Jan 16, 2017

OFRF receives grant for organic farmers outreach programs

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) has been chosen to receive a grant from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) designed to facilitate the increased use of the agency’s programs and services among organic farmers.

“This grant will allow OFRF to continue to help organic farmers address the challenges they face, and take advantage of the opportunities and resources available to help organic farming grow and thrive,” said OFRF’s Executive Director Brise Tencer.

OFRF will use this FSA grant to develop educational resources and conduct outreach on FSA benefits and opportunities for organic farmers and ranchers. OFRF plans to engage farmers through public meetings, conferences, mailings, news releases, interactions with individual producers, their web site (www.ofrf.org), and other outlets.

The education and outreach will focus primarily on financial assistance to establish conservation buffer zones, financial assistance for crop losses due to natural disasters, interim financing after harvest, and loans for storage facilities. In addition, OFRF aims to produce and distribute FSA guidebooks for organic growers relating the practical implications for farmers nationwide.