Latest OFRF News
Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Passion Garden
Passion Garden, in the Waco Texas, is a three-acre diversified farm, in the process of transitioning to organic certification. Farmer Kay Bell is participating in OFRF's Farmer-Led Trial Program to experiment with farm-made soil amendments from mesquite bean pods to increase productivity of tomato varieties.
Organic Agriculture Research in Action: High Tunnels and Cover Cropping with Moore Family Farms
Moore Family Farms is a family-owned and operated farm located in Warsaw, North Carolina. Managed by Robert Moore and his son Dakota, this 260-acre farm was founded in 1833 based on principles of sustainability. Learn how they are meeting conservation goals - and what funding for organic research programs can do to support family farms.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
NRCS’ CSP program offers financial assistance and technical support for farmer who are looking to increase conservation on their farm by adopting new conservation activities or improving upon existing practices.
New Year, Same Farm Bill… Again.
As we turn the calendar to a new year, we are still operating under an extended version of the 2018 Farm Bill. In this month’s Policy Corner, Gordon provides a quick reset on where things stand, what key players are signaling, and how OFRF is approaching organic agriculture policy advocacy for the year ahead to ensure organic agriculture is fully recognized as a research-driven, conservation-forward, and economically significant part of U.S. agriculture.
Organic Agriculture Research in Action: Navigating Urban Farming with Little Lighthouse Farm
Learn how Little Lighthouse Farm, a small-scale certified organic urban farm, is meeting conservation goals - and what funding for organic research programs can do to support urban producers.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
NRCS’ EQIP program offers financial assistance and technical support to implement new conservation practices on your farm, with additional support for historically underserved applicants including socially disadvantaged, beginning, veteran, and limited-resource farmers and ranchers.
Three Springs Farm: Small-scale Farming Rooted in Organic Principles
At Three Springs Farm in eastern Oklahoma, farmers Mike Appel and Emily Oakley grow over over forty different organic crops and more than 150 individual varieties on three acres of land, showcasing the economic viability of small-scale farming.
Lessons from the Plains on the Transition to Organic
Organic farmers face unique challenges in every part of the country. In this article, we look at challenges faced by organic farmers in the Great Lakes, and dive into resources available on the Organic Research Hub that could help farmers address them.
Something to be Grateful For: Northeastern State Secretaries of Agriculture Send Letter to Secretary Rollins about OREI
On November 20th, the state secretaries of agriculture from Connecticut, Delaware, and New Jersey joined Pennsylvania Secretary Redding to submit a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, requesting unreleased FY2025 funding for the Organic Agriculture Research Extension Initiative (OREI) be included on top of new fiscal year funds for the program in FY2026.
Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Oxbow Farm and Conservation Center
Oxbow Farm and Education Center, in the Snoqualmie Valley of Washington, is a nonprofit focused on trialing climate adaptive and resilient agricultural practices. Farm manager, Anthony Reyes, is participating in OFRF's Farmer-Led Trial Program to experiment with seeding rates of cover crop for biomass and nutrient content.
