Submitted by Lola Dannehl-Schickman, Development Associate, OFRF
It's hard to believe fall is in full swing! I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels like they blinked in June and suddenly found themselves in November. That being said, it’s a critically busy time here at OFRF as we continue to rollout our webinars on building soil health and prepare to go to press with several new publications we'll be sharing this winter conference season. Throw in preparations for our organic luncheon at Expo West in March, an Organic Agriculture Research Forum at Organicology in February, and . . . well, you get the idea.
After years of work and months of back and forth negotiations, the 2018 Farm Bill passed the House and Senate and is on its way to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
December 11, 2018—Thanks to the hard work of OFRF and a broad coalition of organic champions, we have secured historic wins for organic agricultural research in the 2018 Farm Bill, which will provide $395 million for organic agriculture research and education over the next 10 years. This milestone is the biggest win for organic farming in the Farm Bill in decades, securing permanent funding for organic research at USDA.
Increasingly, we are recognizing the value of a plant-based diet for human health and nutrition. But, have you ever thought about what fuels a plant? This is a question that is constantly on the minds of farmers, particularly organic producers who are prohibited from using synthetic fertilizers to feed their crops. Rather, organic farmers rely on organic inputs, such as green manures—plants that are grown and then intentionally plowed into the soil to add nutrients—to build soil health and feed beneficial soil life.
December 4, 2018—Today the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) released the eighth guidebook in their immensely popular Soil Health and Organic Farming Series. Organic Practices for Climate Mitigation, Adaptation, and Carbon Sequestration examines research related to the capacity of sustainable organic systems and practices to sequester soil carbon and minimize nitrous oxide and methane emissions. The guide includes practical advice for reducing an organic farm’s “carbon footprint” and adapting to climate disruptions already underway. 
Even in the midst of a tense Farm Bill negotiation, the Senate Agriculture Committee convened to hear from the nominees for key positions at USDA. The nominees are, Mindy Brashears for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety, Naomi C. Earp for Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights, and Scott Hutchins, for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics also known as the “Chief Scientist” at USDA.
Discounted registration for the 2019 Organic Agriculture Research Forum, presented in partnership with Organicology, is available until Sunday, December 16, 2018.
Until recently, organic milk was one of the fastest growing sectors in organic agriculture. However; with prices declining, interest in transitioning to grass-fed production methods is increasing. Expansion in this market has been particularly significant in the Northeast where farmers face challenging climate conditions that complicate cropping of traditional feed crops such as corn silage and therefore encourage more grass-based systems.
