We’re settling into our winter routine out right here at April Pleasure Farm. It’s what I name the season of deferred upkeep! Along with repairing and restoring, we’re organizing barns and the workshop, winterizing the packing shed, and mucking out the poultry coop. This can be a time of 12 months after I start to take inventory—trying again at what has been and looking out ahead to what could also be, so I can root myself squarely in what is important on this second.
That is my first 12 months because the president of OFRF’s Board of Administrators however my sixth 12 months serving on the board. I’ve to say, the expansion and alter this 12 months has felt exponential. Within the final 5 years, the group has quietly been constructing essential networks and planting the seeds of recent goals, all whereas making certain the integrity of our foundational work. For me, 2024 marks the 12 months OFRF has bloomed profoundly—in outstanding and unexpectedly fantastic methods.
Listed below are just a few highlights we’re most pleased with:
- This 12 months, we funded 10 farmer-led analysis tasks. You’ll be able to learn tales about their tasks on our web site right here and view the recording of a current challenge recap from three farmers in this system.
- We superior 2 marker payments that might develop federal funding in natural analysis, SOAR and OSRI.
- We launched a messaging marketing campaign to teach the general public about how natural is nice for the soil, biodiversity, and local weather: Natural Is Regenerative.
AND the Board not too long ago accredited a brand new five-year strategic plan that:
- Helps farmers the place it issues most. Listening to natural producers is on the coronary heart of our work, and this plan strengthens our skill to offer them with the assets and help they should thrive. One speedy final result is the formation of a brand new Natural Stewardship Council, that can operate as a farmer advisory physique to OFRF.
- Tackles local weather change head-on. We’re amplifying our efforts to showcase how natural farming performs a significant function in local weather resilience and environmental sustainability.
- Builds a extra equitable future. Natural farming must be accessible to all. We’re dedicated to breaking down boundaries and making certain that underserved communities have entry to the advantages and alternatives inside natural agriculture.
As a direct market farmer, time is my most important useful resource. Like so many people out right here within the discipline, there’s a surfeit of necessary work that vies for my time and a spotlight. So why do I proceed to help OFRF?
The three large causes I spend valuable time stewarding OFRF’s targets are:
- OFRF is actually invested in farmer well-being.
Over the previous six years, I’ve seen how OFRF is concentrated on understanding and advancing the wants of natural producers throughout our nation. This implies persevering with to gather, distill, and disseminate findings and sensible functions of natural analysis to farmers and agricultural professionals of all backgrounds and expertise ranges, emphasizing the advantages of natural to all farmers striving to farm extra ecologically, responsibly, and profitably. - OFRF is advancing a analysis agenda that helps ALL American farmers, no matter their farming philosophy.
Natural farmers like me require analysis that doesn’t rely upon costly chemical inputs however relatively on creating built-in, resilient agroecological techniques. Why does this matter? As a result of in contrast to chemical-based farming analysis, natural farming analysis applies to all farming techniques—and may be (and is being) adopted by farmers throughout the nation. Nationally, the natural market makes up greater than 15% of complete produce meals gross sales. Regardless of this development, natural agriculture analysis funding makes up lower than 2% of the full analysis finances on the USDA and fewer than 1% of the Agricultural Analysis Service’s finances. - Natural farming is local weather resilient.
Local weather change poses vital dangers for farmers and ranchers and endangers the soil, water, and different assets on which meals manufacturing relies upon. Rising temperatures have already intensified droughts, warmth waves, and storms, making it tougher to develop crops and lift livestock. Natural techniques that emphasize soil well being assist farmers and ranchers improve resilience to the impacts of local weather change by capturing and storing extra carbon (CO2) within the soil (carbon sequestration) and releasing fewer greenhouse gases. There’s additionally in depth analysis demonstrating the potential of natural techniques to cut back agriculture’s contribution to local weather change (i.e., mitigate local weather change).
As we glance to 2025, I invite you to discover a option to construct a connection to or strengthen your ties with OFRF. So many a whole bunch of farmers throughout our nation, like me, are counting in your engagement.
