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Ohio Smart Agriculture Report Overlooks Important Solutions
Contact: Carol Goland, Executive Director, (614) 421-2022, cgoland@oeffa.org Lauren Ketcham, Communications Coordinator, (614) 421-2022, lauren@oeffa.org Columbus, OH—A report issued by Ohio Smart Agriculture offers solid solutions to address food security and economic growth in the face of changing and uncertain climate, but falls short in tackling environmental challenges, finds the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA). Ohio Smart Agriculture: Solutions from the Land details critical challenges facing Ohio agriculture, including unpredictable and extreme rainfall events and nutrient runoff leading to algal blooms. “To our dismay, the report is silent when it comes to the potential of organic farming practices to foster the resilience of Ohio agriculture, address environmental challenges,…
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OEFFA Announces 2019 Award Recipients at 40th Annual Conference: Mike Hogan and Guy and Sandy Ashmore Recognized
For Immediate Release: February 18, 2019 . Contact: Carol Goland, OEFFA Executive Director—(614) 421-2022 Ext. 202, cgoland@oeffa.org Lauren Ketcham, OEFFA Communications Coordinator—(614) 421-2022 Ext. 203, lauren@oeffa.org . Columbus, OH—The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) has named the 2019 recipients of its Stewardship and Service awards. . Guy and Sandy Ashmore of Clinton County received the Stewardship Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the sustainable agriculture community, and Mike Hogan of Franklin County received the Service Award, which recognizes extraordinary service in support of sustainable agriculture. . The announcements were made February 15-16 in Dayton as part of OEFFA’s 40th annual conference, “Just Farming: The Path Before Us.” . 2019 Stewardship Award…
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Agricultural Justice Advocate Onika Abraham to Keynote 40th Annual Ohio Sustainable Food and Farm Conference
Healing a history of oppression in agriculture by honoring the contributions of our ancestors will be the focus of a keynote address by farmer and educator Onika Abraham at the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s (OEFFA) 40th annual conference, Just Farming: The Path Before Us, this February in Dayton, Ohio. . In her Saturday, February 16 keynote address, “Unearthing Our Roots,” Abraham, Executive Director of Farm School NYC, will explore why it’s as important for farmers to know where their farming comes from as it is for the public to know where their food comes from. Abraham will explore the history of sustainable growing practices, the contributions of black and brown…
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Farm Bill a Win for Farmers and Consumers
Columbus, OH— Yesterday afternoon, the Senate passed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, and the House is expected to weigh in on the measure Thursday. If passed by the House and signed by the President, Congress would overcome an impasse that has stalled the 2018 Farm Bill for weeks, agreeing on programs that will serve farmers and the food insecure for years to come. The new farm bill will invest in local and regional foods demanded by the public through the Local Agriculture Market Program and support the next generation of farmers through the Farming Opportunities, Training, and Outreach Program. “OEFFA is very pleased to see permanent, mandatory funding to…
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Organic Farmer Elizabeth Henderson to Keynote 40th Ohio Sustainable Food and Farm Conference
The need to connect soil and human health with social justice and fairness on the farm will be the focus of a keynote address by long-time organic farmer, agricultural justice advocate, and writer Elizabeth Henderson at the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s (OEFFA) 40th annual conference, Just Farming: The Path Before Us, this February in Dayton, Ohio. In her Friday, February 15 keynote address, “Agrarian Justice: Creating a Food System Worth Sustaining,” Henderson will explore why we need to support fair pricing for farmers, instead of subsidizing corporate control of our food system. She’ll also explain why we need to unite family-scale farmers with other food workers and build…
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40th Annual Ohio Sustainable Food and Farm Conference Opens Registration
Registration is now open for Ohio’s premier educational and networking event for ecological farmers, backyard growers, and other committed to sustainable agriculture, local food, and green living. . The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s (OEFFA) 40th annual conference, Just Farming: The Path Before Us, will run Thursday, February 14-Saturday, February 16, 2019 at the Dayton Convention Center in Dayton, Ohio. . “The conference will kick off our milestone anniversary and celebrate OEFFA turning 40, as we explore the theme of justice in our food system and creating a more equitable and ecological path for the next 40 years,” said OEFFA Program Director Renee Hunt. . Each year, the conference draws more…
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Organic Certification: Creating a Sustainable Future
Mary Kuhlman, Public News Service – OH, 11/12/18 COLUMBUS, Ohio – The end of the harvest signals the start of prep work for the next planting season. And an increasing number of farmers and producers in Ohio also are preparing for a transition to organic certification. Kim Bayer operates a mixed vegetable operation, and recently became certified as an organic producer. She says the process is a bit tedious, but well worth it. Bayer was already doing some outreach to community members about what it takes to bring food to the table, and she sees becoming organic as part of creating a sustainable future. “It’s kind of a shorthand way…
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Ohio Coal Mine Permitting Process Fails to Protect Rural Communities and Taxpayers: Westmoreland Bankruptcy Leaves Future of Ohio Mines Uncertain
Columbus, OH—The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), a statewide organization promoting sustainable and organic agriculture, is raising serious questions about the state of Ohio’s coal mine permitting and remediation funding processes, following news that Westmoreland Coal Company, which has 64 mines in Ohio, has filed for bankruptcy. . “It’s unbelievable that the state could issue permits to a mining company currently in bankruptcy proceedings,” said OEFFA Policy Program Coordinator Amalie Lipstreu. “We shouldn’t be gambling Ohio taxpayer money and our rural communities on a collapsing industry.” . Westmoreland, and its local subsidiary Oxford Mining Company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 9. Despite being financially insolvent, the…
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Reimbursement for Certification Makes Organic an Even Better Deal for Farmers and Processors
For Immediate Release: June 20, 2018 Contact: Carol Goland, OEFFA, (614) 421-2022 Ext. 202, cgoland@oeffa.org ODA Communications, (614) 752-9817, agrcommunications@agri.ohio.gov Columbus, OH—The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) announced that $285,000 is available through the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program to make organic certification more affordable for organic producers and handlers in Ohio. This funding covers as much as 75 percent of an individual applicant’s certification costs, up to a maximum of $750 annually per certification scope. Four scopes of certification are eligible for reimbursement: crops, wild crops, livestock, and handler. Retail sales of organic products grew to nearly $50 billion in the United States in 2017, an increase…
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Strong Bipartisan Farm Bill Passes Senate Agriculture Committee: OEFFA Commends Senator Brown and Committee in Supporting a Strong Draft Bill
For Immediate Release: June 13, 2018 Contact: Amalie Lipstreu, OEFFA Policy Program Coordinator (614) 421-2022, amalie@oeffa.org Lauren Ketcham, OEFFA Communications Coordinator (614) 421-2022, lauren@oeffa.org Columbus, OH–Today, in the process of passing a 2018 Farm Bill, the Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry passed a strong draft farm bill by a vote of 20 to 1. “The Senate Agriculture Committee worked across party lines and produced a comprehensive bill correcting many of the shortfalls in the failed House bill,” said Amalie Lipstreu, Policy Program Coordinator for the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA). The Senate bill scales up investments in local and regional food and farm markets which provide…