooke Rollins announced a $700 million investment in regenerative agriculture, administered through NRCS. Without a new Farm Bill and the creation of new programs, this money is going toward EQIP and CSP contracts, with no money reserved and no plan for restaffing NRCS field offices across the country. With cuts to other funding sources, both programs are still looking at a net decrease in funding according to analysis by MAD Agriculture: EQIP is now funded at a total of $2.655 billion for FY2026, an increase of $605 million over 2018 Farm Bill baselines, but a decrease of $2.845 billion relative to the combined amount previously allocated through IRA and the 2018 Farm Bill. CSP is now funded at a total of $1.3 billion for FY2026, an increase of $300 million over 2018 Farm Bill baselines, but a decrease of $2.2 billion relative to the combined amount previously allocated through IRA and the 2018 Farm Bill.

Reductions in Funding for Agriculture Programs and Grants Hurts Small Farmers

In March, the USDA cut $1 billion in taxpayer dollars that states could use to buy local produce for institutions such as schools, childcare centers, and food banks. The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program were both terminated, with existing contracts being given only 60 days notice. Other programs also saw cuts–– the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program was cut by $10 million, more than half its total awarded grants in 2024. Without federal funding, schools and food banks don’t have the extra funds to pay for local, sustainable food, and small farmers can’t afford to give away their food for free.

In July, the USDA dealt another blow to small farmers by eliminating the program that runs the nation’s Regional Food Business Centers. These centers were created with the specific intention of helping small farmers and strengthening the local supply chain in the face of increasing consolidation in the industry. While the centers were only created in 2023, many had already begun funding grants for projects like expanding commercial kitchens and building freezers that allow small farmers to grow their businesses. The Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center, just one of twelve across the country, reported that their programs helped establish 30 new companies, and increased sales at 50 farms and businesses that worked with the center. Before termination, the program had a budget of $360 million–– a relatively small share of the USDA annual budget, but hugely impactful to the rural communities they served, with 287 businesses across the country reporting increased revenue in just one year of operation. It is difficult to see the termination of these centers as anything more than stated support for the largest players in industrial agriculture.

In September, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced an $18 million investment in the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program, the largest single-year investment in the program. However, besides the upset and uncertainty that the sudden termination of grants earlier in the year caused, the USDA has set a grant floor of $100,000 for individual partnerships. This means that there will be fewer projects and they will be awarded to larger farms. In previous years, small farms and small schools benefited from the program, with grants as small as $23,000 awarded to rural schools to ensure access to healthy food and create agricultural education programs. The agency also eliminated efforts to ensure that the grants were distributed equitably to underserved communities, low-income students, small farms, and rural school districts. With the new restrictions, small farms have lost another market.

How You Can Take Action to Support Small Farmers

Small farmers are struggling to keep their doors open. The number of farms declined 8% between 2017 and 2024 with the vast majority of closed farms having sales under $50,000. With margins so small, the funding freeze in early 2025 and the subsequent termination of many grants and programs dealt a huge blow to small farms. Additionally, the pause in SNAP funding caused by the government shutdown in late 2025 and the new restrictions on the program cut into small farmers’ sales. This is especially impactful in states that have SNAP incentive models that promote healthy eating, like Colorado’s “Double Up Food Bucks” or Georgia’s “Fresh For Less”. The policy changes and political events over the past year have had a measurable effect on farmer profit and future prospects.

Our food system has always been shaped by federal and state policy. There is widespread popular support for policies that would remove artificial dyes or banning harmful pesticides from both major political parties. Officials often propose legislation that would promote agricultural research, limit money going to the biggest players, and other programs or policy changes that would make it easier to live as a small farmer in America. Policy modifications to current government programs, such as Farm to School grants, could make it easier for small farmers to secure contracts. Fully staffed and fully funded NRCS offices would allow more farmers to afford projects that protect their land. Whether you are a farmer, a land owner, or just someone who consumes food, you have a stake in this issue and the ability to get involved. Here are a couple of resources to help you get started:

By |2026-02-09T15:51:11-05:00February 9th, 2026|Gordon's Policy Corner, News|
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Doing the Unglamorous, Essential Work to Help Organic Agriculture Thrive

A personal note as I step away from OFRF

By Gordon Merrick, OFRF Policy Program Director 

This will be the last edition of Gordon’s Policy Corner that I will write. As I type that I certainly feel a mix of gratitude, pride, and a fair amount of dust in my eye. After nearly four years at the Organic Farming Research Foundation, I’ll soon be stepping away from an organization that has shaped how I think about food, farming, and what it means to do policy work that serves the people who are integral to our food system: farmers, farm workers, researchers, and those that translate the scientific research into practical tools.

When I joined OFRF, I was given an opportunity to rethink how we, a research organization, engage with policy research and advocacy that is rooted in the people we serve. Over the last four years, I’ve had the privilege of helping grow that work in ways that feel tangible and lasting: launching our Communicating with Legislators course which aims to demystify the policy process for researchers and farmers; helping craft and introduce the Organic Science and Research Investment Act in the House and the Senate; working to build stronger connections between researchers, producers, and the policymakers that serve them; developing practical, farmer-facing toolkits on USDA programs through our TOPP-W/SW work; and partnering with NRCS to strengthen research-backed tools and expertise relevant to organic within the agency.

Fellowship of the Rings photo credit: New Line Cinema

But, those are all things you can put in a report or sometimes feel in your hand. What doesn’t show up as easily on paper is the community. I’m especially proud of the role I was able to play in the TOPP network, a constellation of farmers, certifiers, researchers, nonprofits, and agency staff who are doing the unglamorous, essential work of helping organic systems, from the small urban farm to the complex distributors, exist and thrive. Forgive my nerdiness, but that larger network feels like a Tolkien-esque fellowship: a group up against the odds but deeply committed to carrying something important forward, together.

Looking ahead, I am confident that OFRF is set up to keep having an outsized impact on the adoption of organic agriculture systems. That’s because of the people that make up this organization, the relationships those people hold and nurture, and the way this organization operates: constantly grounding priorities and our work in farmer’s lived experiences. OFRF will continue to work to ensure that research is action-oriented, and refuse to accept that organic should be treated as a side quest instead of a core part of U.S. agriculture. The work we’ve built is bigger than any one person, and that is exactly how it should be.

One of the biggest lessons I’m carrying forward with me is both the need, and the effectiveness, of shifting our collective mindset from scarcity to abundance. From either/or to yes/and. From us-versus-them to whole systemic perspectives. Organic agriculture has always pointed in that direction: organic, at its core, is about working alongside natural systems to foster a naturally abundant system that already exists. Soil health doesn’t compete with profitability, farmer wellbeing isn’t matched against stewardship; they reinforce each other.

That being said, it feels important to name the moment we are in. We are living in a time when science is being questioned, expertise is being flattened to opinion, and fear is easier to sell than nuance. I hold real compassion for people who have been misled or who are reacting from a place of uncertainty or loss. At the same time, I believe strongly that compassion cannot mean silence in the face of real harm. We need to consistently provide both: patience to meet people where they are, and firm, principled opposition to actions that undermine farmers, research, and the systems that sustain us all.

I’m deeply grateful for the farmers, researchers, partners, and colleagues who trusted me, argued with me, taught me, and built things alongside me. OFRF will keep doing work that matters. But starting later this month, I’ll be cheering it on loudly from the sidelines.

I’m not disappearing, and I genuinely hope to stay in touch. If you want to keep talking about organic agriculture, the relationship between research and policy, how to build something better than what we’ve inherited, or to share your favorite bread recipe, please reach out. I’d love that.

Eat well and breathe deeply,

Gordon

By |2026-02-04T16:40:07-05:00February 4th, 2026|Gordon's Policy Corner, News|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Passion Garden

Experimenting with on-farm materials to create organic soil amendments

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager, and Kay Bell, FLT Program participant

Mesquite bean pods, collected by Kay Bell, to use as a soil amendment at Passion Garden

Kay Bell has been farming for ten years on her three-acre farm in Waco, TX, called Passion Garden. She grows a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs that she sells as fresh produce and herbal teas at local farmers markets and health food stores. Her farm is currently in the process of transitioning to certified organic, with a focus on building her own on-farm fertility.

Kay has a big focus on using locally available, on farm inputs to help improve her soil health, and has long considered using the pods of the Mesquite Tree Bean in her fertility plan. As a farmer focused on growing the health of her community, she looked into the nutrient content of Mesquite Bean, and realized that it has a high protein content and is rich in many nutrients. Since the tree is prevalent on her property, and the pods are not too difficult to harvest, she believed it could be a useful amendment in building her soil health.

Using Mesquite Beans as a Soil Amendment for Tomatoes

To test her idea, Kay wanted to build an experiment that would assess the impact of mesquite bean meal as a soil amendment on the yield of ‘Celebrity’ tomatoes, one of her favorite tomato varieties. She hopes that the addition of Mesquite Bean Meal (MBM) will result in a measurable increase in total or marketable tomato yield compared to her normal soil amendments in raised beds. To create the MBM, Kay harvested the pods, and used a simple mill to grind them so that they were in an easy to use powder format.

On-Farm Trial Plan

Plot map from Passion Garden’s FLT Program trial

In the beginning of August 2025, with technical support from OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials Program staff, Kay prepared eight raised beds, each measuring 4 feet wide by 8 feet long, to provide a uniform growing area for the plants. All of the beds were filled with the same base soil mixture and compost. Kay planted 4 tomato plants in each of the beds in September. At the time of transplanting, the four treatment raised beds received ½ cup of the MBM. During the growing season, all of the beds were treated consistently, with the same irrigation schedule, staking, and pest management.

By mid-October, Kay began tracking the yields, her key metric of the trial. This was recorded as total weight and marketable weight, the weight of tomatoes that meet standards for commercial sale (free from major blemishes, cracks, or rot). Kay also took observations of plant health, pest pressure, and any plant losses that might impact the findings for the trial.

Farmer-Led Trial Results: Tomato Production Increased with On-Farm Amendment

Once all of Kay’s data had been collected, the analysis revealed a significant difference in yield between the control and meal treatments, with the treatment receiving the MBM yielding more per plant and overall than the control treatment.

Anecdotally, Kay observed improved water drainage and thinks that the MBM helped improve the drainage in her clay soils. She also noted increased presence of worms and other soil organisms, and she speculates that the natural sugars in the MBM help attract more soil invertebrates.

Yield results from Passion Garden’s FLT Program trial, showing yield of tomatoes in the control group (blue) vs the group grown using Mesquite Bean Meal (red).

Kay is very motivated by the success of this trial and plans to use MBM as a pre-transplant amendment throughout her farm. She is also excited to spread the word on the many uses of Mesquite Bean – including as a coffee alternative, as a gluten free flour in baking, and a sweet jelly.

Stay tuned for a final report on Kay’s trial coming out later this year.

Prepped beds at Passion Garden during the 2025 FLT.

“I know this trial has made me stronger as a farmer. And I just look forward to experimenting with nature to grow things with resources I have on-farm.” 

– Kay Bell, FLT Program Participant

Tomatoes harvest from Passion Garden, during the 2025 trial.

Research Results

This Farmer-Led Trial evaluated the effect of an MBM soil amendment on ‘Celebrity’ tomato yields. Kay prepared eight raised beds, each measuring 4 feet wide by 8 feet long, in keeping with Kay’s space limitations. At the time of transplanting, the four treatment raised beds received ½ cup of the MBM.

Key Findings

  • Sample size in the trial was small, however, the analysis revealed a significant difference in yield between the control and meal treatment, with the treatment receiving the MBM having a positive impact on yield in both the total yield and marketable yield.
  • Kay observed improved water drainage and thinks that the MBM helped improve the drainage in her clay soils. She also noted increased presence of worms and other soil organisms, and she speculates that the natural sugars in the MBM help attract more soil invertebrates.

Kay recorded tomato yields and made observations around plant health, pest pressure, and any plant losses that might impact the findings for the trial. Data suggest that tomato yields were slightly higher in plots receiving the MBM amendment, and that there may be a benefit to utilizing the MBM in tomatoes.

For full details on the study’s methodology and results, read the final report.

Farmer-led trial report cover for Passion Gardens.

This is part of a series of blogs highlighting farmers who are participating in OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials program. Farmers receive technical support to address their production 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/ 

To learn more about Kay Bell and Passion Garden, check out this ATTRA article.

Kay is President of the National Women in Agriculture Association Texas Chapter: https://www.nwiaa.org/texas 

By |2026-04-09T12:06:34-04:00January 27th, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|
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Organic Agriculture Research in Action: High Tunnels and Cover Cropping with Moore Family Farms

Written by Rebecca Champagne, PhD, OFRF Conservation Scientist

Meet Moore Family Farms

Robert and Dakota are the father-son team behind Moore Family Farm.

Moore Family Farms is a family-owned and operated farm located in Warsaw, North Carolina. Managed by Robert Moore and his son Dakota, the farm was founded in 1833 based on principles of sustainability. Out of the 260-acre farm, 22 acres are in production—12 conventional and 10 certified organic. On the organic side of the farm, they grow watermelons, collard greens, and cabbage. The non-organic side of the farm produces bell peppers, tomatoes, and cantaloupe.

“Our farm was revived in 2018, focusing on sustainable practices to honor our heritage while also adapting to modern agricultural trends,” Dakota explained.

Their crops are sold mainly wholesale through a regional organic produce distributor called Happy Dirt. They also had a contract with the Second Harvest Food Bank through the Local Food Purchase Assistance program (LFPA), but this contract was unfortunately lost due to federal funding freezes. They are currently exploring additional markets through Feast Down East, a local non-profit organization that connects farmers, restaurants, grocers, and consumers.

Moore Family Farms began the process of transitioning part of their farm to organic production in 2020 and has been certified since late 2023. Dakota mentioned that rising input prices prompted them to seek certification. “Fertilizer prices skyrocketed between 2019 and 2021, and we couldn’t afford to buy them,” he explained. “We did a lot of economic research into organic and decided to jump in.” 

He also pointed out that other key reasons for seeking certification included market demand for organic produce and the family’s passion for environmental stewardship.

The volatility of various markets, like fertilizers, can put significant financial strain on farmers. That’s why federal funding for organic agriculture research is so important and helps family farms hedge against production risks.

The Importance of Organic Agriculture Research

During his college days at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) State University, Dakota had the opportunity to work on agricultural research in high tunnel systems. He immediately noticed the difference in crops grown in high tunnels during extreme weather. Dakota and his father knew that with a high tunnel, they could get their watermelons planted earlier in the season and have more control of the growing environment. For farmers who rely on wholesale markets, getting their produce out of the field earlier can mean a longer growing season, protection against extreme weather, and ultimately more revenue.

Dakota with watermelon grown on their farm.

“With our high tunnel, we can now harvest watermelons before the Fourth of July,” Dakota said.

Since establishing their high tunnel for organic watermelon production, they’ve seen increased crop protection against extreme heat and cold, which has enhanced the quality of the crop. The high tunnel also extends their growing season, allowing them to plant and harvest crops earlier and later than before.

They’ve also been planting cover crops in their organic and conventional cropland, which have provided weed suppression, reduced soil runoff/erosion, and provided water retention benefits. “We were using plastic mulch for water retention to trap soil moisture, but we didn’t want to be throwing it away every season. We started using cover crops and saw that it helped keep more moisture in the soil,” said Dakota. He also saw the soil health benefits. According to soil test results, one of their fields saw an almost 3% increase in soil organic matter (SOM) over a three-year period, from 1.76% to 4.26% after using cover crops consistently.

View soil test results from Moore Family Farms BEFORE and AFTER utilizing cover crops in their cropping rotations ⬇️

Cover crops growing at Moore Family Farm.

The benefits of cover cropping on soil health and soil organic matter show that investments in organic agriculture research can benefit all farms looking to adopt conservation practices, not just organic farms. Moore Family Farms, operating as a split operation with both conventional and certified organic land, can utilize methods that are foundational to organic production across their entire farm. There has been abundant research on cover cropping across the country to provide organic and conventional farmers with the latest practices to help increase soil fertility and organic matter levels without costly synthetic fertilizers.

Without public research funding on these and other agronomic topics, the risk associated with agricultural experimentation would be placed more on farmers themselves, leading to slower development of beneficial innovations and less widespread adoption of practices that can result in greater conservation of natural resources. Investments in organic agriculture research advance environmental stewardship on more than just certified organic land as the findings from this research can give all farm types the knowledge and resources they need to make their operations more resilient. And the benefits of research extend beyond the farm, too. According to an analysis done by the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), every $1 invested into agricultural research triggers a $20 economic benefit. This provides long-term benefits in addressing agronomic issues, increases farm productivity and profitability, and ultimately benefits the economies and resiliency of communities.

You can support farms like Moore Family and help strengthen the agricultural research all farmers depend on by:

  • Letting us know about the impact agricultural research has had on your farm (contact communications[at]ofrf.org!).
  • Enrolling in our free Communicating with Legislators email-based course and sharing your story with elected officials.
  • Writing a letter to the editor or an opinion piece in your local newspaper, talking about how research projects/programs have benefited your farm.

Dakota Moore in front of a high tunnel on their farm.

By |2026-01-15T09:46:04-05:00January 21st, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|
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