News

What’s Going On? A Brief Update on What’s Happening in DC

By Gordon Merrick, OFRF Policy & Programs Director

If the past six months in the federal policy spheres have felt more like six years, know that you’re not alone. With endless stops and starts, shifting deadlines, and overlapping processes, it can be hard to track what actually matters and what is just noise. At OFRF, we want to keep our community grounded in the real implications for organic research and the systems that support and benefit from it. This month’s Policy Corner aims to give some brief updates on some of the processes we have been and continue to be engaged in, and how you can help support that work.

Reconciliation, the Farm Bill, and Legislative Movement

The reconciliation process is officially done, for now. While some Farm Bill programs were included in the final package, committee leadership has reiterated that they intend to try and pass the policy-focused Farm Bill provisions that were eliminated in the Senate’s “Byrd Bath.” This limited Farm Bill seems increasingly aspirational, with no clear floor time windows, mounting fractures in the traditional Farm Bill coalitions, and future reconciliation packages on the horizon, the outlook for passing a full, robust Farm Bill in the immediate term remains uncertain, and passing another extension of the 2018 Farm Bill increases in likelihood.

Meanwhile, the FY26 appropriations process is slowly moving ahead, but is significantly behind the normal schedule. OFRF worked with House offices on both sides of the aisle to ensure the House Report included important language supporting organic research and technical assistance. We’re now watching closely how that bill moves through the entire House as well as how the Senate version shapes up.

Programmatic Delays and Pending Announcements

We, like the entire research community, are still awaiting the release of the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), Organic Transitions Program (ORG), and all of the National Institute for Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Competitive Grant Requests for Applications. These funding opportunities were generally all posted earlier this year, then retracted for administrative review in February. After months of delay, time is running out to allow for a strong application window (at least 30 days), peer review (~60 days), and award process by the end of the Fiscal Year (Sept. 30th). We will continue to monitor this closely, and if you’re a researcher or a farmer working with researchers, keep an eye out for urgent updates from both NIFA as well as us.

NRCS Comment Period is Open

Right now, NRCS is accepting comments on its Conservation Practice Standards (CPSs) that have been selected for review this year. We’ll be submitting detailed comments, especially on CPS-595: Pest Management Conservation System, which still has room for improvement to allow for organic systems management. We want to hear from you if you’re a researcher or practitioner with insights on organic pest management, or other areas that are covered in the CPSs that are open for review.

Keeping You Connected

Regardless of legislative delays or agency slowdowns, our mission stays the same. We work every day to ensure that organic research, and the farmers and researchers behind it, receives more-robust support through federal and state programming. That includes helping our community connect with elected officials to help educate them on what they do, why they do it, and how it impacts their District, State, and oftentimes the entire Nation’s food system.

Want to get involved? Check out our free, email-based Communicating with Legislators course! If you have a story or a data point that you would like to share, please reach out and we are here to help.

Eat well and breathe deeply,

Gordon

P.S. You can catch up on recent editions of Gordon’s Policy Corner here.

By |2025-07-10T13:07:50+00:00July 9th, 2025|Gordon's Policy Corner, News|

Advancing Organic Agriculture: Sharing Tomato Research with Senators Tillis and Budd

Written by guest author Dr. Dilip Panthee, Associate Professor, Tomato Breeding and Genetics, Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University

Dr. Dilip Panthee

I recently joined the Organic Farming Research Foundation’s team— Gordon Merrick, Policy & Programs Director; Vinnie Trometter, Policy Fellow; and Rebecca Champagne, Conservation Scientist—for a meaningful conversation with staff from Senator Thom Tillis’s and Senator Tedd Budd’s offices. Together, we discussed why the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is vital for organic tomato growers like those I serve through my research on breeding organic tomatoes to resist new and emerging diseases.

As a tomato breeder at North Carolina State University, I’m focused on helping farmers grow better tomatoes even in the face of rising disease pressure and climate stress. Specifically, I work to develop tomato varieties that are resistant to bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases, while also improving fruit quality and increasing yield. Organic growers face significant risks from common, potentially devastating diseases such as late blight, bacterial spot, early blight, and Septoria leaf spot. These diseases are becoming more prevalent in organic tomatoes grown in the mountains and Piedmont regions of North Carolina, where rising temperature and humidity levels contribute to the problem. Similar trends are also occurring in other mountainous and hilly geographies across the Eastern Seaboard and across the country. Our work seeks to ensure the profitability of organic tomato growers in North Carolina and throughout the United States by developing varieties that are resistant to these emerging diseases. 

To do this, I use both conventional and molecular breeding methods to introduce target resistance genes into existing tomato lines. Our program develops and tests these technologies in-house, collaborating closely with organic growers across the state. In other words, we evaluate new varieties under both research station and on-farm conditions to ensure consistent performance. This dual approach enhances our confidence in the varieties we release. 

To date, we have successfully combined resistance to multiple diseases in several tomato hybrids, including resistance to late blight, early blight, Tomato mosaic virus, Tomato spotted wilt virus, and Fusarium wilt. While this progress is significant, we continue working to incorporate resistance to other critical diseases, such as bacterial spot and Septoria leaf spot. With continued support, we can expand these efforts further.

But developing better varieties is only part of the equation—we also need to make sure growers know about them. Our close collaboration with extension specialists is vital for disseminating our findings through various channels, informing growers and stakeholders about new developments in our research. Getting this information out to the fields is critical for increasing U.S. tomato production. Organic tomato production in the U.S. has declined in recent years, even as demand and consumption continue to grow. To meet this demand and make production more cost-effective, we need improved varieties with high yield potential and strong disease resistance. Our varieties are well-suited to both conventional and organic farming systems, but are particularly critical in organic systems—where the traditional use of pesticides is restricted.

I ultimately chose the Organic Transitions Program because it naturally aligned with my long-standing interest and work in organic tomato breeding. When the funding opportunity arose, it fit perfectly with my research goals and experience, making it an ideal platform to advance this work.

Our meetings with Senator Tillis’s and Senator Budd’s staff went very well. Both senators’ staff were attentive and interested in how my research impacts the region’s economy. I’m grateful for their time and hope they will support organic agriculture research. To remain competitive, the U.S. organic industry must address disease resistance breeding and improve crop quality. I’m optimistic they will champion this cause.

We can’t afford to stay silent. When researchers speak directly with legislators, they see federal programs in action. Legislators play a key role in shaping policies that directly affect agricultural research. As researchers, we cannot assume they are fully aware of our work and its impacts on local, regional, and national economies. Their support is essential for allowing us to advance work that benefits tomato growers nationwide. Regular engagement with lawmakers helps them understand the value of our research and how it contributes to the competitiveness and sustainability of the U.S. organic industry. I am eager to share my next research publication with these legislators to ensure they’re aware of the cutting-edge research happening in the state they represent. 

Use Your Voice

Interested in sharing your research with legislators and highlighting the importance of ongoing public investment in organic research? Enroll in OFRF’s self-paced email course, Communicating with Legislators. This free workshop gives researchers and advocates in the organic farming community the tools to confidently connect with lawmakers and make your work count where decisions are made.

By |2025-07-09T18:22:36+00:00July 3rd, 2025|News|

Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Ledoux Grange

Can teff handle high winds? This on-farm trial aims to find out.

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager

Ledoux Grange, situated at 7,400 feet in Mora, New Mexico, is an organic-certified, 34-acre operation focused on regenerative agriculture. Farmer Kristin Swoszowski-Tran has been cultivating Lilium species (a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, including lilies) and hybrids  – since the 1990s, registering novel cultivars with the Royal Horticultural Society in Great Britain. As a member of the Southwest Grain Collaborative, Ledoux Grange also specializes in growing drought-tolerant, high-altitude pulses, legumes, grains, and cover crops, and is committed to bringing culturally rich, locally-grown produce to their community.

Testing Teff for Lodging Resistance

One of the grains that Ledoux Grange grows is Teff, an annual grass, a species of lovegrass native to Ethiopia, where it first originated in the Ethiopian Highlands. It was one of the earliest plants to be domesticated and is one of the most important staple crops in Ethiopia. Ledoux Grange is currently testing 14 teff accessions rated for their lodging resistance in its characteristically windy location. Teff’s versatility as human food, livestock fodder, and a drought-tolerant cover crop suited for high altitudes makes it a promising addition to their operation. The farm owner, Kristin, is enthusiastic about experimenting with various accessions, drawing inspiration from past successes with teff in the area. She has a broader interest in lovegrass species and is eager to observe their growth, hoping to identify types that will flourish and resist lodging in her environment.

Terminology Touch Point

ACCESSION: a distinct sample of germplasm representing a cultivar, breeding line, or a wild or cultivated population, maintained in a genebank for conservation and use. Its genetic stability is optimally preserved through careful monitoring and multiplication.

Source: GGCE

On Farm Trial Plan

The plot layout includes 12 accessions from a western regional station, all of Ethiopian origin, alongside two commercially available varieties: ‘Bolorosso’ from Experimental Farm Network and teff from Great Basin Seeds. The experiment includes four replications, and is laid out in the field as four blocks border rows on each end. Each packet contains 200 seeds, with 50 seeds per plot, weighed out for accuracy. Rows will be one meter long, with seeds distributed evenly within each plot area. Planting is scheduled for late June, following thorough bed preparation.

Trial Evaluation Metrics

Data collection will be comprehensive, focusing on key metrics such as days to emergence, vigor, time to flowering, time to maturity, tillering, height, and lodging. Grain yield and seed color will also be recorded. Vigor will be assessed using either GRIN standards or a custom scale. Lodging will be rated on a 1-5 scale. To assess the tillering, she will record the number of tillers on 10 plants per plot and calculate the average. Grain yield will be determined by weighing the collected seeds. Seed color will be evaluated with a pantone scale.

Plot Map

Looking Ahead

The evaluation of these teff accessions will help Kristin identify promising teff accessions, and will facilitate seed increases for subsequent on-farm research at Ledoux Grange. Looking to the future, Kristin aims to address key challenges for this specific environment, like lodging prevention and optimal timing for growth relative to the monsoon season. Ultimately, Ledoux Grange hopes to expand crop diversity in the region, provide the community with nutrient-rich food options, and create new market opportunities.

Farmer-researcher Kristin Swoszowski-Tran

“I believe that it is crucial to conduct trials in diverse agricultural ecotypes so that we can perpetuate and ensure suitable, local production to idiosyncratic conditions. It is an honor and privilege to work with OFRF staff members, Mary and Heather, to organize this trial. They’ve made an easy and seamless process to plan the implementation. My hope is that we can identify drought-tolerant candidates that can withstand our windy conditions here at this elevation. I’m eager to see what this trial produces!”

– Kristin Swoszowski-Tran, Ledoux Grange

Teff trial layout.

Stay tuned:

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 Farmer-Led Trials Program, visit our website page at https://ofrf.org/research/farmer-led-research-trials/ 

To learn more about Ledoux Grange visit https://www.facebook.com/ledouxgrange 

By |2025-07-10T13:17:55+00:00July 1st, 2025|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News|

Nearly 80% of New Organic Farmers Are Looking for Climate Resilience

By Elizabeth Tobey

There’s a reason why farmers are always talking about the weather–it affects everything they do. It doesn’t matter if they’re on hundreds of acres or a fraction-of-an-acre plot, farmers are deeply tuned in to the weather patterns in their region and how they affect their land and their crops.

Over the years, OFRF has spoken to dozens, if not hundreds, of farmers, and a noticeable increase in extreme weather events often come up in conversation. Whether it’s droughts and wildfires in the West, too much water swamping farmers in the South, increasing winds across the Midwest, or frost dates coming earlier or later than expected, nowhere is immune to the impacts of climate change.

However, organic production systems also offer a suite of tools to literally help farmers “weather the storms” of climate change. In the 2022 National Organic Research Agenda (NORA) report, nearly 80% of transitioning growers cited “greater resilience to climate change through organic practices” as a motivating factor to certify organic.

At OFRF, we recognize that organic is a climate solution. Regenerative organic farming is a proactive approach to climate resilience, reducing reliance on synthetic inputs while enhancing soil health, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. Organic practices focus on using natural soil amendments like compost, manures, and animal byproducts, and preventative approaches to pests and disease such as selecting regionally-adapted and pest-resistant cultivars. These holistic farming systems improve water retention, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help farmers adapt to unpredictable weather conditions.

To better understand the challenges farmers are facing, and the solutions that organic agriculture offers, we’ve put together a collection of a few articles that highlight how organic farmers are both impacted by and well-poised to address climate change:

Farmers on the Frontlines: Climate Change and the Farm Bill

This article explores the “triple threat” facing farmers in the form of climate change, species loss, and food system industrialization. Featuring the personal experiences of several farmers, it also examines the potential opportunities for innovation and resilience that organic agriculture provides. It illustrates how policy decisions can promote (or hinder) the potential for a just transition to a climate-friendly and resilient agricultural production system. Read more.

Climate Impacts on a Small-Scale Farm

A personal account from former OFRF staff member and farmer Caroline Baptist, this article highlights the devastation and heartbreak that farmers experience in the wake of climate change-induced disasters. It also highlights the resilience and perseverance it takes to keep going and how Caroline finds hope in the soil. Read more.

Organic Farmers Lead the Way Toward Climate-Smart Agriculture

In Kentucky, farmer Bryce Bauman has shifted away from plastic mulch, choosing instead to focus on other, more climate-friendly strategies for weed mitigation. Working with the Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK), he is also conducting a thorough investigation into his farming systems and looking for ways he can implement more climate-smart practices. Read more.

>> Bonus Read: We’ve reshared the following three articles from our partners at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) because they so squarely hit the nail on the head for the importance of organic agriculture in navigating the climate chaos we are in:

As NSAC says in that last piece, it is vital that we “recognize the capacity of organic farming and ranching systems to build agricultural resilience to extreme weather events and make a significant contribution to carbon sequestration and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions arising from agricultural production.” At OFRF, we are committed to advocating for the research funding and policy priorities that farmers need in order to care for the planet and feed their communities.

Are you a farmer navigating the impacts of climate change? We’d love to hear your story—your insights help inform the resources and advocacy we provide. Fill out this form and our team will be in touch shortly.

And, be sure to join our newsletter to stay in touch and receive updates about organic research, education, and advocacy.

By |2025-06-24T22:20:03+00:00June 24th, 2025|News|

Sharing the Latest Organic Research with NRCS: a new annual research report and webinar are available from OFRF

Written by Rebecca Champagne, PhD, OFRF Conservation Scientist

Each year, as part of our Cooperative Agreement with the USDA National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) publishes a research summary and holds webinars on various organic topics 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. We recently published a new annual summary on the latest organic research and led an accompanying webinar for NRCS staff.

Annual Research Summaries from OFRF

These annual research summaries provide a look at the latest organic agriculture research across a variety of topics, meant to provide NRCS staff, organic farmers, and other interested parties with in-depth educational information on the conservation benefits of organic management. These summaries provide both brief research highlights and comprehensive summaries for each topic. Our 2025 summary covered research pertaining to organic pest management, fertilizers and soil amendments, soil organic carbon, diversified cropping systems, production of organic vegetable transplants, and nitrous oxide mitigation. You can check out both our 2025 and 2024 research summaries on our website!

Organic Research Updates: Pest Management, Diversified Cropping Systems, and Soil Organic Carbon

Rebecca Champagne, OFRF’s Conservation Scientist, and Mark Schonbeck, OFRF Research Associate, led a webinar for NRCS to accompany the research summary. Held on June 17, the webinar dove into select topics from the research summary including organic pest management, diversified cropping systems, vegetable transplants, and soil organic carbon. The webinar provided detailed scientific information in these areas and gave insight into peer-reviewed research treatments and results.The webinar concluded with a Q+A session so participants could ask follow up questions and get clarification on the topics discussed. Questions that were fielded from participants related to the effects of anaerobic soil disinfestation on microbial communities, economic comparisons of mulch systems, and the benefits of hedgerows.

Interested in viewing this webinar? A recording is now available online through Conservation Webinars!

Upcoming Organic Farming Webinars with NRCS

OFRF will be hosting three webinars each year over the next four years, covering various topics related to organic farming. Webinar participants also have the chance to test what they learn and earn Certified Crop Advisor Continuing Education Units (CEU) credits by answering quiz questions at the end of each webinar. By identifying and summarizing the latest peer-reviewed research and highlighting real-world farm examples, we aim to help NRCS staff and Technical Service Providers better understand organic production requirements, challenges, and what successful conservation practice implementation on organic operations can look like.

. . .

To learn more about our Cooperative Agreement with NRCS, contact Rebecca Champagne at rebecca@ofrf.org

To stay up-to-date with the latest organic farming news, research updates, and opportunities for advocacy, sign-up to receive the OFRF newsletter at https://ofrf.org/get-involved/receive-news/!

By |2025-07-09T21:11:23+00:00June 20th, 2025|News|

Ensuring a Sustainable Future With My Legacy to OFRF

Written by Katrina Heinze, OFRF Board Member from 2014-2023

A planned gift is a gift to the future. I support organic farming and OFRF because I care about the future health of our planet and its people. A planned gift to OFRF is a tangible way for me to pay it forward.

My mom fed me organic milk before “organic” was even a label. I grew up cooking and connecting with people through food. Later in my career, these interests led me to work in organic foods and organic policy. What a gift! Through my work, I learned about the care, hard work, and amazing knowledge that organic farmers bring to growing our food, as well as the challenges that make farming organically and bringing a farm’s goods to market difficult. 

In 2014, I joined OFRF’s board. Our farmer board members and farmer listening sessions taught me that organic farmers are experimenters and that we still have much to learn about the best production practices to nurture our environment, deal with and address the impacts of climate change, and provide healthy food for all—all while ensuring sustainable economics for farmers and farming communities.

OFRF’s mission is to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems. I love OFRF’s farmer-centered, science-based approach. Our work is long-term and requires long-term funding. For example, OFRF publishes the National Organic Research Agenda (NORA) every 5-6 years. The NORA Report is used to ask for Congressional funding for organic research, influence USDA’s grant funding, and help those of us in the organic food industry rally to support our farmers’ most important production (and non-production) needs. All of this contributes to new knowledge and support for organic farmers.

My husband and I have included OFRF in our will in addition to our regular OFRF donations. We did this to model our values for our family, demonstrate how we align our resources to those values, and be clear about the legacy we want to leave behind.

Estate planning can be easy to put off or avoid. However, we found that having conversations with our family about our wishes enriched our relationships. By discussing what mattered most to us and how we could best use our resources now and in the future, we’ve become better stewards of our resources today. We are glad we did this now instead of waiting or missing the opportunity altogether.

Planned giving can take place during your lifetime or at death, and it is a crucial part of your overall financial and estate plan. Typically larger than donations from ordinary income, planned gifts can provide income, financial security, and tax savings to you and your family, depending on how they are structured. In our case, our planned gift includes a multi-year commitment to OFRF now and a designation of a percentage of any remaining estate at our deaths.  

Planned giving is crucial for non-profits like OFRF, who depend largely on annual giving to “keep the lights on.” Although OFRF receives grants for key program initiatives, these grants don’t often pay for staff development, accounting, and the time-consuming work of helping policymakers understand the needs of farmers. Planned gifts build year-to-year stability for now and create a “savings account” for later.

I have seen the impact of planned gifts on OFRF. When I was on the Board of Directors, we received a planned gift. This single donation enabled us to hire a paid intern to support our research program. It also demonstrated to a future grant maker the value of our work, which has now resulted in a multi-year grant. Better still, the donor was unknown to us, and learning about why OFRF was important to them brought us joy and a renewed commitment to our mission.

A planned gift does not have to be complicated. Including OFRF as a beneficiary in your will or naming OFRF as a full or partial beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement account is a simple way to make a planned gift. Consulting with your financial and legal advisors can help you determine what is best for your situation and values. Once you have put a gift plan in place, let the beneficiary non-profit know. They will benefit from understanding what motivated you, and you will get to enjoy the impact of your thoughtful gift.

Together, let’s ensure the widespread adoption of organic farming practices. Our earth and farming communities depend on it. Please join me in planting a seed for the future by making a planned gift to OFRF today.

Sincerely,

Katrina

By |2025-06-13T17:41:29+00:00June 13th, 2025|News|

Keeping it Real: How OFRF groundtruths our policy priorities, and why that matters

By Gordon Merrick, OFRF Senior Policy & Programs Manager

In today’s political environment, defined by complexity, shifting political winds, and consistently competing interests, clarity and consistency matter more than ever. That’s why it is all the more important that OFRF stays grounded by always adhering to one simple principle: our work must be rooted in the real needs of the organic farming and research community. Whether we’re advocating for research funding in the halls of Congress, submitting comments to the USDA, or analyzing the impacts of federal programs and decisions, we’re guided by what we hear directly from farmers, researchers, and partners across the United States.

OFRF Policy Priorities

OFRF’s policy work centers around three core goals:

  1. Invest in Organic Research that supports all farmers in building ecologically resilient, economically viable farming operations
  2. Expand access to technical assistance and financial tools that empower producers to implement research-backed, systems-based practices
  3. Grow organic as an economic engine, especially in rural communities, by ensuring federal policy recognizes and supports organic production systems as a public good

These priorities aren’t abstract, they’re rooted in field experience, producer feedback, and a clear-eyed assessment of what it takes to make organic agriculture succeed on the ground and in communities across the United States.

Our commitment to our community’s needs

OFRF does not set our policy agenda from an ivory tower or an echo chamber. We’ve committed to revisiting and updating our priorities annually in direct response to feedback from the communities we serve. We take seriously our responsibility to represent the diverse perspectives within the organic sector. That means staying connected to the farmers navigating certification, the researchers searching for funding that will facilitate their work, and the businesses and communities that depend on organic production.

That’s why we brought these priorities to our recent Organic Stewardship Council meeting. Producers like Anna Jones-Crabtree of Vilicus Farms reminded us that while organic systems offer tremendous benefits, too many federal programs still fail to recognize or accommodate how organic works. This on-the-ground story mirrors national research findings: current USDA programs are not designed with organic and agroecological systems in mind. This results in lost support, unfair pricing assumptions, and policies that treat organic like an outlier, rather than a proven system that feeds people and restores land (for reference, about 15% of our produce is organic by volume, but organically managed land represents less than 1% of all farmland).

The real experiences and stories shared in this discussion weren’t one-offs. They are part of the intentional work we do at OFRF in every conversation, farm visit, and research partnership. We aim to update our priorities annually in collaboration with farmers, researchers, and movement leaders. Through OFRF’s work with grass-tops organizations and directly with farms across the country, we work to build spaces for people to tell us their stories about what is changing on the ground. Whether it’s ensuring USDA’s technical and financial assistance programs are applicable to organic farms or fighting for parity in research investments, OFRF’s priorities are shaped by what people tell us they need, not what sounds good in D.C.

What you can do

There’s a reason this work feels more urgent right now. As several farmers noted in our recent conversations, organic is at an inflection point. Market premiums are narrowing. Other labels and claims are muddying consumer understanding. And more than 15,000 USDA staff are leaving the agency, threatening institutional memory and slowing urgently needed reforms.

OFRF doesn’t have all the answers; but we do have a clear mission: to cultivate organic research, education, and federal policies that bring more farmers and acreage into organic production.

If you are a farmer with organic acreage, a researcher studying organic agriculture topics, or just someone who has a story to share on the importance of organic agriculture, we are here to listen. If you want to make sense of the current policy landscape, we are here to help: our new, free, self-paced Communicating with Legislators email course is designed to support you in telling your story loudly and clearly. Farmers are doing the work. Our job is to make sure policy catches up. 

We’re here to make sure your voice is not only heard, but acted on.

Eat well and breathe deeply,

Gordon

P.S. You can catch up on recent editions of Gordon’s Policy Corner here.

By |2025-06-03T15:35:06+00:00June 3rd, 2025|Gordon's Policy Corner, News|

Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Farmacea

Farmacea Strawberry Trial Explores Sustainable Mulching

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager

In the heart of Munith, Michigan, Farmacea is undertaking an exciting experiment to help enhance their farm systems and design. Run by Mike Lucas and Rollin Baker, the farm’s 31 acres had previously been dedicated to conventional corn production for many decades. Over the past two years, Mike and Rollin have been diligently working to convert about 2 acres into arable, quality land by incorporating leaf mold and other organic materials. As they work to transition their land to certified organic, they are excited and energized to grow healthy, sustainable fruits and vegetables for their community. Mike and Rollin are committed to bringing the land back to life and hope to honor the tradition of Food as First Medicine.

The Strawberry Trial: Plastic vs. Clover

On-farm research trial at Farmacea comparing clover living mulch with conventional plastic mulch in organic strawberry crops.Farmacea’s project is a strawberry trial comparing traditional plastic mulch to a living mulch of white Dutch clover. Their research question is simple but will help Farmacea determine which strawberry planting system will work best for them in the coming years: “Does a living clover mulch produce higher strawberry yields than a plastic mulch?”.

To answer this, they’ve set up six beds. Three beds use the conventional plastic mulch, while the other three are planted with New Zealand White Clover (Trifolium repens) to serve as a living mulch. Both sets of beds include a mix of strawberry cultivars: Earliglow, Chandler, Allstar, and San Andreas, ensuring consistency in strawberry varieties across the trial.

Careful initial planning was essential, focusing on a consistent number and mix of strawberry plants in each bed. Mike and Rollin standardized the beds and timed clover planting, which faced weather-related delays and farm facility damage. Additionally, deer intrusions necessitated the construction of higher fences to protect the crops.

What They’re Measuring

Farmacea will be tracking several key metrics to determine the success of each mulching method:

  • Yield: Weight of harvested berries, percent marketable yield, and pint counts.
  • Brix: A measure of sugar content in the berries.
  • Weed Pressure: Observations and frequency of weeding interventions.
  • Photo Documentation: Keeping a visual record of the trial’s progress.
  • Soil Testing: Collecting samples to analyze soil health.

Data is being collected consistently over the season, with harvests twice weekly. They plan to document everything from the number of pints of berries to the weight of both marketable and unmarketable yields. Brix levels are being measured to gauge the sweetness of the berries and will ideally be taken at three intervals during the strawberry season.

Why This Matters

Farmacea’s trial is about more than just growing strawberries. It’s about finding sustainable options for weed suppression and improving soil health through practices like cover cropping. They are also interested in decreasing their reliance on nonrenewable resources and preventing microplastic contamination in their soil. Implementing a living mulch strategy is intended to lessen the need for manual weeding, enhance soil structure, and foster an environment that naturally inhibits weeds.

“For too long, the bulk of attention, funding, and resources in the agricultural research world have gone toward so-called ‘conventional’ farming methods. As a result, advances in organic farming practices have stalled and many today consider it an inefficient, outdated, and impractical way to produce food. We couldn’t disagree more. We see participating in a research trial on organic farming to be an important step in turning this tide, and hope that it will lead to better understanding and acceptance of these essential practices.”

– Rollin & Mike, Farmacea

Looking Ahead

As the trial progresses, Farmacea will continue to monitor and collect data. Soil tests will be conducted, and observations on weed pressure will be recorded. At the end of the trial, they will analyze the results to determine which mulching method provides the best yields, berry quality, and weed control.

This trial at Farmacea is a perfect example of how farmer-led research can lead to valuable insights and sustainable agricultural practices. By sharing their findings, Farmacea contributes to a broader community of farmers and researchers working towards a healthier, more resilient food system.

Stay tuned:

  • Follow Farmacea on Instagram @farma.cea to see photos and updates as Farmacea’s strawberry trial unfolds!
  • Check back here for future blog posts on the trial’s progress.

This story is part of a series profiling farmers who are taking part in OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials (FLT) program. Farmers receive technical support from OFRF to address their challenges through structured on-farm trials. To learn more about OFRF Farmer-Led Trials Program, visit our website page at https://ofrf.org/research/farmer-led-research-trials/

By |2025-06-11T22:23:04+00:00May 29th, 2025|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News|

Bringing Organic to the Hill: How OFRF is Making Waves in D.C.

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.

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

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:

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

circular headshot of Vinnie Trometter

By |2025-05-20T16:41:06+00:00May 20th, 2025|News|

Lessons from Organic Seed Usage Farmer Listening Session

Certified organic producers share their challenges and opportunities in organic seed use

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

By |2025-05-16T19:25:06+00:00May 15th, 2025|News|
Go to Top