News

We are on needles and pins at the OFRF offices waiting to hear word from DC about the fate of the 2012 Farm Bill. The farm bill is the major body of legislation driving our food and agricultural policy in this country. We can ill afford for our food production policies to be tossed around as a political football. This impacts millions of American farmers and everyone who eats.

Washington, DC is slowly coming back to life.  Summer vacation is over.  School is back in session.  Congress reconvenes next week for just eight legislative days of business.  Even Burning Man 2012 has concluded. 

Everyone is predicting a wild ride this coming season, but no one really knows the final destination.

Despite the drought that has been withering his neighbors' fields, organic farmer Klaas Martens, is anticipating a year of good crop yields and way above average crop income.

The reason?

Klaas isn't locked into the typical corn/soybean rotations that his neighbors are. The diversity of crops that he grows allows him to be more flexible in dealing with what the weather hands him. Because spring came early and hot this year, Klaas was able to harvest spring grains early and then plant a second crop into his fields. He chose drought and heat-tolerant forage crops like buckwheat, sorghum, and forage soybeans as his “double crops,” all of which are doing well. An added benefit is that the forages will be in great demand because the drought has reduced availability of feed grains and pasture.

While it's sleepy on the Hill, there is always action within your district.  Farmers markets are hoppin'.  Kids are getting ready to go back to school.

UnfinishedBusiness_Faith_Blog_082812.jpg

There are only eight days on the legislative calendar before Congress breaks again for a big campaign push.  On recess, your Senators and Representatives are making the rounds in their home states and districts.  Many of them are getting an earful about the drought and it's impact on farmers and farmland across the country.  So far, Congress has failed to provide farmers with any relief.  It being campaign season, no one wants to take “tough votes” on the Farm Bill or even a short-term disaster measure that would make a difference.