News

Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: O’Meara Family Farm

Interseeding Sunn Hemp for Soil Health and Hay Production

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager, and John O’Meara, FLT Program participant

This on-farm trial at O’Meara Family Farm will compare sunn hemp grown alone with sunn hemp interseeded with Japanese millet for hay production. Results from this study will help organic farmers determine whether interseeding can improve forage yield and quality while supporting soil health.

A cow and a calf. Source: O'Meara Family Farm

Cows grazing at O’Meara Family Farm.

O’Meara Family Farm is a certified organic livestock operation located in Northern Maine, near the Canadian border. Founded in 1999, the farm grows grain and raises grass-fed beef, pork, lamb, and geese. The farm comprises 160 acres, 110 of which are wooded. In addition, John farms another 100 acres of organic land that he does not own. The farm spans two properties located about half a mile apart. The property where John lives has generally higher-quality soil, while the second has been steadily improved since he purchased it and continues to benefit from ongoing land rehabilitation efforts. The operation has been certified organic since 2005 and has participated in the Real Organic Project since 2021.

The heart of John’s approach is a commitment to the health, happiness, and longevity of his animals and the land management practices that make that possible. His farming vision centers on increasing productivity and building soil fertility, with a particular interest in finding crops that serve double duty: first as hay, then as grazing ground. In past summers, John focused primarily on grazing and making hay from local grasses, but now he is shifting to incorporate summer annuals into his hay production. Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), a warm-season legume known for its nitrogen-fixing capacity and rapid biomass accumulation, is a crop that is common in the south, but is not well tested in northern climates.

Finding a Dual-Purpose Forage Crop

One of John’s goals is to rehabilitate fields that have historically been underproductive. The second property, in particular, was farmed intensively for roughly a century, its fertility depleted over generations. While John has made meaningful progress, there is still work to do. He identified several areas that are weedy or low-yielding and began looking for crops that could build soil health while also generating real economic value through hay production.

Sunn hemp stood out as a strong candidate. A tropical legume that thrives in warm conditions, sunn hemp fixes atmospheric nitrogen, suppresses weeds, and produces substantial biomass in as little as 60 days. For a farm where land improvement and forage production are equally important, the crop’s dual-use potential was a clear draw. John had previously explored interseeding it with companion grasses through a SARE-funded grazing project at the University of Maine involving Japanese millet, which gave him a useful starting point.

The core question John wanted to answer was practical: does interseeding sunn hemp with Japanese millet produce higher quality or greater quantities of hay than growing sunn hemp alone? Japanese millet is a fast-growing warm-season grass with a solid track record in Maine. John hypothesized that the two crops might complement each other: the millet adding structure and bulk, and the sunn hemp contributing protein and nitrogen. Getting real data from his fields, under his management, was the motivation behind applying for OFRF’s Farmer Led Trials program.

On-Farm Trial Plan

Sunn hemp plants blooming. Source: University of Maine

Sunn hemp in bloom.

With technical support from OFRF, John designed a replicated on-farm trial comparing two hay crop treatments: sunn hemp grown as a pure stand, and sunn hemp interseeded with Japanese millet. The trial follows a randomized complete block design with four replications of each treatment, for a total of eight plots. Each plot measures 80 feet long by 13 feet wide, sized to match John’s 13 foot seed drill and ensure at least one round bale can be harvested per plot. All plots are located within a single long field on the farm to minimize variability. Seeding rates are set at 50 pounds/acre for sunn hemp in pure stand, and 25 pounds/acre each for sunn hemp and Japanese millet in the mixture, with sunn hemp seed inoculated with an OMRI-listed cowpea-type inoculant prior to planting.

Data collection will include stand density counts after emergence, biomass sampling from two 2 foot by 2 foot quadrats per plot, round bale weight estimates at harvest, and forage quality analysis through DairyOne’s standard NIR forage package covering dry matter, protein, fiber fractions, and other key nutritional components. This combination of yield and quality data will give John and the OFRF team a well-rounded picture of how the two treatments compare.

Trial Updates

The 2025 trial season got off to a difficult start. An unusually cold and wet spring pushed planting well past the original mid-June target, and a series of tractor breakdowns made it impossible to get into the field. By early August, the window for planting a 60-day crop had closed and frost risk made it too late to proceed. After consulting with the OFRF team, John and the program agreed to extend the trial into the 2026 season. John is holding onto his seed and plans to run a germination test before next planting season. In the meantime, he prepared the tilled ground with a winter-kill oat cover crop to keep the land ready for spring. John remains enthusiastic about the trial and is planning to move forward in the coming season.

A herd of cows on a tilled field.Source: O'Meara Family Farm

The cattle herd at O’Meara Family Farm.

“I wanted to be in the FLT program because decades of farming has taught me that another set of eyes on a topic—especially expert eyes—often leads to creative ideas and better on the ground outcomes.” 

– John O’Meara, FLT Program Participant

Source: O'Meara Family Farm

A newly tilled bed, ready for seeding.

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 sunn hemp as a forage and cover crop, visit the USDA Plant Guide for Sunn Hemp.

To learn more about O’Meara Family Farm, visit their Facebook.

By |2026-07-22T11:02:05-04:00July 22nd, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|
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How One Kona Farm Made Federal Funding Work for Organic Agriculture

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 the experience of one farm—Makili Farm in Kealakekua, Hawaiʻi—that received funding and support through the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s 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 Kathy Vass of Makili Farm

Farmers Kathy Vass, holding a chicken, and Rob Vass, holding a shovelSource: Makili Farm, Credit: John Vass

Location: Kealakekua, Hawaiʻi (west coast of Hawaiʻi Island)

Established: 2013

Acres: 5.8

Production: Coffee, macadamia nuts, cacao, citrus, vanilla, vegetables, tropical fruit, and pineapples

Certification: USDA Certified Organic since 2017

Staffing: Two part-time team members, plus seasonal staff (macadamia harvest)

Markets: Wholesale (grocery stores and local distributors)

Context & Challenges

Coffee flowers.Source: Makili Farm

Coffee flowers in bloom.

OFRF team members recently spoke to Kathy Vass, owner and primary farmer at Makili Farm, sitting on almost 6 acres at an elevation of 1,500 feet on the west coast of Hawaiʻi Island.

She shared a realistic and dedicated vision of organic farming on Hawaiʻi Island, where approximately 85% of food is imported, operational costs are high, and pest and environmental pressures are tremendous. Seasonal cyclones and recent earthquakes bring even more obstacles.

Her commitment to provide organic, locally-produced food for her community is palpable and powerful: “We’re all struggling financially. I know very few farms that aren’t. We’re providing enough income to live on. But the ones I know who are succeeding are organic.”

Kathy has been working in the soil for over 55 years, from her previous career as a landscape contractor in Long Island, New York, to her 13 years of farming at Makili Farm.

Kathy notes that in the last 5-10 years, pests and invasive weeds have surged. The avocado lace bug and the coffee berry borer, in addition to nematodes, continue to wreak particular damage to her key crops; coffee leaf rust has also led to crop loss.

>> Read more: Kathy and five other farms participated in a 2021 OFRF research grant exploring Organic Farming Systems Options for Controlling Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) in Kona Coffee.

The impact of these pests and diseases is the primary reason Kathy sought support from programs like the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The knowledge and financial support they provide have been a lifeline for her business.

Why Organic?

Vanilla bean orchid. Source: Makili Farm

Vanilla bean orchid.

“I have always, for 55 years, done nothing but organic methods.”

Despite so many challenges, Kathy’s commitment to organic practices remains unshaken. She continues, “organic farming is, whether certified or not, so important for the health of our soil, our water, and our air. It’s just so important to me to have healthy food from healthy soil.”

The higher market value for organic products was also appealing; organic coffee cherries get $1 more per pound than conventional ones.

That said, each year Kathy questions her desire to remain certified. “It feels like a burden,” she shared, “Every year when it’s time for me to start doing the paperwork, I weigh whether I really want to keep doing the certification. I would always continue to be organic, regardless of whether I’m certified or not. I’m not sure that the price difference makes a big difference.”

Accessing Support through NRCS CSP

Plants growing in raised beds inside a hoop house. Source: Makili Farm

EQIP-supported hoop house.

Kathy’s daughter-in-law, also a local farmer, suggested Kathy contact Laura Nelson, who leads the Kealakekua Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office.

Kathy first worked with Laura to secure Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) reimbursement for approximately half the cost of a 20-foot-by-72-foot hoophouse, enabling her to increase production.

Laura then encouraged and supported Kathy through the CSP application process. While Kathy was initially apprehensive of another paperwork-laden application process, her existing documentation for organic certification was already comprehensive and helped expedite the CSP application.

Kathy then worked with Laura to develop goals and objectives for a 5-year contract, which reimburses her $5,000 per year to support her conservation efforts.

CSP Goals & Learnings

Together, Kathy and Laura honed in on two goals for the 5-year CSP contract:

  1. Enhance agroforestry with additional trees and shrubs (primarily fruit-bearing).
  2. Continue ongoing organic pest control practices on the farm.
Various trees, including bananas, planted on a farm. Source: Makili Farm

Agroforestry in motion.

In her first year, she successfully planted cacao, bananas, breadfruit, and cherimoya, expanding her market offerings.

She’s now in the fourth year of her five-year contract and continuing the focus on pest management. A few recent tasks supported by her CSP contract: planting 600 new coffee trees, mulching them, and planting a nitrogen-fixing ground cover, perennial peanut.

While much of her work remains the same—tenacious, focused, and curious—the financial and community support help her stay the course and represent her primary CSP wins. “Having those connections with other farmers has been good…really, really good.”

After her current contract winds down, Kathy is considering another CSP offering focused on native plants. She heavily cites the expertise and accessibility of her NRCS agent, Laura Nelson, as a success-driving factor in her experience with CSP.

Advice to Farmers

“Persevere,” Kathy shared without hesitation. She urges farmers to explore as many USDA and other avenues of financial support as possible, never shying away from doggedly advocating for what they need with USDA agents and representatives. She also recommends plugging into the local farming community, including other farmers, your local Extension, and farmers’ unions.

“Find out what’s available, ask questions, and hang in there.”

Ready to Apply? Here Are a Few Helpful Resources

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

Additional Resources & Reading

By |2026-07-17T14:18:15-04:00July 17th, 2026|Farmer Stories, Insects & Diseases, News, On-Farm Research, TOPP West|
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Think Like a Certifier, Lean on a Mentor: Support and Resources for the Organic Certification Journey

Written by Mary Elizabeth Kidd, OFRF Communications Associate

As the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) team continues its work facilitating the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) to strengthen organic farming communities and encourage farmers to transition their farming systems for organic certification, we’re hosting Seeds of Success virtual networking sessions across the country. 

The goal of these sessions is to give regional farmers a platform to share knowledge and ask questions on the organic certification process.

OFRF recently hosted an Organic 101 Seeds of Success for the Northwest region. The first half of the webinar was geared toward extension agents and technical service providers (TSPs), and the second half featured a farmer-led panel discussion. The call began with OFRF team members sharing what those without organic expertise need to know: the basics of organic, the National Organic Program (NOP) standards, and compliance basics.

The three farmer-panelists for this call were April Thatcher of April Joy Farm in Washington, Diane Green of Greentree Naturals in Idaho (a Northwest TOPP mentor), and Beth Hoinacki of Goodfoot Farm in Oregon, whose current role as an organic farmer and past role as an organic certifier brought well-rounded expertise on navigating the certification process. 

These farmers hold over 80 years of collective experience and expertise in organic farming and certification, and the message they shared was unanimous: you simply cannot do it alone.

When it comes to the rigorous process of organic certification, it’s essential to: 1) lean on other organic farmers, mentors, and TSPs, and 2) you must know your WHY for organic farming and become an expert on your farm’s organic systems and the certification process.

Read on as we share key takeaways from the panel discussion. To listen or watch the session, click here (the farmer panel begins around minute 39:15).

Meet the Farmers

Beth Hoinacki of Goodfoot Farm standing in a path between blooming fieldsSource: Odeani Baker, Courtesy of Oregon Tilth

Beth Hoinacki of Goodfoot Farm

Where: Philomath, Oregon (Benton County)

Established: late 1990s

Certification: Demeter Certified Biodynamic® since 2012, previously Oregon Tilth Certified Organic

Acres: 5 

Markets: Farmers’ markets, CSA, restaurants

Social Media: Facebook, Instagram

Read more: Goodfoot Farm: Conservation Champion from Oregon Tilth 

April Jones Thatcher of April Joy Farm kneeling in a field on her farmSource: April Joy Farm

April Jones Thatcher of April Joy Farm

Location: near Ridgefield, Washington (Clark County)

Established: 2006

Certification: Washington State Department of Agriculture Certified Organic since 2007

Acres: 24

Markets: Farmers’ markets, CSA, restaurants

Read more: Working with NRCS: April Joy Farm’s Story and Recommendations

Diane Green of Greentree Naturals Farm standing in her main garden with a bouquet of flowersSource: Greentree Naturals

Diane Green of Greentree Naturals Farm

Location: Sandpoint, Idaho (Bonner County)

Established: 1990

Certification: USDA Certified Organic for over 30 years

Acres: 1

Markets: Weekly on-site farm stand

Social Media: Facebook

Read more: Farmer Stories: Diane and Greentree Naturals

Why Organic?

April Jones Thatcher (April Joy Farm): It made a lot of sense to think about the farm as a living and biological system. Then, if I put my business hat on, it really was market differentiation for us, since there were very few certified organic farms in my county. 

And personally, there was a lot of joy to farm in a way that didn’t require me to handle toxic pesticides, to really get my hands in the living soil.

Diane Green (Greentree Naturals Farm): Organic is the only way I’ve ever grown. I started growing an organic garden in 1970. So, for me, it’s making the commitment to support organic certification; it was just a natural thing as far as motivation, to hold true to the integrity of what organic certification stands for. 

We have new customers and longtime customers who have been with us for 25 years and are frequently saying, “Thank you for being certified organic.” That keeps us growing, and we’ll keep going with that.

Beth Hoinacki (Goodfoot Farm): We’ve been on our farm for 30 years. We were first certified organic in 2009 and then certified biodynamic in 2012. I’ve worked on organic farms for most of my life and actually worked in certification before I started my own farm, so that was super helpful in the certification process and has also just helped with our general farming approach.

Think Like a Certifier: Record-Keeping = Business Planning

Beth (Goodfoot Farm): [As a former organic and biodynamic certifier], I knew a lot about certification before I got into it so nothing surprised me.

One of the most challenging aspects of engaging in certification is that the National Organic Program (NOP) standard is essentially one-size-fits-all. So you need to understand how the standard works and what parts are more challenging for your size farm. Small or large, organic farms are subject to the same kind of regulatory and recordkeeping requirements.

Diane (Greentree Naturals Farm): The paperwork is extensive and when I’m mentoring farmers who are transitioning to become organic, I’m helping them understand the expected documentation and how partnering that with your business plan can help you manage your business in a much more holistic way—looking at the big picture and fine-tuning it to meet all the documentation that’s required. 

It makes a big difference if you’ve got a mentor or a partner helping walk you through that process.

April (April Joy Farm): Understanding the language, documentation, and the steps of what an organic system plan entails can be daunting unless you have an adviser, a mentor, or somebody who’s been through it who can really help translate some of that jargon. 

As a small business owner, there’s a lot of information being asked of you, so you want to make sure you understand how it’s going to be used. You want to be honest and represent your operation realistically and you want to make sure you get a sense of how this information gets tracked.

>> Read more: Explore the first in our Seeds of Success series in From Conventional to Certified, where Lynn Schaal of Life Springs Farm in Twin Falls, Idaho, shared a record-keeping hack that kept his inspections less stressful. (Spoiler: Lynn digitally scans ALL applications, receipts, and documentation using an app like Genius Scan.)

Find Support: People & Resources

Beth (Goodfoot Farm): Other farmers are your number one source. Especially local grower networks. I can’t emphasize it enough. And I would also say our university extension agents, because they’re involved with local growers and networks, so they have really relevant information. 

And thirdly, I would say some of the other technical service providers (NRCS, for example), but I think you need to be careful. I had the experience early on of TSPs that were promoting hot new sustainable practices that didn’t really work for me. When you enter into these relationships, have the information that’s really relevant to your operation.

April (April Joy Farm): I would add that certifying agencies have been helpful too, in my experience–shout out to the Washington State Department of Ag–they have been a great resource and have a lot of expertise. They obviously can’t provide you with recommendations, but certifiers can help you understand the documents and recordkeeping that’s required.

It really is about that network.

Diane (Greentree Naturals Farm): I’m forever grateful to have established relationships and partnerships with the University of Idaho extension in the very beginning, around 1997, when we worked together to develop the first sustainable, small-acreage farming organization in the Inland Northwest. That was the farmers working side-by-side with extension to come up with what that would look like. It was always the farmers working with extension to look at what we need and what’s there. 

Personally, I think empowering the next generation of sustainable and certified organic growers is the best thing we have to offer, and I’ll keep doing it for as long as I’m able. 

We farmers want to learn from farmers, and we need to do what we can to promote partnerships with extension to be allies that serve our communities very well.

Next Steps & Resources

Interested in transitioning your farm for organic certification in the Northwest 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:

By |2026-07-06T14:51:17-04:00July 6th, 2026|Certification & Compliance, Farmer Stories, News|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Sanders Funny Farm

Microgreen Mediums: Testing Jute Verses Soil

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager, and Tiffany Sanders, FLT Program participant

This on-farm trial at Sanders Funny farm will compare the effectiveness of jute fiber mats verses soil as the growing medium for a variety of microgreens. Results from this study will help organic farmers produce healthier microgreens and reduce crop losses.

Farmer Tiffany Sanders stands in front of shelves of seeded microgreens.

Farmer Tiffany Sanders in her microgreen production greenhouse.

Mike and Tiffany Sanders, co-founders of Sanders Funny Farm in Indianapolis, Indiana, didn’t come to farming through a traditional path. With 11 kids, 2 grandkids, and “a revolving door of critters,” the name Funny Farm practically chose itself. At the heart of their operation is a thriving greenhouse microgreens enterprise, where Tiffany grows a diverse lineup of nutrient-dense crops–broccoli, radish, chia, arugula, wheatgrass, and more–sold through their online farm market and delivered directly to customers across Indiana.

Tiffany is committed to growing her operation to make local food easy, consistent, and affordable. Recently her farm and greenhouse became certified through California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). Looking ahead, Tiffany envisions expanding her microgreens line to include more specialty and difficult-to-grow varieties, making her farm a more resilient and diverse supplier. To do that, she knows she needs reliable, data-backed answers about which growing systems actually work, and which ones work best.

Growing Better Microgreens

Since launching her microgreens operation, Tiffany has relied primarily on jute fiber mats, a hydroponic-style growing medium standard in the industry, to grow her crops. Jute mats are convenient, clean, and widely-used, performing well for many varieties. But as Tiffany expanded her lineup and worked to grow more challenging crops, cracks began to show. Varieties like arugula and cilantro struggled with mold and moisture issues on jute. Each failed tray represented not just lost revenue, but a missed opportunity to serve her customers.

At the same time, Tiffany began wondering whether soil-grown microgreens might offer advantages she hadn’t fully explored, like better germination consistency, sturdier stems, more vibrant color, and improved shelf life. These qualities matter enormously in a market where perishability directly affects whether a product can be sold. A tray of microgreens that wilts quickly or arrives limp at market is as good as no tray at all.

The challenge was that Tiffany didn’t have rigorous, side-by-side data to compare the two mediums. Her observations were real, but anecdotal. She needed a structured trial that could tell her, with confidence, whether soil was worth integrating into her production system and, if so, determine which varieties and under what conditions. That question became the foundation of her application to OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials program.

On-Farm Trial Plan

A person clipping a tray of microgreens

Harvesting microgreens grown on a jute mat.

With technical support from OFRF, Tiffany designed a controlled experiment to compare organic soil mix against jute fiber mats as growing mediums for microgreen production. The trial uses a randomized complete block design, with six replications per treatment, running one variety at a time to eliminate confounding variables like differing light requirements and shelf position. Each experimental unit consists of two 10 by 20 inch trays (one soil, one jute), alternated across the six shelves of a dedicated greenhouse rack. Broccoli is a consistent staple of her product line and will serve as the first variety tested, with radish and black chia to follow in sequential trials.

Key measurements include yield by weight at harvest, a cost analysis tracking seed, growing medium, and labor expenses per tray. She will also take observational data on disease incidence and post-harvest perishability, including color and limpness. Watering volume, light cycle, seed variety, and seed quantity are standardized across treatments to ensure a fair and meaningful comparison.

Trial Updates

The broccoli trial is currently underway. Trays were seeded on May 24, 2026, and harvested on June 6, 2026. Early observations during the germination phase noted that jute trays germinated more quickly and evenly, while soil trays started patchier but caught up noticeably by days 8–12, growing taller, greener, and with sturdier stems. By harvest, the yield data told a striking story: soil trays produced approximately 8–11 oz per tray, compared to roughly 3–5 oz per tray on jute–a more than double difference across six replications. Qualitative observations also favored the soil-grown crop for color vibrancy and fullness. Data collection for the radish and chia trials is planned to follow.

a tray of broccoli microgreens

Broccoli consistently does well at Sanders Funny Farm, so it was the first variety to be tested.

“As a grower you hear a lot of opinions about what works best, but I wanted real data from my own farm. This trial has already challenged some of my assumptions and shown me that soil may have some real advantages for certain crops. Having those answers will help me make better decisions, reduce losses, and provide a better product for the families and communities we serve.” 

– Tiffany Sanders, FLT Program Participant

Trays of microgreens growing on shelves with indoor grow lights.

Jute and soil trays are alternated between shelves. 

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 Sanders Funny Farm, visit sandersfunnyfarm.com or follow along on their Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels.

By |2026-06-26T10:31:36-04:00June 29th, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|
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Financial Options for Your Farm: Farm Service Agency (FSA) Loans

Versión en español a continuación.

Access to affordable financing is one of the biggest barriers organic and transitioning farmers face. Whether you’re looking to buy land, cover certification costs, or simply keep your operation running through a tough season, knowing where to turn for capital can make all the difference. 

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers a range of low-interest loan programs designed for farmers like you and can help you secure better rates through a commercial lender. Unfortunately, many of these programs go underutilized simply because farmers don’t know they exist. Let’s fix that. If you’re just starting out or looking to grow your farm, there’s likely an FSA loan designed for your situation.

Which FSA loan is right for me? 

The FSA offers various loan types tailored to specific farming operations, circumstances, and experiences. Read through the list below to find an FSA loan that best suits your needs. You can also use FSA’s free Loan Assistance Tool. 

Operating Loans.

Short-term financing for the everyday costs of starting, maintaining, and strengthening a farm or ranch.

  • Uses: Purchasing essential items like livestock, poultry, farm equipment, feed, seed, fuel, farm chemicals, insurance, and other operating expenses; Covering costs related to minor improvements, family living expenses, and refinancing certain debts; Covering certification costs, approved organic inputs, and the cash flow gaps during the transition period for USDA-certified or transitioning organic producers. 
  • Can be issued directly from FSA, or FSA can guarantee a loan from a commercial lender for a larger line of credit.
    • Maximum loan amount: $400,000.

Farm Ownership Loans.

Long-term financing to buy, expand, or improve a farm or ranch.

  • Uses: Regular loans, joint financing, or down payment options for purchasing land, essential farm improvements, or soil and water conservation and protection.
  • Can be issued directly from FSA, or FSA can guarantee a loan from a commercial lender for a larger line of credit.
    • Maximum loan amount: $600,000 ($300,150 for Beginning Farmer Down Payment).

Climate-Smart Agriculture Farm Loans.

Financing specifically for organic-aligned practices and equipment that reduce environmental impact. Site under review as of 5/20/2025.

  • Uses: Investing in climate-smart practices and equipment, like the establishment of rotational grazing systems, precision agriculture equipment, or machinery for conversion to no-till residue management.
  • Can be issued directly from FSA, or FSA can guarantee a loan from a commercial lender for a larger line of credit. Loan amounts:
    • Direct Farm Ownership Loans: Up to $600,000.
    • Direct Operating Loans: Up to $400,000.
    • Guaranteed Loans: Up to $1,825,000.
    • Microloans: Up to $50,000. 

Emergency Loans.

Loans to aid farmers who have been impacted by a federally declared natural disaster or national emergency.

  • Uses: Restoring/replacing property, reorganizing a family farm; Refinancing non-real estate debts; Assisting with production costs or family living expenses.
  • Direct loans through FSA.
    • Maximum loan amount: $500,000, but the amount a loan applicant may receive is limited to the actual production or physical loss caused by the disaster.

Youth Loans.

Small loans for young people (14–20 years old) for projects in connection with 4-H clubs, FFA, Tribal youth groups, or similar agricultural youth organizations. 

  • Uses: Purchasing livestock, seed, equipment, supplies, or paying operating expenses for the project.
  • Maximum loan amount: $10,000

Operating and Farm Ownership Loans for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers.

Loans with more favorable terms specifically for farmers new to the industry. To see if you qualify as a beginner farmer or rancher, read the definition here. 

Direct Farm Ownership Down Payment Loan

  • Uses: Covering a down payment on a farm for beginning farmers who can’t finance the full purchase alone.
  • Can be issued directly from FSA, or FSA can guarantee a loan from a commercial lender for a larger line of credit.
    • Maximum Loan Amount for a “regular” Direct Farm Ownership loan: $600,000. 
    • Maximum Loan Amount for a Joint Financing or Participation Farm Ownership: $600,000.
    • Maximum Loan Amount for a Direct Farm Ownership Down Payment loan amount works differently. The maximum loan amount under this loan program will not exceed 45 percent of whichever is the lesser amount of:
      • the purchase price;
      • the appraised value of the farm being purchased; or
      • $667,000.

Indian Land Acquisition Program.

For federally recognized Indigenous farmers and tribal members looking to purchase land within their reservation boundaries for agricultural use. 

  • Maximum Loan Amount: No specified maximum loan amount; the amount is based on the tribe’s financial needs and repayment ability.

Highly Fractionated Indian Land Loan Program (HFIL).

For tribal members and entities looking to purchase or consolidate reservation land for agricultural use. 

  • Uses: Purchasing fractionated land with the intention to reduce fragmentation and promote more effective land management, agricultural productivity, and economic development within tribal areas.
  • Maximum Loan Amount: $500,000 per applicant.

Microloans.

Microloans are for small, beginning farmers, niche, and non-traditional farm operations that may not qualify for or need a full FSA loan. There are two types of microloans: 

    • Uses: Essential tools; Fencing and trellising; Hoop houses; Bees and bee equipment; Milking and pasteurization equipment; Maple sugar shack and processing equipment; Livestock, seed, fertilizer, utilities, land rents, family living expenses, and other materials essential to the operation; Irrigation; GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), GHP (Good Handling Practices), and Organic certification costs; Marketing and distribution costs, including those associated with selling through Farmers’ Markets and Community Supported Agriculture operations; Pay for qualifying OSHA compliance standards (Federal or State)
    • Maximum Loan Amount: Operating Microloans provide up to $50,000 per loan.
    • Uses: Making a down payment on a farm; Building, repairing, or improving farm buildings, service buildings, farm dwellings; soil and water conservation projects. May also be used as a Downpayment Farm Ownership Loan or in Joint Financing.
    • Maximum Loan Amount $50,000, which includes any possible outstanding FSA Direct Operating or Farm Ownership unpaid principal loan balances. A loan applicant may have a Guaranteed Operating loan, Farm Ownership loan or Emergency loan and still qualify for a Microloan.

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

How to Apply for an FSA Loan

Step 1. Find your local FSA office.

All FSA loans, whether direct or guaranteed, are processed through your local FSA county office. Find your local office here.

Step 2. Schedule a meeting.

Call or visit your local office to discuss which loan types fit your situation. Bring any records you have about your farm operation, finances, and land. 

Here are some questions to consider: 

  • I’m interested in [loan type]. What do I need to bring to get started on an application?
  • Am I eligible for any loans with more favorable terms as a beginning, socially disadvantaged, or veteran farmer?
  • Can I apply for more than one loan type at the same time?
  • What is the repayment timeline for this loan?
  • Is funding currently available, and is there a better time of year to apply?

Step 3. Create a business plan. 

If you’re applying for a direct FSA loan or a commercial loan guaranteed by FSA, you’ll need a business plan. This doesn’t have to be intimidating! A farm business plan is essentially a clear picture of your operation, goals, and finances. FSA wants to see that you’ve thought through how your farm works and how you’ll repay the loan. 

Your detailed business plan should cover:

  • Your mission, vision, and goals for your farm or ranch.
  • Your current assets (property or investments you own) and liabilities (debts, loans, or payments you owe).
  • What your operation will produce, and how and where you will market and sell your products.
    • This is sometimes referred to as a marketing plan.
  • Whether the amount of income your operation will generate will be enough to pay your business and family living expenses.
  • For organic and transitioning producers, it’s worth being specific about your certification status or timeline, your expected transition costs, and how your marketing strategy accounts for the organic price premium.

FSA provides a step-by-step business plan builder to help you get started.

Step 4. Gather your documents.

Your loan officer will tell you exactly what’s needed, but commonly required documents include:

  • Government-issued ID.
  • Tax returns (typically 3 years).
  • Farm financial statements or records.
  • Proof of land ownership or lease agreement.
  • Business plan.
  • Organic certification or transition plan, if applicable.

Step 5. Submit your application.

Applications can be submitted directly through FSA or, for guaranteed loans, through a commercial lender. Your loan officer will guide you through this.

Step 6. Follow up.

Processing times vary by loan type. Stay in contact with your loan officer and respond quickly to any requests for additional information.

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

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

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

El acceso a financiamiento asequible es una de las mayores barreras a las que se enfrentan los agricultores orgánicos y en transición. Ya sea que busque comprar terrenos, cubrir los costos de certificación o simplemente mantener su operación en funcionamiento durante una temporada difícil, saber a dónde acudir para obtener capital puede marcar la diferencia. 

La Agencia de Servicios Agrícolas (FSA) del USDA  ofrece una variedad de programas de préstamos a bajo interés diseñados para agricultores como usted y puede ayudarle a conseguir mejores condiciones de financiamiento a través de un prestamista comercial.  Desafortunadamente, muchos de estos programas se usan poco simplemente porque los agricultores no saben que existen. Vamos a ayudar a cambiar eso. Si acaba de empezar o quiere hacer crecer su granja, probablemente haya un préstamo FSA diseñado para su situación.

¿Qué préstamo FSA es el adecuado para mí? 

La FSA ofrece diversos tipos de préstamos adaptados a operaciones agrícolas específicas, circunstancias y experiencias. Lea la lista a continuación para encontrar el préstamo FSA que mejor se adapte a sus necesidades. También puedes utilizar gratuitamente la herramienta de asistencia para préstamos de FSA. 

Préstamos operativos. (Operating Loans)

Financiamiento a corto plazo para los costos diarios de iniciar, mantener y fortalecer una granja o rancho.

  • Usos: Compra de artículos esenciales como ganado, aves, maquinaria agrícola, alimentos para animales, semillas, combustible, productos químicos agrícolas, seguros y otros gastos operativos; Cubrir costes relacionados con mejoras menores, gastos familiares y refinanciamiento de ciertas deudas; Cubrir los costos de certificación, insumos orgánicos aprobados y las carencias de flujo de caja durante el periodo de transición para productores orgánicos certificados o en transición por el USDA. 
  • Puede emitirse directamente desde FSA, o FSA puede garantizar un préstamo de un prestamista comercial para una línea de crédito mayor.
    • Monto máximo del préstamo: 400.000 dólares.

Préstamos para propiedad agrícola. (Farm Ownership Loans)

Financiamiento a largo plazo para comprar, ampliar o mejorar una granja o rancho.

  • Usos: Préstamos regulares, financiamiento conjunto u opciones de pago inicial (down payment) para la compra de tierras, mejoras agrícolas esenciales o conservación y protección del suelo y el agua.
  • Puede emitirse directamente desde FSA, o FSA puede garantizar un préstamo de un prestamista comercial para una línea de crédito mayor.
    • Importe máximo del préstamo: 600.000 $ (300.150 $ para el pago inicial de agricultores que están iniciando).

Préstamos agrícolas para agricultura inteligente y climática. (Climate-Smart Agriculture Farm Loans)

Financiamiento específico para prácticas y equipos alineados con lo orgánico que reduzcan el impacto medioambiental. La información sobre este programa estaba en revisión al 20 de mayo de 2025.

  • Usos: Invertir en prácticas inteligentes para el clima y equipos, como el establecimiento de sistemas de pastoreo rotativo, equipos de agricultura de precisión o maquinaria para sistemas de cultivo con labranza reducida o sin labranza (no-till).
  • Puede emitirse directamente desde FSA, o FSA puede garantizar un préstamo de un prestamista comercial para una línea de crédito mayor. 

Montos de los préstamos: 

  • Préstamos directos de propiedad agrícola: hasta 600.000 dólares.
  • Préstamos directos operativos: hasta 400.000 dólares.
  • Préstamos garantizados: hasta $1,825,000.
  • Microcréditos: hasta 50.000 dólares. 

Préstamos de emergencia. (Emergency loans)

Préstamos para ayudar a agricultores que han sido afectados por un desastre natural declarado a nivel federal o una emergencia nacional.

  • Usos: Restauración/reemplazo de propiedades, reorganización de una granja familiar; Refinanciamiento de deudas no inmobiliarias; Ayudar con los costos de producción o los gastos familiares.
  • Préstamos directos a través de FSA.
    • Importe máximo del préstamo: 500.000 $, aunque la cantidad que puede recibir un solicitante está limitada a las pérdidas reales de producción o daños físicos causados por el desastre.

Préstamos para jóvenes. (youth loans)

Pequeños préstamos para jóvenes (14–20 años) para proyectos relacionados con clubes 4-H, FFA, grupos juveniles tribales u organizaciones juveniles agrícolas similares. 

  • Usos: Compra de ganado, semillas, equipos, suministros o el pago de los gastos operativos del proyecto.
  • Cantidad máxima del préstamo: $10.000

Préstamo de Pago Inicial por Propiedad Directa de Operaciones Agrícolas

  • Usos: Cubrir un pago inicial en una granja para agricultores nuevos que no pueden financiar la compra completa por sí solos.
  • Puede emitirse directamente desde FSA, o FSA puede garantizar un préstamo de un prestamista comercial para una línea de crédito mayor.
    • Monto máximo del préstamo para un préstamo “regular” de propiedad directa agrícola: 600.000 dólares. 
    • Cantidad máxima del préstamo para una propiedad agrícola de financiamiento conjunto o participación: 600.000 dólares.
    • Monto máximo del préstamo para un préstamo de propiedad directa de una granja con pago inicial funciona de forma diferente. La cantidad máxima del préstamo bajo este programa no superará el 45 por ciento de la cantidad menor de:
      • el precio de compra;
      • el valor tasado de la granja que se estaba adquiriendo; o
      • $667.000.

Programa de Adquisición de Tierras Indígenas. (Indian Land Acquisition Program)

Para agricultores indígenas reconocidos a nivel federal y miembros tribales que buscan comprar tierras dentro de los límites de su reserva para uso agrícola. 

  • Cantidad máxima del préstamo: No se especifica una cantidad máxima del préstamo; La cantidad se basa en las necesidades financieras y la capacidad de pago de la tribu.

Programa de Préstamos para Tierras Indias (HFIL) altamente fraccionadas.

Para miembros y entidades tribales que buscan comprar o consolidar tierras de la reserva para uso agrícola. 

  • Usos: Compra de tierras fraccionadas con la intención de reducir la fragmentación y promover una gestión más eficaz de la tierra, productividad agrícola y desarrollo económico dentro de las áreas tribales.
  • Monto máximo del préstamo: $500.000 por solicitante.

Microcréditos. (Microloans)

Los microcréditos son para pequeños agricultores nuevos, operaciones agrícolas especializadas y no tradicionales que pueden no calificar o necesitar un préstamo FSA completo. Existen dos tipos de microcréditos: 

    • Usos: Compra de herramientas esenciales; instalación de cercas y sistemas de espaldera; construcción o adquisición de invernaderos tipo túnel (hoop houses); compra de abejas y equipo apícola; adquisición de equipos de ordeño y pasteurización; construcción, equipamiento y procesamiento relacionados con la producción de jarabe de arce; compra de ganado, semillas, fertilizantes y otros materiales esenciales para la operación agrícola; pago de servicios públicos, arrendamiento de tierras y gastos básicos de manutención familiar; instalación o mejora de sistemas de riego; pago de los costos de certificación GAP (Buenas Prácticas Agrícolas), GHP (Buenas Prácticas de Manejo) y certificación orgánica; costos de mercadeo y distribución, incluidos los relacionados con la venta en mercados de agricultores (Farmers’ Markets) y programas de Agricultura Apoyada por la Comunidad (CSA); y cubrir los costos necesarios para cumplir con las normas de seguridad y salud ocupacional (OSHA) (federales o estatales)
    • Monto máximo del préstamo: Los microcréditos operativos proporcionan hasta $50.000 por préstamo.
    • Usos: Hacer un pago inicial en una granja; Construir, reparar o mejorar edificios agrícolas, edificios de servicio, viviendas agrícolas; proyectos de conservación de suelo y agua. También puede utilizarse como Préstamo de Propiedad Agrícola con pago inicial o en Financiamiento Conjunto.
    • Monto máximo del préstamo: $50.000, que incluye cualquier posible saldo pendiente pendiente de préstamos principales de operación directa o propiedad agrícola de la FSA. Un solicitante de préstamo puede tener un préstamo operativo garantizado, un préstamo de propiedad agrícola o un préstamo de emergencia y aún así calificar para un micropréstamo. 

Cómo solicitar un préstamo FSA

Paso 1. Busque su oficina local de FSA.

Todos los préstamos de la FSA, ya sean directos o garantizados, se procesan a través de la oficina local de la FSA correspondiente a su condado. Encuentre su oficina local aquí.

Paso 2. Programe una reunión.

Llame o visite su oficina local para hablar sobre qué tipos de préstamos se adaptan a su situación. Lleve cualquier registro que tenga sobre su operación agrícola, finanzas y tierras. 

Aquí tiene algunas preguntas a considerar: 

  • Me interesa [tipo de préstamo]. ¿Qué necesito llevar para empezar con una solicitud?
  • ¿Soy elegible para algún préstamo con condiciones más favorables como agricultor nuevo, socialmente desfavorecido o veterano?
  • ¿Puedo solicitar más de un tipo de préstamo al mismo tiempo?
  • ¿Cuál es el plazo de devolución de este préstamo?
  • ¿Hay financiamiento disponible actualmente y hay una mejor época del año para solicitar?

Paso 3. Cree un plan de negocio. 

Si solicita un préstamo directo de FSA o un préstamo comercial garantizado por FSA, necesitará un plan de negocio. ¡Esto no tiene por qué ser intimidante! Un plan de negocio agrícola es esencialmente una imagen clara de su operación, objetivos y finanzas. FSA quiere asegurarse de que ha pensado bien cómo funciona su granja y cómo vas a devolver el préstamo. 

Su plan de negocio detallado debe cubrir:

  • Su misión, visión y objetivos para su granja o rancho.
  • Sus activos actuales (propiedades o inversiones que posee) y sus pasivos (deudas, préstamos o pagos que debe).
  • Qué producirá su granja, y cómo y dónde comercializará y venderá sus productos.
    • Esto a veces se denomina plan de marketing.
  • Si la cantidad de ingresos que generará su operación será suficiente para cubrir los gastos de su negocio y familia.
  • Para productores orgánicos y en transición, conviene ser específico sobre el estado o el calendario de la certificación, los costos de transición previstos y cómo su estrategia de marketing tiene en cuenta la prima del precio orgánico.

FSA ofrece un generador de planes de negocio paso a paso para ayudarle a empezar.

Paso 4. Reúna los documentos necesarios.

Su oficial de préstamos le dirá exactamente lo que se necesita, pero que es habitualmente los documentos incluyen:

  • Identificación emitida por el gobierno.
  • Declaraciones de impuestos (generalmente de los últimos 3 años)
  • Estados financieros o registros agrícolas
  • Comprobante de propiedad de la tierra o contrato de arrendamiento.
  • Plan de negocio.
  • Certificación orgánica o plan de transición, si corresponde.

Paso 5. Envíe su solicitud.

Las solicitudes pueden presentarse directamente a través de la FSA o, para préstamos garantizados, a través de una institución financiera comercial. Su oficial de préstamos le orientará durante todo el proceso.

Paso 6. De Seguimiento a su solicitud.

Los tiempos de procesamiento varían según el tipo de préstamo. 

Manténgase en comunicación con su oficial de préstamos y responda rapidamente a cualquier solicitud de información adicional.

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

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

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

By |2026-06-25T14:27:28-04:00June 25th, 2026|Federal Assistance, News, Spanish Resources|
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Brands, Farm Groups, and Research Organizations Call for Organic Research Support in the Farm Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2026 — The Organic Farming Research Foundation, International Fresh Produce Association, Organic Farmers Association, the Organic Trade Association, and the National Organic Coalition are proud to have led a letter sent to the Senate Agriculture Committee today about the importance of supporting organic research, specifically the Organic Agriculture Research Extension Initiative (OREI) and the Organic Transitions Program (ORG), in the Farm Bill.

These National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) programs are the only two dedicated organic research programs under the USDA. OREI is the flagship competitive grant program dedicated to organic agricultural research. It supports research, education, and extension programs that enhance the ability of established organic producers and processors to grow and market high-quality products. ORG awards competitive grants to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices, through research, extension, and higher education. Both programs are critical to advancing innovation, productivity, and long-term competitiveness within the organic market, projected to grow from $76.6 billion in 2025 to over $100 billion by 2030. They also produce valuable resources for non-organic farmers interested in adopting organic practices.

The Senate Farm Bill will build off the progress the House Farm Bill made for organic research, most notably, reauthorizing OREI and providing first-time authorization for the Organic Transitions Program, which was renamed to the Researching the Transition to Organic Program (RTOP). The latter was a great accomplishment because the program was previously receiving funding as an unauthorized program. Since OREI is already a Farm Bill-derived program, this means that both dedicated organic research programs are now tied to the Farm Bill, and any changes to either program must effectively be done through the once-in-five-year legislative vehicle.

The letter was supported by major brands, such as Mondelez Global LLC, Driscoll’s, Organic Valley, Stoneyfield Organic, and United Natural Foods, Inc.. It was also supported by a wide array of farm groups and research organizations, such as the Texas International Produce Association, the “Tri-Societies”, Society of Nematologists, and Arizona State’s Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems. Of course, there was also great support from organic groups across the country, like the Iowa Organic Association, Pennsylvania Certified Organic, California Certified Organic Farmers, the Northeast Organic Farming Association-Interstate Council, and others. All of this shows that there is broad acknowledgment across the food and agricultural space that more dedicated organic research is needed to ensure organic farmers have the best tools and practices to capitalize on the explosive growth in the organic market.

View the sign-on letter.

###

About Organic Farming Research Foundation
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, with a remote team based across the U.S., works to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems. OFRF cultivates organic research, education, and federal policies that bring more farmers and acreage into organic production. For more information about OFRF, please visit our website: www.ofrf.org.

Media Contact:
Ashley Dulaney, Communications Director, OFRF
ashley@ofrf.orf, ‪(518) 310-6771‬‬
P.O. Box 440, Santa Cruz, CA 95061

By |2026-06-09T09:49:27-04:00June 9th, 2026|News, Press Release|
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Farm Bill Victories, Coalition Building, and Fighting USDA Restructuring

By Vinnie Trometter, OFRF Policy Manager

With the Senate Farm Bill now taking shape and USDA restructuring moving forward, there is a lot at stake for organic farmers and researchers right now.

OFRF remains on the frontlines of organic research policy in Washington, D.C. On April 30th, the House of Representatives passed its version of the Farm Bill. We published a blog post shortly after explaining the victories for organic research that we fought for, including reauthorization of the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and the first-time authorization of the Organic Transitions Program (ORG), which would be renamed the Researching the Transition to Organic Program (RTOP).

With eyes now on the Senate, we spearheaded a coalition letter, co-led by the Organic Farmers Association, Organic Trade Association, International Fresh Produce Association, and the National Organic Coalition, urging the Senate to increase funding for OREI and RTOP in its version of the Farm Bill. This was one of the strongest letters we have ever led, bringing together nontraditional organic allies from the specialty crop, livestock, and research communities to make the case that increased funding for both programs is essential to meeting the research demands of a rapidly growing organic market.

Finally, we continue to monitor the proposed restructuring of USDA’s research, education, and economics agencies and the potential closure of the Beltsville Agriculture Research Station. We are deeply concerned about this plan and are working with the broader agricultural research community to prevent and mitigate its worst impacts.

There are two ways you can help right now—and both are free and take less than a minute. Tell Congress to stop the USDA restructuring plan, and tell your Senator to support organic research in the Farm Bill. Your voice matters.

By |2026-06-10T11:07:38-04:00June 8th, 2026|News, Policy Corner|
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Working with NRCS: April Joy Farm’s Story and Recommendations

Written by Rebecca Champagne, PhD, OFRF Conservation Scientist

OFRF is currently working with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a cooperative agreement to help build institutional knowledge of NRCS staff and equip them to better support the unique needs of organic and transitioning-to-organic farmers across the country. As part of this work, we are helping tell the stories of organic farmers and their experiences working with NRCS. We hope other farmers can use this information to learn more about NRCS and feel inspired to pursue conservation programs for their farm. For more information regarding our cooperative agreement with the agency, please reach out to Rebecca Champagne, OFRF Conservation Scientist, at rebecca@ofrf.org.

Meet April Joy Farm

April Joy Farm is a 24-acre certified-organic farm located in Ridgefield, Washington, owned and operated by April and Brad Thatcher since 2006. The Thatchers run a diversified crop and livestock operation, growing organic vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers, as well as layer hens, cows, and goats. Some of the vegetables they grow include beets, cabbage, kale, greens, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, and squash, among many others. The fruit they grow includes apples, plums, pears, and table grapes. April Joy Farm was also the first Pacific Northwest pork producer to receive the Animal Welfare approval, and while they no longer raise pigs, the farm’s logo was inspired by their former farm pig, Rosie.

“I have dedicated myself to caring for our precious soil and restoring relationships between agricultural lands and humans. I love farming because the work is fascinating, challenging, inspiring, and—let’s be real—I love to eat,” said April.

Over the last two decades, April Joy Farm has sold its produce to restaurants, grocers, and through a CSA. Currently, the majority of the farm products are distributed through Farm to Heart, April’s food justice initiative. 

Source: April Joy Farm

“Farm to Heart is a matchmaker – we connect farmers, families, and community partners to reduce food waste and create an equitable food system,” April described. The initiative buys from 22 area farms to make local, organic food available to families experiencing hunger while also paying farmers fairly.

April Joy Farm achieved USDA organic certification in 2007, just one year after the farm started. April wanted to become certified as soon as possible, saying, “I considered organic the baseline if I was going to farm. I wanted to be a responsible steward of the land. Yes, there were market value considerations, but that was secondary.”

When April started the farm, she found many opportunities to create a more functional operation, such as soil compaction, broken drainage tiles, and restoration of previously logged land. “I had the time, energy, and passion to do the work, but needed the financial support and technical assistance,” April said. This drive to be a steward of the land led April to pursue assistance from NRCS, whose various programs and technical assistance can help farmers implement conservation practices to improve their crops and land while conserving natural resources.

Working with NRCS

Source: April Joy Farm

April was “reading anything she could get her hands on” when she started farming, and came across NRCS and its conservation programs. She admits she was initially naive about how NRCS worked, including the agency’s processes and terminology, but was determined to do more conservation on the farm. She has since had 10 contracts with NRCS, starting back in 2009. She has utilized both the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), with multiple practice standards and enhancements under each contract to help meet her conservation goals. 

“CSP has been valuable because we were already using baseline conservation methods, and now we can go above and beyond that.”

Under her current CSP contract, April is utilizing several conservation practices, including native hedgerows to provide a buffer against a neighboring conventional farm’s spray drift, fencing for rotational livestock grazing, cover crop mixes to build soil health, and a riparian forest buffer for low swale planting that filters and improves water quality and provides habitat for beneficial organisms.

April has seen many benefits from implementing various practices under her NRCS conservation contracts. The riparian forest buffer has resulted in stacked benefits, including habitat for native songbirds and beneficial insects, and shade that cools livestock in the summer. The fencing not only helps with rotational grazing, but also keeps deer out of the crops. She’s also gained an understanding of different native plant species and uses that knowledge to think about other places or situations across the farm that could benefit from them.

April credits the local NRCS staff she’s worked with over the years for much of the success of her involvement with the agency and her conservation contracts. “They all went above and beyond to support me and help me through the process, helping me fill out forms, visiting my farm, and clarifying different parts of the process,” she said. She admitted that the staff sometimes had learning curves about diversified organic operations and organic requirements, but gave them a lot of credit — “They wanted to learn and help me be successful. They met me where I was at.”

She’s currently working with Lisa Schuchman, Resource Conservationist for NRCS in Washington. When talking about her approach to working with organic farmers, Lisa said, “My standpoint and mode of planning is really listening to the farmer’s goals for their operation, thinking about what NRCS has to offer, and how to fit them together. I try to offer good customer service, be flexible, and follow the farmer’s lead where I can.”

Lessons and Recommendations

Even though April is now much more familiar with NRCS and the agency’s processes, she’s not sure she’d still be pursuing these conservation programs if it weren’t for the staff she’s worked with, due to the many parts of the application process and the fact that it can be difficult to fit some organic practices into existing NRCS Conservation Practice Standards (CPS). Crop rotations are complex and diversified at April Joy Farm. Cover crops are often overseeded or interseeded, and high seeding rates for multi-species mixes are used (for maximum biomass production). April found that her cover cropping practices sometimes do not match the specs for the cover crop practice standard. For example, she found that the forms for cover cropping were set up for monocultures or simpler rotations. “I’m using an 8-12-species cover crop mix, and not following a specific timeline of cover crop / disk / cash crop. I’m using methods like overseeding and interseeding, and the documentation was not set up for these more complex methods and smaller scale,” April said. This is why it was so important for Lisa to meet April where she was at with the scale and diversity of her farm and make the contracts work for her. Having an NRCS agent familiar with the complexities of April’s system has been helpful for April to utilize the current practice standard for cover cropping.

Source: April Joy Farm

April’s experiences with NRCS also taught her a lot about documentation. Each CPS has specific documentation needed to show NRCS that you’ve fulfilled the requirements of the practice standard, and this documentation may or may not be the same as the recordkeeping already required for organic certification. Understanding these documentation requirements before getting started with a practice standard, and seeing if your organic certification recordkeeping will fulfill it, is a good practice to successfully implement your NRCS contracts.

The lessons that April has learned offer valuable insights for other farmers interested in participating in federal support programs, and also highlight opportunities for NRCS to further enhance its processes and staff training. For farmers, aligning federal conservation programs with an organic production system can be a significant challenge. Organic farmers can benefit from more specialized support in meeting certification standards and finding service providers with organic expertise who can help them succeed. Through OFRF’s cooperative agreement with NRCS, we aim to work with the agency to streamline these connections and get more organic and transitioning-to-organic farmers involved in conservation programs that both reward them for practices they are likely already doing and build their operation’s resiliency even further. 

Lisa offered the following advice to other NRCS staff who may be new to working with organic producers: 

“They’re farmers too—I don’t see them any differently myself. They are growing food and want to take care of the land. Some approaches are non-traditional, but the goals are the same. NRCS is here to help people help the land. Treat them like any other farmer.”

When asked what she’d say to organic farmers who are considering pursuing NRCS conservation programs for the first time, April offered the following advice: 

“Do your homework ahead of time, and understand the process and costs involved. Make sure your contracts are aligned with your business and production model.”

She also recommends having a solid recordkeeping system and flagging for NRCS anything in your contracts that won’t work for an organic operation. April also stressed the importance of building relationships — “You really need to find the right partner at NRCS. Someone who is willing to go the extra mile and make it an effective partnership.”

Interested in NRCS Programs? Here Are a Few Helpful Resources

Source: April Joy Farm

If you’re a farmer considering applying for NRCS programs, here are some helpful links and tips to get started:

  • Explore NRCS programs & initiatives: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives 
  • Connect with your local NRCS office to receive free technical assistance or to start developing a conservation plan: nrcs.usda.gov/contact
  • Know your eligibility. Farmers who are classified as beginning, limited-resource, socially disadvantaged, or veterans may qualify for higher reimbursement rates and advance payments.
  • Ask about the advance payment option early. This can be a game-changer for small farms with limited cash flow.

Download OFRF’s EQIP flyer and CSP flyer for more information on the federal funding programs, including eligibility and application details. Both resources are available in English and Spanish.

This case study was produced with support from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) under Cooperative Agreement No. FBC24CPT0013867. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USDA-NRCS.

All photos credit April Joy Farm.

By |2026-06-12T12:20:25-04:00June 4th, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Perkins’ Good Earth Farm

Tackling Aphids from the Inside Out: Nutrition, Sap Analysis, and Tomato Health

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager, and Dan Perkins, FLT Program participant

This project at Perkins’ Good Earth Farm will evaluate whether foliar nutrition can improve tomato health and reduce aphid pressure through proactive nutrient management. Results from this study will help organic vegetable growers better understand the impact of timing on aphid interventions.

Farmer Dan Perkins with a foliar sprayer.

Farmer Dan Perkins with his backpack sprayer.

Dan Perkins farms at Perkins’ Good Earth Farm, a certified organic, diversified vegetable operation that utilizes no-till, permanent deep-compost beds. Located in De Motte, Indiana, they grow produce and 18,000 bulbs of hardneck garlic for a 200 member CSA, on-farm stand, commercial kitchen, and local wholesale accounts.

In addition to their garlic focus, Dan has spent years refining his approach to high tunnel tomato production, guided by a commitment to proactive plant health management and ecological balance. His farm includes five high tunnels dedicated to tomato production, each featuring long east-west beds that support intensive, season-extended growing.

With an eye toward both soil health and market quality, Dan is invested in understanding the connection between plant nutrition and pest resilience. His work with sap analysis and customized foliar feeding reflects a broader vision: growing crops that are nutritionally robust, naturally resistant to pressure from pests, and consistently high in quality for his customers.

A Proactive Approach to Aphids

For many high tunnel tomato growers, aphids are a recurring and costly challenge. For Dan Perkins, the question has never simply been how to eliminate aphids, it’s been why are they there in the first place? Dan’s approach to pest management is rooted in plant physiology: the hypothesis that plants with well-balanced nutrition are inherently less attractive to aphids. Specifically, Dan has observed that plants with elevated free nitrates, which can signal nutritional imbalance, may be more susceptible to aphid colonization, as those compounds serve as a ready food source for the insects.

Dan has been exploring sap analysis as a proactive diagnostic tool, likening it to “blood work” for his tomato plants. Unlike standard soil or tissue tests, sap analysis captures a real-time snapshot of what nutrients are circulating within the plant, identifying imbalances before visible symptoms appear. Working with Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA), Dan formulates customized foliar sprays based on sap analysis results that deliver chelated ions directly to plant tissue to rapidly correct deficiencies and support overall plant immunity.

This integrated approach of reading the plant, responding with precision, and then measuring the result, reflects Dan’s broader farming philosophy. Rather than reacting to pest outbreaks after the fact, he wants to understand the nutritional conditions that allow aphid populations to take hold, allowing him to intervene earlier and more intelligently.

On-Farm Trial Plan

This figure shows the randomized tomato plots being used in the trial.

With technical support from OFRF, Dan is conducting a randomized, replicated trial in his propagation house to investigate how the timing of sap analysis-guided foliar feeding affects aphid populations, yield, and tomato nutrient density. The trial uses 84 ‘Cuba Libre’ indeterminate slicer tomato plants arranged across two adjacent beds, with three treatment groups: a control (no foliar spray), an early spray (first application approximately two weeks post-transplant), and a late spray (first application at the economic threshold for aphid damage). Each treatment is replicated four times across plots of five plants each, with buffer plants sprayed with the early treatment to minimize drift between plots.

Sap samples will be collected before and after each foliar application across all treatment groups to track changes in plant nutrition and support the development of a predictive nutritional model. Aphid populations will be monitored weekly by a designated farm team member, using a consistent method of flagging representative infested leaves at the top, middle, and bottom of the three central plants in each plot. Yield will be tracked by marketable grade (A and B) and unmarketable categories. Fruit samples will be submitted for nutrient density analysis through an outside lab. The design also includes a built-in flexibility: if aphid pressure warrants a second spray in the early group, those plots can be converted to an “early + late” treatment, providing a practical real-world comparison of proactive versus threshold-based intervention.

Trial Updates

Tomatoes have been planted for Dan’s trial, and the second round of sap analysis has been conducted. Check back later in the season for the results!

Farmers at Perkins Good Earth farm plant tomatoes in a high tunnel.

Dan planted ‘Cuba Libre’ slicer tomato plants across two adjacent high tunnel beds.

“I applied for the FLT program to conduct research on specific production challenges on my farm. Additionally, being part of a cohort of other farmers sounded fun; farming can be lonely, so connecting with other similarly-minded farmers is important. Working with Mary and Heather has been like having my own research support team. They ensure I stay on task during the busy season and that my questions get answered in a rigorous and valid way.” 

– Dan Perkins, FLT Program Participant

A tomato plant with the label "buffer."

Two buffer plants are placed in between spray groups. 

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 Sap Testing visit ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/CV004

To learn more about Perkins’ Good Earth Farm visit perkinsgoodearthfarm.com/

By |2026-06-09T15:35:11-04:00May 29th, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|
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NRCS and Organic Producers: Organic Participation in Conservation Programs

By Rebecca Champagne, PhD, OFRF Conservation Scientist, Becky Schewe, PhD, NSAC Research & Policy Analyst, and Gordon Merrick, J.D., former OFRF Policy & Programs Director

This is part two of a two-part blog post series highlighting NRCS conservation programs, how these programs have been utilized by organic producers over the past several years, and how USDA can invest more in organic. Read part one here!

Organic in EQIP and CSP

The Natural Resources Conservation Service, known as NRCS, is a federal agency within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). NRCS supports the adoption of conservation practices through federal programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and helps producers and landowners achieve conservation goals to enhance the long-term sustainability of US agriculture. Certified organic farmers and those in the process of transitioning to organic are already using conservation practices such as diverse crop rotations, cover crops, rotational grazing, and nutrient management to meet robust certification requirements and National Organic Program (NOP) regulations. However, these producers’ involvement in federal conservation programs is lacking. 

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, there are 21,488 organic farms in the United States—and organic accounts for 6% of total U.S. food sales and 15% of all produce sales. Yet in 2024, only 1,298 organic producers held EQIP contracts and just 323 held CSP contracts (Table 1).

While these numbers represent an encouraging uptick driven by an influx of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding in 2023 and 2024 (Table 1), they still reflect that only a small fraction of the nation’s organic producers are being reached by these programs (Figures 1-3), pointing to significant room for growth in the USDA’s conservation support for the organic sector. Additionally, for both conservation programs, the top 10 states with the most contract obligation dollars account for a large percentage of the funding allocations (Figure 4).

Cover crop in the field at Mora Mora Farm.Source: Mora Mora Farm
A cover crop is part of a CSP contract at Mora Mora Farm in Troutdale, OR. Read more: “Conservation at Work: Cover Cropping through CSP at Mora Mora Farm” blogpost.
Table that shows a very small percentage of federal funds for EQIP and CSP have went to organic producers from 2018-2025.

Given the conservation practices that are inherent to organic production, more efforts should be made to engage organic and transitioning-to-organic producers in these conservation programs, particularly small-scale farms and underrepresented states.

Insight from this USDA data is supported by organic farmer interviews, which reveal a number of barriers to conservation program participation (Whelan et al., 2024). When farmers have a greater understanding of these programs and have positive interactions with the agency, the conservation programs are more well-received by the farmer, who is then more likely to pursue them. On the other hand, many organic farmers find that the programs are not designed for organic operations, that staff knowledge of organic systems is lacking, and the overall administrative burdens of the programs outweigh any economic benefit. Given this information, the case for investing more in organic producers and streamlining participation is clear.

Organic engagement with both EQIP and CSP has varied over recent years, as seen in Table 1 above. Both programs show their lowest organic contract acreage in 2019, the first year covered by the current federal Farm Bill that funds both programs. This decline in 2019 is likely due to the transition to the new Farm Bill and disruptions caused by changes to how the NRCS Organic Initiative was funded. While the changes ultimately increase funding for organic farms, restructuring payment rules can cause temporary administrative delays and disruptions to enrolling new organic contracts.

Both EQIP and CSP enrolled their highest number of organic contracts in 2024. Combined, EQIP and CSP distributed approximately $94.7 million to organic farmers in 2024, roughly three times the amount in 2018. This increased support is a result of the influx of funding available from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for NRCS conservation programs. Unfortunately, both EQIP and CSP saw a decline in the number of organic contracts awarded in 2025, likely related to the widespread service disruptions experienced due to NRCS staffing losses, a long-lasting government shutdown, and funding delays.

Pie charts show a small percentages of EQIP and CSP funding that goes to organic producers, 2-3%.

Most Commonly Used Practice Standards

Farmers with NRCS EQIP or CSP contracts work with their NRCS staff to adopt practices that are best suited to their farm and the natural resource needs of their area. The practices they ultimately end up implementing as part of their contracts must come from a list of NRCS Conservation Practice Standards (CPS). Think of them as a sort of menu of approved conservation activities for which farmers can receive technical and financial assistance to implement. There are hundreds of standards covering everything from installing irrigation systems to planting buffer zones around waterways, and NRCS staff work with farmers to identify which ones are the best fit for their land and goals. NRCS state technical committees also inform staff decision-making in an advisory capacity to ensure proper recommendations are given.

The list to the right identifies the NRCS Conservation Practice Standards (CPS) that were most commonly used by organic and transitioning-to-organic producers under EQIP and CSP contracts in 2024. These practice standards are listed alphabetically, and standards with an asterisk (*) indicate they are considered a priority under the new USDA Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program (described below).

The most commonly used Conservation Practice Standards:

Underutilized Conservation Practice Standards

Organic farmers use many different practices to work with nature and mirror ecological systems. A close look at the practice standards most often used by organic producers in FY2024 also reveals many that are being underutilized in organic systems (Table 2), and should be considered by NRCS planners while doing farm assessments, given the practice standards’ fit with organic practices and principles.

The practices listed below represent untapped opportunities for organic farmers and their NRCS partners. These practices are well-suited to organic management and are already available on NRCS’s menu of conservation practices. Investing in NRCS staff training and outreach on organic systems, and in stronger outreach to organic communities, could help address this gap and underutilization.

Table shows ten conservation practice standards that are underutilized by organic producers, alongside the practices' benefits.

State Level Trends & Outreach

Several states have organic industries that are currently underserved by CSP and EQIP organic contracts. When comparing the size of the organic acreage in a state to the NRCS organic contract acreage, thirteen states show a particularly large gap (Figure 4).

Colorado and Wyoming both have organic acreage that places them in the top one-third of all states, but NRCS organic contract acreage that is in the bottom one-third of all states (USDA NASS, 2021). Organic producers in these two Western states are particularly underserved by NRCS organic contracts. 

Montana, North Dakota, and Ohio all have organic acreage in their states that places them in the top one-third of all states, but NRCS organic contract acreage is only in the middle one-third of all states, meaning their organic producers are also poorly covered by NRCS organic contracts, although to a slightly lesser degree. 

Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, and Virginia all have organic acreage that places them in the middle one-third of all states, but NRCS organic contract acreage that is in the lowest one-third of all states, again demonstrating a significant gap between the extent of the organic farming in a state and organic participation in NRCS CSP and EQIP contracts. 

The map in Figure 4 shows the extent of organic acreage in a state (the background color) and the total NRCS obligations to organic contracts in that state (the circles). The thirteen underserved states described above are highlighted with red borders.In the Midwest and Plains regions, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Montana produce a significant amount of organic corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, livestock, and poultry, but have relatively few organic contracts with CSP and EQIP. 

A map of the United States shows organic acreage and organic conservation contracts in each state, and reveals underserved organic sectors in some states.

According to USDA NASS data (2021), organic livestock sales in Nebraska were valued at $106 million in 2021, and organic egg sales in Montana were valued at $23 million. Indiana’s organic livestock and poultry sales combined were valued at  $110 million in 2021. Ohio and Kentucky’s organic sales grew by 52% and 84%, respectively, from 2019 to 2021 due to rising consumer demand for organic products. Texas, which is ranked 13th in the country for the number of organic businesses, contributes $572 million in organic sales but only represented 26 conservation program contracts in 2024.

Similarly, in southern states such as North and South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia—where many high-value organic specialty crops, such as fruits and vegetables, are grown—only 95 contracts were awarded in 2024, despite 1,005 organic farms across these four states (Figure 4). For more information regarding organic at a state level, check out OFRF’s downloadable state-by-state guides. 

These states greatly contribute to total organic acreage and sales, but have few conservation program contracts relative to other states (Figure 4), and could benefit from greater outreach by NRCS to boost organic and transitioning-to-organic farmer enrollment in EQIP and CSP. By boosting organic producer involvement in these federal programs, the organic sector can continue to grow and meet consumer demand, contributing to domestic agricultural conservation and economic vitality.

Get Involved

Organic & Transitioning-to-Organic Farmers

We often hear that farmers may be hesitant to reach out to their local NRCS office. It is important to remember that NRCS wants to help all farmers with their conservation and land stewardship goals. We encourage you to stop by your local office and introduce yourself, and talk about the importance of the organic farms in your county and state. Establishing these relationships is an important first step and could open the door for other farmers as well.

We also encourage you to contact your elected officials to discuss the importance of farming in your community and how funding for organic research programs benefits conservation practices in both organic and conventional systems. Not sure how to get started? Check out our free, online Communicating with Legislators email course and learn how to share your story and influence the policies shaping the future of food and farming. You can also learn more about NRCS and the agency’s conservation programs on our website – https://ofrf.org/nrcs/.

NRCS

As important as it is for farmers to contact their local NRCS office, it is equally important for NRCS planners to reach out to organic farmers in their region. Letting farmers know about the technical and financial assistance that is available for them, regardless of what kind of operation they run, will go a long way in getting more farmers in the door. Farming practices that are foundational to organic operations and boost conservation and natural systems can also be utilized on conventional farms, strengthening regional farming as a whole.

We encourage NRCS staff to lean on organic farming organizations for resources and research surrounding organic systems. OFRF’s resources page and Organic Research Hub offer many free resources to help you build knowledge of organic farming. You can further increase your organic literacy by checking out internal agency documents such as Technical Note 12 and the NRCS Organic Farming Handbook.

References:

USDA NASS. (2021). Organic Agriculture Survey. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Organic_Production/index.php. 

Whelan, S.J., Orlander, D., Balsam, J., & Dimitri, C. (2024). Fitting a square peg in a round hole: Applying U.S. farm policy to organic farms. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 13(4), 135–152. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2024.134.002. 

By |2026-05-20T14:03:18-04:00May 20th, 2026|Federal Assistance, News|
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