Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association

Coming up next Friday, August 9 is our free tour at Next Gen Organic Farms !

Next Gen Organic Farms is a father and son operation in northwest Ohio. They travel to four surrounding counties to farm around 900 acres of certified organic corn, soybeans, and wheat. They strive to produce nutrient-based organic grains for consumers while keeping a good cover crop rotation and maintaining their soil health.

An OEFFA Grain Growers Chapter meeting and potluck will take place before the tour starting at 10 a.m.

Learn more about the 2024 OEFFA Farm Tour and Workshop Series at oeffa.org/farmtours 🐮

Two weeks ago, our Policy Program joined forces with My Grow Connect to host an in-district event with Rep. Shontel Brown and representatives from Cleveland City Council and the City of Cleveland. The day was nothing short of incredible.⁣
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The first farm tour took place at Bay Branch Farm, where Annabel and Eric showed us their EQIP-funded high tunnels and CSP-funded pest management strategies. They shared how federal and local funding could help them continue to expand their work and help beginning farmers get the land they need to grow.⁣
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Then we headed to Shalom & Tranquility Community Garden, where Ms. Eb shared her own inspirational story (through a beautiful song!) and we learned about how the garden is not just cultivating kid favorites like watermelon and tomatoes, okra, and strawberries, but also community.⁣
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The Representative, and member of the House Agriculture Committee, left feeling enlivened by the farmers in her district. We’re excited to see her continue to advance policies that support Cleveland’s urban farms!⁣

Have you ever been talking farming with someone and get hit with the thought "wow, I could do a whole TED Talk on this"? Well, now's your chance!

Apply to be a workshop speaker at the 2025 OEFFA Conference! We are seeking experienced farmers and other food movement leaders willing to share their expertise on a wide variety of topics. Apply by Monday, August 12 at conference.oeffa.org 🎤

We're hiring! Our team is looking for a certification specialist to work with our organic certification program. Certification specialists conduct in-depth reviews of applications for organic certification, guiding applicants through the process as they strive to meet federal organic standards.

Visit oeffa.org/employment to learn more and apply ✍

Curious about how federal funding can help with your direct-to-consumer marketing and support stronger local and regional food systems?

In our first 'The USDA and You' virtual webinar on Monday, August 5 (7-8 p.m.), we'll cover the local food grants that fall under the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP).

Register for free at action.oeffa.org/usda-and-you

OEFFA is a proud partner in the Midwest Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). The regional network provides mentorship, technical assistance, and wrap-around support for transitioning and existing organic producers.

And we're looking for experienced organic producers with knowledge to share!

Mentors play a crucial role in growing the organic movement and helping new producers succeed—and you'll receive a $3,000 stipend for a year of mentorship!

All crop and livestock producers are welcome to apply at oeffa.org/TOPP.

We're officially halfway through the 2024 OEFFA Farm Tour and Workshop Series!

Thank you to our hosts at Bair-Trax Dairy, Hostetler's Organics, and Mud Run Farm for the last three amazing farm tours (can't beat a good wagon ride).

Check out oeffa.org/farmtours to see what's next on the schedule 🐮

Our organic certification team wrote an article exploring the growth of the organic industry, including the implementation of the largest single change to National Organic Program standards in more than 20 years.

Read it at morningagclips.com/growth-and-change-in-the-organic-industry!

Growth and Change in the Organic Industry WASHINGTON -- With new rules and increased consumer demand, the organic industry is growing. U.S. organic sales were up 3.4 percent compared with 2022, hitting...

Registration closes❗️today❗️Learn more about finding the land right for you and register at outreach.oeffa.org/site-assessment.

TWO WEEKS AWAY: OEFFA's Site Assessment Workshop is a beginning or expanding farmer's dream. The day-long, multi-component workshop will equip attendees with the tools, knowledge, and connections to determine if a piece of farmland will meet your needs.

In the classroom component, OEFFA staff and Extension educators will highlight the topography, infrastructure, and soil and water considerations you should make. Then, we'll head to a third-generation, Black-owned farm where we'll do some hands-on activities and learn about some cool agroforestry tech tools.

Registration closes on Monday, July 22. Don't miss this opportunity! https://outreach.oeffa.org/site-assessment/

A really interesting webinar from the Organic Farmers Association next week! It's farmer-centered and explores how to have the conversation with NRCS about 823, a new interim standard that helps producers who are certified organic or in organic transition.

Register for the July 24 event at actionnetwork.org/events/seeds-of-success-webinar-nrcs-organic-practice-823-strategies-and-best-practices.

It's not too late to register for the next Seeds of Success webinar and farmer networking event on July 24 (2pm ET). OFA and guest colleagues will explore Natural Resource Conservation Service 823, the Organic Practice Standard.

This program is relatively new, and a little different than other NRCS practices. Join us to hear directly from ag professionals and farmers about their experiences with 823 and their ideas regarding how to best utilize this valuable conservation planning tool.

Register now: https://actionnetwork.org/events/seeds-of-success-webinar-nrcs-organic-practice-823-strategies-and-best-practices/

About Seeds of Success:
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), is partnering with the Organic Farmers Association, and National Organic Coalition - NOC to host a series of virtual farmer-to-farmer networking sessions, Seeds of Success. These facilitated events will be interactive, informal spaces for farmers to share their challenges and successes, and will give farmers an opportunity to have open conversations on topics most relevant to them.

TWO WEEKS AWAY: OEFFA's Site Assessment Workshop is a beginning or expanding farmer's dream. The day-long, multi-component workshop will equip attendees with the tools, knowledge, and connections to determine if a piece of farmland will meet your needs.

In the classroom component, OEFFA staff and Extension educators will highlight the topography, infrastructure, and soil and water considerations you should make. Then, we'll head to a third-generation, Black-owned farm where we'll do some hands-on activities and learn about some cool agroforestry tech tools.

Registration closes on Monday, July 22. Don't miss this opportunity! https://outreach.oeffa.org/site-assessment/

Ever wanted to see a mill up close? Come on out to our farm tour with Mud Run Farm on Sunday, July 21!

Mud Run Farm is a small, organic, diversified farm sitting on 30 acres in northeast Ohio. Certified with OEFFA, the father-daughter duo grow and mill small grains for their region and serve as stewards of organics and the environment. Utilizing horse-drawn equipment and sustainable practices, this tour will showcase their knowledge of organic practices, small grains, and stone milling.

Learn more about the 2024 OEFFA Farm Tour and Workshop Series at oeffa.org/farmtours 🐮

This tour is in partnership with the Climate-Smart Commodities Program, which is seeking organic row and grain crop farmers who want to incorporate climate-smart practices into their farm management plans. Learn more at oeffa.org/climatesmartag.

Coming up next Saturday, July 20 we have a tour at Hostetler’s Organics in northeast Ohio!

Hostetler’s has been growing OEFFA-certified organic produce since 2005. Each season the farm supplies Green Field Farms with zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, watermelon, fall squash, hay, and corn. This successful and experienced grower will show us around, plus highlight some techniques to increase production and profitability.

Learn more about the 2024 OEFFA Farm Tour and Workshop Series at oeffa.org/farmtours 🐮

Pam Mack is an organic vegetable farmer and mentor for the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP).

If you're interested in making the switch to organic but feel overwhelmed by the process, this mentorship program is for you!

As a mentee, you'll have FREE support and guidance from an experienced certified organic producer like Pam. Learn more by visiting oeffa.org/TOPP.

Our farm tours are in full swing! We had a wonderful time at both Everyday Acres and Fresh to Morrow these last two weekends in the heat and rain (truly a first-hand farmer experience, right?).

Check out oeffa.org/farmtours to see what's next on the schedule 🐮

Coming up next Saturday, July 13 we have a tour at Bair-Trax Dairy!

Bair-Trax is an organic dairy farm that strives to grow healthy foods through healthy soils. This pasture walk will focus on successful innovations the Bairs have developed over the years and show these techniques up close. Hear relevant information for both experienced grazers and beginning farmers at this Grazing Innovations Pasture Walk.

Learn more about the 2024 OEFFA Farm Tour and Workshop Series at oeffa.org/farmtours 🐮

We're a proud partner in the Ohio Organic Farmer Researcher Network, a space for farmers, educators, researchers, and anyone interested to discuss a variety of topics related to organic production research each month. Learn more at offer.osu.edu/oofrn.

At July's OOFRN meeting, Jordan Settlage from Settlage & Settlage Farms will speak about their on-farm research. With his father, they manage 500 acres and 300 dairy cows as a grass-based organic dairy using rotational grazing. In their on-farm research, Jordan has helped trial two different satellite mapping systems for pasture management. Sign up and join the meeting at offer.osu.edu/oofrn-events!

Funding opportunity update! The USDA Conservation Stewardship Program has more than DOUBLED its minimum payment to $4,000/year. Visit bit.ly/nrcscsp to learn more.

*Timing note: Ranking dates determine when NRCS scores all applications. Ohio's 2024 ranking date was in February but applications can be submitted any time for 2025. Start by finding your local service center: bit.ly/usdacenter

Save the date for the 2025 OEFFA Conference, Boldly Grow, February 13-15 at Cherry Valley Hotel & Ohio Event Center!

Things are in motion for our 46th annual conference. This celebrated event welcomes hundreds of farmers, gardeners, and food supporters to learn, shop, and connect at Ohio's largest sustainable agriculture conference. Registration opens in late fall. Sign up for email updates at oeffa.org/emails 📨

And now is the time to share your knowledge! We are looking for workshop speakers to share their knowledge, passion, and innovation in sustainable and organic agriculture at the conference.

Speaker applications are now live until Monday, August 12. Visit conference.oeffa.org to share what you know!

Artwork: the always amazing Rosanna Morris Prints ❤️

We're really hitting the ground running with back-to-back weekends of farm tours!

Join us next Saturday, June 29 at Fresh to Morrow in southwest Ohio. Fresh To Morrow is a seed-to-fork, family-owned farm and café. The farm practices no spray, regenerative farming, and permaculture methods. This team has built a vertically-integrated food system that incorporates both their farm and other local producers. Building soil health, encouraging seasonal eating, supporting their local economy, and reducing food waste are important aspects of their work.

Learn more about the 2024 OEFFA Farm Tour and Workshop Series at oeffa.org/farmtours 🐮

Our amazing staff helping an amazing local farmer 🤍

🌱 Join the TOPP Program! 🌱

Are you an experienced organic producer or transitioning to organic? The TOPP program is here to support you!

MENTORS:
- Hone your teaching and facilitation skills
- Receive $3,000 stipend/year
- Support growth of the organic industry

MENTEES:
- Learn one-on-one from an experienced mentor
- Get FREE expert advice
- Receive help with your organic system plan (OSP)

ELIGIBILITY:
- All crop and livestock producers in Ohio
- We can help connect producers in AR, KY, IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, TN, and WI with other TOPP partners

Learn more and apply: https://grow.oeffa.org/transition-to-organic-topp/

📣SOIL HEALTH ACTION OPPORTUNITY 📣

The Healthy Soils Task Force bill (H.B. 568) was introduced this morning by Representatives Juanita Brent and Bill Dean.

It would be an important first step toward prioritizing our soils and ensuring Ohio agriculture remains viable for future generations.
In just a few minutes, you can call/email your state representative to urge them to support H.B. 652!

Help protect this vital natural resource by visiting https://action.oeffa.org/healthy-soils-task-force/