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Written by Vinnie Trometter

When people think of organic food these days, they might picture a well-stocked grocery store, a local farmers’ market, or their favorite organic snack. What most people don’t picture? A day of meetings on Capitol Hill.

But that’s precisely where you’ll find us.

With the future of agricultural policy in flux and renewed attention on domestic food security, climate resilience, and sustainable farming practices, it’s more important than ever that organic farmers—and the science that supports them—have a seat at the table.

OFRF has been working hard to increase our presence in Washington, D.C., to make sure organic farmers have a voice in the decisions shaping agriculture policy. And what’s been especially encouraging lately is this: organic farming is something both sides of the aisle can get behind.

As OFRF’s point person in D.C., I spend my days walking the halls of Congress, meeting with lawmakers and their staff, and talking about the value of organic farming research. We work closely with coalition partners and farmer representatives to ensure organic perspectives are heard and reflected in policy decisions. What’s striking is that whether I’m in a Democrat’s office or a Republican’s, the conversations almost always land in the same place: organic farming research matters.

With some offices, the conversation might start with a concern about the trade deficit, increasing domestic food production, or improving public health. For others, conversation may focus on sustainability, conservation, and environmental health. But in the end, the key point is the same—investing in organic research benefits farmers in all parts of the country.

Left to right: Rep. Nunn (IA-3, R), Alice Runde (NOC), Gordon Merrick (OFRF Sr. Policy & Programs Manager), Vinnie Trometter (OFRF Policy Fellow) during the 2025 NOC Fly-In

I usually begin with a simple fact: the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has said that innovation and technology are the main contributors to economic growth in U.S. agriculture. Then, I connect the dots. For example, investing in organic research helps reduce the organic trade deficit, supports American farmers, and ensures consumers get access to food that’s both nutritious and responsibly grown.

From there, we talk specifics. At OFRF, we’re focused on a handful of key programs in this year’s federal budget:

• The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)
• The Organic Transitions Program (ORG)
• The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program
• The Organic Data Initiative (ODI)

We shape our advocacy based on what farmers tell us they need—through direct conversations, guidance from our Organic Stewardship Council, and insights from thousands of survey responses in the National Organic Research Agenda (NORA).

Each one plays a unique role in boosting productivity, supporting farmer-led innovation, and helping small and mid-sized organic producers thrive. And when we show congressional offices how these programs are already helping researchers and farmers in their own states? That’s when the conversation really clicks.

We’ve found that staying rooted in the facts builds trust. We keep our messaging focused on economic impact, real-world results, and the growing demand for organic food, which now tops $71 billion annually. That resonates whether someone’s priority is market competitiveness or environmental stewardship.

And yes, we’re hearing the concerns about tight budgets. But we also hear this: “These are small investments with big returns.”

The truth is, organic agriculture doesn’t belong to one political party. It’s about innovation, health, economic opportunity, and smart stewardship of our land. And that’s something everyone can get behind.

As OFRF continues to expand our presence in D.C., we’re proud to be a bridge between science, policy, and the people who grow our food. We know this work matters—and we’re grateful to be carrying it forward, one conversation at a time.

From DC, 

Vinnie

Written by Brian Geier

In the sixth Seeds of Success: Farmer to Farmer Networking Session, held on March 5, 2025, nearly 40 participants gathered virtually to share their thoughts and firsthand experiences using and producing organic seed. The session was co-hosted by the National Organic Coalition (NOC), Organic Seed Alliance (OSA), Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), Organic Farmers Association (OFA), and the Ohio Ecological Food and Farming Association (OEFFA). Like all Seeds of Success sessions, this was a facilitated, farmer-to-farmer conversation designed to support farmer-driven solutions, information sharing, and the identification of areas for future research and support.

Understanding the Organic Seed Requirement

The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) requires the use of organic seed unless the seeds farmers need, including equivalent varieties, aren’t commercially available, per the Seeds and planting stock planting standard (7 CFR 205.204).

The purpose of the current organic seed exemption is to provide a transition time for the seed industry to catch up to demand and to allow organic growers to find suitable varieties to transition to, with the goal of eventually achieving 100 percent organic seed sourcing. The allowance for non-organic seed is important for growers who lack access to appropriate organic seed for their operations. While it is no one’s intention to force organic growers to use organic seed that may not be optimal for their operations, continuous improvement in organic seed sourcing is essential to incentivizing growth in the organic seed supply and strengthening organic integrity. 

The dialogue from participants in this networking session is summarized below and will help guide advocacy for balanced solutions that strengthen organic integrity and the seed supply.

The State of Organic Seed report from the Organic Seed Alliance provides insights on organic seed usage and an action plan to increase organic seed supply while fostering decentralized organic seed grower networks.

Key Insights from the Listening Session

Seed Grower and Researcher Perspectives 

• Organic seed availability: Availability varies by crop and scale. Small-scale farmers can often source organic seeds, but large-scale operations struggle, especially for grains, cover crops, and certain vegetables.
• Challenges in organic seed supply: Limited year-round availability, lack of regionally adapted varieties, and difficulties in securing non-proprietary and open-pollinated (OP) seeds.
• Improving NOP seed regulations: Calls for 100% organic seed requirements, incentives for seed stewardship, cost reductions for certification, and stricter enforcement of organic seed sourcing.
• Handlers & certifiers’ role: Processors often dictate seed choices, limiting organic adoption. NOP could regulate processor demands and improve certifier tools for verifying organic seed availability.
• Organic seed database: A centralized database could help track seed availability and genetics, but concerns exist over maintenance, participation, and potential large-scale buyouts by industrial players.

A Delicata squash seed crop cures in bins at White Oak Farm and Education Center, Oregon.

Producer Insights 

• Organic seed value: Many farmers see organic seed as important for soil health, resilience, and expanding organic acreage. However, cost and availability remain major concerns.
• Barriers to organic seed use: High costs, limited availability, and documentation challenges make it difficult for some farmers to use exclusively organic seed.
• Recordkeeping & compliance: Some producers find documentation burdensome, while others see it as manageable or even beneficial for farm planning.
• Suggestions for NOP: Farmers suggest stricter organic seed regulations, incentives for seed saving, and better coordination with seed breeders to address regional challenges.
• Seed breeding needs: More transparency, regional adaptability, and climate-resilient varieties are key priorities for growers. Many emphasize the importance of seed saving and collaboration.

Voices from Technical Service Providers, Policymakers, and Educators

• Organic seed challenges: Farmers struggle with sourcing organic seed due to cost, limited availability, and contract restrictions. Wholesalers often don’t prioritize organic-specific varieties.
• Mentorship & seed production: Limited mentorship opportunities for organic seed growers. Some interest exists, but infrastructure and certification barriers remain.
• Certifier & inspector role: Inspectors find it difficult to enforce commercial availability rules and assess variety choices. A shift to acreage-based benchmarks for organic seed use may be more feasible.
• Database for organic seed: Need for a centralized, up-to-date seed availability database, but challenges exist in funding, maintenance, and neutrality. Potential for regional databases or collaboration with certifiers.
• NOP & seed policy: Calls for stronger organic seed regulations, incentives for growers, and addressing handler influence on seed selection.

Looking Ahead

We are incredibly grateful to our co-hosts for this session — NOC, OSA, OFA, and OEFFA — whose collaboration, recruitment, and facilitation support made the conversation possible.

We are looking forward to disseminating these findings with the National Organic Standards Board, the National Organic Program, and the entirety of the organic seed industry spectrum (from growers, to seed breeders, retailers, and researchers). Based on the interest of participants and registrants, we are looking at hosting similar iterations of the conversation, making space for more voices and perspectives.

For another perspective and complementary summary, we recommend reading this recap of the listening session from the National Organic Coalition, which includes additional context and reflections.

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 OREI and ORG grant programs.

Learn more about the Organic Agriculture program at USDA-NIFA at:  https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/organic-agriculture-program

Written by Elizabeth Tobey, OFRF Communications Manager

In 2019, Dr. Joji Muramoto became the first Cooperative Extension Specialist in the University of California (UC) system dedicated specifically to organic agriculture. This week, he will receive an award from the Agricultural Sustainability Institute (ASI) at UC Davis for his contribution to organic agriculture research.

The 2025 Eric Bradford and Charlie Rominger Agricultural Sustainability Leadership Award recognizes and honors the legacy of Eric Bradford and Charlie Rominger by celebrating the leadership of an individual who has worked to promote agricultural sustainability.

Some of the most significant scientific advancements in strawberry research have been made by Dr. Muramoto and Dr. Carol Shennan at UC Santa Cruz, where they have pioneered alternatives to methyl bromide in commercial strawberry production. The practices of anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), an alternative to soil fumigation for the control of soil pathogens and nematodes, developed by Dr. Muramoto and colleagues, have been widely adopted among organic and conventional strawberry growers in California.

From an early age in suburban Tokyo, Japan, Dr. Muramoto was interested in the organic movement. “Organic farmers there told me repeatedly, ‘Soil is the foundation of farming.’ That’s when I got interested in soil science,” he says. As he advanced in his career, he found that helping growers was especially rewarding. “My passion is to help organic and conventional farmers make their farms more sustainable: ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially just.”

Dr. Muramoto’s influential research focuses on enhancing soil health and promoting the sustainability of organic agriculture in California through transdisciplinary agroecological approaches. Since 1996, he has conducted research and extension on fertility and soil-borne disease management in organic strawberry and vegetable production and fumigant alternatives in conventional strawberry production in coastal California.

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) began following Dr. Muramoto’s research in 1997 when we helped to initiate the work with a research grant. OFRF awarded additional grants in 2003 and 2010, which have since been leveraged to secure more than $5 million in funding from state and federal agencies to support this pivotal work. “I thank OFRF for its support from the beginning of my career at Santa Cruz,” Dr. Muramoto said when we reached out to congratulate him on this award. We applaud researchers like Dr. Muramoto, whose work exemplifies the ways that organic research can lead to innovative solutions that benefit the whole farming community, conventional and organic alike.

With organic agriculture as the fastest-growing sector in the United States’ food market, accounting for over 6% of total food sales and 15% of all produce sales, we believe it should receive a proportionate amount of research funding. However, organic research currently receives less than 2% of USDA’s research funding, and less than 1% of the Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) research budget. Additionally, the research agencies at the USDA have not been spared from the current administration’s budget cuts and widespread firings.

Agricultural research is the backbone of the technical and financial assistance programs operated by the USDA that ensure food security, food safety, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality for the United States. We are committed to continuing to advocate for the funding that organic agriculture research deserves, enabling scientists like Dr. Muramoto to continue to pave the way towards sustainable solutions for all farmers.

Read more about our Policy Priorities here, and explore additional research in our new searchable resource database, The Organic Research Hub.

This story was adapted from a press release by UC Davis and a previous story OFRF released about Dr. Muramoto’s work.

Innovating No-Till Farming with Occultation Tarping

By Rhianna Simes, M.S.Ed. of Verdant Phoenix Farm & Nursery

At Verdant Phoenix Farm, our mission has always been clear—no-till, organic farming rooted in soil health and long-term resilience. For over a decade, I’ve worked to integrate my understanding of soil health with the need to terminate weeds on my farm. I am striving to grow a regenerative ecosystem on our farm that not only sustains itself but thrives. To do this, we rely upon occultation tarping to manage weeds, protect soil structure, and foster biological activity in the soil.

Then, in 2020, the Almeda Wildfire swept through southern Oregon, altering the landscape around us. While the fire didn’t change our farm’s approach, it was a stark reminder of how critical soil health is in the face of disruption. It reinforced what I’ve always known: a thriving ecosystem isn’t just about growing food—it’s about building resilience from the ground up, even in the face of climate uncertainty.

For over 15 years, I have relied on occultation tarping–a technique that uses tarps (I opt for repurposed vinyl billboards) to smother weeds and enhance biological activity while keeping the soil horizons intact. Unlike tilling, which disrupts soil structure, occultation fosters the conditions for a biologically rich, self-sustaining soil ecosystem. With inspiration from the Soil Food Web and the One Straw Revolution, I saw firsthand that this method worked, but I was eager to research the impacts on soil health and weed termination. It was a dream come true to learn more through a hands-on, in-the-field, research-based trial. This project helped me measure the impact and refine my approach so that I can share it with others as part of our farm’s educational work.

That’s why I applied for OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials program. With their support, I designed and carried out a research trial to compare the effects of tarping versus tilling on soil health and weed suppression. OFRF’s financial assistance offset project costs, and their technical support was invaluable. They provided guidance on structuring the trial, assistance with data analysis, and the expertise I needed to translate my fieldwork into measurable research that benefits other organic, no-till farmers like me. The OFRF team is great to work with!

This project gave me the confidence I needed to pursue further research, and even leverage additional opportunities—from joining The Soil Inventory Project to securing a Western SARE Farmer/Rancher grant to continue to research and legitimize occultation as a technique for no-till farmers and beyond.

My on-farm trial reaffirmed what I’ve always believed: when farmers have the resources to explore and refine organic practices, new strategies are developed, and this innovation helps the entire movement.

A Win for Organic Research: Dr. Quan Zeng’s Fight Against Fire Blight

By Dr. Quan Zeng, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

When I met with staff from Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro’s office earlier this year, I wasn’t there to discuss politics—it was about a disease threatening apple and pear orchards across the country. Fire blight, a bacterial infection, has already cost U.S. farmers over $100 million annually. Organic growers who lost access to streptomycin and other antibiotics in 2014 due to resistance and ecological impact concerns are in desperate need of alternatives.

At my lab, we’ve been working on a breakthrough: identifying naturally occurring yeasts that trigger plants’ natural defenses, offering organic farmers a sustainable way to fight fire blight. Early trials are promising, but as with all agricultural research, progress depends on reliable funding. The USDA’s Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) made our work possible, but federal research funding is declining, and organic research receives less than 2% of the USDA’s total research budget.

That’s why meeting with Rep. DeLauro’s office was critical, given her seat as a leader in the Appropriations Committee. Without continued investment in organic research, all farmers are left without the tools they need to adapt and thrive. And without OFRF’s advocacy and facilitation, these conversations might not happen. OFRF doesn’t just push for more organic research funding; they aim to connect impacted communities like researchers and farmers directly with policymakers, making sure science informs policy and policy leads to real solutions for farmers.

The impact of agricultural research goes far beyond individual farms. Every $1 dollar invested in public agricultural research generates $20 in public benefits, improving resilience, reducing pesticide use, and shaping climate-smart farming practices. Yet, despite these clear benefits, public funding for agricultural research has dropped over 20% over the past two decades. If we don’t act, we risk falling behind in developing the solutions farmers need to navigate a changing climate.

In March, staff from Rep. DeLauro’s office are planning to visit my lab to see this research in action. It’s a small but important step toward securing stronger investment in organic research at the federal level. Conversations like this, sparked by OFRF’s work, are how we transform research into meaningful change for farmers.

Returning to My Roots: How OFRF Helped Me Grow as a Farmer and Advocate

By Dakota Moore, Moore Family Farms, former OFRF intern

Farming is in my blood. For generations, my family has worked the land at Moore Family Farms in North Carolina. When my father and I began transitioning to organic, we knew we were investing in our farm’s future. However, through my internship at OFRF, I discovered something even bigger—how organic farming is part of a movement, one that connects research, policy, and farmers like me in ways I never imagined.

As an intern, I worked on OFRF’s new Organic Research Hub, a one-of-a-kind platform designed to connect farmers with the latest organic research. Sorting through peer-reviewed studies on soil health, water dynamics, and weed suppression, I realized research isn’t just for scientists—it’s for farmers. These findings provide real solutions to challenges we face every day, but only if they reach the people who need them. That’s where OFRF comes in, making sure critical research doesn’t sit on a shelf but gets into farmers’ hands through on-farm trials, webinars, technical resources, and advocacy.

But OFRF’s work is about more than research grants and policy wins—it’s about making sure farmers like me have the support we need to succeed. One of the highlights of my internship was co-presenting in OFRF’s Seeds of Success webinar, “Adding the O: Farmer Perspectives on Transitioning to Organic.” Sharing our farm’s journey and hearing others navigating the same path reminded me that organic farming isn’t just about production methods—it’s about community. Farmers need other farmers.

As I return full-time to Moore Family Farms as farm manager, I’m bringing back more than just knowledge—I’m bringing connections, confidence, and a deeper understanding of how organic farming fits into the bigger picture of agriculture in the U.S. But organic farming’s future depends on continued investment in research, funding, and policies that support farmers like me. That’s why I’m committed to staying engaged—not just as a farmer, but as an advocate. And I know that, with organizations like OFRF leading the way, we’re planting the seeds for something bigger than any one farm—we’re growing a movement.