By Elizabeth Tobey

There’s a reason why farmers are always talking about the weather–it affects everything they do. It doesn’t matter if they’re on hundreds of acres or a fraction-of-an-acre plot, farmers are deeply tuned in to the weather patterns in their region and how they affect their land and their crops.

Over the years, OFRF has spoken to dozens, if not hundreds, of farmers, and a noticeable increase in extreme weather events often come up in conversation. Whether it’s droughts and wildfires in the West, too much water swamping farmers in the South, increasing winds across the Midwest, or frost dates coming earlier or later than expected, nowhere is immune to the impacts of climate change.

However, organic production systems also offer a suite of tools to literally help farmers “weather the storms” of climate change. In the 2022 National Organic Research Agenda (NORA) report, nearly 80% of transitioning growers cited “greater resilience to climate change through organic practices” as a motivating factor to certify organic.

At OFRF, we recognize that organic is a climate solution. Regenerative organic farming is a proactive approach to climate resilience, reducing reliance on synthetic inputs while enhancing soil health, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. Organic practices focus on using natural soil amendments like compost, manures, and animal byproducts, and preventative approaches to pests and disease such as selecting regionally-adapted and pest-resistant cultivars. These holistic farming systems improve water retention, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help farmers adapt to unpredictable weather conditions.

To better understand the challenges farmers are facing, and the solutions that organic agriculture offers, we’ve put together a collection of a few articles that highlight how organic farmers are both impacted by and well-poised to address climate change:

Farmers on the Frontlines: Climate Change and the Farm Bill

This article explores the “triple threat” facing farmers in the form of climate change, species loss, and food system industrialization. Featuring the personal experiences of several farmers, it also examines the potential opportunities for innovation and resilience that organic agriculture provides. It illustrates how policy decisions can promote (or hinder) the potential for a just transition to a climate-friendly and resilient agricultural production system. Read more.

Climate Impacts on a Small-Scale Farm

A personal account from former OFRF staff member and farmer Caroline Baptist, this article highlights the devastation and heartbreak that farmers experience in the wake of climate change-induced disasters. It also highlights the resilience and perseverance it takes to keep going and how Caroline finds hope in the soil. Read more.

Organic Farmers Lead the Way Toward Climate-Smart Agriculture

In Kentucky, farmer Bryce Bauman has shifted away from plastic mulch, choosing instead to focus on other, more climate-friendly strategies for weed mitigation. Working with the Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK), he is also conducting a thorough investigation into his farming systems and looking for ways he can implement more climate-smart practices. Read more.

>> Bonus Read: We’ve reshared the following three articles from our partners at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) because they so squarely hit the nail on the head for the importance of organic agriculture in navigating the climate chaos we are in:

As NSAC says in that last piece, it is vital that we “recognize the capacity of organic farming and ranching systems to build agricultural resilience to extreme weather events and make a significant contribution to carbon sequestration and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions arising from agricultural production.” At OFRF, we are committed to advocating for the research funding and policy priorities that farmers need in order to care for the planet and feed their communities.

Are you a farmer navigating the impacts of climate change? We’d love to hear your story—your insights help inform the resources and advocacy we provide. Fill out this form and our team will be in touch shortly.

And, be sure to join our newsletter to stay in touch and receive updates about organic research, education, and advocacy.