NRCS Programs Support for Organic Farmers

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) provides vital financial and technical assistance to landowners addressing natural resource issues. This webinar will help you develop user-friendly resources to assist both organic and “organic curious” farmers in navigating NRCS programs and funding opportunities.

During the webinar, you will:
– Gain insights into NRCS programs such as EQIP, CPAs, DIAs, CEMAs, and CSP
– Learn about EQIP practice 823 focused on Organic Management
– Understand how to simplify these NRCS acronyms and processes for easier communication with farmers

NRCS Organic Practice 823 Strategies and Best Practices: Seeds of Success Webinar

The National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has many programs to help farmers convert to organic farming operations. Learn more in this Seeds of Success webinar session about NRCS Practice 823. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands. Under EQIP, Organic Transition Initiative 823 (OTI) is specifically meant to help those transitioning to organic operations, by cost-sharing and providing technical support on practices organic and transitioning farmers want to implement on their farms.

Acres U.S.A. Webinar: Preventing Fraud in the Supply Chain with Harriet Behar

This comprehensive webinar features a discussion between Paul Meyer, the editor of Acres U.S.A. magazine, and OFA’s Harriet Behar, an experienced organic educator and inspector, focusing on maintaining and strengthening the integrity of organic farming. The conversation starts with a casual discussion about farming and rapidly transitions into an in-depth webinar on preventing fraud in the organic supply chain and upcoming changes to the organic program. Additionally, Behar shares her personal insights into the mentoring aspect of the TOPP program, offering a glimpse into her experiences as a mentor for transitioning organic farmers.

Acres U.S.A. Webinar: Strengthening Organic Enforcement with OFA’s Harriet Behar

Presented in partnership with Acres U.S.A. and the Organic Farmer Association, this webinar on Strengthening Organic Enforcement features Harriet Behar. Delve into the vital aspects of maintaining the integrity of organic standards, guided by Behar’s extensive expertise in organic farming. Whether you’re an experienced organic farmer or simply passionate about organic agriculture, this discussion offers invaluable insights into upholding organic practices.

Seeds of Success: Making Crop Insurance Work For Us

Noah Wendt – A&W Farms, Iowa and Seth Kroeck – Crystal Spring Farm, Maine share their experiences with crop insurance. In a changing climate, crop insurance can make or break a farmer’s ability to keep farming the next year. Organic and transitioning farmers, specifically, find themselves misunderstood and underserved in the crop insurance system, as their practices, rotations, transition and certification processes are not widely understood by the agents serving them, and can be in conflict with Risk Management Agency requirements. (Recorded April 2024)

Preserving Organic Integrity: A Marker Bill for Organic Imports

Organic farmers work hard to ensure the integrity of the crops they produce. Unfortunately, challenges with imports have led us to question the organic integrity of much of the grain being imported. Efforts have been made to close loopholes, but more work is needed. Join Nebraska farmer and organic leader, Amy Bruch to hear about a marker bill that would work to ensure only truly organic grains enter U.S. ports. (Recorded February 2024)

Protecting Your Farm From Buyer Bankruptcy

Farm Commons’ Rachel Armstrong joined the Organic Farmers Association in February 2024 for a presentation and discussion on how the bankruptcy of a buyer can have devastating consequences on a farmer’s business. Rachel shares proactive tools farmers can use to avoid issues like clawback notices and contract breach concerns.

Crop Insurance for Specialty, Organic, and Transitional Producers

Kelsey Williardson, Policy Associate, Center for Rural Affairs, and Julia Barton, Farmer Services Director, Organic Farmers Association, share a presentation and discussion for “organic curious,” transitioning, and certified organic farmers to learn about new programs and the ways both farmers and RMA are working to make crop insurance function better for everyone.

This webinar, recorded in December 2023, includes information about specialty crop and transitional crop insurance products, discussion, Q&A, and opportunities to get involved and be part of making crop insurance work for you.

Pipeline Grain Clawback Farmer Meeting

Hosted by OFA on September 19, 2023, this webinar explores the bankruptcy of Pipeline Foods, a large organic grain buyer and the impact on organic farmers. The webinar includes a framing of the issue by OFA Farmer Services team member Harriet Behar, input from Iowa Department of Agriculture’s Bureau Chief, Jim Kennedy regarding the Iowa Indemnity Fund, and personal farmer experiences shared by Tanya Johnson of Minnesota, and Kevin Fulton, Nebraska organic grain grower and rancher.

Organic Advocacy 101

How can we get Congress to support organic farmers? Learn how to make your voice heard in the legislative process during this webinar about how to lobby your elected officials. Get ready for meetings with your members of Congress and learn how to schedule a meeting, what to say, and how to create ongoing communication with elected officials.  (Recorded February 2021)

Advocating for Organic

Learn how to make your voice heard in the legislative process and how to lobby your elected officials. Get tips and steps on how to get ready for meetings with your members of Congress including how to schedule a meeting, what to say, and how to create ongoing communication with your elected officials to advocate for organic agriculture.  (Recorded February 2020)