Latest OFRF News
Organic Farmers Lead the Way Toward Climate-Smart Agriculture
At Lazy Eight Stock Farm, farmer Bryce Baumann has worked with local NRCS agents in Kentucky to transition to organic production, and is now implementing practices to reduce plastic use and protect soil through the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program coordinated by the Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK).
Updates and a Hard Look at Organic Agriculture Research in the 2024 Farm Bill
This month Gordon’s Policy Corner takes a hard look at the latest updates to the 2024 Farm Bill, the implications for organic farming research in particular, and how the Organic Farming Research Foundation is continuing to advocate for organics.
Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Bob Quinn
Bob Quinn is a well-known fourth generation organic farmer growing grains in the plains of Montana. His farm grows winter wheat, alfalfa, and other grains. He is participating in OFRF's Farmer-Led Trials (FLT) Program to work on developing a cold-hardy landrace winter wheat variety that's well-adapted for organic farming in the mountain west region.
7 Ways to Build Successful Research Partnerships with Organic Farmers
Are you unsure if your organic farming research is reaching the farmers who need it most? Our experienced growers have the answers! This post shares their insights on creating successful and mutually beneficial research partnerships.
OFRF Awarded USDA NRCS Cooperative Agreement
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) is pleased to announce its five-year cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to enhance organic agriculture businesses' access to vital conservation programs.
Win-Win for Everyone
Keith Richards is the Chair of the OFRF Board of Directors. Here he shares what motivates him to support OFRF through annual donations and board service. And he offers a list of creative ways to donate, so that you can contribute to a "healthy agriculture that makes good use of resources and sustains life."
Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Green Things Farm Collective
Nathan Lada is one of the four co-owners of Green Things Farm Collective, a diversified vegetable farm located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The farmers produce an array of fresh market vegetables and cut flowers for CSA memberships, farmers markets, small grocery and small wholesale markets. They are participating in OFRF's Farmer-Led Trials (FLT) Program to experiment with different crop configurations for better production of beets and radishes.
How Research Helps Farmers
In Gordon's Policy Corner this month, we look at how agricultural research transcends boundaries between conventional and organic farming, offering invaluable insights to enhance sustainability and profitability for all growers. From economic viability to ecological vitality, explore the synergistic benefits of organic management and the critical need for continued federal funding to support agricultural resilience.
What to Know about High Tunnels for Vegetable Production in the Southeast
Based on a webinar and recent research from Dr. Xin Zhao, this post shares the importance of high tunnels for organic vegetable production in the Southeast and discusses challenges faced by growers in the region, and research outcomes related to temperature regulation, insect pressure, fogging systems, shade and light management, with recommendations for optimizing production and addressing environmental factors.
Organic Research Funding
Recent developments in the Presidential Budget Request for fiscal year 2025 (PBR25) reveal a concerning decrease in funding specifically allocated for organic-dedicated competitive grant programs. In this blog, we look at the justifications given for these policy changes, and discuss the impacts that will follow if these changes are made and why the role of organic agriculture has never been more crucial.
