Brian

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So far Brian Geier has created 6 blog entries.

Cover Cropping Strategies for Organic Systems in the West

Cover crops are one of the most powerful tools available to organic and transitioning farmers, but getting them right in western growing conditions takes knowledge and experience. This webinar brings together researchers and practitioners to share what the science says and what is working on the ground. OFRF Conservation Scientist Rebecca Champagne, PhD, presents current research on cover crops for western organic systems, covering soil health, nutrient and weed management, pollinator support, and grazing integration. Shannon Cappellazzi, PhD, Soil Health Extension Specialist with Oregon State University, and Anthony Reyes, Director of Agriculture at Oxbow Farm and Conservation Center, join the panel to offer research and on-farm perspectives from real-world experience in the region.

To learn more about these and other events from OFRF, visit: https://ofrf.org/events/. 

By |2026-09-16T12:39:41-04:00September 16th, 2026|Cover Crops & Crop Rotation, Resource|
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Pest and Disease Management for Organic Farms in the Northwest

Managing pests and disease organically isn’t easy. The Northwest throws a lot at growers, from crop-specific insect pressure to diseases that can wreck a harvest fast. Having the right tools and knowledge on hand can make all the difference.

The session opens with an overview of OFRF’s organic farming resources, followed by a panel discussion featuring experienced organic farmers and researchers:

  • Ellie Costello, Trust Land Farm (MT)
  • Sarahlee Lawrence, Rainshadow Organics (OR)
  • Robert Orpet, OSU Assistant Professor of Entomology

Panelists share field-tested strategies for managing pests and disease within organic systems, informed by both direct farming experience and current research. The discussion addresses real challenges facing growers today, alongside approaches that align with organic production standards.

About the Seeds of Success Series

OFRF has partnered with the Organic Farmers Association (OFA) and National Organic Coalition (NOC) to lead a series of virtual farmer-to-farmer networking sessions. These facilitated events will be engaging opportunities for farmers to share their challenges and successes, and will be accompanied with relevant resources you can use.

To learn more about these and other events from OFRF, visit: https://ofrf.org/events/. Funding for this series is provided by a cooperative agreement between OFRF and USDA-NIFA to highlight research investments made through both the OREI and ORG grant programs.

By |2026-09-03T08:45:45-04:00September 3rd, 2026|Certification & Compliance, Insects & Diseases, Resource|
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2026 Research Summary on Conservation Benefits of Organic Management

This report provides a summary of the latest organic agriculture research (as of 2025) across a variety of topics, meant to provide NRCS staff, organic producers, and other interested parties with in-depth educational information on the conservation benefits of organic management.

This research summary 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.

By |2026-06-25T15:05:30-04:00June 25th, 2026|Climate Change, Resource|
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Manejo Orgánico de Plagas y Malezas para Proveedores de Servicios en el Sur

Guía de manejo orgánico de plagas y malezas para agentes de extensión y proveedores de servicios técnicos

Esta ficha informativa tiene como objetivo proporcionar a los agentes de extensión y a los proveedores de servicios técnicos del sur una visión general del manejo orgánico de plagas y malezas, y aumentar el conocimiento de los sistemas orgánicos para apoyar eficazmente a los agricultores orgánicos y a aquellos en transición hacia la agricultura orgánica.

¿Prefieres escuchar? Mira nuestro seminario web sobre Manejo Orgánico de Plagas y Malezas para Agentes de Extensión en el Sur.

El control de plagas y malezas es uno de los desafíos más importantes para los productores orgánicos, ya que afecta el rendimiento de los cultivos, la calidad del producto y la sostenibilidad económica de las explotaciones. En las condiciones cálidas y húmedas de la región sur, estas presiones son especialmente intensas, por lo que contar con estrategias de manejo eficaces y conformes con las normas NOP es fundamental para cualquier asesor agrícola.

Esta sesión de 75 minutos está diseñada específicamente para extensionistas, proveedores de servicios técnicos (PST) y otras personas que apoyan a los agricultores orgánicos y en transición en el Sur. Los ponentes analizan los insectos, enfermedades y malezas más comunes en la región SSARE, desde el gusano cogollero y el nematodo de las agallas hasta el amaranto y la juncia, y relacionan este contexto regional con los requisitos de manejo de plagas descritos en el Programa Nacional Orgánico. Basándose en investigaciones realizadas en el Sur, la sesión se centra en estrategias prácticas y con respaldo científico que los extensionistas y los PST pueden brindar directamente a los agricultores a quienes sirven, abarcando enfoques para el manejo de malezas, el control de insectos y enfermedades, y el marco de Manejo Integrado de Plagas (MIP) de “muchos pequeños martillos” que sustenta la producción orgánica.

El control de plagas y malezas es uno de los desafíos más importantes para los productores orgánicos, ya que afecta el rendimiento de los cultivos, la calidad del producto y la sostenibilidad económica de las explotaciones. En las condiciones cálidas y húmedas de la región sur, estas presiones son especialmente intensas, por lo que contar con estrategias de manejo eficaces y conformes con las normas NOP es fundamental para cualquier asesor agrícola.

Esta sesión de 75 minutos está diseñada específicamente para extensionistas, proveedores de servicios técnicos (PST) y otras personas que apoyan a los agricultores orgánicos y en transición en el Sur. Los ponentes analizan los insectos, enfermedades y malezas más comunes en la región SSARE, desde el gusano cogollero y el nematodo de las agallas hasta el amaranto y la juncia, y relacionan este contexto regional con los requisitos de manejo de plagas descritos en el Programa Nacional Orgánico. Basándose en investigaciones realizadas en el Sur, la sesión se centra en estrategias prácticas y con respaldo científico que los extensionistas y los PST pueden brindar directamente a los agricultores a quienes sirven, abarcando enfoques para el manejo de malezas, el control de insectos y enfermedades, y el marco de Manejo Integrado de Plagas (MIP) de “muchos pequeños martillos” que sustenta la producción orgánica.

Image of the front page of a four-page factsheet on organic pest and weed management for extension agents in the west.
By |2026-06-23T11:20:08-04:00June 23rd, 2026|Certification & Compliance, Insects & Diseases, Resource, Spanish Resources|
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Organic Agriculture Research Programs at the USDA

The USDA agencies and programs outlined below are the primary drivers of organic research and extension activities.

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) – Research into organic agriculture topics

USDA’s in-house research agency, ARS operates labs and field stations nationwide. Organic research has included projects on cover crop integration in vegetable systems in CA, organic dairy herd health in WI, and long-term crop trials in MD.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) – Competitive Grant Programs

While ARS conducts research for the USDA, NIFA’s mission is to provide grants to research institutions, including ARS and the Land-Grant Universities.

  • Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) – The flagship NIFA competitive grant program is dedicated to organic agricultural research. It supports research, education, and extension programs that enhance the ability of organic producers and processors to grow and market high-quality products.
  • Organic Transitions Program (ORG) – Awards grants for production and competitive-based agricultural issues, especially for farmers transitioning to organic production systems.
  • Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) – USDA’s longest-running sustainable agriculture grants program. While not exclusively organic, SARE has funded thousands of farmer-driven projects, including many led by organic and transitioning producers.
  • Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) – SCRI is a NIFA competitive grant program that provides resources for research and extension projects for the specialty crop industry. Organic’s share of SCRI-funded projects is highly variable — as low as 3% in 2023, but as high as 13% in 2021 — depending on applicant pool and USDA priorities.
  • Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) – AFRI is a research, education, and extension competitive grant program that covers a wide range of topics, from improving rural economies, increasing food production, ensuring food safety and security, enhancing human nutrition, and training the next generation of the agricultural workforce. A range of 2-5% of AFRI funds are awarded to organic topics on an annual basis.
4 pages of OFRF's "Organic Agriculture Research Programs at the USDA" stacked on top of each other

The best way to get these updates from OFRF is to join the OFRF newsletter.

OFRF’s newsletter provides regular updates to organic agriculture research programs at the USDA, including timeline updates, announcements of USDA’s calls for proposals, and advocacy updates via Gordon’s Policy Corner. We also provide details on how farmers, researchers, and advocates can work with us to protect and bolster federal support for organic farmers and researchers in the US.

By |2026-01-21T15:05:07-05:00November 25th, 2025|Uncategorized|
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