Organic Farming Research Foundation https://ofrf.org/ Cultivating organic research, education, and federal policies Mon, 20 Nov 2023 20:14:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3 https://ofrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/cropped-OFRF-512-32x32.gif Organic Farming Research Foundation https://ofrf.org/ 32 32 Conservation Agriculture webinar series https://ofrf.org/news/conservation-ag-webinars/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=conservation-ag-webinars Mon, 20 Nov 2023 20:14:11 +0000 https://ofrf.org/?p=12162 OFRF, in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has co-created a webinar series focused on soil health and organic farming. This series is facilitated by Jennifer Ryan and Lindsay Haines of NRCS and Thelma Velez and Mary Hathaway of OFRF. Each of the webinars is led by Mark Schonbeck, OFRF’s Research Associate. [...]

The post Conservation Agriculture webinar series appeared first on Organic Farming Research Foundation.

]]> Respecting the Roots: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Organic Agriculture https://ofrf.org/news/respecting-the-roots/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=respecting-the-roots Sun, 12 Nov 2023 14:47:43 +0000 https://ofrf.org/?p=10922 Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is a concept refers to ecological knowledge that is place-based and also inherently tied to a culture. It is not only a system of knowledge that has been handed down generationally, but a holistic way to view all living things in relationship to the landscape. This is a perspective that's incredibly valuable for organic agriculture - if we can learn to appreciate it without appropriating it.

The post Respecting the Roots: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Organic Agriculture appeared first on Organic Farming Research Foundation.

]]> From Farm to Policy: Organic Agriculture and Public Health https://ofrf.org/gordons-policy-corner/november-2023-from-farm-to-policy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=november-2023-from-farm-to-policy Fri, 10 Nov 2023 15:19:31 +0000 https://ofrf.org/?p=10896 This month’s policy corner is written by Annika La Fave, our 2023 Fall Policy & Communications Intern. It dives into the challenges faced by farmers at the intersections of policy, research, and public health within the organic farming landscape.

The post From Farm to Policy: Organic Agriculture and Public Health appeared first on Organic Farming Research Foundation.

]]> Farmers Guide to Conducting On-Farm Research https://ofrf.org/reports/farmers-guide-to-conducting-on-farm-research/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=farmers-guide-to-conducting-on-farm-research Tue, 07 Nov 2023 19:28:26 +0000 https://ofrf.org/?p=10860 This guide was specifically created for you, the organic farmer or rancher who is curious about conducting some type of trial or experiment on your farm in a more structured way. Whether you are looking at reducing the use of off-farm inputs, minimizing disease pressure, trying out new crop varieties or animal feed, or testing new cover crop techniques or irrigation sensors, this practical guide was created to assist you along the way.

The post Farmers Guide to Conducting On-Farm Research appeared first on Organic Farming Research Foundation.

]]> The Role of Long-Term Research in Sustainable Agriculture https://ofrf.org/news/long-term-research-cavigelli/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=long-term-research-cavigelli Wed, 25 Oct 2023 15:04:13 +0000 https://ofrf.org/?p=10745 Climate change has a significant impact on agriculture, particularly organic farming which is more dependent on natural systems. Long-term agroecological research is critical in understanding how different farming practices can build resilience against climate change.

The post The Role of Long-Term Research in Sustainable Agriculture appeared first on Organic Farming Research Foundation.

]]> Farming for the birds https://ofrf.org/news/avian-biodiversity-research-summary/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=avian-biodiversity-research-summary Thu, 19 Oct 2023 20:55:49 +0000 https://ofrf.org/?p=10703 In 2015, a group of researchers from Dr. Jeb Owen’s lab at Washington State University received a USDA NIFA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) research grant to investigate the costs and benefits of encouraging wild bird populations on organic farms. The results are summarized in this latest blog from our Research & Education team.

The post Farming for the birds appeared first on Organic Farming Research Foundation.

]]> Unpredictable Times in Agriculture and Policy https://ofrf.org/gordons-policy-corner/october-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=october-2023 Fri, 13 Oct 2023 18:45:41 +0000 https://ofrf.org/?p=10641 This month, Gordon’s Policy Corner looks at the parallels between the worlds of politics and agriculture, and their shared need for predictability and adherence to deadlines: Climate change disrupts farming with unpredictable weather patterns, and political unpredictability in Washington, D.C. affects legislative actions. The dynamics of climate instability and political gridlock are deeply interconnected. Yet, amidst this uncertainty, there is a powerful action we can all take to influence change: effectively communicating to legislators and policymakers how these issues impact our lives. The Communicating with Legislators workshops equip participants with insights into legislative processes and encourage active involvement in shaping the future of the agriculture sector during these uncertain times.

The post Unpredictable Times in Agriculture and Policy appeared first on Organic Farming Research Foundation.

]]> Marina Vergara (she/her/hers) https://ofrf.org/staff/marina-vergara/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=marina-vergara Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:05:43 +0000 https://ofrf.org/?p=10605 Research & Education Intern
research[at]ofrf.org

The post Marina Vergara (she/her/hers) appeared first on Organic Farming Research Foundation.

]]> Annika La Fave (she/her/hers) https://ofrf.org/staff/annika-la-fave/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=annika-la-fave Mon, 09 Oct 2023 15:56:53 +0000 https://ofrf.org/?p=10560 Policy & Communications Intern
policy[at]ofrf.org

The post Annika La Fave (she/her/hers) appeared first on Organic Farming Research Foundation.

]]> TOPP West Resources https://ofrf.org/news/topp-west-resources/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=topp-west-resources Tue, 26 Sep 2023 18:14:59 +0000 https://ofrf.org/?p=10440 The process of obtaining and maintaining organic certification can be costly. The good news is that financial assistance is available through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) to help ease this burden.

The post TOPP West Resources appeared first on Organic Farming Research Foundation.

]]>