Latest OFRF News
Organic Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Amaya Atucha
Federal support is bringing new production systems and researchers to organic agriculture in the upper Midwest Dr. Amaya Atucha is an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW), specializing in crop ecophysiology and production of small fruit and cold climate viticulture. Until recently she had not worked with organic production systems. “One of the reasons why I was not working on organic production,” she explains, “is because of the difficulty of being able to produce organic fruit in climates like the upper midwest.” While strawberries represent the [...]
Conservation Agriculture webinar series
OFRF, in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has co-created a webinar series focused on soil health and organic farming. This series is facilitated by Jennifer Ryan and Lindsay Haines of NRCS and Thelma Velez and Mary Hathaway of OFRF. Each of the webinars is led by Mark Schonbeck, OFRF’s Research Associate. Topics covered in this series include soil health, nutrient management, weed management, cover crops, plant genetics, water management, conservation tillage, and climate resilience. Each webinar shares organic farming practices and research findings, and many share [...]
Respecting the Roots: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Organic Agriculture
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is a concept refers to ecological knowledge that is place-based and also inherently tied to a culture. It is not only a system of knowledge that has been handed down generationally, but a holistic way to view all living things in relationship to the landscape. This is a perspective that's incredibly valuable for organic agriculture - if we can learn to appreciate it without appropriating it.
From Farm to Policy: Organic Agriculture and Public Health
This month’s policy corner is written by Annika La Fave, our 2023 Fall Policy & Communications Intern. It dives into the challenges faced by farmers at the intersections of policy, research, and public health within the organic farming landscape.
The Role of Long-Term Research in Sustainable Agriculture
Climate change has a significant impact on agriculture, particularly organic farming which is more dependent on natural systems. Long-term agroecological research is critical in understanding how different farming practices can build resilience against climate change.
Farming for the birds
In 2015, a group of researchers from Dr. Jeb Owen’s lab at Washington State University received a USDA NIFA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) research grant to investigate the costs and benefits of encouraging wild bird populations on organic farms. The results are summarized in this latest blog from our Research & Education team.
TOPP West Resources
The process of obtaining and maintaining organic certification can be costly. The good news is that financial assistance is available through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) to help ease this burden.
NRCS Programs on an Organic Farm
Elmwood Stock Farm is a diversified organic farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, producing mixed vegetables, fruits, beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, pork and value-added products. As a sixth-generation farm, Elmwood has learned to adapt to changing times, shifts in market opportunities, and modifications in state and Federal support programs over the generations.
Gordon’s Policy Corner: Navigating September’s Shifts
In September, as the seasons shift and government fiscal year deadlines loom, the world of organic farming faces a series of transitions. The blog discusses the uncertainty surrounding government funding and the Farm Bill, emphasizing the need for continued engagement with policymakers. It also highlights OFRF's efforts to equip individuals in the organic farming community with tools to engage with legislators and encourages the sharing of information on organic field days and relevant newsletters. The blog emphasizes the importance of staying connected and working collectively to support the growth of organic agriculture.
New Crop-Livestock Integration Resources
In the 2022 National Organic Research Agenda (NORA), organic farmers and ranchers across North America shared a common desire for more technical assistance and educational resources on Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems (ICLS), a holistic practice that integrates the production of cash crops and livestock on the same piece of land or within the same farming operation. To address this need, OFRF has developed a Crop-Livestock Integration series informed by interviews with highly experienced organic producers across the US whose farming operations have benefited from integrated crop and livestock production.
