Download The Future of Organic: Welcoming Farmers

The Future of Organic:
Welcoming Farmers
10:30-11:45 A.M.
Moderator: NATHANIEL LEWIS Senior Crops and Livestock Specialist, OTA
CATHY CALFO Executive Director / CEO, CCOF
SARAH BROWN Education Director, Oregon Tilth
BRITT LUNDGREN Director of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture, Stonyfield Farm
All Things Organic
Conference presented by
The Future of Organic:
Welcoming New Farmers
All Things Organic Conference
September 18, 2014
Future Organic Farmer
Grant Fund
Growing the next generation of organic farmers.
The Fund: A First-of-its-Kind
Collaboration Among Organic
Industry Leaders
Why?
• Epidemic shortage of
farmers in the United
States
• Aging farmer population
• Demand for organic far
outstripping supply
• Gap in support for
organic educational
programming
$50,000 Awarded in 2014
• K-8 grants available
through Agriculture in
the Classroom
• High school grants
disseminated through
Future Farmers of
America
• Ten $2,500 direct
grants through the
CCOF Foundation
2014 Higher Education Grant
Award Recipients
• 10 recipients chosen
• $2,500 direct grant toward each
recipient’s educational expenses
in organic agriculture
Higher Education Grant Recipient:
Eliza Milio
University of California Santa Cruz
Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems
(CASFS) Farm & Garden Apprenticeship
Eliza’s goal is to operate her own farm
with a connected restaurant.
She says:
“Restaurants hold the unique capability
to not only support organic farms and
provide jobs in the kitchen, but also to
educate a wide audience of eaters
about organic, healthy food and social
justice.”
Higher Education Grant Recipient:
Fernando Mendez
Columbia Basin College, Crop & Soil Sciences
Undergraduate Student
Fernando’s goal is to become an
organic farmer to, as he says:
“Produce the best quality of food
without the use of synthetic fertilizers
and to protect and regenerate our
land.”
2014 K-8
Agriculture in the Classroom
Grant Award Recipients
• 10 recipients chosen
• Up to $1,000 to apply toward classroom
projects on organic agriculture
K-8 Recipient:
Toyon Middle School Organic Pizza Garden
Toyon Middle School, San Andreas, California
• Plant, grow, harvest, and bake
organic pizzas in their organic
school garden
• Learn about organic gardening
practices
• Research the organic regulations
and give presentations on organic
practices
• Learn what organic products are
available in local stores, and
encourage their families to buy
organic.
K-8 Recipient:
Ode to Organics
Pacific Coast Charter School, Watsonville, California
• Make charts and diagrams comparing
organic and conventional farming
• Pick produce at a certified organic farm
to dehydrate and store for healthy
eating year-round
• Write poetry or short essays to the
public to raise community awareness in
about the benefits of organic farming.
Future Farmers of America
Supervised Agricultural Experience Grant Partnership
• 10 Grants of $1,000 to
high-school aged students
• Grants distributed nationally
on a competitive basis
• Projects must focus on
organic production methods
2015 Fund Goal: At least
$100,000!
Double Our Impact
Thank you!
Transition to Organic
A Shared Effort
Sarah Brown
Education Director
Oregon Tilth
John Foster
All Things Organic
Oregon Tilth
March 14, 2007
September 18, 2014
Understanding Transition
• Partnership with the National Young
Farmer Coalition
• National needs assessment/survey
• Development of a producer selfassessment guide
Transition to organic is a
shared effort.
Support
Services
Investors
& Lenders
NOP
Certifiers
Farmers
Processors
Consumers
Transition to organic is a
shared effort.
Government
NOP
SCBG
SARE
OREI
Industry
Hummingbird
Wholesale
Amy’s Kitchen
Organically
Grown Co.
Glory Bee Foods
NGO
UNFI Foundation
Clif Bar Family
Fdn
Farm Aid
McKnight Fdn
We believe knowledge
bridges the gap between
problems and solutions.
Transitioning Farmer
Network
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11 farms
>800 acres
Field days
Webinars
NRCS
Extension
Cert staff
Investing in organic
transition has economic
and environmental
benefits.
Organic Market Analysis
Supply Gaps
Infrastructure
Barriers
Production
Limitations
Investment
Strategies
Opportunities
USDA NRCS
• Oregon Tilth-NRCS
contribution agreement
• Organic technical
assistance
• EQIP Organic Initiative
EQIP Organic Initiative
• Conservation-related technical and financial
assistance
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Crop rotation
Cover crop
Nutrient management
Prescribed grazing, fence, watering facilities
High tunnels
• Available to transitioning and certified producers
• 20k annually and 80k per contract
• Organic System Plan (OSP) support
We believe problem
solving is a collaborative
process.
Sarah Brown
Education Director
[email protected]
The Future of Organic:
Welcoming Farmers at
Wolfe’s Neck Farm
Britt Lundgren
Stonyfield Director of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture
Agriculture by the numbers in Maine
# of dairies: declined from 500 in 2000 to 300 today
# organic dairies: declined from 68 in 2012 to 60 today
Land in farms: increased by 8% from 2007 to 2012
Total # of farms: stable from 2007 to 2012
Maine ranks third in the nation for growth in the number
of new/beginning farmers: 36% more between 2007 2012
The Future of Organic:
Welcoming Farmers
Questions?
All Things Organic
Conference presented by