March 22, 2019 – Recordings from the 2019 Organic Agriculture Research Forum held in February are now posted. There are 15 sessions covering a wide range of topics available to view. View 2019 Organic Agriculture Research Forum sessions.
Thanks to eOrganic for recording the sessions and making them available!
March 12, 2019 – By Lauren Snyder, Research & Education Associate, OFRF
March 12, 2019 – As I was eating my breakfast this morning, I looked out the window and caught a glimpse of a bobcat passing through our field. It was such an incredible way to start the day; feeling inspired by nature and grateful to live in such a beautiful environment. However, my cheery mood quickly evaporated when I got to the office and skimmed the latest headlines. These days, it seems every time we open our devices, we are confronted with another bleak article explaining that “we’re going to hell in a handbasket,” as one of my mentors likes to put it.
For example, many of us have heard that there will likely be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050, and we are already experiencing the devastating effects of anthropogenic climate change in the form of more frequent and severe fires, floods, droughts, and storms. Now, add to that depressing list the alarming news from a recent scientific review revealing dramatic losses in insect biodiversity that could lead to the extinction of 40% of the world’s insect species over the next few decades (Sánchez-Bayo & Wyckhuys, 2019). With this news, you may be tempted to throw up your hands in frustration and walk away, but I encourage you to read on because this is an issue you have the power to tackle—just by eating. Let me explain.
The Problem
We are living through the sixth major extinction—species around the globe are disappearing at never-before-seen rates. While most attention is focused on vertebrate species loss, such as mammals and birds, a recent article in the journal of Biological Conservation indicates that the local extinction rate of insect species is eight times higher than that of vertebrates. That is something we should all be very concerned about. As the authors of the study explain, “because insects constitute the world’s most abundant and speciose animal group and provide critical services within ecosystems, such an event cannot be ignored and should prompt decisive action to avert a catastrophic collapse of nature’s ecosystems.”
Insects may be more discrete than their charismatic vertebrate counterparts, but the ramifications of their dramatic decline will be anything but inconspicuous. Individually unassuming, insects comprise roughly one gigaton of biomass carbon on Earth (Bar-on et al., 2018) and support a number of valuable services that we rely on every day, such as pollination, pest control, and nutrient cycling (Aizen et al., 2009). Insects also play an essential role as food resources for many vertebrates, including moles, lizards, birds, bats, and fish.
The new study documents a reduction in a large number of insect species concurrent with an increase in a small number of adaptable (often non-native) species that are filling vacated niches. The overall result is that insect communities are, in general, becoming more uniform and less diverse. This shift will have major repercussions for the ecosystem services provided by insects.
The mass decline we are witnessing in insects is particularly concerning because it includes not only specialist species, which rely on a specific habitat or resource and are therefore more susceptible to subtle shifts in the environment, but also generalist species, which we would expect to be more resilient to external stressors because they tend to be more flexible in terms of their food and/or living preferences. The fact that we see a decline in both specialist and generalist insects suggests the causes of the decline are not isolated to specific habitats or traits, but are more broad-reaching and affect traits shared among all insects.
The Causes
So what underlies this broad decline in insect diversity and abundance? While there are several causes, the biggest culprit appears to be agriculture; or more specifically, intensive agricultural practices that rely on the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. “The intensification of agriculture over the past six decades stands as the root cause of the problem, and within it the widespread, relentless use of synthetic pesticides is a major driver of insect losses in recent times (Dudley & Alexander, 2017),” says the review.
Habitat loss and pollution are the biggest drivers of insect declines and both are associated with modern day agriculture. As the review describes, in the first half of the 20thcentury, the conversion of forests, wetlands, grasslands, and other natural habitats to agriculture in North America and Europe negatively affected overall biodiversity. Today, roughly 40% of terrestrial surfaces are dedicated to agricultural uses (FAO 2009). These land use changes negatively affected insect communities, but we began to see even larger insect declines during the Green Revolution when traditional, low-input farming practices were largely replaced by industrial practices heavily reliant on synthetic inputs to control pests and support crop yields. While the changes associated with the Green Revolution did not necessarily involve further loss of natural habitats, the widespread implementation of monocultures led to a significant reduction in insect biodiversity—creating prime conditions for agricultural pests to flourish. According to the review’s authors, “the conclusion is clear: unless we change our ways of producing food, insects as a whole will go down the path of extinction in a few decades.”
How We Can Solve It
Ironically, while agriculture has been identified as one of the main drivers of the major insect decline, it also has potential to be the solution. The solution, say the authors of the review, requires “a rethinking of current agricultural practices, in particular a serious reduction in pesticide usage and its substitution with more sustainable, ecologically-based practices.”
Organic agriculture has the potential to provide this solution, as it prohibits the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and therefore reduces environmental pollution associated with the reduced abundance and diversity of insects. A recent publication in Nature demonstrated that organic farming systems enhanced pest control services compared to conventional systems and that implementation of organic practices can reduce the use of synthetic pesticides (Muneret et al. 2018). Moreover, best management of organic systems involves implementing practices such as wildflower strips, hedgerows, and diversified crop rotations, which have been shown to enhance the abundance of wild insect species (Kremen & Merenlender, 2018).
This is where you, the reader, come into the story because you have the power to change the way we grow our food. Remember how I said you can tackle this issue just by eating? Well, by electing to eat organically produced food, you are sending a message that you care about where your food comes from and the impact its production has on the environment and its inhabitants. Eating organic supports farmers who implement practices that promote biodiversity and good stewardship of the land.
It can be debilitating to confront the myriad of seemingly apocalyptic environmental issues our society is facing, but there are straightforward decisions you can make today to resolve these issues. And, it all starts with what you’re putting on your plate.
References:
Aizen, M. A., Garibaldi, L. A., Cunningham, S. A., Klein, A. M. 2009. How much does agriculture depend on pollinators? Lessons from long-term trends in crop production. Ann. Bot. 103: 1579-1588.
Bar-On, Y. M., Phillips, R., Milo, R. 2018. The biomass distribution on Earth. PNAS. 115 (25): 6506-6511.
Dudley, N., Attwood, S. J., Goulson, D., Jarvis, D., Bharucha, Z. P., Pretty, J. 2017. How should conservationists respond to pesticides as a driver of biodiversity loss in agroecosystems? Bio. Conserv. 209: 449-453.
FAO 2009. Statistics from www.faostat.fao.org, Rome, Italy: FAO
Kremen, C., and A. M. Merenlender. 2018. Landscapes that work for biodiversity and people. Science. 362.
May, R. M., 2010. Ecological science and tomorrow’s world. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 365: 41-47.
Muneret, L., Mitchell, M., Seufert, V., Aviron, S. Djoudi, E. A., Pétillon, J., Plantegenest, M., Thiéry, D., Rusch, A. 2018. Evidence that organic farming promotes pest control. Nature. 1: 361-368.
Sánchez-Bayo, F., and K. A. G.Wyckhuys. 2019. Worldwide decline of the entomofauna: A review of its drivers. Biological Conservation. 232: 8-27.
March 7, 2019 – Despite the rain and wind that blew through Southern California yesterday, hundreds of organic supporters made their way to the National Grove of Anaheim for OFRF’s all-organic luncheon. The meal, the people, and the atmosphere make this traditional kick-off to Expo West a much-loved tradition. The event raised over $100,000 for OFRF’s research, education, and advocacy programs. We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended and to all of the supporters that made this event a success.
Legends in the organic industry mixed with the next generation of movers and shakers as they enjoyed house made chips, guacamole, and a variety of organic beverages.
OFRF’s Executive Director, Brise Tencer, joked that there had to be at least one person there that has attended every lunch since it it began 22 years ago.
Delicious as always, the meal featured 100% organic ingredients deftly prepared by chefs Chris Blobaum, Donna Prizgintas, and Beth Miller, who have been volunteering their time and spectacular culinary skills for the better part of 20 years.
As guests dug into a taco bar with everything from jicama salad and roasted corn relish to slow roasted pork with chiles and honey, they enjoyed an inspiring program featuring Brise Tencer, Allie Mentzer, Advocacy Senior Manager, at National Co+op Grocers, and Heather Darby, an organic farmer and Agronomic and Soils Specialist at the University of Vermont.
Heather inspired the crowd with the story of how transitioning to organic production saved the farm that has been in her family for seven generations. As one of the longest serving members on the OFRF board, Heather explained that she devotes so much of her time because of the work OFRF does to help farmers and the value of research and education in advancing organic agriculture. Allie echoed Heather’s sentiments as she discussed the importance of local food systems and investing in organic research. We appreciate both of our speakers for their inspiration and support.
We are extremely grateful to Albert’s Organic for coordinating logistics and making sure all of our ingredients got delivered.
We’d also like to express a special thank you to Javier Zamora of JSM Organics for the beautiful organic flower arrangements.
Thanks to the staff of the City National Grove of Anaheim for their excellent support.
Please take a moment to view all of the luncheon sponsors and in-kind product sponsors listed below. The luncheon would not be possible without their ongoing generosity!
February 12, 2019 – Newly appointed to the External Advisory Board of the UC Davis Agricultural Sustainability Institute (ASI), OFRF Executive Director Brise Tencer was introduced at the annual meeting in January in Davis, California.
“As a member of the ASI Board, I am honored to have this opportunity to represent the needs of the organic community,” said Tencer, adding that she looks forward to seeing organic initiatives and education grow within the UC system.
ASI brings together the expertise of more than 70 UC Davis faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, graduate student researchers, and undergraduate student assistants to address emerging issues related to food and farming sustainability. They partner with farmers, ranchers, agribusiness, non-profits, policy makers, and local communities to ensure their research and teaching are responsive to current needs.
The meeting included an update from Founding Director, Professor Tom Tomich of UC Davis, and open discussion led by Kat Taylor, Founding Director of TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation. Several questions were posed to the Board to seek guidance and feedback on ASI’s direction moving forward.
January 29, 2019 – OFRF’s research program got a big boost thanks to a matching grant from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR). The $66,000 match will be used to support OFRF’s 2019 organic research grant awards related to soil health, including carbon sequestration, reduced tillage systems, and fertility management focused on reducing environmental impacts and improving soil health.
“While modest in size, our competitive grant program plays a crucial role in advancing innovative projects on working farms and ranches, with strong collaboration between organic farmers and researchers,” explains Brise Tencer, OFRF’s Executive Director. “We are so grateful for this matching grant as it will enable us to fund more of the outstanding proposals we received for this year’s grants.”
“Collaboration is a cornerstone of FFAR’s mission,” adds LaKisha Odom, Scientific Program Director at FFAR. “We feel this partnership is a prime example of what we value at FFAR: growing nutritious food sustainably on thriving farms. While FFAR supports research in all types of production systems, we are excited about this first foray into organic agriculture.”
FFAR was established with bipartisan support in the 2014 Farm Bill to build unique partnerships to support innovative science addressing today’s food and agriculture challenges. FFAR matches every federal dollar with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment.
OFRF’s grants program is open to all applicants residing and conducting research in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Proposals must involve farmers or ranchers in project design and implementation must take place on certified organic land. All research projects require strong education and outreach components and contain measurable outcomes. Proposals for the 2019 grant cycle are in review and awards will be announced this spring.
To date, OFRF has invested over $3M in 339 grants across North America. Overall, OFRF grant funding has advanced scientific knowledge and improved the practices, ecological sustainability, and economic prosperity of organic farming. Project results are shared freely at ofrf.org. OFRF also provides free access to all its educational materials and resources.
January 2, 2019 – April Joy Farm is located near Ridgefield, Washington on 24 acres above the Columbia River Slough. The farm was purchased on contract from Annie Peterson in 2003. Coming “home” to this farm was the realization of a dream for April Thatcher née Jones, who spent many happy childhood days helping the previous owners with farm chores. Today, April and her husband Brad provide healthy food to over sixty families in Clark County through their CSA, as well as top local restaurants.
“I grew up down the road, so I have a lot of great memories of being at Annie and Pete’s place,” April recalls. “My love of farming came in large part from being exposed to all the self-sufficiency projects they had going on. There was always something to learn or grow or help out with at their place. It was a small diversified farm. They were mainly homesteading, self-reliant fishermen and foragers, and had a huge garden, eating pretty much everything they grew. I hope they would be pleased to see what the farm has become.”
April was working a traditional white collar job in the Midwest when she heard the land was for sale. “They say the right people fall into your life at the right time—the right land fell into my life at the right time. I’m a civil engineer by training and had just graduated with an MBA in entrepeneurship, so it was really fortunate timing that I had all this technical and project management experience and also had this business piece. I became a farmer out of absolute necessity because this land has always been a special place for me.”
According to April, there are three things that have to come together to make it all work. There is the land and what it needs and is uniquely suited to do, there’s your own talent and skill set and what you want to bring to the world, and there’s the community you’re operating in. “The best part is when those three things come together. My education was critical in helping me look at the big picture instead of just jumping in. I spent a lot of time thinking about those three things and doing my research.” Photo: David L. Reamer
From the beginning, there was no question April was going to farm organically. The previous owners hadn’t sprayed or done anything with the land for years, but they leased it to a berry grower that was chemical intensive, so the soil was pretty depleted. April let the entire land just rest for about three years before she got started. The first thing she planted was table grapes.
“I’m always intrigued with the crops that aren’t yet really well known but are appealing to me on some level. That’s how I got into grapes. There are a lot of wine grapes growing in the area but not table grapes. Yet, they grow exceptionally well here and there are varieties especially suited to organic production methods. I feel successful knowing that our families and chefs now understand how complex and flavorful grapes can be.”
Research was critical in helping April with her decision. “With perennial crops, you only get one shot, you don’t get to start over the next year. There were several extension publications, as well as a nurseryman and the author of a book on grape growing who both lived in the Willamette Valley and were working to bring a diversity of grapes varieties to our area. Having access to that research and knowledge base was invaluable.”
The research helped her determine what style of trellis to use, as well as which way to run it to reduce the disease issues that come with farming in a really wet, rainy climate. Good research also helped her figure out the best way to orient the vineyard to capture the prevailing winds that keep the leaves dry. “We don’t spray and we don’t irrigate. Because I had access to solid research, I made a number of good decisions early on. So ten years later, our grapes are both low maintenance and very high in value. This is a generously abundant crop, so we are also able to distribute some to families in need.”
April and Brad made a business decision to make the farm a livelihood for two people, with their families pitching in here and there. They grow all kinds of fresh produce and let CSA customers and restaurant clients select what they want from a list that typically includes 35 or so items—everything from apples to zucchini. This year, they added lots of herbs.
Laying chickens and two miniature donkeys that help with soil fertility complete the operation. “We wanted to have a secure, clean source of manure, because research has shown there is a class of herbicides used in the production of conventional hay. These chemicals do not break down in ruminant digestion. So off-farm manure poses a significant risk for our broadleaf market crops. Donkeys require a lower protein diet than horses, which compliments the feedstock we have available on the farm. We maintain our own hay field and the donkeys eat our hay exclusively, along with the occasional apple and carrot! We compost the manure and apply it to our fallow fields. We try to cycle the nutrients right on the farm as much as possible.”
As it turns out, like all good things in a system that works, the donkeys serve multiple purposes. “Kids love the donkeys, so they get to visit with them when their parents come to pick up their CSA share. We think it’s really important for families to see what a working organic farm looks like—to see the quality of food and that it’s not coming from the stereotypical picture of a farm with straight neat rows and uniformity. We have wild patches and forest and weeds that are growing quite contentedly and actually contributing to our system. That’s the education piece we really like, having families see a working farm, not one that’s been set up for somebody’s entertainment purposes.”
“We’re working with NRCS right now on a conservation stewardship program, integrating 0.4 acres of pollinator habitat directly into our annual crop fields and it’s already added value in multiple ways. We put pollinator strips every few hundred feet and vegetables in between them. It’s pretty unique and really phenomenal how much that’s improved the quality of our brassica crops due to reduced pest damage.”
They’ve also opened the farm to Washington State University researchers for a number of years, including a couple of graduate students who are in their third year of doing insect and wild bird counts as part of the Avian Biodiversity and Biocontrol project. There’s been an extraordinary spike in beneficial insects and it showed in the quality of their fall brassica crops. The researchers documented a spike in syrphid (hoverflies) larvae. Adult syrphid flies required habitat the pollinator strips provide in abundance. These insects are predators of aphids, a primary crop pest. “I also think having some of these perennial crops in the field is helping with the soil structure, providing a safe, untilled haven for healthy microbes and mycorrhizal fungi.”
Last year, April received a grant in partnership with her conservation district to fund soil health research on the farm. “The two most important elements of this project were that it provided me the financial resources and a direct partnership with a regional soil scientist who was specifically interested in looking at my farm and helping me craft pragmatic strategies. Diversified farms are so complex. Being able to call a researcher and ask for help in answering the questions I have about what I’m experiencing in the field has made a huge difference in my approach. Diversified farmers create crop plans every year. Why aren’t we also creating a comprehensive management plan for our most precious resource, the soil? I’ve learned so much, and have made a number of changes that I would have never understood or been inclined to push for if I hadn’t had research support.
It’s been a game changer for me. The research is farmer directed so I was the one that crafted the work. I wanted to understand all the pieces that play into the health of my soil in terms of how I’m interacting with it, and better understand the nuances so I could create a framework, a soil health roadmap, to guide me in making practical management decisions. Farming can be isolating, and creating farmer-scientist partnerships are crucial. We teach and learn from each other. My soil health roadmap enabled me to make immediate, impactful changes—specifically, how early I’m working to establish my winter cover crops, and how to better manage nitrogen loss. I found out the biggest nutrient losses weren’t coming from produce sales, but rather leeching from heavy winter rains. I’m armed with more knowledge now and feel as if I have real research partners who care about the success of my farm. My goal for the next two years of the grant is to help other diversified farmers create soil health roadmaps that are specific to their farms. Meanwhile, my interns get the benefit of everything I’ve learned so they don’t make the same mistakes I have.
It’s fundamental that we have research and that it’s dedicated to organic systems because we are operating in a different mindset. We see ourselves as land stewards, rather than just trying to produce something for profit in a mechanistic way. The systems we’re engaging with and the disease and pest pressures are very different. Continued research is crucial because the more we know, the more we learn that we don’t know. The most successful trials that I’ve been involved with are those that weren’t just by an individual farmer or researcher but by the partnership between the two.”
December 20, 2018 – Earlier this year, the Administration proposed to reorganize and relocate key research branches at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). There has been widespread concern within the research and farming communities about how the proposal could disrupt the scientific integrity of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and further marginalize critical research. In an effort to address these concerns, OFRF and the Union of Concerned Scientists sent a letter to Congressional leaders from over 1,100 scientists and economists, urging Congress to take action to protect the scientific integrity at USDA.
On December 20, 2019, action was taken.
Democratic Members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture introduced a new bill aimed at halting the move and protecting the agency’s ability to objectively collect and analyze data on issues ranging from agriculture and conservation to food and rural development. The legislation, called the Agriculture Research Integrity Act of 2018 (ARIA), was led by Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and Mark Pocan (D-WI). Members of the House Agriculture Committee Jim McGovern (D-IL), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Annie Kuster (D-NH) signed on as cosponsors, along with Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).
The bill requires the USDA to keep these scientific agencies within the greater Washington, DC area, and also keep ERS as part of the Research, Education, and Economics mission area at
USDA. Many NIFA and ERS staff are drawn to the national capital region, where they can work alongside legislators and other federal agencies, and more seamlessly integrate agriculture research with the greater national science community.
“As a former national program leader at NIFA and a farmer, I have firsthand experience of how the USDA serves customers,” said Diana Jerkins, Research Program Director at OFRF. “Stakeholders travel to DC to meet with NIFA, ERS, and other government officials including members of Congress, all in a single trip. If NIFA and ERS are moved, it will make interaction with these agencies more challenging. Additionally, the ability of these research agencies to work on joint programs, collaborate with other researchers and government officials, and serve the customers of USDA—it would be greatly diminished.”
Given the uncertainty at the USDA, we have already seen the loss of highly experienced and educated staff who would likely not move with the agencies, and are concerned that this move could harm the national efforts to increase agricultural research funding.
As part of the process, the Administration needs to appeal to Congress to fund the proposed move of NIFA and ERS. It is estimated to cost tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. With every minority member of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee signed on to the bill, it is now clear the Administration will face strong opposition not only from stakeholder communities, but also from the new Congress.
Even in the face of this opposition, the USDA has indicated that it intends to announce the new locations of ERS and NIFA in February 2019, and that they intend to proceed with physical relocation by the summer. These moves by the Administration continue to cause uncertainty for USDA staff, and may impact how USDA is able to interact with stakeholders around the country.
December 13, 2018 – After years of work and months of back and forth negotiations, the 2018 Farm Bill has been signed by the President.
This bipartisan bill makes long-overdue investments in organics and the future of American agriculture. The bill provides historic permanent baseline funding for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), continues to support the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, provides increased funding and enforcement authority for the National Organic Program, and supports the vital Organic Market and Production Data Initiative.
The bill also makes important changes to conservation programs that support organic agriculture. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) organic initiative had a restrictive funding cap that has been raised, and the Conservation Stewardship Program. (CSP) will provide program funds to States for the support of organic production and transition to organics. This bill also encourages cover cropping, resource-conserving crop rotation, and advanced grazing systems, which are important tools for organic farmers and ranchers. Additionally, the bill makes important policy improvements to support organic crop insurance education, promotion of organic products, and allows for States to mediate farm disputes impacting organic production.
We would like to thank our Congressional Organic Champions Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), and Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Chellie Pingree (D-ME). This bill secures historic support for organic research.
Thanks to the hard work of the Agriculture Committee leaders Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Representatives Mike Conaway (R-TX), and Collin Peterson (D-MN), and the diligent staff of the Agriculture Committees for their support of the landmark organic provisions in the Farm Bill, and for their hard work to pass a strong bipartisan Farm Bill.
In addition to organic programs, this bill makes investments in other key programs that support beginning farmers and locally produced foods. The bill provides permanent baseline funding for organic research and also makes significant policy improvements to programs that support beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, local food access and markets, and works to secure key resources to support research at 1890 Land Grant Universities. The bill also legalizes the growing of industrial hemp and paves the way for federal support of hemp production and research.
While there are many outstanding provisions in the Farm Bill, the bill is far from perfect. The final bill did not include many provisions that were intended to weaken environmental protection, and the bill makes no substantial changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also known as food stamps.
Overall, this bill provides much needed support for America’s organic farmers and ranchers, supports beginning farmers, and helps producers and consumers across the country.
December 11, 2018—Thanks to the hard work of OFRF and a broad coalition of organic champions, we have secured historic wins for organic agricultural research in the 2018 Farm Bill, which will provide $395 million for organic agriculture research and education over the next 10 years. This milestone is the biggest win for organic farming in the Farm Bill in decades, securing permanent funding for organic research at USDA.
These funds will dramatically expand competitive grants through USDA’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), ensuring organic farmers and ranchers have the tools and technology to meet their unique challenges and the growing demand for organic products—leading to a more resilient and sustainable agricultural system that values healthy environments and healthy people.
“Throughout our history, OFRF has worked to ensure that organic producers have the science-based information and resources necessary to support the nation’s demand for healthier food and farming systems,” noted OFRF Executive Director Brise Tencer. “Since 2002, OREI research has supported cutting edge scientific inquiry into organic practices and production systems. With this bill, Congress has made progress toward fulfilling organic agriculture’s potential to provide broad environmental and economic benefits for all.”
As the Farm Bill heads to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for final consideration, we support the landmark wins for organic agriculture, including the significant funding increase for OREI and increased enforcement authority of the National Organic Program (NOP). In addition to these milestones, the Farm Bill includes several other programs that impact organic farmers and ranchers such as the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) and funding for the Organic Data Initiative (ODI).
“All of the organic policy components of the Farm Bill are important and have far reaching impacts,” said Michael Stein, Policy and Program Manager at OFRF. “We want to thank the Agriculture Committee leadership, our supporters in Congress, and the diverse coalition that has helped make outstanding progress for organic agriculture in this Farm Bill.”
Organic agriculture would not be where it is today without the strong support of Congress. We would like the thank the House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders for their hard work, including Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Representatives Mike Conaway (R-TX), and Collin Peterson (D-MN) and the diligent staff of the Agriculture Committees, without whom we would not have been able to achieve such a historic win for organic agriculture.
We would also like to thank Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), and Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) who championed Congressional support for organic research. Thanks to their help and support, we were able to gather strong bipartisan support for organic research, securing 66 co-sponsors of the Organic Agriculture Research Act.
Other champions for organic agriculture in the Farm Bill process included Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and the Senate’s only certified organic farmer, Senator John Tester (D-MT). Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), and Darren Soto (D-FL), along with outgoing Representatives John Faso (R-NY) and Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D-NM) also supported key organic policies in the farm bill.
Since its inception, OFRF has worked to cultivate organic research, education, and federal policies that bring more farmers and organic acreage into organic production. In 2002, OFRF was instrumental in securing the first dedicated USDA funding for organic agriculture, $3 million annually. In the 2008 Farm Bill, OFRF worked to secure $78 million for organic research, a historic five-fold increase from the $15 million allocated in the expiring 2002 legislation. Now in the 2018 Farm Bill, we can proudly say that USDA’s funding for organic agriculture research has become permanent, steadily increasing to $50 million annually by 2023.
However, passing the 2018 Farm Bill is only the first step. OFRF will be working to inform this increased investment by ensuring future research and programs are relevant and responsive to the top challenges facing organic farmers and ranchers and producers who want to farm more sustainably, and that education and resources are broadly disseminated.
“It is so exciting to see this increased level of support for organic farming and organic research in the Farm Bill, said OFRF Board President and organic farmer, Jeremy Barker-Plotkin. “Organic farming is good for farmers, consumers, and the environment, and can ameliorate the impacts of climate change by sequestering carbon in the soil. Funding for research into organic farming has lagged behind organic farming’s market share for years, so it’s great to see a movement towards funding parity.”
December 4, 2018—Today the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) released the eighth guidebook in their immensely popular Soil Health and Organic Farming Series. Organic Practices for Climate Mitigation, Adaptation, and Carbon Sequestration examines research related to the capacity of sustainable organic systems and practices to sequester soil carbon and minimize nitrous oxide and methane emissions. The guide includes practical advice for reducing an organic farm’s “carbon footprint” and adapting to climate disruptions already underway.
“Research demonstrates that sustainable organic agriculture has great potential to sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance farm resilience,” said Dr. Diana Jerkins, Research Program Director at OFRF. “We believe it is the best approach because sustainable organic agriculture not only integrates best soil health management practices, it protects soil life from the potentially adverse effects of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.”
“Transitioning to sustainable organic systems won’t happen overnight though,” cautions Dr. Jerkins. “Many technical, educational, cultural, and policy hurdles will need to be cleared before we’ll see the benefits on a large scale.”
“Farmers and ranchers have a major stake in curbing further climate change and enhancing the resilience of their operations to the impacts of climate change,” adds OFRF’s Executive Director, Brise Tencer. “Ultimately, we believe this guide will be critical to informing the direction of new research, as well as policies and programs that address barriers to the adoption of practices that increase resilience and help reverse the effects of climate change.”
Climate change threatens agriculture and food security across the U.S. and around the world. Rising global mean temperatures have already intensified droughts, heat waves, and storms, and altered life cycles and geographical ranges of pests, weeds, and pathogens, making crop and livestock production more challenging. Intense rainstorms aggravate soil erosion and complicate water management, and higher temperatures accelerate oxidation of soil organic matter. Warming climates modify crop development regulated by growing degree-days or “chill hours,” and threaten production of perennial fruit and nut crops that have strict chilling requirements to initiate growth and fruit set.
Research shows that building soil health through sustainable organic management practices can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and lessen the impacts of climate change on production. Now, all we need to do is scale it.
The entire Soil Health and Organic Farming series is available to download for free. Printed copies will be available upon request.
