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Start Here! An Organic Farmer/Rancher’s Guide to Government Programs

Versión en español a continuación.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers myriad programs to farmers and ranchers seeking financial and technical assistance support. But, with so many options, it can be hard to know where to start! OFRF has made a series of guides to demystify government programs, with easy, step-by-step application support. Use this guide to find the specific help you’re looking for, so you can get off your computer and back into the field!

What type of support do you need?

Tip: Get into the System Early! Most government assistance programs require you to have an account with farmers.gov. The sooner your farm is verified and in the system, the sooner you can begin accessing USDA resources.

Funding and Financial Resources

Accessing funding is a vital part of every farm’s journey. Whether you are looking to purchase land, insure your crops, fund a new conservation or research projects, or just cover day to day operation costs, financial resources are available to you!

Farm Service Agency (FSA) Loans

Accessing funding is a vital part of every farm’s journey. Whether you are looking to purchase land, insure your crops, fund a new conservation or research projects, or just cover day to day operation costs, financial resources are available to you!

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is a crucial financing resource for farmers. It can help guarantee loans made by commercial lenders or issue direct loans to farmers when they cannot access credit or favorable terms and rates from a bank. The FSA can also be the “Lender of First Opportunity” for beginning farmers.

Eligible Applicants: Family-size farmers/ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank, Farm Credit System institution, or other lender.

Funding Available: Direct and guaranteed farm ownership (FO) and operating loans (OL).

Projects Funded: FSA offers a variety of loan types including but not limited to: farm ownership and operating, beginning farmers, emergencies, and more.

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Whole Farm Revenue Program (WFRP)

The Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) policy is a crop insurance option developed by the Risk Management Agency (RMA) and administered by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). Through WFRP, farmers can get a single crop insurance policy for their entire farm, making it a great option for organic and diversified farms.

Eligible Applicants: Farmers/Ranchers in the U.S. or territories. It is best suited to farms with a range of commodities that sell to wholesale markets.

Insurance Coverage: WFRP protects against revenue loss due to natural disasters or market shifts, up to $17 million. Actual coverage amount will depend on the specific farm. Use our WFRP calculator to get an estimate!

Application Deadline: Dates will vary by crop and location, with the first filing date usually occurring in Spring.

More Financial Opportunities

If you are looking for financial support for organic certification, see OCCSP.

If you are looking for financial support for implementing conservation practices on your farm, see EQIP or CSP.

If you are looking for financial support for research projects on your farm, see SARE.

USDA Organic Certification

The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) is a federal regulatory program that enforces standards for organic products sold in the U.S. Farmers pursue organic certification for various reasons, including improving soil health, reducing reliance on synthetic inputs, enhancing biodiversity, contributing to a more sustainable food system, and taking advantage of the economic opportunities it presents, such as accessing new organic markets and higher price premiums. Certification requires additional recordkeeping, and may include a transitional period before certification can be administered. If you’ve decided that certification is the right path for your farm, we have resources to guide you through.

Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)

The Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) is a USDA program that helps cover part of your organic certification costs, including registration in a state organic program. In the past, the OCCSP has reimbursed 75% of fees up to a maximum of $750 per scope. Scopes include crops, wild crops, livestock, and processing/handling.

Eligible Applicants: Certified organic producers and handlers in the United States or its territories.

Funding Available: 75% reimbursement of their organic certification fees up to a maximum of $750 per certification. If you have multiple certification scopes, you can apply for assistance with each certification.

Covered Costs: Application fees, organic inspection costs, fees related to equivalency requirements, travel and per diem fees for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments, and postage.

Application Deadline: Applications are generally due at the end of the calendar year.

The Organic Transition Initiative (OTI)

The Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) is a USDA agency that works to help transitioning farmers. Before becoming certified organic, farmers must complete a 36-month period managing their land without prohibited inputs. This time period can present challenges for growers, as their land adapts to organic management and they are not yet benefiting from the higher price premium from the organic label. Explore OTI’s resources to aid with the transitional period.

Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP)

The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) is a collaborative partnership created to guide transitioning farmers. Through the program, producers can be matched with a mentor to guide them through becoming certified organic and offer ongoing support.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Support

NRCS offers help to producers implementing conservation activities required for certification, receiving expert technical support, and recovering foregone income due to reduced yields during the organic transition period through OTI. Read our guide to learn how to communicate with your NRCS agent about accessing support for your organic transition.

If you are looking for support on implementing conservation practices on your farm, see Increasing Conservation.

Learn more about USDA Organic Certification

The organic transition period and USDA requirements present a learning curve for farmers. Luckily, we have advice from farmers who have done it before!

Increasing Conservation

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a federal agency that supports the adoption of conservation practices by providing farmers, ranchers, foresters, and landowners with technical and financial assistance. They work to address resource concerns related to soil, water, plants, animals, air, and energy; help producers and landowners achieve conservation goals; and enhance the long-term sustainability of US agriculture. If you are interested in increasing conservation practices on your land, your local NRCS office is a good place to start!

NRCS Farmer Stories:

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) from NRCS offers a variety of technical and financial assistance opportunities for farmers and ranchers, including the High Tunnel Initiative, the On Farm Energy Initiative, and the Organic Initiative.

Eligible Applicants: Agricultural producers; non-industrial private forest-owners; federally recognized tribes; water management entities.

Funding Available: Cost-share covering building, resource, and labor costs. Amount of funding varies on availability.

Projects Funded: New projects or infrastructure addressing a natural resource concern. Ex. building a high tunnel, establishing a cover cropping system, fencing for rotational grazing.

Project Length: 1-10 years.

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, with the first batching deadline generally falling in early January.

EQIP Farmer Stories:

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) from NRCS offers technical and financial assistance to help agricultural and forest producers take their conservation efforts to the next level, through practices like cover cropping, integrated grazing, supporting wildlife habitats, and more.

Eligible Applicants: Agricultural producers; non-industrial private forest-owners; federally recognized tribes.

Funding Available: Annual minimum payments of $4,000.

Projects Funded: Projects that maintain or enhance conservation efforts, e.g., trialing new cover crop mixes, planting agroforestry projects, increasing pollinator habitats.

Project Length: 5 years, with renewal available.

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, with the first batching deadline generally falling in early January.

CSP Farmer Stories

EQIP and CSP: What’s the Difference? Both programs provide funding opportunities for conservation efforts, and many farmers use both on their farm. EQIP is a cost-share program for projects that address a specific natural resource concern and establish a new conservation practice (like establishing a cover cropping system or planting natives to reduce erosion). CSP provides annual payments to help farmers maintain or enhance existing conservation strategies on their farm (like trialing new cover crop mixes or planting natives to increase pollinator habitats). EQIP contracts are a specified length (1-10 years), while CSP contracts are 5 years and can be renewed. Farmers often start with an EQIP contract to address a specific issue, and then maintain the practice through an ongoing CSP contract.

Conservation Programs and Organic Certification

Despite both being administered by USDA, NRCS conservation practices and USDA certification requirements may not perfectly align. NRCS’s Technical Note 12 strives to bridge that gap, outlining the overlap between NRCS resource concerns and NOP organic standards.

Learn more about talking to your NRCS agent about organic practices.

Conducting Research

Organic farmers and ranchers often test and experiment with new ideas to improve their farming operations. If you are looking to turn your informal farm research into more structured research projects, OFRF has the tools to get you started!

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Farmer/Rancher Grant Program is a competitive grant program that provides funding to producers who have designed their own research projects and teams. This program aims to award funding to projects that address real-world, on-farm challenges and include both research and outreach components.

Eligible Applicants: Commercial farmers and ranchers with an income of at least $1,000 annually.

Funding Available: Financial assistance for the entirety of your proposed project, up $15,000-35,000; varies regionally.

Projects Funded: SARE provides grants for the entirety of a research project, from designing the trial to sharing the results. Ex. Trialing organic pest or weed management strategies, comparing cover crop mixes or rotations, testing compost or organic fertilizer effects.

Project Length: Between 1-3 years, depending on region.

Application Deadline: Applications vary by region between early fall and late winter.

Find your SARE Region: There are four SARE regions and requirements and funding availability may vary based on location.

Northeast SARE: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia.

North Central SARE: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin.

Southern SARE: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia.

Western SARE: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, CNMI, FSM, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Getting Started with On-Farm Research

SARE favors farmers who have a developed research proposal and have made connections with research professionals. If you are looking to dip your toe into more structured research before submitting a SARE proposal, explore our resources!

All of this information is summarized in a printable, downloadable PDF below, available in English and Spanish.

front cover of OFRF's Start Here factsheet (English version)
front cover of OFRF's Start Here factsheet (Spanish version)

¡Empiece aquí! Guía de programas del gobierno para agricultores y ganaderos orgánicos

El Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés) ofrece innumerables programas para agricultores y ganaderos que buscan apoyo con asistencia financiera y técnica. Pero, con tantas opciones, ¡puede ser difícil saber por dónde empezar! OFRF ha creado una serie de guías para quitar los mitos acerca de los programas del gobierno, con apoyo sencillo y paso a paso para aplicar. Use esta guía para encontrar la ayuda específica que está buscando, ¡para que pueda dejar la computadora y volver al campo!

¿Qué tipo de apoyo necesita?

Consejo: ¡entre al sistema con anticipación! La mayoría de los programas de asistencia del gobierno requieren que usted tenga una cuenta en farmers.gov. Cuanto antes su granja esté verificada y registrada en el sistema, más pronto podrá comenzar a acceder a los recursos del USDA.

Fondos y recursos financieros

El acceso a fondos es una parte vital del camino de toda granja. Ya sea que usted busque comprar tierras, asegurar sus cultivos, financiar un nuevo proyecto de conservación o de investigación, o simplemente cubrir los costos de operación del día a día, ¡hay recursos financieros disponibles para usted!

Préstamos de la Agencia de Servicios Agrícolas (FSA)

La Agencia de Servicios Agrícolas (FSA, por sus siglas en inglés) es un recurso de financiamiento crucial para los agricultores. Puede ayudar a garantizar préstamos otorgados por prestamistas comerciales o emitir préstamos directos a los agricultores cuando estos no pueden acceder a crédito o a condiciones y tasas favorables en un banco. La FSA también puede ser el “prestamista de primera oportunidad” para agricultores que están iniciando.

Solicitantes elegibles: Agricultores y ganaderos de escala familiar que no pueden obtener crédito comercial de un banco, de una institución del Farm Credit System o de otro prestamista.

Fondos disponibles: Préstamos directos y garantizados para propiedad agrícola (FO, por sus siglas en inglés) y de operación (OL, por sus siglas en inglés).

Proyectos financiados: La FSA ofrece una variedad de tipos de préstamos que incluyen, entre otros: propiedad y operación agrícola, agricultores que están iniciando, emergencias y más.

Fecha límite de solicitud: Las solicitudes se aceptan de forma continua.

Programa de Protección de Ingresos para Toda la Granja (WFRP)

La póliza de Protección de Ingresos para Toda la Granja (WFRP, por sus siglas en inglés) es una opción de seguro de cultivos desarrollada por la Agencia de Manejo de Riesgos (RMA, por sus siglas en inglés) y administrada por la Corporación Federal de Seguros de Cosechas (FCIC, por sus siglas en inglés). A través del WFRP, los agricultores pueden obtener una sola póliza de seguro de cultivos para toda su granja, lo que la convierte en una gran opción para granjas orgánicas y diversificadas.

Solicitantes elegibles: Agricultores y ganaderos en los Estados Unidos o sus territorios. Es más adecuada para granjas con una variedad de productos que venden a mercados mayoristas.

Cobertura del seguro: El WFRP protege contra la pérdida de ingresos debida a desastres naturales o cambios en el mercado, hasta $17 millones. El monto real de la cobertura dependerá de cada granja. ¡Use nuestra calculadora del WFRP para obtener un estimado!

Fecha límite de solicitud: Las fechas varían según el cultivo y la ubicación; la primera fecha de presentación suele ocurrir en la primavera.

Más oportunidades financieras

Si busca apoyo financiero para la certificación orgánica, consulte el OCCSP.

Si busca apoyo financiero para implementar prácticas de conservación en su granja, consulte el EQIP o el CSP.

Si busca apoyo financiero para proyectos de investigación en su granja, consulte SARE.

Certificación orgánica del USDA

El Programa Nacional Orgánico (NOP, por sus siglas en inglés) del USDA es un programa regulatorio federal que hace cumplir las normas para los productos orgánicos que se venden en los Estados Unidos. Los agricultores buscan la certificación orgánica por diversas razones, entre ellas: mejorar la salud del suelo, reducir la dependencia de insumos sintéticos, aumentar la biodiversidad, contribuir a un sistema alimentario más sostenible y aprovechar las oportunidades económicas que esta presenta, como el acceso a nuevos mercados orgánicos y a precios más altos. La certificación requiere llevar registros adicionales y puede incluir un período de transición antes de que la certificación pueda otorgarse. Si usted ha decidido que la certificación es el camino correcto para su granja, tenemos recursos para guiarle en el proceso.

Programa de Costos Compartidos para la Certificación Orgánica (OCCSP)

El Programa de Costos Compartidos para la Certificación Orgánica (OCCSP, por sus siglas en inglés) es un programa del USDA que ayuda a cubrir parte de sus costos de certificación orgánica, incluida la inscripción en un programa orgánico estatal. En el pasado, el OCCSP ha reembolsado el 75% de las tarifas, hasta un máximo de $750 por alcance. Los alcances incluyen cultivos, cultivos silvestres, ganado y procesamiento/manejo.

Solicitantes elegibles: Productores y manejadores orgánicos certificados en los Estados Unidos o sus territorios.

Fondos disponibles: Reembolso del 75% de las tarifas de certificación orgánica, hasta un máximo de $750 por certificación. Si usted tiene múltiples alcances de certificación, puede solicitar asistencia para cada certificación.

Costos cubiertos: Tarifas de aplicación, costos de inspección orgánica, tarifas relacionadas con requisitos de equivalencia, viáticos de los inspectores, tarifas de usuario, contribuciones sobre ventas y franqueo postal.

Fecha límite de solicitud: Las solicitudes generalmente vencen al final del año calendario.

La Iniciativa de Transición Orgánica (OTI)

La Iniciativa de Transición Orgánica (OTI, por sus siglas en inglés) es una iniciativa del USDA que trabaja para ayudar a los agricultores en transición. Antes de obtener la certificación orgánica, los agricultores deben completar un período de 36 meses manejando sus tierras sin insumos prohibidos. Este período puede presentar desafíos para los productores, mientras sus tierras se adaptan al manejo orgánico y aún no se benefician del precio más alto de la etiqueta orgánica. Explore los recursos de la OTI como apoyo durante el período de transición.

Programa de Asociación para la Transición Orgánica (TOPP)

El Programa de Asociación para la Transición Orgánica (TOPP, por sus siglas en inglés) es una alianza colaborativa creada para guiar a los agricultores en transición. A través del programa, los productores pueden ser emparejados con un mentor que les guíe en el proceso de obtener la certificación orgánica y les ofrezca apoyo continuo.

Apoyo del Servicio de Conservación de Recursos Naturales (NRCS)

A través de la OTI, el NRCS ofrece ayuda a los productores para implementar las actividades de conservación requeridas para la certificación, recibir apoyo técnico especializado y recuperar los ingresos no percibidos debido a la reducción de rendimientos durante el período de transición orgánica. Lea nuestra guía para aprender a comunicarse con su agente del NRCS sobre cómo acceder a apoyo para su transición orgánica.

Si busca apoyo para implementar prácticas de conservación en su granja, consulte Aumentar la conservación.

Conozca más sobre la certificación orgánica del USDA

El período de transición orgánica y los requisitos del USDA representan una curva de aprendizaje para los agricultores. Por suerte, ¡tenemos consejos de agricultores que ya lo han hecho!

Aumentando la conservación

El Servicio de Conservación de Recursos Naturales (NRCS, por sus siglas en inglés) es una agencia federal que apoya la adopción de prácticas de conservación brindando asistencia técnica y financiera a agricultores, ganaderos, silvicultores y propietarios de tierras. Trabaja para atender los problemas de recursos relacionados con el suelo, el agua, las plantas, los animales, el aire y la energía; ayudar a los productores y propietarios de tierras a alcanzar sus metas de conservación; y mejorar la sostenibilidad a largo plazo de la agricultura de los Estados Unidos. Si le interesa aumentar las prácticas de conservación en sus tierras, ¡su oficina local del NRCS es un buen lugar para empezar!

Historias de agricultores con el NRCS

Programa de Incentivos para la Calidad Ambiental (EQIP)

El Programa de Incentivos para la Calidad Ambiental (EQIP, por sus siglas en inglés) del NRCS ofrece una variedad de oportunidades de asistencia técnica y financiera para agricultores y ganaderos, incluidas la Iniciativa de Túneles Altos, la Iniciativa de Energía en la Granja y la Iniciativa Orgánica.

Solicitantes elegibles: Productores agrícolas; propietarios de bosques privados no industriales; tribus reconocidas a nivel federal; entidades de manejo del agua.

Fondos disponibles: Costos compartidos que cubren costos de construcción, recursos y mano de obra. El monto del financiamiento varía según la disponibilidad.

Proyectos financiados: Proyectos nuevos o infraestructura que atiendan un problema de recursos naturales. Ej.: construir un túnel alto, establecer un sistema de cultivos de cobertura, cercar para pastoreo rotativo.

Duración del proyecto: De 1 a 10 años.

Fecha límite de solicitud: Las solicitudes se aceptan de forma continua durante todo el año, y la primera fecha límite de agrupación generalmente cae a principios de enero.

Historias de agricultores con el EQIP

Programa de Administración para la Conservación (CSP)

El Programa de Administración para la Conservación (CSP, por sus siglas en inglés) del NRCS ofrece asistencia técnica y financiera para ayudar a los productores agrícolas y forestales a llevar sus esfuerzos de conservación al siguiente nivel, mediante prácticas como cultivos de cobertura, pastoreo integrado, apoyo a los hábitats de vida silvestre y más.

Solicitantes elegibles: Productores agrícolas; propietarios de bosques privados no industriales; tribus reconocidas a nivel federal.

Fondos disponibles: Pagos anuales mínimos de $4,000.

Proyectos financiados: Proyectos que mantienen o mejoran los esfuerzos de conservación, p. ej., probar nuevas mezclas de cultivos de cobertura, plantar proyectos agroforestales, aumentar los hábitats de polinizadores.

Duración del proyecto: 5 años, con posibilidad de renovación.

Fecha límite de solicitud: Las solicitudes se aceptan de forma continua durante todo el año, y la primera fecha límite de agrupación generalmente cae a principios de enero.

Historias de agricultores con el CSP

El EQIP y el CSP: ¿cuál es la diferencia? Ambos programas ofrecen oportunidades de financiamiento para esfuerzos de conservación, y muchos agricultores usan ambos en su granja. El EQIP es un programa de costos compartidos para proyectos que atienden un problema específico de recursos naturales y establecen una práctica de conservación nueva (como establecer un sistema de cultivos de cobertura o plantar especies nativas para reducir la erosión). El CSP ofrece pagos anuales para ayudar a los agricultores a mantener o mejorar estrategias de conservación existentes en su granja (como probar nuevas mezclas de cultivos de cobertura o plantar especies nativas para aumentar los hábitats de polinizadores). Los contratos del EQIP tienen una duración determinada (de 1 a 10 años), mientras que los contratos del CSP son de 5 años y pueden renovarse. Los agricultores a menudo comienzan con un contrato del EQIP para atender un problema específico y luego mantienen la práctica mediante un contrato continuo del CSP.

Los Programas de Conservación y la Certificación Orgánica

A pesar de que ambos son administrados por el USDA, las prácticas de conservación del NRCS y los requisitos de certificación del USDA pueden no estar perfectamente alineados. La Nota Técnica 12 del NRCS busca cerrar esa brecha, describiendo la superposición entre los problemas de recursos del NRCS y las normas orgánicas del NOP.

Conozca más sobre cómo hablar con su agente del NRCS acerca de las prácticas orgánicas.

Realizando investigaciones

Los agricultores y ganaderos orgánicos a menudo prueban y experimentan con nuevas ideas para mejorar sus operaciones agrícolas. Si usted busca convertir su investigación agrícola informal en proyectos de investigación más estructurados, ¡OFRF tiene las herramientas para que empiece!

Investigación y Educación en Agricultura Sostenible (SARE)

El Programa de Subvenciones para Agricultores/Ganaderos de Investigación y Educación en Agricultura Sostenible (SARE, por sus siglas en inglés) es un programa competitivo de subvenciones que otorga fondos a productores que han diseñado sus propios proyectos y equipos de investigación. Este programa busca financiar proyectos que atiendan desafíos reales dentro de la granja y que incluyan componentes tanto de investigación como de divulgación.

Solicitantes elegibles: Agricultores y ganaderos comerciales con un ingreso de al menos $1,000 anuales.

Fondos disponibles: Asistencia financiera para la totalidad del proyecto propuesto, de $15,000 a $35,000; varía según la región.

Proyectos financiados: SARE ofrece subvenciones para la totalidad de un proyecto de investigación, desde el diseño del ensayo hasta la difusión de los resultados. Ej.: probar estrategias orgánicas de manejo de plagas o malezas, comparar mezclas o rotaciones de cultivos de cobertura, evaluar los efectos del compost o de fertilizantes orgánicos.

Duración del proyecto: 

Fecha límite de solicitud: Las solicitudes varían por región entre principios del otoño y finales del invierno.

Encuentre su región de SARE: Hay cuatro regiones de SARE, y los requisitos y la disponibilidad de fondos pueden variar según la ubicación.

Northeast SARE: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia.

North Central SARE: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin.

Southern SARE: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia.

Western SARE: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, CNMI, FSM, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Cómo comenzar con la investigación en la granja

SARE favorece a los agricultores que tienen una propuesta de investigación desarrollada y que han establecido conexiones con profesionales de la investigación. Si usted quiere adentrarse en una investigación más estructurada antes de presentar una propuesta a SARE, ¡explore nuestros recursos!

Toda esta información se resume en un PDF imprimible y descargable a continuación, disponible en inglés y español.

front cover of OFRF's Start Here factsheet (English version)
front cover of OFRF's Start Here factsheet (English version)

By |2026-09-16T11:12:29-04:00September 16th, 2026|Federal Assistance, News, Spanish Resources|
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Using Synergy, Conservation Practices, and NRCS Support to Save Citrus with Uncle Matt’s Organic

Written by Mary Elizabeth Kidd, OFRF Communications Associate

OFRF is currently working to increase farmer and community awareness of the federal funding opportunities available to organic and transitioning farms. 

As part of our work with the Southeast region of the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), we’re spotlighting the experience of Uncle Matt’s Organic and McLean Family Farms in Clermont, Florida, that received funding and support through the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

Their story offers a transparent look at what it’s really like to work with NRCS: the benefits, the obstacles, and the lessons they’ve learned. We hope other farmers can use their experience to navigate the process of applying for and implementing contracts more easily.

Meet Ben McLean III of Uncle Matt’s Organic and McLean Family Farms

Photo Courtesy of Ben McLean III

Location: Clermont, Florida (Lake County, west of Orlando)

Established: family farm established in the 1880s, Uncle Matt’s Organic established in 1999

Acres: 50

Production: Citrus

Certification: USDA Certified Organic via QCS since 2003

Staff: 15 full-time employees (as of EQIP contract phase)

Markets: Sell directly to grocery outlets including Whole Foods, Target, Publix, and more (20,000+ locations)

As the Head of Research with Uncle Matt’s Organic and a fourth-generation citrus farmer with McLean Family Farms, Ben McLean III is harnessing science, a robust network of experts and support, and family legacy to help safeguard the future of citrus in Florida and around the world.

Members of the OFRF team recently spoke to Ben to learn more about his experience accessing NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and how this program and its resulting wins and learnings can help fellow growers. 

>> Learn more: Listen to Ben McLean III on the Food for You and the Planet podcast.

About the Farmers

Angus Benjamin McLean, Ben McLean III’s great-grandfather, began citrus farming on the family’s Bartow, Florida, property in the 1880s. Ben’s grandfather, father, and siblings have continued the family legacy, weathering the uncertainties of ecological and economic change to help keep citrus farming alive in central Florida.

Ben received his master’s degree in Horticulture Science from the University of Florida and consistently works closely with university researchers and members of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to explore and advance citrus research and conservation efforts. He’s traveled to Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil and South Africa to learn from citrus growers around the world and to share his knowledge, including learnings from his EQIP contract with NRCS.

His ability to activate a synergistic network of grower organizations, learning opportunities through these organizations and the USDA, and a community of experts, researchers, and farming peers continues to create opportunities for him to grow the family farm business and act as a leader in the citrus and sustainable agriculture spaces.

Context & Challenges

The top concern of Ben, his team, and the researchers they work with is citrus greening disease, also known as Citrus Huanglongbing, or Citrus HLB.  Within the last 30 years, this disease caused by the bacterium (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus) and vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid has destroyed over 75% of Florida’s citrus production.

Citrus greening continues to cripple Florida’s citrus production, and Ben is on a mission to facilitate research to protect Florida citrus. His NRCS EQIP contract, discussed below, played a role in the promising research they’re facilitating towards this mission.

The McLean family originally managed over 1,200 acres in organic citrus production in 2008, which dropped to 600 acres in 2015, and now hovers around 50 acres, with 15 acres focused heavily on research to combat the disease. 

This dramatic drop in acreage is also the result of weather events and real estate development. Since 2004, Ben cites five major hurricanes (with landfall), tropical storms, and dramatic variations in temperature and precipitation with wreaking significant damage to their citrus groves. Their humid, subtropical climate means that weeds thrive almost year-round and represent a key challenge and focus point in their organic research and practices.

Real estate development has impacted both land and labor availability. In the past, farmers like the McLeans  could rely on a steady supply of H-2A workers (temporary agricultural labor), particularly during harvest season. However, many of those workers are now drawn to the abundance of higher paying job opportunities associated with urban development.

Why Organic?

In Ben’s almost 30-year career farming organically, he and his family have witnessed the resilience and fortifying biodiversity that organic practices bring to their crops. “Trying to withstand these increased environmental, pest, and other pressures, you have to create resilience. And conservation practices help you create that resilience in your property, your soil, with your own biology.”

Ben credits his grandfather, a vocal proponent of conservation practices like cover cropping, for introducing him to the benefits of organic farming practices. In the era before conventional herbicides and pesticides became the norm, his grandfather was using methods that are now labeled as organic and sustainable, but were then considered reliable, “old way” farming practices. From the focus on hand labor and simple tools to organic fertilizers such as Feather Meal, to natural pesticides such as botanical oils derived from Neem trees to liquid lime sulfur, Ben cites that today “the toolbox for the organic production of citrus is solid.”

Practically speaking, as Ben and his father and brother were establishing Uncle Matt’s Organic Farm Plan and citrus acreage: “we wanted to be price makers, not price takers,” focusing on high quality and nutrient density- and the market for organic fresh fruit and juices supported their decision to certify and remain organic.

Ben first learned about the opportunity to receive reimbursements for organic practices through farming peers in the Florida Organic Growers network who had success with NRCS programs such as EQIP and CSP.

Working with NRCS

Application Process

Ben’s first experience with federal funding for farmers came via Farm Service Agency (FSA) support after a series of hurricanes devastated central Florida in the early 2000s. Registering with the FSA became a catalyst for other emergency relief and would eventually streamline their application process for their EQIP contract around 2009.

Ben shared: “I encourage any grower to go visit your local FSA office, get your property registered, and get on their mailing list. You’ll find out about workshops, visiting researchers, conferences, and programs.” 

One challenge farmers often cite in both the organic certification process and the process of applying for NRCS support is paperwork and recordkeeping. This presented a unique challenge for the McLeans as portions of their farm plan included separate groves that were leased, or were owned by other investors. While the Farm Plan as a whole is managed organically and operates cohesively, the individual leased or separately owned components required more complex recordkeeping, with some properties required to have their own EQIP contracts. Fortunately, their office manager, a trained accountant and bookkeeper, plus a supportive NRCS rep ensured a relatively smooth process.

“Ask your NRCS agent. I asked a lot of questions, and I got a lot of help. We can’t be afraid to ask the questions.”

Implementation

Between 2009 and 2012, Ben and his team implemented an EQIP contract focused on cover cropping (primarily cowpea), nutrient sampling (through soil and leaf analysis), and pest management.

Why cover cropping? “One last challenge we all face is water, right?” Ben shared, “With our location and development along the coastlines, we get saltwater intrusion and limitations on water usage, which is why these conservation efforts, especially cover crops and composting, are so important for water use and drought management.”

While cover cropping was already a familiar practice to the McLeans, getting EQIP compensation for this work helped propel them towards better testing and enabled them to bring on a full-time team member to manage the practices. 

They continue cover cropping and conducting related research to this day, thanks in part to their successful EQIP contract.

Cowpea cover crop planted working with UF Researcher, Courtesy of Ben McLean III

Outcomes & Challenges

For him, the primary benefit of implementing cover cropping was the increase in available nitrogen and other nutrients; the secondary benefit was root exudates that help in managing  nematodes, and the unexpected benefit was the increase in native pollinators.

Through soil sampling and other analysis, they were able to measure 25% more manganese availability within 90 days of planting. And the resulting biodiversity from cover cropping meant that their orchard, with its 6-foot strips of flowering cowpea and sunn hemp, created wonderful insectaries with honeybees, bumblebees, native pollinators, beetles, and other deterrents to harmful insect pathogens.

Cover cropping continues in 2026 with University of Florida researchers and Jarred Eddy of Central Florida Ag Services. Pictured above: a Massey Ferguson Grain Drill planting cover crops (left) and compost spreader utilizing Florida-based Veransa compost (right). Photos courtesy of Ben McLean III.

Advice to Farmers

“The good news that I would share with anybody considering either the transition to organic or applying for NRCS support: it can be done.” Ben continues, “It was easier than I thought, and I received excellent help from our local FSA and NRCS staff in both Lake County and Polk County. There is paperwork, but it’s worth doing, and it creates value in your long-term farm plan. It opens doors to you, and you’ll get access to information you may not have had.”

He also cites thorough recordkeeping and the support of staff and recordkeeping accountants as a key factor in the smoothness of the process.

Furthermore, he echoes familiar farmer advice: lean on other farmers and mentors. Networks and neighbors can both serve as tremendous support for growers at any experience level. 

“I encourage farmers to go to your Extension workshops, go to your university workshops, go to USDA workshops or field days.  And get to know your neighbors, get to know other farmers, join your grower organizations. This is where you’ll meet people from NRCS and can ask about their programs. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions.”

Ready to Apply? Here Are a Few Helpful Resources

If you’re a farmer considering applying for EQIP or other NRCS programs, here are some helpful tools to get started:

Additional Resources & Reading:

Organic Farming Research Foundation Resources:

Connect with OFRF:

By |2026-09-21T13:46:33-04:00September 14th, 2026|Farmer Stories, Insects & Diseases, News, On-Farm Research|
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Building Organic Knowledge: OFRF’s Annual Research Report and Webinars for NRCS

By Rebecca Champagne, PhD, OFRF Conservation Scientist

Each year, as part of our Cooperative Agreement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) publishes a research summary and holds webinars on various organic topics to help build NRCS staff knowledge of organic systems and equip them to better support the unique needs of organic and transitioning-to-organic farmers across the country. This summer we published our 2026 annual summary on the latest organic research and led accompanying webinars.

Annual Research Summaries from OFRF

These annual research summaries provide a look at the latest organic agriculture research across a variety of topics, and are meant to provide NRCS staff, service providers, organic farmers, and other interested parties with in-depth educational information on the conservation benefits of organic systems. These summaries provide both brief research highlights and comprehensive summaries for each topic, along with connections between the research and NRCS Resource Concerns and Conservation Practice Standards.

Our 2026 summary covered research on pest and nutrient management in organic production, diversified cropping systems, building soil health and soil organic carbon, and other agronomic research such as organic dry bean cultivar evaluations and organic sweet potato growing practices. You can check out these research summaries on our website!

> Read our 2026 Annual Research Summary on Conservation Benefits of Organic Management

Organic Research Updates: Two-Part Webinar Series

Rebecca Champagne, OFRF’s Conservation Scientist, led a two-part webinar series for NRCS this summer to accompany the 2026 research summary. The webinars provided detailed information on the different research areas, offering insight into peer-reviewed research treatments and results, and the connection between the research topics and National Organic Program (NOP) regulations for organic production.

The first webinar, held on July 14, dove into the topics of pest and weed management, nutrient management, and soil organic carbon. Some of the research covered included:

  • Cultural and mechanical weed control strategies.
  • Organic methods for managing insect pests such as spotted wing drosophila, alfalfa weevil, and wireworms.
  • Using cattle manure to supply nitrogen and phosphorus in semi-arid growing environments.
  • Practical conservation takeaways for building soil organic carbon.

The second webinar, held on August 18, covered research on soil health, diversified cropping systems, and other research such as organic crop cultivar evaluations and agronomic trials. Some of the research covered included:

  • Soil health challenges in high tunnel production.
  • Integrating chickens into diversified organic vegetable production.
  • Using mushrooms as feed additives for animal nutrition.
  • Living cover crop mulch versus plastic mulches.

Nearly 250 attendees tuned in across the two webinars. Both webinars concluded with a Q&A session so participants could ask follow-up questions and get clarification on the research and relevant NOP regulations.

Interested in viewing these webinars? Recordings are available online through Conservation Webinars — check out webinar one here and webinar two here!

Upcoming Organic Farming Webinars with NRCS

OFRF will be hosting several webinars for NRCS over the next few years, covering different 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) by answering quiz questions at the end of each webinar. By identifying and summarizing the latest peer-reviewed research and highlighting practical conservation takeaways, 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 |2026-09-08T10:09:21-04:00September 7th, 2026|News|
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Predicting What the Rest of the Year Looks Like in D.C.

By Vinnie Trometter, OFRF Policy Manager

It’s September, which means members of Congress are back in D.C. after a month away campaigning for reelection. They have returned to a massive slate of unfinished business and little time to do it before voters hit the polls.

One of the first things Congress did after the recess was pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government at current levels until December 11. The CR also included a delay to the implementation of the White House’s proposed rule, which would give political appointees the final say over grant awards. OFRF is happy to see Congress being responsive to the over 160,000 public comments submitted overwhelmingly against the rule, and we hope that the rule is eventually revoked entirely.

However, the White House has found ways to get ahead of Congress through other means. For instance, the House Agriculture Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2027 contains language intended to prevent the closure of the Beltsville Agriculture Research Station. In response, the White House announced in August that it was redirecting all Fiscal Year 2026 funding intended to modernize Beltsville to create new research stations across the country. It remains to be seen how Congress will react, but Congressional appropriators are investigating whether the redirection of funds violates any existing laws.

Another thing that still needs to be done this year is, of course, the Farm Bill. Recapping from an earlier blog post, the Farm Bill failed in the Senate Agriculture Committee at the beginning of August largely because Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was absent, and a compromise that delayed the state cost-share for SNAP was not enough to appease Democrats. It is expected that Senator McConnell will return sometime this month, when the Senate Agriculture Committee will reconvene to pass the Farm Bill out of Committee—without amendments. This would be a bad outcome in terms of organic research because the base text does not go beyond the status quo, which is not sufficient to meet the needs of the growing organic market.

Despite this possibility, the odds of the Farm Bill passing both the House and the Senate as a standalone bill are slim. Thus, another, more likely path is for the Farm Bill to be lumped into a must-pass government funding bill called an omnibus. Senate Majority Leader and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, John Thune has already spoken life into this possibility. In this scenario, the main unknowns are what pieces of the Farm Bill would be included and whether the pieces left out would be picked up in next year’s new Congress.

There is much yet to be seen. Even yesterday, the House of Representatives cut two weeks from its in-session schedule. This means that after September 17, the House will not return until mid-November. However, rest assured that OFRF’s full-time presence in Washington, D.C., and engagement with our organic allies across the country, make us uniquely positioned to respond rapidly to any development.

Stay up to date with our policy work by signing up for our newsletter:

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By |2026-09-04T15:38:42-04:00September 4th, 2026|Advocacy, News, Policy Corner|
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OFRF in Texas: A Researcher and Extension Regional Meetup, in the Heat!

By Maia Garby, Research & Education Junior Fellow

This summer, OFRF staff members converged in San Marcos, Texas to attend the Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems (SFFFS) Conference.

Despite the 100+ degree weather, farmers, ranchers, researchers, technical service providers, and organic consumers from across the state and beyond congregated at Texas State University for several days of learning, networking, and discussion.

As part of OFRF’s ongoing efforts to facilitate relationship-building and collaboration between individuals working within the organic sector, OFRF’s Rebecca Champagne (Conservation Scientist) and Maia Garby (Research & Education Junior Fellow) co-facilitated a Researcher and Extension Regional Meetup (RERM) at the conference.

What are the Researcher and Extension Regional Meetups (RERMs), and why are they important?

Researcher and Extension Regional Meetups (RERMs) are dedicated spaces for researchers, extension personnel, and technical service providers to network at regional agricultural conferences. These unique sessions were developed in response to feedback from organic researchers that (1) meeting other organic researchers/professionals within a region can be difficult, and (2) organic research is frequently left out of broader ag conversations.

These meetups provide a structured space and time for organic professionals, as well as those interested in organic, to:

  • Connect and exchange contact information;
  • Learn from one another about ongoing research projects;
  • Hear from technical service providers about the challenges currently being faced by organic producers in the region;
  • Identify knowledge and policy gaps; 
  • Brainstorm future collaborations;
  •  …and so much more!

Farmers are also welcome and encouraged to attend, as these sessions provide an excellent opportunity to meet local service providers and potentially connect with university researchers looking for organic farmers to participate in on-farm research trials.

Rebecca Champagne (left) and Maia Garby (right) setting up for the Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems (SFFFS) Conference Research and Extension Regional Meetup in San Marcos, Texas, August, 2026.

How does a RERM work?

Every RERM begins with introductions and refreshments, followed by short federal policy updates. Policy updates may cover topics including: (1) how/when to apply for federal research grants through the USDA’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and Organic Transitions Program (ORG), (2) Farm Bill and/or Agriculture Appropriations updates, and (3) participant advocacy opportunities, such as OFRF’s free, virtual Communicating with Legislators Course.

Afterwards, the floor is opened for structured networking, during which attendees may be sectioned into smaller groups. Participants are provided with a short list of prepared discussion questions to guide conversation, although they are encouraged to use these questions as launching points for deeper, more personalized discussions.

Sample discussion questions from the Texas RERM included:

What research projects are you or your colleagues currently working on (or recently completed)? What are some of the biggest takeaways from this work?

What are some of the most common production/non-production challenges that organic producers in your region deal with? Are there knowledge gaps pertaining to these challenges?

Where would you like to take your research next, and what resources would you need to make that happen? Is there a realistic collaboration within this room?

The Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems (SFFFS) RERM is the third of these unique sessions to take place in 2026. Other RERMs were conducted earlier this year, at the High Plains Organic Conference (Cheyenne, WY) and the Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference (La Crosse, WI), bringing together a combined 30+ organic researchers and professionals.

Small-group discussions at the Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems (SFFFS) Conference Research and Extension Regional Meetup in San Marcos, Texas, August, 2026.

A Snapshot of the SFFFS RERM: Who Attended, & What Was Discussed?

The Texas RERM attracted a variety of attendees, including researchers and extension staff from Texas A&M University, Tuskegee University, and Prairie View A&M University, business owners, and technical service providers from the USDA, but the majority were farmers. 

As it turns out, most of these farmers were not certified-organic, although many had experience with sustainable and/or regenerative management practices. Their reasons for attending the session were to learn more about the organic sector (i.e., What separates a ‘certified organic’ farm from a non-certified farm that uses organic practices? What is the process for obtaining an organic certification, and what resources and/or funding are available for farmers beginning the transition to organic?). 

In response to the farmer-driven attendance and interest in organic-sector resources, a portion of the discussion was spent presenting the resources available to organic/transitioning producers through the OFRF Homepage and the Organic Research Hub & Extension Directory. 

Additionally, attendees were eager to learn more about how to conduct on-farm research. Two attendees had recently developed a commercial, organic soil amendment and were interested in finding farmers or university researchers to collaborate with for field-level product trials. Several others were farmers struggling to manage weeds on their farm without using synthetic products, and were curious in trialling alternative weed management strategies. These comments led to a discussion about OFRF’s Farmer’s Guide to Conducting On-Farm Research, as well as the Farmer-Led Trials (FLT) Program. 

Conclusion

One of the most meaningful takeaways from the conference was that there is substantial interest among farmers, regardless of organic certification, in conducting on-farm research and trialling alternative agricultural practices (i.e. regenerative, organic). 

Farmers are professional problem-solvers, whose observations and curiosity about their cropping systems form the foundation for farmer-led research. In Texas, it was evident that the demand for farmer-led research funding, support, and skill-building is there. Farmers want to know how to put their observation-based questions to the test, but need funding and technical assistance in order to do so. 

Farming is a difficult profession, but it benefits when we foster collaboration among everyone in the agriculture sector. Organic production in particular has many complexities that require systems-based research and recommendations. Events like these Researcher and Extension Regional Meetups can help create a strong, active network of individuals and advance organic research and farming.

In addition to these RERMs, OFRF is now offering direct support to organic researchers and extension specialists with our Organic Research Amplification Services.

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 |2026-09-01T12:04:13-04:00September 1st, 2026|News|
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Growing Perennials in the Pacific Northwest: Rodale Institute’s Summer Field Day

Written by Annika Sampson, OFRF’s Donor Stewardship & Engagement Manager

A greenhouse nestled in the mountains.

General Mills donated Cascadian Farms to Rodale in 2022 to become the site of their Pacific Northwest Center.

Nestled between the ice-blue Skagit River and the North Cascades foothills is Rodale Institute’s Pacific Northwest (PNW) Center. For decades, this 90-acre organic farm in Washington state was home to Cascadian Farm, General Mills’ organic grocery line. General Mills donated the farm site to Rodale in 2022, acknowledging the organization’s pivotal role in shaping the future of regenerative and organic agriculture. The site has a rich history–the original owner, Gene Khan, was an organic pioneer in the 1970s who changed the course of organic farming in Washington state.

Washington has a robust and growing organic food system. According to the Rodale Center, there are more than 900 certified organic farms in the state, representing 145,000 acres in certified organic production and $795 million in farmgate sales.

Decades of organic management, as well as current organic market conditions, have made the PNW Center a fertile ground for research, education, and outreach. In late July 2026, the Rodale team hosted a Field Day for local farmers, conservation district professionals, researchers, and regenerative stakeholders to learn more about their latest projects, including cover cropping, aronia, elderberry, and kiwi berry production, and hazelnut agroforestry. They hope these projects will inform and assist local farmers as they navigate increasing climate pressure (the Pacific Northwest faces wildfires, flooding, and drought) as well as manage pests and weeds.

Arianna Bozzolo, Western Region Research Director at Rodale Institute, has big dreams for Rodale’s impact on the region, driven by community. “I’m excited by the idea of being part of the community here. The center is relatively new, but people are really welcoming and looking forward to seeing us up and running, and understanding what we want to do.”

Field day participants walk the fields at Rodale's PNW Field Day.

Field day attendees tour Rodale’s perennial berry plantings.

One of the ongoing goals for the Center is to serve as a demonstration and research hub for farmers, showcasing organic and regenerative organic methods at work. Recently, the team PNW has established several new perennial plantings–aronia berries, elderberries, and hazelnuts–in addition to their established and beloved blueberry fields. Little research has been done on growing aronia in the region, but the initial results of the project look promising: “It has great potential.” Bozzolo reflects. “Our early observations are promising. Aronia is a hardy crop with relatively low water requirements, which makes it particularly interesting to evaluate for diversified perennial systems in this region.”

Rodale also strives to evaluate how organic and regenerative practices can support both environmental outcomes and farm viability. There’s a growing market for aronia berries and elderberries. Aronia is also attracting interest as a potential source of natural food colorants because of its high concentration of anthocyanins, and herbal and wellness companies increasingly seek domestic elderberries for their products. A representative from Mountain Rose Herbs, a supplier of organic herbs and botanicals, attended the Field Day to discuss the growing demand for domestically produced organic elderberries and the opportunity this emerging market could represent for regional growers. Bozzolo shares, “It’s a new market, and a really important one to have. [Mountain Rose Herbs] is a big company and they buy certified organic products and botanicals.”

The farm also has an established U-pick site, which Cascadian Farm ran for many years. “We have the blueberries, and they’re very, very well known. With crops such as raspberries, kiwi berries, and potentially aronia complementing the established blueberries, there may be opportunities to extend the U-pick season and diversify the farm’s direct-to-consumer offerings.”

These new and existing markets are a keystone of Rodale’s mission at the PNW Center. “Ideally, I’d like to see this be a farm that’s up and running as organic and regenerative, demonstrating to farmers that you can farm organic and regenerative and still have an income and support your crew and your employees,” Bozzolo says.

As the Field Day attendees strolled and nibbled their way through the u-pick blueberries, questions about soil health, weed management, and alley cropping floated through the air. As people shared about their own farms, projects, and ideas, it became clear–Rodale is well on its way to continuing the organic and regenerative legacy of this well-loved and well-tended land.

By |2026-08-26T10:11:37-04:00August 26th, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Chestnut Acres Farm

Navigating Parasite Management on an Organic Sheep Operation

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager, and Amy and Madeline Lucas, FLT Program participants

This on-farm trial at Chestnut Acres Farm will test the effectiveness of using an organic oral drench of black walnut powder, garlic powder, and molasses to reduce internal parasite-load in sheep. Results from this study will help organic farmers manage parasites while adhering to organic certification requirements.

Farmers Amy and Madeline Lucas pose with their lambs. Source: Chestnut Acres Farm

Amy Lucas and her daughter Madeline with the lambs of Chestnut Acres Farms.

Nestled in the Tennessee Valley, in Kelso, Tennessee, Chestnut Acres Farm is a small, diversified family operation. Managed by the Lucas family, they specialize in three main areas: seasonal produce, pastured lamb, and free-range eggs. Central to their farm is a commitment to sustainable practices, including the cultivation of an organic orchard. They began the process of transitioning the land to organic in 2023; in early 2026 the farm completed organic certification inspection and now offers certified organic produce, eggs, and lamb to their community.

Organic Solutions to Parasite Challenges

One of the most persistent challenges facing small-scale organic sheep producers is managing internal parasites, particularly barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus), without relying on conventional chemical dewormers. For the Lucas Family, this challenge became especially acute as they worked toward organic certification. Organic certifiers require that any product used on livestock be specifically labeled for use in that species, a restriction that eliminates many of the herbal and botanical products commonly discussed in the small-ruminant farming community.

Over the years, the Lucas Family have employed rotational grazing across 18 acres of pasture, moving the flock every three days in summer, and weekly in winter, as a key strategy to interrupt parasite life cycles. While this practice helps reduce pasture contamination, parasite pressure in young lambs remains a significant concern. Lambs begin consuming grass at just a few weeks of age, rapidly exposing them to infective larvae on the pasture. Finding an effective, certifier-approved intervention to reduce parasite loads during this vulnerable early period has been a persistent need on the farm.

After researching botanical options and consulting with their organic certifier, Madeline Lucas, with the help of her parents, identified an oral drench using a combination of black walnut powder, organic garlic powder, and organic molasses as a promising approach that could be approved for use on her certified operation.

On-Farm Trial Plan

With technical support from OFRF, Madeline and her parents designed a controlled on-farm trial to evaluate the effect of a black walnut/garlic/molasses drench on intestinal parasite load in lambs. The trial uses approximately 18 lambs born during the farm’s 2026 lambing season, organized into three groups (replications) based on birth date. Within each group of six lambs, three are randomly assigned to receive the herbal drench and three serve as untreated controls. Each lamb is individually tagged for identification, and birth weight, birth date, dam, and litter type (single or twin) are recorded.

Administration of the oral drench begins when each group reaches an average age of three weeks, a proactive starting point, before significant parasite burdens are expected, and is repeated on a four-week cycle for a total of three applications. Two weeks after each drench application, fecal egg counts (FECs) and FAMACHA scores are collected for every animal to measure treatment efficacy. To make regular fecal testing feasible and cost-effective, the farm has invested in equipment for in-house fecal analysis.

Oral Drench

Given at 2-4 weeks, 7-9 weeks, and 13-15 weeks. 13mL of solution per 10kg lamb weight.

Process:

Heat 900 mL of water to a boil.

Add 100 grams of garlic powder and 100 grams of black walnut, stir.

Add 300 mL of molasses, stir.

Yields 1300 mL of solution.

Trial Updates

The 2026 lambing season got underway in early March, and, as of summer 2026, the trial is now well into its final stretch. Data collection has proceeded across three groups of lambs, with the first two groups completing all three treatment and measurement cycles. Along the way, the team encountered several real-world complexities common to on-farm research: early fecal counts revealed the presence of multiple parasite egg types, including smaller eggs not typical of barber pole worm, prompting careful review of the data with OFRF staff. One lamb was lost due to complications following a routine veterinary procedure, and a late-season coccidia outbreak in the final group required treatment to protect animal health. Final data collection for the third group is expected to wrap up in August, with a full data review and analysis planned for early September.

A black lamb in the field in front of a white sheep.Source: Chestnut Acres Farm

18 lambs were born during the 2026 lambing season.

“We are very thankful to the OFRF organization and staff for this opportunity. We learned a lot about fecal counting and the different organic parasite treatments we trialed. We have already identified some things we might do differently next year. It was overall a great experience!” 

– Madeline Lucas, FLT Program Participant

Source: Chestnut Acres Farm

Farmer Madeline Lucas with a lamb that participated in the trial. 

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

To learn more about Chestnut Acres Farm, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.

By |2026-08-19T10:21:30-04:00August 19th, 2026|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News, On-Farm Research|
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Why Capacity Funding is Foundational for Organic Agricultural Research

By Vinnie Trometter, OFRF Policy Manager, and Gordon Merrick, former OFRF Policy Director

Both public and private investments in agricultural research are essential. But they play different roles, and the balance between them matters.

There’s a quiet assumption that has been increasingly showing up in a lot of policy conversations: if something is valuable, the private sector will figure it out. For organic agricultural research, that assumption quickly breaks down.

Private investment in agricultural research is, by necessity, focused on outcomes that support profitability, intellectual property development, and, ultimately, return on investment opportunities. Public agricultural research is fundamentally about the public good or for topics that private investment might view as difficult to capitalize. Both are vital for our agricultural system, but they are not interchangeable. Understanding and appreciating that difference is the reason publicly funded agricultural research remains essential for organic agriculture.

The characteristics of organic agriculture make it more suitable for public research investment than private. Organic agriculture is systems-based and prohibits the use of most synthetic fertilizers and agrochemicals, as required by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). As a result, researchers in organic agriculture focus on topics like best management practices, cultivar development, localized pest management strategies, and other production priorities, often at regional levels. Unfortunately, private investment often does not look at these research themes as lucrative. For these reasons, organic research is primarily publicly funded.

OFRF staff tour University of Vermont’s Nordic Farm, which works in partnership with USDA ARS.

Our nation’s land-grant universities (LGU’s) are major sources of public agriculture research. Outside of competitive grants and cooperative agreements with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), they receive capacity grants distributed by the federal government with a one-to-one, non-federal, usually state, match. These grants are non-competitive and awarded on a formula basis to states to conduct agriculture research projects, with the formula being based on a state’s rural and farm populations across national averages.

For land-grant universities established in 1862, capacity funding for research comes through regular and multi-state Hatch Act funding, which supports state agriculture research stations and regional projects. The Evans-Allen Act provides federal funding for research programs at 1890 land-grant institutions, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s). 1994, or tribal land-grant institutions, receive funding through the Tribal College Endowment Program.

Hatch Act and Evans-Allens funding accounts for roughly 30% of all federal dollars received by land-grant universities to conduct agricultural research. Though, since these grants require one-to-one matching from non-federal sources, the total amount these grants disburse to land-grants universities is much larger.

Since capacity funding is meant to support broad agriculture research conducted at land-grant universities, capacity funding has a history of supporting organic agriculture research. However, it is hard to quantify the scope. Just having a project that contains organic research does not mean the whole project was dedicated to it. Regardless, capacity funding is an important source for public agriculture research, for all farmers—organic and non-organic—across the nation.

Public Agricultural Research Makes Outcomes That Markets Won’t

Public agricultural research frequently delivers outcomes that are indispensable to farmers, but are oftentimes unattractive to the private sector from a revenue-generating perspective. These include cultivar development, practice, input, or equipment evaluations, and localized pest management strategies.

Cultivar Development

When it comes to cultivar development, the details matter. The private sector generally focuses on the large commodities and maximizing production and compatibility with their inputs. Public-funded cultivar development operates with a different set of risk/value considerations. There are many examples of cultivars identified and developed through public breeding programs, especially for organic production.

One specific example of this is potato breeding in New York: plant breeders there focus heavily on resistance to golden nematode, a quarantine pest confined to just eight counties in the state. Because of coordinated public management and breeding efforts, the pest has remained geographically limited since it was first identified in 1941. All potatoes grown in New York must be golden nematode resistant. No private company breeds potatoes specifically for New York, meaning the only entity capable of maintaining this protection is the public potato breeding program at the LGU, Cornell University. Without it, growers could lose the ability to ship soil-bearing commodities well beyond potatoes, with ripple effects across vegetable and nursery sectors.

Cover crop research at the U.S. Agricultural Research Station in Salinas, California.

Practice, Input, and Equipment Evaluation

Evaluation of farm inputs, practices, and equipment can be incredibly valuable information for a farmer, and is another area where public research plays an outsized role. Fine-tuning seeding rates, fertilizer recommendations, or grazing strategies often leads to reduced input purchases. That’s good for farmers and ecosystems, but it doesn’t generate new product sales.

Similarly, decades of publicly funded research on cover cropping helped establish agronomic benefits long before robust private seed markets existed. Without that foundational work, many of today’s cover crop value chains would not exist at all.

Localized, Integrated Pest Management

Another highlight of the structural differences between publicly-and privately-funded research is integrated pest management (IPM). Best practices often involve management changes rather than purchases: crop rotation, timing adjustments, cover crops, and mechanical control. These approaches frequently reduce pesticide use; this is good for farmers, ecosystems, and long-term resilience, but not for product sales.

Private-sector research has focused on profitable technologies like genetically-engineered crops paired with proprietary chemicals. This has resulted in a predictable outcome of widespread herbicide resistance in weed populations. In contrast, public research remains one of the few avenues for exploring weed and pest management systems that reduce reliance on chemical inputs, precisely because these approaches don’t generate steady product revenue. You can’t patent a new way to plant cover crops, or hedgerows for pest management; therefore, businesses that aim to maximize shareholder value have no incentive to conduct this research.

What Happens if Capacity Funding is Cut

Congress and the White House have divergent perspectives on the importance of capacity funding for research under the Trump Administration. The President’s budgets for Fiscal Year 2026 and 2027 zeroed out all Hatch Act funding for agriculture research at 1862 land-grant universities. A federal budget that eliminates Hatch Act funding would not just trim around the edges of the U.S. agricultural research system: it would fundamentally destabilize it. Thankfully, Congress maintained Hatch Act funding for 2026 and proposed stable funding for 2027.

Without capacity funding, the baseline support that allows land-grant universities and agricultural research stations to maintain personnel, infrastructure, and long-term research programs cannot be sustained. These funds enable states to respond to regionally specific challenges, maintain breeding programs that span decades, and support beginning or applied research that is essential to farmers but unlikely to win private investment or competitive awards.

Eliminating capacity funding would create cascading effects across the entire research ecosystem. States would lose the flexibility to allocate research dollars based on local needs. Long-running cultivar development and pest management programs would be disrupted or shut down entirely. Faculty positions tied to applied research would disappear, narrowing the pipeline of expertise available to farmers and extension systems. Competitive grant programs, rather than filling the gap, would become harder to access as institutions lose the staffing and administrative capacity needed to apply for and manage them.

Perhaps most concerning, cutting capacity funding would accelerate an already troubling shift in the research landscape: away from farmer-driven, place-based, public-interest research and toward a system increasingly shaped by private incentives and short funding cycles. These conditions are not favorable for organic agriculture research. Once lost, this infrastructure is not easily rebuilt. Breeding programs, long-term trials, and regional research networks take decades to establish and only a single budget cycle to dismantle.

Capacity funding is not redundant or outdated. It is the connective tissue that allows public agricultural research to function as a coherent system. Removing it would weaken not only state and regional research, but the national research enterprise that depends on it.

Where This Leaves Us

In recent decades, U.S. public investment in agricultural research has declined as a share of total research & development (R&D), while private investment has grown. Internationally, we are seeing similar shifts. Between 2019 and 2021, China invested roughly twice as much public funding in agricultural R&D as the United States. According to Virginia Tech’s 2025 Global Agricultural Productivity (GAP), U.S. agricultural productivity growth slowed while countries like China, Brazil, and India continued to see gains.

The reasons for this slowdown are complex, but reductions in public research investment and shifts away from research that improves input efficiency and farm-level resilience are likely part of the story. Public agricultural research is not about replacing private innovation. It’s about ensuring that farmers have access to knowledge, tools, and systems that serve long-term productivity, resilience, and public benefit. Especially when those outcomes don’t align neatly with quarterly earnings.

If we want a food system that can adapt to climate stress, regional challenges, and evolving markets, sustained public investment in agricultural research isn’t optional. It’s foundational.

By |2026-08-11T10:47:54-04:00August 11th, 2026|News, Policy Corner|
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The Senate Farm Bill Fails in Committee: What Happened and What Now?

By Vinnie Trometter, OFRF Policy Manager

When members of the Senate Agriculture Committee awoke on August 6, they already knew that the markup of their version of the Farm Bill was going to fail. However, after the vote, members left with a sense of optimism, even if the prospects of the Farm Bill passing this year had been given a potentially mortal wound.

What on earth happened? And what are the paths forward for organic research programs like the Organic Agriculture Research Extension Initiative (OREI) and the Organic Transitions Program (ORG), the only two programs dedicated to organic agriculture research at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)? We hope that this autopsy will give you an understanding about the lengths organic farmers, organic researchers, and OFRF went to promote organic research in the lead up to the markup, why the markup ultimately failed, and why the path forward could be beneficial for organic research.

SNAP Cost-Share Delay was the Main Hurdle

Democrats are demanding a two year extension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cost-share as a condition to supporting a bipartisan Farm Bill. Prior to the Big Beautiful Bill, SNAP benefits were 100% paid for by the federal government. In an attempt to lower state SNAP error-rates (the percentage of SNAP benefits issued incorrectly by states), last year’s party-line Big Beautiful Bill pushed states to pay a cost-share if their error rates were above 6%. This cost-share would start on October 1, 2027. Most concerning for state coffers though, states would have to pay a threshold of either 5%, 10%, or 15% of total SNAP benefits if their error rates were not below the 6% threshold.

Since states have budgets that are not nearly as extensive as federal ones, many governors are debating whether they can withstand the fiscal shock.

In 2024, Pennsylvania had an error rate just under the 11% national average. Its governor questioned whether its budget could handle administering the program at all. This led Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) to declare a state of emergency so the commonwealth could prepare funds for a spike in food insecurity. Another example is Florida, which was one of four states that had an error rate of 15% and above in 2024. Despite its error rate decreasing the following year, the incoming Florida governor will be forced to pay nearly a billion dollars, doubling the state’s deficit.

Though the Republicans could have passed the Farm Bill out of Committee with a simple majority, the absence of Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made it necessary for the Farm Bill to be bipartisan. As a result, Committee Chair Senator John Boozman (R-AR) asked the White House to back a Farm Bill compromise around SNAP.

The compromise offered would have delayed the cost-share provision for states with a payment error rate of 6% or higher until fiscal year 2029. But it also raises the percentage that states need to pay if their error rates are 10% or higher in 2031 from 15% to 20%.

However this compromise was rejected by Democrats who argued that since six states with exceptionally high error rates received a two-year extension, all states should also be given an extension. Thus, the markup failed. Even though Chairman Boozman has stated that he intends to hold another vote after the August recess, it is unlikely that it will succeed unless more compromises are made.

Where Does This Leave Organic Research?

Efforts to increase investment in OREI and ORG through the Farm Bill derive from the flagship organic research bill, the Organic Science and Research Investment (OSRI) Act. This bill was supported by the vast majority of the Democrats on the Agriculture Committee. However, it had failed to gain Senate bipartisan support, mostly due to the fact that investing in organic research inherently costs money, which Chairman Boozman resists due to his intention in making the Farm Bill budget neutral.

The draft that the Senate was poised to markup did not include any additional investments in OREI or ORG. It also did not include first time authorization of ORG like the House Farm Bill. In the lead up to the markup, organic farmers, researchers, and universities had reached out to Senators on the Committee asking them to invest in the two programs. Amendments to the Farm Bill, which would have done so, were ready to be introduced, but held back when it became apparent that the markup was going to fail.

If more compromises are necessary to entice Democrats, that means the organic community has another chance to improve both programs. Even so, it is not a guarantee that investments in either of them will happen. However, the best chance to advance the bill was undoubtedly last week, since official business will be difficult before the midterm elections.

Ultimately, there is a very real possibility that the Farm Bill does not get done this Congress and will have to wait until at least 2027 to be complete. However, since more Democrats have been supportive of the OSRI Act than Republicans, perhaps any change in Congress after the midterms could improve the prospects of greater investment in organic research.

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By |2026-09-04T15:36:21-04:00August 10th, 2026|News, Policy Corner|
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Two Oʻahu Farmers Share Wins & Challenges Accessing CSP Support

(Versión en español a continuación / Spanish version below)

Written by Mary Elizabeth Kidd, OFRF Communications Associate

OFRF is currently working to increase farmer and community awareness of the federal funding opportunities available to organic and transitioning farms. 

As part of our work with the West region of the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), we’re spotlighting two Hawaiʻi farms—Maigee Chang of Farm of the Fearless Monkey and Timothy Clark of Sunshine Farm Foundation—that received funding and support through the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

Their story offers a transparent look at what it’s really like to work with NRCS: the benefits, the obstacles, and the lessons they’ve learned. We hope other farmers can use their experience to navigate the process of applying for and implementing CSP contracts more easily.

Meet Maigee Chang of Farm of the Fearless Monkey

Farmer Maigee Chang smiling at her farm.Source: Terri Dux, NRCS

Location: Kailua, Hawaiʻi (island of Oʻahu, Honolulu County)

Established: 2017

Acres: 2.25

Production: Okra, eggplant, pumpkin, ginger, turmeric, roselle/hibiscus, and perennials: ulu, dragonfruit, papaya, citrus, cacao, lilikoi, and jackfruit

Certification: Uses organic practices

Staffing: 2 volunteers (in exchange for living quarters)

Markets: CSA, a local organic grocery store, restaurants, and Facebook Marketplace; ulu is sold to a chip company

Social media: Instagram

Read more: Growing Organic at the Farm of the Fearless Monkey from the USDA’s Farmers.gov blog.

Meet Timothy Clark of Sunshine Farm Foundation

Farmer Timothy Clark and his family on a motorized cart transporting sugar cane.Source: Sunshine Farm Foundation

Location: Mokulēʻia, Hawaiʻi (island of Oʻahu, Honolulu County)

Established: 2020

Acres: 15

Production: Mangoes, bananas, ulu, citrus, avocados, plus grazing animals including sheep, pigs, goats

Certification: Uses organic practices, not yet certified

Markets: Bananas are marketed through a neighboring farmer’s CSA

Social media: Facebook

About the Farmers

Maigee Chang (Farm of the Fearless Monkey) has lived in Hawaiʻi for over 30 years and came into her farming career after working at the intersection of local politics and agriculture, where she met farmers and attended farming workshops.

As her passion for farming grew, she found the land that would become Farm of the Fearless Monkey and set about getting the training and support she needed.

Maigee began her journey through the University of Hawaiʻi’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources program: GoFarm Hawaiʻi, where she connected with farmers, mentors, and Extension agents, and continued to strategically plug into support systems.

A dirt road with two fences on either side, showing the entrance to Sunshine Farm Foundation.Source: Sunshine Farm Foundation

The entrance to Sunshine Farm Foundation.

Timothy Clark (Sunshine Farm Foundation) was born and raised in Florida and moved to Oʻahu in 2012, where he started farmwork via permaculture and permablitz projects, working in community and volunteering to plant food and forestry yardscapes in Hawaiʻi.

In 2020, he and his partners acquired the 15-acre land site, which they continue to develop to provide education and, eventually, food for those experiencing hunger. Their first farm, established in 2018, focused on education and permaculture practices.

Their current property is structured as a tenants-in-common ownership model with 27 farming plots and the goal of one day becoming an organic farming zone. Working with CSP has represented a supportive bridge in the journey towards wider production and becoming USDA-certified organic.

We recently spoke to Maigee and Tim about their experience as organic farmers navigating NCRS support systems. Below, we’re sharing the conversation and their valuable insight.

Why Organic?

Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): I don’t like spraying, and I don’t want any of that near my workers or me. Also, chemicals are very expensive.

I trained with OMRI-approved products; I’m comfortable using those, and they’re a lot simpler. I mainly use soap, neem, and BT (Bacillus thuringiensis, organic pest control); if something’s awry, I pull the plant and toss it. We do a lot of crop rotations and companion planting, and I’ve seen the effect of that. With mulching and healthy soil, my plants are stronger.

Tim (Sunshine Farm Foundation): Growing up, my father was a medical doctor who later moved into alternative medicine, focusing on supporting patients who had cancers with organic diets and homeopathic treatments. We always ate organic foods. When I started farming, I didn’t think that there was another way.

And working with the permaculture crew and kind of learning that methodology, and getting into agroforestry, you know, it was never a question of whether or not to use organic treatments for pests or fertilization.

We try to use permaculture and agroforestry designs that make pest management easier, such as attracting beneficial insects and utilizing native plants. This is where NRCS has been helpful.

Context & Challenges

Perennial peanut cover crop growing on a hillside. Source: Farm of the Fearless Monkey

Perennial peanut cover cropping at Farm of the Fearless Monkey.

Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): The constant pest is the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB), so we’re trying to address that using various techniques. We do netting around the crown of the tree, we keep our mulch piles covered and rotate them at least every two months, and send the chickens in to scratch through.

We’re in a spot that hasn’t been hit too hard by the recent flooding; the water flows off of our area. Those storms came when we were doing cover crop, which helped the cover crop, and we didn’t lose anything. The vetiver (cover crop) is great and stopped everything from a massive flow.

Tim (Sunshine Farm Foundation): We had about 100 coconut trees wiped out by the coconut rhinoceros beetle. So we’re doing a pilot program to see if we can control the beetle with about 60 dwarf coconuts in high tunnels with netting (supported by EQIP).

We had about three or four storms this spring (2026), which caused a lot of damage to our property. That said, we’re in a drought area on the island, and water supply and power are a concern.

Our main focus is planting drought-tolerant crops. Water can go out for several days when they’re fixing lines, so we’ve signed up for a backup storage and water-pump program through NRCS.

Working with NRCS

Application Process

Mulched beds in a hoop house. Source: Farm of the Fearless Monkey

EQIP-funded hoop house with mulching at Farm of the Fearless Monkey.

Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): From working with the agriculture committee and then as secretary of the Waimānalo chapter of the Hawaii Farmers Union, I was familiar with NRCS representatives. I got a hoop house through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and then we started working on a conservation plan.

Getting through the CSP application process was straightforward. I knew what I wanted to do, it was covered by the program, and my CSP agent walked me through everything. It’s been a smooth process; she sends me documents and deadline reminders, so it feels manageable.

Tim (Sunshine Farm Foundation): I found CSP through research and initially found it difficult to navigate until I connected with the first in a series of very helpful representatives who helped me begin a windbreak program and subsequent plans. You have to persevere. Our first contract phase was three years ago; now we’re in the second year of our second contract.

Implementation

A row of banana trees and shrubs with fencing.Source: Sunshine Farm Foundation

A row of banana trees and shrubs serves as a windbreak to protect crops at Sunshine Farm Foundation.

Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): We’re doing mulching and cover cropping and crop rotation, paid in bulk at the end of every year. For mulching, it was a five-year contract; payment started at $2,000 a year, then jumped to $4,000. Cover cropping started as a three-year contract, which has been renewed. The reimbursements mainly help cover labor costs for practices I’d do anyway.

Tim (Sunshine Farm Foundation): Our CSP contract includes $6,000 per year for five years ($4,000 cropland and $2,000 homestead), and practices include perennial cover crop (Bermuda grass) and establishing a native forestry zone.

We’re getting compost reimbursements (paying only for the delivery charges), and we have a contract to mulch over our orchard. It’s been great. And I was able to get a tree trimmer as well.

Outcomes & Challenges

Mulched rows of tropical crops. Source: Farm of the Fearless Monkey

Mulching and labor was covered by CSP contract at Farm of the Fearless Monkey.

Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): My soil is amazing right now. The plants are really happy. Mulching has reduced water use, and soil testing showed a pH shift from acidic to alkaline, which changed my fertilizer approach.

One big challenge is soil testing, not just getting the tests, but shipping them to the mainland (Oregon) in refrigerated/cooler boxes within 24 hours, and the airport where we ship them from is almost an hour away. If we could do that locally, it would save a lot of hassle.

Tim (Sunshine Farm Foundation): We get support from everyone at NRCS, they’re great! They’ve really helped us navigate programs.

I am in a predicament, however, because when they came out to inspect, even though I had the animals and I had the orchard, we were categorized as orchard-only, meaning I can’t transition to my original plan of getting the animal management care, such as internal grazing fencing.

So we missed something there and can’t go back or risk losing the program and having to reapply. So we’ll complete the contract as is and then apply for this longer-term plan.

Advice to Farmers

Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): If farmers are considering applying for CSP, you should totally do it. One, because it’s good practice. And two, it’s a good program. For a farm of my size, it wasn’t that complicated.

Tim (Sunshine Farm Foundation): When you’re preparing the paperwork, be sure to think long term. Consider the next five years and what may need to be a part of your application.

I also recommend applying with as comprehensive a plan as possible, including multiple conservation practices, to potentially give your application a higher ranking and likelihood of success.

And don’t forget outreach to other farmers, we have to share what programs we’re benefiting from.

Next Steps & Resources

Interested in transitioning your farm for organic certification in the West/Southwest or beyond? Explore these key resources and connect with mentors, certifiers, and Technical Support Providers (TSP) near you.

Locating Support Providers and Mentors:

Organic Farming Research Foundation resources:

USDA resources:

Connect with OFRF:

Front page of TOPP W NRCS CSP Success Story Takeaways factsheet

Download Takeaways Factsheet

Dos agricultores de Oʻahu comparten sus logros y desafíos al acceder al apoyo del CSP del NRCS

Por Mary Elizabeth Kidd, asociada de comunicaciones

La OFRF trabaja actualmente para aumentar la conciencia de los agricultores y las comunidades sobre las oportunidades de financiamiento federal disponibles para las granjas orgánicas y en transición hacia lo orgánico. 

Como parte de nuestro trabajo con la región Oeste del Programa de Alianzas para la Transición a lo Orgánico (Transition to Organic Partnership Program, TOPP) del USDA, destacamos dos granjas de Hawaiʻi —Maigee Chang, de Farm of the Fearless Monkey, y Timothy Clark, de Sunshine Farm Foundation— que recibieron financiamiento y apoyo a través del Programa de Administración de la Conservación (Conservation Stewardship Program, CSP) del Servicio de Conservación de Recursos Naturales (NRCS).

Su historia ofrece una mirada transparente de lo que realmente implica trabajar con el NRCS: los beneficios, los obstáculos y las lecciones aprendidas. Esperamos que otros agricultores puedan aprovechar su experiencia para transitar más fácilmente el proceso de solicitar e implementar los contratos del CSP.

Conozca a Maigee Chang, de Farm of the Fearless Monkey

Farmer Maigee Chang smiling at her farm.Source: Terri Dux, NRCS

Ubicación: Kailua, Hawaiʻi (isla de Oʻahu, condado de Honolulu)

Fundada: 2017

Superficie: 2.25 acres

Producción: Okra, berenjena, calabaza, jengibre, cúrcuma, roselle/hibisco, y perennes: ulu (fruta del pan), pitahaya, papaya, cítricos, cacao, lilikoi (maracuyá) y yaca

Certificación: Usa prácticas orgánicas

Personal: 2 voluntarios (a cambio de alojamiento)

Mercados: Agricultura apoyada por la comunidad (CSA), una tienda local de comestibles orgánicos, restaurantes y Facebook Marketplace; el ulu se vende a una empresa de snacks (chips)

Redes sociales: Instagram

Lea más: Growing Organic at the Farm of the Fearless Monkey del blog Farmers.gov del USDA.

Conozca a Timothy Clark, de Sunshine Farm Foundation

Farmer Timothy Clark and his family on a motorized cart transporting sugar cane.Source: Sunshine Farm Foundation

Ubicación: Mokulēʻia, Hawaiʻi (isla de Oʻahu, condado de Honolulu)

Fundada: 2020

Superficie: 15 acres

Producción: Mangos, plátanos, ulu (fruta del pan), cítricos, aguacates, además de animales de pastoreo como ovejas, cerdos y cabras

Certificación: Usa prácticas orgánicas, aún no certificada

Mercados: Los plátanos se comercializan a través de la CSA (agricultura apoyada por la comunidad) de un agricultor vecino

Redes sociales: Facebook

Sobre los agricultores

Maigee Chang (Farm of the Fearless Monkey) ha vivido en Hawaiʻi por más de 30 años y llegó a su carrera agrícola tras trabajar en la intersección entre la política local y la agricultura, donde conoció a agricultores y asistió a talleres de agricultura. 

A medida que crecía su pasión por la agricultura, encontró el terreno que se convertiría en Farm of the Fearless Monkey y se dedicó a conseguir la capacitación y el apoyo que necesitaba.

Maigee comenzó su camino a través del programa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources de la University of Hawaiʻi: GoFarm Hawaiʻi, donde se conectó con agricultores, mentores y agentes de Extensión, y siguió integrándose estratégicamente a los sistemas de apoyo.

Timothy Clark (Sunshine Farm Foundation) nació y creció en Florida y se mudó a Oʻahu en 2012, donde comenzó el trabajo agrícola mediante proyectos de permacultura y permablitz, trabajando en comunidad y como voluntario para plantar alimentos y paisajes forestales en Hawaiʻi.

A dirt road with two fences on either side, showing the entrance to Sunshine Farm Foundation.Source: Sunshine Farm Foundation

Entrada a Sunshine Farm Foundation.

En 2020, él y sus socios adquirieron el terreno de 15 acres, que siguen desarrollando para brindar educación y, con el tiempo, alimentos para las personas que padecen hambre. Su primera granja, fundada en 2018, se centró en la educación y las prácticas de permacultura. 

Su propiedad actual está estructurada como un modelo de propiedad en común (tenants-in-common) con 27 parcelas de cultivo y la meta de convertirse algún día en una zona de agricultura orgánica. Trabajar con el CSP ha representado un puente de apoyo en el camino hacia una mayor producción y hacia obtener la certificación orgánica del USDA.

Hablamos recientemente con Maigee y Tim sobre su experiencia como agricultores orgánicos al desenvolverse en los sistemas de apoyo del NRCS. A continuación, compartimos la conversación y sus valiosas reflexiones.

¿Por qué orgánico?

Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): No me gusta fumigar y no quiero nada de eso cerca de mis trabajadores ni de mí. Además, los productos químicos son muy caros.

Me capacité con productos aprobados por OMRI; me siento cómoda usándolos y son mucho más simples. Uso principalmente jabón, neem y BT (Bacillus thuringiensis, control orgánico de plagas); si algo anda mal, arranco la planta y la desecho. Hacemos muchas rotaciones de cultivos y siembra asociada, y he visto el efecto de eso. Con el acolchado (mulch) y un suelo sano, mis plantas son más fuertes.

Tim (Sunshine Farm Foundation): Cuando yo crecía, mi padre era médico y luego se pasó a la medicina alternativa, enfocándose en apoyar con dietas orgánicas y tratamientos homeopáticos a pacientes con cáncer. Siempre comíamos alimentos orgánicos. Cuando empecé a cultivar, no pensé que hubiera otra manera.

Y trabajando con el equipo de permacultura y aprendiendo esa metodología, y adentrándome en la agrosilvicultura, nunca fue cuestión de si usar o no tratamientos orgánicos para las plagas o la fertilización. 

Procuramos usar diseños de permacultura y agrosilvicultura que facilitan el manejo de plagas, como atraer insectos benéficos y utilizar plantas nativas. Aquí es donde el NRCS ha sido de ayuda.

Contexto y desafíos

Perennial peanut cover crop growing on a hillside. Source: Farm of the Fearless Monkey

Cultivo de cobertura de maní perenne en Farm of the Fearless Monkey.

Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): La plaga constante es el escarabajo rinoceronte del cocotero (coconut rhinoceros beetle, CRB), así que intentamos enfrentarlo con varias técnicas. Colocamos malla alrededor de la corona del árbol, mantenemos cubiertas nuestras pilas de acolchado (mulch) y las rotamos al menos cada dos meses, y metemos a las gallinas para que escarben.

Estamos en un lugar que no ha sido muy afectado por las inundaciones recientes; el agua se escurre de nuestra zona. Esas tormentas llegaron cuando estábamos sembrando cultivo de cobertura, lo que benefició al cultivo de cobertura, y no perdimos nada. El vetiver (cultivo de cobertura) es excelente y frenó todo de un flujo enorme.

Tim (Sunshine Farm Foundation): El escarabajo rinoceronte del cocotero acabó con unos 100 cocoteros. Así que estamos realizando un programa piloto para ver si podemos controlar el escarabajo con unos 60 cocoteros enanos en túneles altos con malla (financiado por el EQIP).

Tuvimos unas tres o cuatro tormentas esta primavera (2026), que causaron muchos daños a nuestra propiedad. Dicho esto, estamos en una zona de sequía de la isla, y el suministro de agua y de electricidad es una preocupación. 

Nuestro enfoque principal es plantar cultivos tolerantes a la sequía. El agua puede cortarse por varios días cuando reparan las tuberías, así que nos inscribimos en un programa de almacenamiento de reserva y bombeo de agua a través del NRCS.

Trabajar con el NRCS

Proceso de solicitud

Mulched beds in a hoop house. Source: Farm of the Fearless Monkey

EQIP-invernadero financiado por el EQIP con acolchado. Foto cortesía de Farm of the Fearless Monkey.

Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): Por trabajar con el comité de agricultura y luego como secretaria del capítulo de Waimānalo del Hawaii Farmers Union, ya conocía a los representantes del NRCS. Obtuve un invernadero a través del EQIP, y luego empezamos a trabajar en un plan de conservación.

Superar el proceso de solicitud del CSP fue sencillo. Sabía lo que quería hacer, estaba cubierto por el programa y mi agente del CSP me guio en todo. Ha sido un proceso fluido; ella me envía documentos y recordatorios de fechas límite, así que se siente manejable.

Tim (Sunshine Farm Foundation): Encontré el CSP investigando y al principio me resultó difícil de manejar, hasta que me contacté con el primero de una serie de representantes muy serviciales que me ayudaron a iniciar un programa de cortavientos (windbreak) y planes posteriores. Hay que perseverar. Nuestra primera fase de contrato fue hace tres años; ahora estamos en el segundo año de nuestro segundo contrato.

Implementación

A row of banana trees and shrubs with fencing.Source: Sunshine Farm Foundation

Una hilera de plátanos y arbustos sirve de cortavientos para proteger los cultivos. Foto cortesía de Sunshine Farm Foundation.

Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): Estamos haciendo acolchado, cultivo de cobertura y rotación de cultivos, que se pagan en conjunto al final de cada año. El acolchado fue un contrato de cinco años; el pago comenzó en $2,000 al año y luego subió a $4,000. El cultivo de cobertura empezó como un contrato de tres años, que se ha renovado. Los reembolsos ayudan principalmente a cubrir los costos de mano de obra de prácticas que yo haría de todos modos. 

Tim (Sunshine Farm Foundation): Nuestro contrato del CSP incluye $6,000 al año durante cinco años ($4,000 para tierras de cultivo y $2,000 para la propiedad familiar), y las prácticas incluyen un cultivo de cobertura perenne (pasto Bermuda) y el establecimiento de una zona forestal nativa.

Estamos recibiendo reembolsos de compost (pagando solo los cargos de entrega), y tenemos un contrato para aplicar acolchado sobre nuestro huerto. Ha sido estupendo. Y también pude conseguir una podadora de árboles.

Resultados y desafíos

Mulched rows of tropical crops. Source: Farm of the Fearless Monkey

Acolchado y mano de obra cubiertos por el contrato del CSP. Foto cortesía de Farm of the Fearless Monkey.

Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): Mi suelo está increíble en este momento. Las plantas están muy contentas. El acolchado ha reducido el uso de agua, y los análisis de suelo mostraron un cambio de pH de ácido a alcalino, lo que cambió mi enfoque de fertilización. 

Un gran desafío son los análisis de suelo: no solo hacer las pruebas, sino enviarlas al continente (Oregon) en cajas refrigeradas o con hielera dentro de las 24 horas, y el aeropuerto desde donde las enviamos está a casi una hora. Si pudiéramos hacerlo localmente, nos ahorraría muchas complicaciones.

Tim (Sunshine Farm Foundation): Recibimos apoyo de todo el personal del NRCS, ¡son excelentes! De verdad nos han ayudado a desenvolvernos en los programas.

Sin embargo, estoy en un aprieto, porque cuando vinieron a inspeccionar, aunque yo tenía los animales y el huerto, nos clasificaron solo como huerto, lo que significa que no puedo pasar a mi plan original de obtener el cuidado del manejo de animales, como el cercado interno para pastoreo. 

Así que se nos escapó algo ahí y no podemos retroceder, o correríamos el riesgo de perder el programa y tener que volver a solicitar. Por eso completaremos el contrato tal como está y luego solicitaremos este plan de más largo plazo.

Consejos para los agricultores

Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): Si un agricultor está considerando solicitar el CSP, definitivamente debería hacerlo. Primero, porque es una buena práctica. Y segundo, porque es un buen programa. Para una granja de mi tamaño, no fue tan complicado. 

Tim (Sunshine Farm Foundation): Cuando esté preparando la documentación, asegúrese de pensar a largo plazo. Considere los próximos cinco años y lo que podría necesitar incluir en su solicitud. 

También recomiendo presentar la solicitud con un plan lo más completo posible, que incluya varias prácticas de conservación, para dar potencialmente a su solicitud una mejor clasificación y mayor probabilidad de éxito. 

Y no olvide difundir la información entre otros agricultores; tenemos que compartir de qué programas nos estamos beneficiando.

Próximos pasos y recursos

¿Le interesa hacer la transición de su granja para la certificación orgánica en la región Oeste/Suroeste o más allá? 

Explore estos recursos clave y conéctese con mentores, certificadores y Proveedores de Apoyo Técnico (Technical Support Providers, TSP) cerca de usted.

Cómo localizar proveedores de apoyo y mentores:

Recursos de la Organic Farming Research Foundation:

Recursos del USDA:

Conéctese con la OFRF:

Front page of TOPP W NRCS CSP Success Story Takeaways factsheet

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By |2026-09-02T16:39:53-04:00July 29th, 2026|Farmer Stories, Insects & Diseases, News, On-Farm Research, TOPP West|
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