OFRF News Archive

May 19, 2020 - The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis held a hearing in Fall 2019 to discuss the role of agriculture in identifying and implementing solutions to the climate crisis. It was the first time they focused on the potential for America’s farmers and ranchers to be a positive force in the nation’s efforts to combat climate change.

May 15, 2020 - This research trial on five organic strawberry farms on the Central Coast of California tested the success of public varieties of organic versus conventional transplants.

May 8, 2020 - A Soil Health Roadmap provides a framework and set of tools for systematically evaluating the health of your soil and creating an integrated set of strategies for enhanced stewardship.

May 6, 2020 - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has just opened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan EIDL program to farms and ranches that were previously unable to apply. SBA released the following information on May 4, 2020.

April 29, 2020 - When I started farming full time, I quickly learned that I needed good science-based information that I could trust, and OFRF was the place I could get that information. I also quickly learned research that builds a resilient future doesn’t happen overnight and requires our collective investment.

April 23, 2020 - Our new virtual campaign is designed to inspire, educate, and inform people on how best organic practices help mitigate climate change and build resilience—leading to healthy people, ecosystems, and economies.

April 23, 2010 - Dear friends, I sincerely hope this message finds you and your family healthy and safe in the midst of this pandemic. As I juggle working from home, homeschooling my two kids, and ensuring our family has healthy food to eat, I am reflecting on the challenges each of us face and am reminded of how central food and farming is to all of our well-being.

April 10, 2020 - With generous support from Ceres Trust, OFRF was able to provide scholarships to the 2020 Organic Agriculture Research Forum to 19 students, farmers, and researchers.

March 30, 2020 - Bob Scowcroft, co-founder and first Executive Director of OFRF was scheduled to speak at OFRF’s benefit luncheon at Expo West on March 4th. Unfortunately, the cancellation of Expo West and our luncheon due to COVID-19 was just the beginning of a series of events that none of us could have foreseen.

March 31, 2020 - As our world faces the confusion and heartache that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it, we at OFRF are reminded of the power of hope and resilience. For the OFRF team, our lives, like yours, are looking quite different these days. Our office in Santa Cruz is closed as we “shelter in place.” But, we are sticking together and are committing to our mission more than ever.

March 31, 2020 - In the midst of the COVID-19 upheaval, we were grateful our staff and board could come together (virtually) for our regularly scheduled board meeting. While we recognize these are challenging and unusual times, we share a commitment to continuing to serve the organic farming sector.

March 27, 2020 - We are extending the survey deadline from April 1, 2020 until June 1, 2020 to give producers a final opportunity to share their experiences and challenges. During these uncertain times, it is more important than ever that farmers and ranchers make their voices heard.

March 5, 2020 - It was uplifting to be at the MOSES conference surrounded by a community of people dedicated to creating sustainable food systems that support people and the environment.

March 5, 2020 - So, you can make lemonade out of lemons after all! We’re really glad the food from the luncheon will go to community members who don’t have access to sufficient nutritious food to feed themselves and their families.

February 27, 2020 - On a rainy Valentine’s day, I had the privilege of attending the Organic Seed Growers Conference in Corvallis, Oregon, which is run by the Organic Seed Alliance.

February 18, 2020 - The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) have released two national surveys—one for certified organic producers and the other for producers transitioning to organic certification.

February 18, 2020 - The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) have released two national surveys—one for certified organic producers and the other for producers transitioning to organic certification.

February 5, 2020 - OFRF coordinated two workshops at EcoFarm and had a booth in the trade show for the first time ever. It was a great opportunity to share research with this farmer community.

January 31, 2020 - Holding this year’s Organic Agriculture Research Forum in Little Rock provided an opportunity for researchers and farmers to focus on challenges associated with organic farming in the Southern region. The forum was presented jointly by OFRF and Tuskegee University in partnership with the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG). Dr. Lauren Snyder, Education and Research Program manager for OFRF welcomed participants to the day-long event before handing it over to Professor Kokoasse Kpomblekou-A from Tuskegee University for an update on organic farming research in the Southeast. [...]