We’re settling into our winter routine out here at April Joy Farm. It’s what I call the season of deferred maintenance! In addition to repairing and restoring, we’re organizing barns and the workshop, winterizing the packing shed, and mucking out the poultry coop. This is a time of year when I begin to take stock—looking back at what has been and looking forward to what may be, so I can root myself squarely in what is necessary in this moment.
This is my first year as the president of OFRF’s Board of Directors but my sixth year serving on the board. I have to say, the growth and change this year has felt exponential. In the last five years, the organization has quietly been building crucial networks and planting the seeds of new dreams, all while ensuring the integrity of our foundational work. For me, 2024 marks the year OFRF has bloomed profoundly—in remarkable and unexpectedly wonderful ways.
Here are a few highlights we’re most proud of:
- This year, we funded 10 farmer-led research projects. You can read stories about their projects on our website here and view the recording of a recent project recap from three farmers in the program.
- We have a wealth of new grower education resources, including an online soil health course in Spanish, several live farmer-to-farmer networking sessions, toolkits with information on specific USDA technical assistance funding support programs, and many more.
- We launched a messaging campaign to educate the public about how organic is good for the soil, biodiversity, and climate: Organic Is Regenerative.
AND the Board recently approved a new five-year strategic plan that:
- Supports farmers where it matters most. Listening to organic producers is at the heart of our work, and this plan strengthens our ability to provide them with the resources and support they need to thrive. One immediate outcome is the formation of a new Organic Stewardship Council, that will function as a farmer advisory body to OFRF.
- Tackles climate change head-on. We’re amplifying our efforts to showcase how organic farming plays a vital role in climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
- Builds a more equitable future. Organic farming should be accessible to all. We’re committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that underserved communities have access to the benefits and opportunities within organic agriculture.
As a direct market farmer, time is my most critical resource. Like so many of us out here in the field, there is a surfeit of important work that vies for my time and attention. So why do I continue to support OFRF?
The three big reasons I spend precious time stewarding OFRF’s goals are:
- OFRF is truly invested in farmer well-being.
Over the past six years, I have seen how OFRF is focused on understanding and advancing the needs of organic producers across our country. This means continuing to collect, distill, and disseminate findings and practical applications of organic research to farmers and agricultural professionals of all backgrounds and experience levels, emphasizing the benefits of organic to all farmers striving to farm more ecologically, responsibly, and profitably. - OFRF is advancing a research agenda that supports ALL American farmers, regardless of their farming philosophy.
Organic farmers like me require research that does not depend on expensive chemical inputs but rather on creating integrated, resilient agroecological systems. Why does this matter? Because unlike chemical-based farming research, organic farming research applies to all farming systems—and can be (and is being) adopted by farmers across the country. Nationally, the organic market makes up more than 15% of total produce food sales. Despite this growth, organic agriculture research funding makes up less than 2% of the total research budget at the USDA and less than 1% of the Agricultural Research Service’s budget. - Organic farming is climate resilient.
Climate change poses critical risks for farmers and ranchers and endangers the soil, water, and other resources on which food production depends. Rising temperatures have already intensified droughts, heat waves, and storms, making it harder to grow crops and raise livestock. Organic systems that emphasize soil health help farmers and ranchers increase resilience to the impacts of climate change by capturing and storing more carbon (CO2) in the soil (carbon sequestration) and releasing fewer greenhouse gases. There is also extensive research demonstrating the potential of organic systems to reduce agriculture’s contribution to climate change (i.e., mitigate climate change).
As we look to 2025, I invite you to find a way to build a connection to or strengthen your ties with OFRF. So many hundreds of farmers across our country, like me, are counting on your engagement.