FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OFRF has been awarded a USDA NRCS cooperative settlement to domesticate conservation excellence and empower natural producers nationwide. The collaborative initiative strengthens NRCS capabilities and enhances assist for natural farmers by way of revolutionary coaching, assets, and group engagement.
(Might 16, 2024) The Natural Farming Analysis Basis (OFRF) is happy to announce its five-year cooperative settlement with america Division of Agriculture’s (USDA) Nationwide Useful resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to reinforce natural agriculture companies’ entry to very important conservation applications.
OFRF will present experience in natural analysis and conservation practices, supporting NRCS in constructing institutional information of the conservation issues of natural administration at NRCS workplaces and with regional companions. Moreover, it’s going to improve consciousness amongst natural producers of the technical and monetary help obtainable by way of USDA to satisfy holistic useful resource administration objectives.
“Guaranteeing federal conservation applications work for and are utilized by natural farmers is an important option to develop and improve regenerative natural practices on the bottom,” acknowledged OFRF Govt Director Brise Tencer.
OFRF will work in partnership with Oregon Tilth and different regional companions, representing a mixed $5 million funding by NRCS to bolster natural experience and develop assets for transitioning farmers.
This cooperative settlement will set up a brand new NRCS Liaison function at OFRF, who will function a crucial useful resource and communicator for the challenge. The liaison will evaluate NRCS supplies, develop academic assets for natural producers, and current at nationwide occasions.
Moreover, all through this initiative, OFRF will:
- Assessment and enhance NRCS assets on natural farming practices and soil well being administration, and share the newest analysis on natural agricultural practices.
- Equip NRCS with a set of coaching supplies and academic assets that construct capability throughout the company and deal with the priorities and wishes of BIPOC farmers.
- Guarantee NRCS natural assets and conservation requirements mirror the newest analysis findings.
- Interact with farmers, Natural Coordinators, and Certifiers nationwide to extend information of and entry to NRCS natural applications and assets.
“This partnership goes to permit OFRF to proceed our work of guaranteeing that NRCS conservation applications acknowledge the conservation advantages of natural agricultural administration whereas additionally rising our efforts to make sure that natural producers are conscious of and make the most of the numerous helps NRCS has to supply,” shared OFRF Senior Coverage and Packages Supervisor Gordon Merrick, who will likely be appearing as lead on this challenge.
OFRF is uniquely poised to offer coaching, technical data, and academic assets, together with steering and natural farmer tales, that may enhance the capability of the NRCS workers to help natural producers in implementing conservation practices.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering once more with the USDA Pure Assets Conservation Service to additional this purpose,” Tencer acknowledged.
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About Natural Farming Analysis Basis
About OFRF: The Natural Farming Analysis Basis works to foster the advance and widespread adoption of natural farming programs. OFRF cultivates natural analysis, schooling, and federal insurance policies that carry extra farmers and acreage into natural manufacturing. For extra details about OFRF, please go to our web site: http://www.ofrf.org/.
Media Contact:
Ashley Dulaney, Communications Director, OFRF
ashley@ofrf.orf, (518) 565-0156
P.O. Field 440, Santa Cruz, CA 95061
