Organic Farmers Withstand Climate Change with Living Soils and Regional Seed Breeding

Organic Farmers Withstand Climate Change with Living Soils and Regional Seed Breeding

By |2025-12-09T17:42:40-05:00August 18th, 2025|Climate Change, News, On-Farm Research, Plant Breeding & Variety Selection|

A look at the Organic Microbiome Project

By Brian Geier

Organic farmers understand that soil health is paramount to our success. More specifically, we know that the living, microbial part of soil, sometimes called the soil microbiome, is something our farming practices can quickly and drastically alter, having serious implications for organic systems that rely on organic processes in the soil. But even though we understand that preserving soil life is good practice, we often do not know how soil life is changing, how farming practices are affecting those changes, and which practices are responsible for increases or decreases in crop or animal health because of those changes. 

To address this knowledge gap, researchers at Cornell University are utilizing a novel, farmer-led approach to studying what organic farmers are already doing on their farms and monitoring how the soil microbiome is changing over time. What they find could provide key insights into which organic farming practices might be helping producers promote and maintain soil health through droughts and other climate extremes. 

The Human Body and the Soil: An Analogy for Understanding the Soil Microbiome

To help us understand the importance and complexity of the soil microbiome (the living part of the soil that is composed of soil microorganisms), organic researcher Elias Bloom (a member of the Casteel lab at Cornell University) suggests beginning with an analogy. “The human body has more microbiome cells than it does human cells,” Bloom explained at a recent eOrganic webinar. Over 10,000 different species of microorganisms live in and on the human body, and they can have broad implications for human health. Essentially, a healthy human body is driven by a healthy microbiome.

Compare this analogy with the soil: one teaspoon of soil may have over one BILLION microorganisms living in it. And in just one small teaspoon of soil, there are often over 10,000 species of microbes, similar to the number of species found in the human body. Since microbes are involved in everything from water-holding capacity to promoting disease resistance, one begins to see that what a farmer does everyday can have serious effects on current and subsequent crops.

The Importance of the Soil Microbiome

The living portion of the soil is a primary driver of nutrient cycling, a pillar of healthy soil structure, and can enhance resilience to climate change and pests. The microbiome also helps break down pesticides, toxins, and excess nutrients. It is generally understood that high soil microbe diversity promotes pest suppression and that organic land tends to have higher soil diversity than conventional fields. Still, in some cases increases in diversity can mean increases in plant pathogens. For farmers and researchers, understanding which farming practices result in a ‘healthy microbiome’ and translate to positive effects on crop production, is complex.

The hand of a farmer holds a handful of soil.

A handful of soil at Four Fold Farm, one of 80 participating organic farms sending soil samples and production practice to the Organic Microbiome Project. Photo credit: Steven Crist

Organic Farmer Driven Research on the Soil Microbiome at Cornell 

To approach this complexity, research projects led at the Casteel lab are utilizing a unique, participatory research approach where organic farmers are providing key insights on soil management practices that could be helping them withstand pests and extreme weather events. 

“The conservation of soil microbes that promote pest management is a new and potentially groundbreaking area for organic agriculture. These microbes naturally occur on organic farms, promote plant chemical defense, and control pests.” -The Organic Microbiome Project

The Organic Microbiome Project is perhaps the largest effort to date that is documenting the soil microbiome on organic farms. Over 80 organic farms are participating. Essentially, organic farmers are sending soil samples in, accompanied with answers about farming practices, and the lab documents changes within the soil microbiome, driving some interesting findings. Rather than deciding what practices to focus on and then involving farmers, the project starts by following practices organic farmers already employ. “We allowed farmers to submit up to two samples from two different fields where they have been using different practices, and we encouraged them to pick comparisons they were interested in,” explained Casteel. In this sense, the project is inherently farmer-led, and evaluates the effects of organic farming practices already being utilized on working farms. While results are still coming in, one thing is clear: when research follows the lead of farmers, it is closely watching how farmers are adapting and building resiliency in real time.

A field at an organic farm has strips tilled with brown soil showing in between green pathways covered with grass.

Strip tillage is one of may practices used to try to help protect soil health at Four Fold Farm, NY. Researchers with the Organic Microbiome Project encourage farmers to send soil samples from areas of their farm they are interested in comparing, leading to farmer-driven insights.

Changes to the soil microbiome and shifts in plant defenses that followed certain farming practices are shown in a table form.

Some interesting insights found so far are illustrated in this graphic. On the left, some organic practices that participants are using on their farms are listed. In the middle, a summary of the change to the microbiome, and on the right, if the crops there exhibited increased or decreased plant defenses.

Standing on the Shoulders: Recent Microbiome Research and Ongoing Seed Breeding

Another project carried out by Dr. Casteel, Dr. Eli Bloom and Ethan McAnally, Leveraging Soil Microbiomes to Promote Climate Change Resilience and Adoption of Organic Agriculture (funded by USDA/NIFA’s Organic Transitions Program) is looking closely at the soil microbiome and organic seed breeding. Also partnered with organic producers, this time specifically seed breeders, the project again follows the lead of farmers, who seem to be lighting the way toward a more regional approach to seed saving that might help withstand climate change. 

The project builds on previous research on both soil microbiomes and regional seed saving, and explores several themes: 

  • Pest pressure is reduced when crops are grown in soil where they are bred. The same effect was observed when the crops were grown with soil microbiomes from regional organic farms.
  • Crops bred under protection and irrigation performed poorly during droughts. When drought conditions were introduced to the study, kale performed better than tsa tsai. Tsa Tsai has been bred in irrigated, protected conditions (greenhouses), while kale is unirrigated and often outside. These results may reflect the maxim “stress as strength”.
  • Some farms’ soil microbiomes may offer protection against drought. All crops performed slightly better during droughts on certain farms in the study.

Voices from the Organic Seed Breeders

“We believe that soil and seed are everything,” Steven Crist, farmer at Four Fold Farm and Hudson Valley Seed Company, and partner on the project, explains. “The more we grow a crop, the better it becomes.” Crist gives a powerful insight into how stress as strength is working through the long-term relationships formed when seedspeople breed crops over time on their farms.

“Seed crops that make it through the challenge are almost always more resilient, year to year. We believe this has everything to do with adaptation, directly linked to the microbiome, and to seed memory. That is a slightly pseudo-scientific term but that’s how I call it in the field. The more we grow a crop, the better it becomes, is the long and short of it.” -Steven Crist, Four Fold Farm

At Four Fold Farm, Crist utilizes best practices for protecting the living soil including “mulches, compost, cover cropping, rotation, repeat”. He is also experimenting with biochar, utilizing a New York Carbon grant, and incorporating local ecotypes of native plants, which he theorizes may provide unique and potent additions to his farm’s soil microbiome by attracting and promoting native insects. This approach follows the adage “As above, so below” and Crist suggests that the breeding and feeding of native insects might be mirrored by the breeding and feeding of soil microbes below. 

Lia Babitch, organic farmer at Turtle Tree Seed Initiative and another collaborator on the project, suggests that the social and ecological aspects of growing seed are intertwined. 

“The varieties that we carry have become like our children, and like our friends. They’ve grown with us and we’ve watched their steady improvement and occasional shenanigans. And they’ve become rooted in the context of this valley both agriculturally and socially.”  -Lia Babitch, Turtle Tree Seed Initiative

Turtle Tree offers a novel approach to selling seeds that connects buyers to the seedspeople (and potentially the microbiomes there) with what Bloom calls “decision support” for farmers: for varieties of seed in Turtle Tree’s catalog, potential buyers can see the farms and regions where particular lots of seed are from. (Note this option is only available in their catalog, and that it may be added to the website later.)

A field of echinacea grows at Four Fold Farm, an organic farm in New York State.

Conservation or production plantings of native plants like this echinacea at Four Fold Farm can attract specialized, native insects and birds. Some organic farmers are asking how plantings of native species may be affecting the soil microbiome through the introduction and presence of the insects and birds that the plants provide habitat for. 

Looking Ahead: The Triad of People, Plants, and Place

As time goes on, and provided funding for research like this continues, we will see more and more insights about how organic farmers’ practices are affecting the soil microbiome and resulting in increased resiliency to climate change. And along the way, it is clear that when researchers study what farmers are already doing, those insights will remain timely, farmer-driven, and translatable to other farmers eager to learn from each other.

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Farm Bill, Appropriations, and the Clock Ticking Toward September 30

By |2025-08-10T09:18:54-04:00August 10th, 2025|Gordon's Policy Corner, News|

L-R: Mark Schonbeck, Gordon Merrick, Ashley Dulaney

This past week, Ashley Dulaney, our Communications Director, Mark Schonbeck, our Research Associate, and I attended the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s Summer Meeting. This year, they decided to bring the meeting to the rolling mountains of Vermont, which has been subject to the impacts of climate change, and where I call home.

The week was full of strategy meetings and creating spaces to share the impacts of the changing federal policy landscape, but also to break bread with each other, connect as people doing the work, visit local farms, and give me the opportunity to share the joy that are maple creemees with the sustainable agriculture community.

But, frozen dairy treats aside, there were real opportunities for us as a sustainable agriculture community to expand beyond our niche silos of policy expertise and hear how the impacts we’re experiencing in agricultural research are also being felt in other areas of policy and law.

Over the course of three and a half days, we discussed strategy related to appropriations, the Farm Bill, potential future Reconciliation bills, and administrative actions; each affecting our work at OFRF and how we conduct our advocacy.

What’s at Stake: Farm Bill, Appropriations, and More

For those just tuning in or needing a quick reminder, here is what each of those terms means:

  • Appropriations is the process Congress uses to allocate funding between different priorities that do not have “mandatory funding.” This process must occur every year; if it doesn’t, a government shutdown will happen.
  • The Farm Bill is historically the piece of legislation that provides mandatory funding for food and agriculture programs, as well as authorizations for spending on other related programs that must go through the appropriations process.
  • Reconciliation is a complex legislative process that Congress can use to “reconcile” its new and emerging priorities with the appropriations and mandatory funding provided either by a previous Congress or even the same Congress’s actions. Unlike appropriations and the Farm Bill process, reconciliation doesn’t require a filibuster-proof majority to pass in the Senate, but only a simple majority, and it is subject to strict rules regarding scope and limitations.
  • From an administrative standpoint, when Congress appropriates money, legislates policy with mandatory funding, or completes a reconciliation process, these actions effectively serve as marching orders for the Executive branch to implement those programs and priorities. As we’ve written in recent months, there is growing concern about the USDA’s ability to administer those priorities and programs—especially with a staff estimated to be 16,000-18,000 members smaller than on January 20, 2025.

The Clock is Ticking — Here’s How to Act

As the dust continues to settle from the first six months of the new administration, it’s becoming increasingly clear that we have entered a new status quo for the relationship between Congressional authorization and instruction, and the Administration’s interest in following those. OFRF continues to deepen our engagement in both spaces, Congressional and Administrative, and will ensure you stay informed about what we are hearing and doing. Additionally, we want to make sure that we can bring the experiences and stories you are living to the Halls of Congress and the USDA.

We are entering a crucial time for the Farm Bill and Appropriations bills, as both expire at the end of September. Since Congress is in recess throughout August, this is a great opportunity to meet in person with your representatives while they are in their districts, along with any USDA officials who may be with them.

Relatedly, at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, all unspent funds the administration has refused to or is unable to distribute generally return to the U.S. Treasury.

So, if you’re a researcher relying on USDA competitive grant research programs to do your work, a Technical Service Provider who depends on that research to help farmers overcome challenges, a farmer who has seen an already complex support system become more complicated, or simply an eater concerned about how all of this will impact your grocery bill and the ability of local farmers to survive—now is the time to act.

Please contact me or any member of our policy team to share your stories, experiences, or concerns so we can bring them to Congress and the USDA to add context to their decisions and actions.

Eat well and breathe deeply,

Gordon

P.S. Enjoy these pictures from our time at the Summer Meeting in beautiful Stowe, VT. Thank you to NSAC for organizing such an impactful gathering.

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Fields of Possibility: Tribal Food Sovereignty and Organic Agriculture

By |2025-08-03T09:57:29-04:00August 4th, 2025|News|

The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI)’s mission is to enhance the health and wellness of tribal communities by advancing healthy food systems, diversified economic development, and cultural food traditions. They focus on putting tribal sovereignty in food sovereignty, promoting tribally driven solutions to revitalize and advance traditional food systems and diversified economic development throughout Indian Country. Recently, OFRF met with their Senior Staff Attorney, Kelli Case J.D. (Chickasaw Nation), to learn more about IFAI’s work and the intersection with organic agriculture. This was the first in a series of “Lunch and Learn” events that OFRF has begun hosting, to provide opportunities to build stronger connections between our organization and others working in the food and agriculture sectors.

During our time together, Kelli shared an overview of IFAI’s work providing policy expertise, youth programs, and support for tribal food and agriculture efforts across Indian Country. She also took the time to shed light on the complex history of federal Indian policy and the significant impact it has had on tribal land access and food systems. Here are our key takeaways from meeting with IFAI.

Working in Indian Country

There are 574 federally recognized tribes across the U.S., with 9.6 million American Indian or Alaska Natives reported in the 2020 Census. These tribes are distinct, independent nations within the United States, each with their own distinct systems of governance that interact with the U.S. federal government. Tribal leaders are the highest political authorities within their sovereign governments and oversee all aspects of Tribal welfare, including public safety, education, communications, transportation, health & human services, economic development, and more.

Within Indian Country, there is a robust and growing agricultural industry, with an estimated $6.1 billion market value of tribal agriculture according. This number is based on sales as gathered from the 2022 Census of Agriculture. It is the total market value of products sold per all AI/AN people, and those who claim AI/AN within a mixed-race demographic.

IFAI provides Tribal governments, producers, and food businesses with educational resources, policy research, and strategic legal analysis at no cost. Their self-proclaimed goal is to be “Indian Country’s ag nerds on call.” Their work includes food and ag issues, youth programs, policy analysis, and tribal enterprise development, all as a foundation for building robust food economies.

History of Federal Indian Policy

Indigenous food sovereignty exists in the context of centuries of federal Indian Policy, which includes things like forced relocation, or removal of youth from their communities to boarding schools, displacing people from their traditional homelands, interrupting intergenerational knowledge transfer, and punishing traditional cultural practices.

Kelli outlined the policy eras in this way:

  • Pre-contact: an era of robust trade, flourishing communities, healthy lands, plentiful food, and traditional lifeways before European settlers arrived.
  • Colonialism, 1492-1700s: an era defined by major waves of change and the start of land loss for Native Tribes.
  • Treaties, 1778-1871: an era of treaty establishment aimed at easing tension between Tribes and settlers, supporting non-Native settlers, reducing Native lands, and forcing Native Americans to adopt Western agricultural practices. Treaties often dictated hunting and fishing rights on Tribal lands.
  • Removal, 1830-1850s: continued removal of tribes from their traditional homelands and relocated, often very forcibly, such as the Long Walk or the Trail of Tears. Many of these relocations meant a shift to an unfamiliar ecosystem with unfamiliar food plants and animals.
  • Reservation, 1850-1891: tribes forced onto reservation lands, further limiting land and food access.
  • Allotment and Assimilation, 1887-1934: an era during which reservation land was further parceled out into individual allotments, fragmenting the traditional practices of collective land management and implementing further use restrictions. Also the beginning of boarding schools and the removal of a generation of youth from their community, culture, and language.
  • Reorganization, 1934-1953: an era that encouraged Tribes to implement Tribal constitutions in order to be recognized by the U.S. government, while still preventing them from electing their own Tribal leaders.
  • Termination, 1953-1968: a time when the U.S. federal government attempted to sever the trust relationship between Tribal governments and the U.S. government, and ceased recognizing some Tribes. Also relocated many working-age Native Americans to urban metropolitan areas.
  • Self-Determination, 1968-1994: Largely influenced by the 1975 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (PL 638). Included reaffirmation of Tribal sovereignty and began to look for ways to put Tribes in the driver’s seat for things that impact their communities.
  • Self-Government, 1994-Current: This era began with the Self-Governance Act of 1994, which accorded tribal governments the authority to administer programs and services to their tribal members which had previously been administered by the BIA. Also reinforced the principle of tribal consultation, whereby the federal government consults with tribes on federal actions, policies, rules, or regulations that will directly affect them.

Food Sovereignty & Tribal Sovereignty

Sovereignty refers to the inherent rights of Tribes to govern themselves, independent from an external power. For Tribes, the pursuit of true sovereignty is deeply linked to control over their food sources. As Kelli said, “Tribes cannot be truly sovereign unless they can feed themselves.”

However, Kelli also noted that it’s not a one-size-fits-all model, and that food sovereignty will look different for different groups, saying that it comes down to the ability to “feed your own people the things that you want to, in a way you feel good about.” She noted that while that often includes taking back control of food production, it can also include trade with other nations, a practice that has a long history among Tribes.

The current era includes a renaissance in tribal food sovereignty efforts, with growing agricultural production and traditional food revitalization. Although challenges remain around land access, Tribes are working to expand Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and integrate it into food production and education systems. And years of efforts from tribal advocates have greatly improved federal nutrition programs across Indian Country.

One recent example that Kelli shared was a tribal rancher who is now selling meat directly into the tribe’s food distribution program. This one connection has created jobs, supported the local economy, and connected that producer to their community in a new and meaningful way.

Collaboration Opportunities

Kelli expressed that opportunities exist for collaboration between organic agriculture advocates, such as OFRF, and tribal producers, as long as careful cultural sensitivity is observed.

Many tribal farming practices and TEK align with organic principles, even if producers are not certified organic. For those interested in collaborating with Tribes on food production and food sovereignty issues, Kelli offered this advice:

  • Familiarize yourself with the history of the Tribes in your region.
  • Learn about Tribal priorities, and focus on listening to the needs of the Tribes.
  • One way to begin connecting with Tribes in your area is to attend public events hosted by the Tribes. These can often be found on Tribal websites.
    • Be aware that not all spaces are open to non-Native attendees. Respect the intentions of event organizers and don’t show up where you’re not invited.
  • Look for alignment between your work and how it can support Tribal priorities.

Next Steps

Don’t know who the Tribes of record in your area are yet? Here are two resources to use to look up the land that you’re on and find out more about its Tribal history.

Once you’ve identified whose land you’re on, see if you can find where the closest Tribal office is to you,  and then look to see if they have any upcoming public events, or other ways you can get involved, such as joining their newsletter mailing list.

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Chloe Sneed (she/her)

By |2025-09-11T17:21:30-04:00August 3rd, 2025|Staff|

Office Assistant

email: chloe[at]ofrf.org

Chloe Sneed (she/her) is the Office Assistant at OFRF. She is currently a second year university student pursuing a degree in environmental science. She discovered her passion for this major her freshman year of college after taking a class called Climate Change and Solutions. Her interests include the intersectionality of anthropogenic activity with the environment. She is looking forward to exploring the avenues her degree will take her.

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Maia Garby (she/her/hers)

By |2025-09-25T09:14:11-04:00August 1st, 2025|Staff|

Research & Education Junior Fellow

email: research[at]ofrf.org

Maia Garby (she/her/hers) is the Research & Education Junior Fellow at OFRF. She has a research background in regenerative and organic agriculture, having worked as a field researcher with Minnesota’s Regenerative Agriculture Alliance to analyze the soil health impacts of conventional vs. integrated perennial crop/poultry production systems in the Upper Midwest, and then as a full-time research technician for Utah State University’s Plants, Soils, & Climate Department, where she was involved in several studies assessing soil carbon sequestration and organic compost application in dryland agricultural systems. She is deeply passionate about sustainable food system reform and in the ability of healthy, sustainably-produced food to bring together both People and Planet.

Maia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology from Carleton College and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sustainability, with dual specializations in Corporate Sustainability & Innovation, and Sustainable Food Systems, through the Harvard University Extension School. In her free time, she can be found reading, baking, crafting, and spending time in nature with her partner, family, and beloved Corgi.

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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Parker Farms

By |2025-12-09T17:33:10-05:00July 28th, 2025|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News, On-Farm Research, Water Management & Irrigation|

Managing Moisture in Organic Tomatoes on an Urban Farm

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager, and Markisha Parker, FLT Program participant

Parker Farms, located in Warren, Ohio, is a small farm with a big heart, committed to serving their community with sustainable, urban agriculture. The farm provides fresh, locally grown produce through wholesale partnerships with food banks and community programs, supporting local food security. Markisha Parker, owner and founder, specializes in sustainable urban farming and organic production and is in her second year of transitioning to certified organic (a process that typically takes three years). With a background in urban agriculture, education, and research, she offers hands-on experience and community education on soil management, crop rotation, and organic pest control.

Her urban farm spans multiple sites totaling approximately one acre with areas dedicated to cultivating native plants, vegetables, and fruits, allowing Parker Farms to grow their impact and bridge the gap between urban gardening and farming. Markisha’s primary crop is tomatoes, but the farm’s mission extends much further: to empower others in agriculture by offering resources and support to help gardeners build successful commercial farming enterprises. While Markisha has done field trials in the past, she was looking for an opportunity to have support in improving her processes and systems on the farm. After this trial, Parker Farms hopes to integrate educational elements by inviting local farmers, aspiring growers, and community members to observe and learn from their research.

Puddling Problems: Managing Moisture in Tomatoes

With limited space in an urban environment, Parker Farms wants to improve their yield and systems in the area that they have. This means making every square foot count. In previous seasons, Markisha had issues with excess moisture and puddling in the fields. One of her biggest challenges was in her most valuable crop: tomatoes. Episodes of excess rain left much of her crop with splitting or blight.

In order to address these issues, she wanted to trial different materials that were readily available as a mulch material to help her tomatoes get to market. In her area, Markisha knew that woodchips, grass clippings, and straw were readily available. So she asked: does a mulching material help mitigate soil moisture for greater tomato yield?

Farm Trial Plan

With technical support from OFRF, Markisha has set up a trial to compare how straw, grass clippings, or woodchips, impact the yield and marketability of slicer tomatoes, and compare it to a control group with no mulch. The design of the trial includes 4 treatments and 4 replications, in a 16-plot layout. Each plot will have 5 tomato plants.

Trial updates

The tomatoes were transplanted on May 22nd, and the mulch types were laid down just after transplanting. The mulch varieties of aged wood chips, straw from a neighboring farm, and fresh grass clippings from areas around her farm, were applied at an approximate 2” depth. The control plot had no mulch added, and was left as bare soil. An initial harvest is expected at the beginning of August. For data collection, Markisha will take both the total weight of tomatoes and the marketable weight of tomatoes. These measurements will help the farm understand if the different mulching materials impact yield, and especially the marketable yield of tomatoes that don’t have damage related to uneven moisture.

Stay tuned for trial updates and a final report at the end of the season!

Farmer-researcher Markisha Parker

“Participating in the Farmer Led Trials has given me the structure and support to test practices that could improve both the health of my crops and the sustainability of my urban plots.”

– Markisha Parker, Parker Farms

Parker Farms.

This is part of a series of blogs highlighting farmers who are participating in OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials program. Farmers receive technical support to address their production challenges through structured on-farm trials. To learn more about OFRF Farmer-Led Trials Program, visit our website page at https://ofrf.org/research/farmer-led-research-trials/ 

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Help Us Strengthen Conservation Access for Organic Operations

By |2025-07-22T14:57:06-04:00July 22nd, 2025|News|

By Gordon Merrick, OFRF Policy & Programs Director

At OFRF, we believe conservation programs should work for every farmer, especially those using organic practices to build soil health, protect biodiversity, and enhance climate resilience. That is why we have submitted detailed public comments to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in response to its proposed revisions to key Conservation Practice Standards (CPSs).

These standards form the backbone of how NRCS financial and technical assistance programs operate. When they don’t reflect the realities of organic production systems, organic farmers are often left behind.

Alongside the National Organic Coalition (NOC), we’re working to change that.

Our comments focus on ensuring that NRCS guidance, definitions, and planning tools meaningfully incorporate organic production systems, an area where the agency has made strides, but where key gaps remain. Our recommendations include:

  • Explicit references to USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations in all revised practice standards.
  • Restoration and expansion of organic-specific ecological strategies within CPS 595 – Pest Management Conservation System.
  • Stronger support for composting and on-farm nutrient cycling in CPS 359 – Waste Treatment Lagoon and CPS 633 – Waste Recycling.
  • Recognition of the unique ways organic farmers rely on functional ecosystems for pest control, pollination, and resilience to extreme weather events in CPS 645 – Wildlife Habitat and CPS 472 – Access Control.
  • We have also urged NRCS to cite its own technical guidance for organic systems, Technical Note 12, and to streamline how Organic System Plans can integrate with conservation planning efforts. 

These aren’t abstract policy ideas; they’re grounded in what organic farmers have told us they need to make these programs work on their farms.

We Need Your Voice

NRCS is accepting public comments through July 30th, 2025, on these proposed changes. 

If you’re a researcher, farmer, technical service provider, or eater who wants to see conservation programs better serve organic operations, this is your moment, and we encourage you to submit your own comments.

That’s why we’re partnering with NOC to provide an easy-to-use grassroots comment platform that walks you through the process of submitting a personalized comment. Whether you’re new to commenting on the Federal Register or a seasoned voice, your perspective matters.

The more the Agency hears directly from the organic community, the stronger our case becomes for improving access and applicability for NRCS programming on organic operations. If you have expertise in topics related to conservation and organic agriculture, we’d love to hear from you and get connected!  

Thank you for helping us make conservation work for everyone,

Gordon 

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Advancing Organic Agriculture: Sharing Corn Research with Congressmen Burchett and Ogles

By |2025-09-03T10:52:31-04:00July 16th, 2025|News|

Written by guest author Dr. Renata Nave Oakes, Associate Professor, Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee

Dr Renata Nave Oakes

Recently, I had the opportunity to join Gordon Merrick, Policy Program Director, Vinnie Trometter, Policy Fellow, and Rebecca Champagne, Conservation Scientist, at the Organic Farming Research Foundation, in a meeting with staff from Representative Tim Burchett (R–TN–02) and Representative Andy Ogles (R–TN–05)’s offices. I was proud to be able to share my perspective on how the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) supports my research of developing effective, science-based strategies for producing organic corn using living mulch systems in Tennessee and the Southeastern U.S.

Organic Corn Research in the Southeastern US

As an Associate Professor of Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee, I am using the Organic Transitions Program to research how to improve soil health, reduce weed pressure, enhance nitrogen availability through biological fixation, and ultimately make organic corn production more profitable and practical for farmers in Tennessee and the Southeastern U.S. Organic corn is in high demand nationwide, especially for livestock feed, but domestic supply lags behind — forcing the U.S. to heavily rely on imports. This is especially true for the Southeastern U.S., where organic corn production is underdeveloped. Our research addresses the key barriers holding organic corn producers back: poor weed control, limited fertility options, and higher production costs. 

organic corn in field trialTo do this, we use a combination of greenhouse trials and multi-location field experiments at certified organic research sites in Tennessee. We’re testing organic seed treatments, comparing legume living mulch species, and monitoring soil health, nutrient cycling, weed pressure, and corn yield. We also conduct full economic analyses, including cost of production, breakeven yield, and net returns. We also work closely with the Tennessee Corn Promotion Board and local organic and transitioning-to-organic farmers, who help guide our work and provide field-level insight. The work is spearheaded through our multi-disciplinary team at the University of Tennessee, including agronomists, soil scientists, economists, and plant pathologists.

Early observations show promising establishment of legume living mulches like white clover and hairy vetch. These systems show potential to reduce nitrogen fertilizer needs and suppress weeds effectively — without harming corn yields.

Strong partnerships are being built with farmers who are excited about trying these systems. Stakeholders can access our research findings through field days, producer workshops, in-service training for Extension agents, conference presentations, and digital platforms. We’re also developing factsheets, video content, and practical tools to help farmers understand costs, benefits, and management recommendations for organic corn with living mulch.

I ultimately chose the Organic Transitions Program because it is uniquely positioned to support farmers and researchers working through the challenges of transitioning to organic. Our work aligns perfectly with the program’s goals — especially in building production systems that are ecologically and economically sustainable during and after the transition period.

Our Meeting With Congress

Our meetings with Congressman Burchett and Ogles’ offices were productive. Their staff listened attentively and asked thoughtful questions. It was encouraging to see their interest in the needs of the organic sector and in how research funding directly benefits rural economies and farmers in their states.

Legislators need to hear directly from researchers and farmers about how federal programs like Organic Transitions drive innovation, support rural communities, and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. Our insights help bridge the gap between policy and real-world impact and ensure that science and farmer needs are reflected in future policy decisions.

Use Your Voice

Interested in sharing your research with legislators and the importance of continued public investment in organic research? Enroll in OFRF’s self-paced email course, Communicating with Legislators. This free, educational workshop is designed to equip researchers within the organic farming community with the tools and resources they need to effectively engage with and educate policymakers about the impact of their work.

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Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP): Insurance Options for Organic and Transitioning Growers

By |2025-12-09T17:50:32-05:00July 14th, 2025|Federal Assistance, News, Spanish Resources, TOPP West|

Versión en español a continuación.

New farmer-friendly resource breaks down how to access whole-farm insurance coverage.

Organic and transitioning-to-organic producers face unique risks that aren’t always covered by traditional crop insurance. Fortunately, USDA’s Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) program was designed with small-scale and diverse operations in mind, offering flexible, revenue-based coverage for farms of all sizes, including those growing specialty and organic crops.

To help farmers better understand and access this program, OFRF has developed a new Whole-Farm Revenue Protection toolkit with support from the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) in the West/Southwest region. This free resource is tailored to organic and transitioning producers and includes a clear overview of program benefits, eligibility, application steps, and key considerations, like how commodities are counted and what paperwork to prepare.

What is WFRP?

harvested vegetables at Green Things Farm Collective in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Harvested vegetables at Green Things Farm Collective in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The farm participated in OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials program in 2024, examining the impact that row spacing of direct-seeded crops had on marketable crop yields.

WFRP is a federally approved crop insurance option that protects your entire farm’s expected revenue, not just the yield of a single crop. Designed with organic, specialty, and mixed operations in mind, it allows farmers to insure up to $17 million in revenue under one policy. 

It covers losses from natural disasters, market fluctuations, or pest and disease issues, and offers premium assistance for diversified farms. WFRP covers most operational costs, excluding post-harvest expenses like value-added processing. This program is also one of the few insurance options that values organic crops at organic market prices—a major benefit for organic farmers, provided they have certification or transition documentation. 

For farms with annual revenue under $350,000, the Micro Farm Policy offers a simplified option with easier paperwork requirements.

Why WFRP Matters

Unlike traditional insurance programs focused on yield, WFRP protects your expected revenue, not just production. This makes it ideal for operations with mixed crops and animals, especially when market value plays a bigger role than raw yield.

It is also available in all 50 states and can be used alongside other crop insurance policies.

Quick Facts About WFRP

  • Can cover up to 85% of your operation’s predicted revenue for the policy year.
  • Provides incentives for diverse commodities by offering higher premium discounts when policies cover at least two commodities; WFRP offers an 80% subsidy coverage from the USDA.
  • Covers high-value specialty crops that lack standard crop insurance, including organic herbs, organic eggs, and organic poultry.
  • Organic crops are valued at organic market price.
  • Provides up to 20% of expected revenue to cover replanting costs if at least 20% or 20 acres of an insured annual crop are destroyed or fail to establish due to a covered cause.
  • Allows carryover loss coverage if the insured is covered for the next year and a covered event decreases farm revenue over multiple years.
  • WFRP can be combined with or supplemented by other crop insurance policies.

How to Get Started with WFRP

Applying for WFRP begins with reviewing your policy options, gathering paperwork, and connecting with your local RMA crop insurance agent. The steps are outlined in our printable flyer (image and link below) for easy reference. For farmers unfamiliar with the process, here’s a closer look at the documents you’ll need to prepare.

What paperwork is needed?

Even if you’re new to crop insurance, don’t worry—your insurance agent will help walk you through the forms. That said, having these documents ready will make your application process smoother and more accurate.

  • The last 5 years of IRS 1040 Schedule F Tax Forms.
    This is your farm’s income and expense tax form. WFRP uses it to calculate your average revenue. If you don’t have five years of records, the program allows flexibility, so just bring what you have from recent years.
  • The last 5 years of your Whole-Farm History
    This form documents the operation’s allowable revenue for each tax year used to determine your farm’s whole-farm historic average revenue. It can include digital or handwritten sales records such as point-of-sale (POS) reports, CSA sales logs, and receipts or invoices from markets or wholesale buyers. View examples on page 128 of the program’s handbook.
  • The last 5 years of Farm Operation Report
    This form outlines the commodities you expect to earn revenue from during the insurance period. It helps if you have at least two strong producing commodities that make the majority of your revenue. View an example on page 148 of the program’s handbook.
  • Organic certification
    If you’re certified organic, bring a copy of your certificate. If you’re in transition, you may still qualify for organic pricing if certification is expected by the acreage reporting deadline (usually July 15). Ask your agent what documentation is acceptable.

A few extra notes:

  • If you have less than 5 years of history for any of the forms above, talk to your insurance agent—there are options for newer farms.
  • Once enrolled, it is important to keep your Farm Operation Report updated throughout the year as things change. 
  • If you suspect a revenue loss from a covered event, you must notify your insurer within 72 hours of that event.
  • Because WFRP is revenue-based, losses may not be obvious right away. Track your sales and compare them to your expected revenue regularly to stay ahead of potential claims.

Understanding How Commodities Are Counted

WFRP uses expected revenue (not just crop type) to determine what counts as a commodity. The number of distinct commodities you grow influences your coverage level, with two or more qualifying commodities unlocking higher support. 

To count, each product must meet a minimum revenue threshold. Products can be combined and counted as one to help meet that threshold.

WFRP in Action

As of 2024, WFRP had its second-highest year of participation ever, with over 2,200 farms enrolled. And with recent improvements to reduce paperwork and broaden eligibility, more organic and transitioning producers are taking advantage of the program.

Explore your options and start preparing today. 

visual of front side of WFRP information flyer created by OFRF
visual of back side of WFRP information flyer created by OFRF

Programa de Protección de Ingresos para Toda la Granja (WFRP)

El nuevo kit de herramientas ayuda a los agricultores orgánicos y en transición a acceder a la cobertura de seguro para toda la granja.

Los productores orgánicos y en transición a lo orgánico enfrentan riesgos únicos que no siempre están cubiertos por el seguro de cultivos tradicional. Afortunadamente, el programa de Protección de Ingresos para Toda la Granja (WFRP, por sus siglas en inglés) del USDA se diseñó teniendo en cuenta las operaciones diversas y a pequeña escala, ofreciendo una cobertura flexible y basada en los ingresos para granjas de todos los tamaños, incluidas las que cultivan cultivos especializados y orgánicos.

Para ayudar a los agricultores a comprender y acceder mejor a este programa, OFRF ha desarrollado un nuevo kit de herramientas para la Protección de Ingresos para Toda la Granja con el apoyo del Programa de Asociación para la Transición a Orgánico (TOPP) en la región Oeste/Suroeste. Este recurso gratuito está diseñado para productores orgánicos y en transición e incluye una descripción clara de los beneficios del programa, la elegibilidad, los pasos de solicitud y las consideraciones clave, como cómo se cuentan la mercancía y qué documentación preparar.

¿Qué es el Programa de Protección de Ingresos para Toda la Granja (WFRP)?

WFRP es una opción de seguro de cosechas aprobada por el gobierno federal que protege los ingresos esperados de toda su granja, no solo el rendimiento de un solo cultivo. Diseñado teniendo en cuenta las operaciones orgánicas, especializadas y mixtas, permite a los agricultores asegurar hasta $17 millones en ingresos bajo una sola póliza.

Cubre pérdidas por desastres naturales, fluctuaciones del mercado o problemas de plagas y enfermedades, y ofrece asistencia premium para granjas diversificadas. WFRP cubre la mayoría de los costos operativos, excluyendo los gastos posteriores a la cosecha, como el procesamiento de valor agregado. Este programa también es una de las pocas opciones de seguro que valora los cultivos orgánicos a precios de mercado orgánico, un beneficio importante para los agricultores orgánicos, siempre que tengan certificación o documentación de transición.

 Para las granjas con ingresos anuales inferiores a $350,000, la póliza de micro granja ofrece una opción simplificada con requisitos de papeleo más fáciles.

¿Por qué es importante WFRP?

A diferencia de los programas de seguros tradicionales centrados en el rendimiento, WFRP protege sus ingresos esperados, no solo la producción. Esto lo hace ideal para operaciones con cultivos y animales mixtos, especialmente cuando el valor de mercado juega un papel más importante que el rendimiento bruto.

También está disponible en los 50 estados y se puede utilizar junto con otras pólizas de seguro de cultivos.

Datos breves sobre WFRP

  • Puede cubrir hasta el 85% de los ingresos previstos de su operación para el año de la póliza.
  • Proporciona incentivos para diversos productos al ofrecer descuentos más altos en las primas cuando las pólizas cubren al menos dos productos; WFRP ofrece una cobertura de subsidio del 80% del USDA.
  • Cubre cultivos especializados de alto valor que carecen de seguro de cosecha estándar, incluidas hierbas orgánicas, huevos orgánicos y aves de corral orgánicas.
  • Los cultivos orgánicos se valoran a precio de mercado orgánico.
  • Proporciona hasta el 20% de los ingresos esperados para cubrir los costos de replantación si al menos el 20% o 20 acres de un cultivo anual asegurado se destruyen o no se establecen debido a una causa cubierta.
  • Permite la cobertura de pérdidas arrastradas si el asegurado está cubierto durante el próximo año y un evento cubierto disminuye los ingresos de la granja durante varios años.
  • El WFRP puede combinarse o complementarse con otras pólizas de seguro de cultivos.

Cómo empezar con WFRP

La solicitud de WFRP comienza con la revisión de sus opciones de póliza, la recopilación de documentación y la conexión con su agente local de seguros de cultivos de RMA. Los pasos se describen en nuestro folleto imprimible (imagen y enlace a continuación) para facilitar la referencia. Para los agricultores que no están familiarizados con el proceso, aquí hay un vistazo más de cerca a los documentos que deberá preparar.

¿Qué documentación se necesita?

Incluso si es nuevo en el seguro de cultivos, no se preocupe, su agente de seguros le ayudará a guiarle a través de los formularios. Dicho esto, tener estos documentos listos hará que su proceso de solicitud sea más fluido y preciso.

  • Los últimos 5 años de los formularios de impuestos del IRS 1040 Anexo F.
    Este es el formulario de impuestos sobre la renta y los gastos de su granja. WFRP lo utiliza para calcular sus ingresos promedio. Si no tiene cinco años de registros, el programa permite flexibilidad, solo traiga lo que tenga de los últimos años.
  • Los últimos 5 años de su historial de su granja
    Este formulario documenta los ingresos permitidos de la operación para cada año fiscal, utilizado para determinar los ingresos promedio históricos de su granja. Puede incluir registros de ventas digitales o escritos a mano, como informes de punto de venta (POS), registros de ventas de CSA y recibos o facturas de mercados o compradores mayoristas. Véanse los ejemplos en la página 128 del manual del programa.
  • Los últimos 5 años de Informe de Operaciones Agrícolas
    Este formulario describe los productos básicos de los que espera obtener ingresos durante el período del seguro. Es útil si tiene al menos dos productos básicos de producción fuerte que generan la mayor parte de sus ingresos. Vea un ejemplo en la página 148 del manual del programa.
  • Certificación orgánica
    Si estás certificado como orgánico, traiga una copia de su certificado. Si se encuentra en transición, es posible que aún califique para los precios orgánicos si se espera la certificación antes de la fecha límite de presentación de informes sobre la superficie cultivada (generalmente el 15 de julio). Pregúntele a su agente qué documentación es aceptable.

Algunas notas adicionales:

  • Si tiene menos de 5 años de historial para cualquiera de los formularios anteriores, hable con su agente de seguros: hay opciones para granjas más nuevas.
  • Una vez inscrito, es importante mantener actualizado su Informe de Operaciones Agrícolas durante todo el año a medida que las cosas cambian. 
  • Si sospecha de una pérdida de ingresos por un evento cubierto, debe notificar a su aseguradora dentro de las 72 horas posteriores a ese evento.
  • Debido a que el WFRP se basa en los ingresos, es posible que las pérdidas no sean obvias de inmediato. Realice un seguimiento de sus ventas y compárelas con sus ingresos esperados con regularidad para adelantarse a posibles reclamaciones.

Comprender cómo se cuenta la mercadería

WFRP utiliza los ingresos esperados (no solo el tipo de cultivo) para determinar qué cuenta como mercadería. La cantidad de mercadería distinta que cultiva influye en su nivel de cobertura, y dos o más mercaderías calificadas desbloquean un soporte más alto. 

Para que se cuente, cada producto debe cumplir un umbral mínimo de ingresos. Los productos se pueden combinar y contar como uno solo para ayudar a alcanzar ese umbral.

WFRP en acción

A partir de 2024, WFRP tuvo su segundo año más alto de participación, con más de 2,200 granjas inscritas. Y con las recientes mejoras para reducir el papeleo y ampliar la elegibilidad, más productores orgánicos y en transición están aprovechando el programa.

Explore sus opciones y comience a prepararse hoy con nuestro kit de herramientas para la protección de ingresos para toda la granja.

visual of front side of Spanish WFRP information flyer created by OFRF
visual of back side of Spanish WFRP information flyer created by OFRF

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What’s Going On? A Brief Update on What’s Happening in DC

By |2025-07-10T13:07:50-04:00July 9th, 2025|Gordon's Policy Corner, News|

By Gordon Merrick, OFRF Policy & Programs Director

If the past six months in the federal policy spheres have felt more like six years, know that you’re not alone. With endless stops and starts, shifting deadlines, and overlapping processes, it can be hard to track what actually matters and what is just noise. At OFRF, we want to keep our community grounded in the real implications for organic research and the systems that support and benefit from it. This month’s Policy Corner aims to give some brief updates on some of the processes we have been and continue to be engaged in, and how you can help support that work.

Reconciliation, the Farm Bill, and Legislative Movement

The reconciliation process is officially done, for now. While some Farm Bill programs were included in the final package, committee leadership has reiterated that they intend to try and pass the policy-focused Farm Bill provisions that were eliminated in the Senate’s “Byrd Bath.” This limited Farm Bill seems increasingly aspirational, with no clear floor time windows, mounting fractures in the traditional Farm Bill coalitions, and future reconciliation packages on the horizon, the outlook for passing a full, robust Farm Bill in the immediate term remains uncertain, and passing another extension of the 2018 Farm Bill increases in likelihood.

Meanwhile, the FY26 appropriations process is slowly moving ahead, but is significantly behind the normal schedule. OFRF worked with House offices on both sides of the aisle to ensure the House Report included important language supporting organic research and technical assistance. We’re now watching closely how that bill moves through the entire House as well as how the Senate version shapes up.

Programmatic Delays and Pending Announcements

We, like the entire research community, are still awaiting the release of the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), Organic Transitions Program (ORG), and all of the National Institute for Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Competitive Grant Requests for Applications. These funding opportunities were generally all posted earlier this year, then retracted for administrative review in February. After months of delay, time is running out to allow for a strong application window (at least 30 days), peer review (~60 days), and award process by the end of the Fiscal Year (Sept. 30th). We will continue to monitor this closely, and if you’re a researcher or a farmer working with researchers, keep an eye out for urgent updates from both NIFA as well as us.

NRCS Comment Period is Open

Right now, NRCS is accepting comments on its Conservation Practice Standards (CPSs) that have been selected for review this year. We’ll be submitting detailed comments, especially on CPS-595: Pest Management Conservation System, which still has room for improvement to allow for organic systems management. We want to hear from you if you’re a researcher or practitioner with insights on organic pest management, or other areas that are covered in the CPSs that are open for review.

Keeping You Connected

Regardless of legislative delays or agency slowdowns, our mission stays the same. We work every day to ensure that organic research, and the farmers and researchers behind it, receives more-robust support through federal and state programming. That includes helping our community connect with elected officials to help educate them on what they do, why they do it, and how it impacts their District, State, and oftentimes the entire Nation’s food system.

Want to get involved? Check out our free, email-based Communicating with Legislators course! If you have a story or a data point that you would like to share, please reach out and we are here to help.

Eat well and breathe deeply,

Gordon

P.S. You can catch up on recent editions of Gordon’s Policy Corner here.

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