Meet the OSU Organic Agriculture Team
Oregon Tilth and the Oregon Organic Coalition have partnered with OSU Extension to help develop a new Organic Agriculture Program. After more than five years of advocacy in Salem they secured additional funds for OSU Extension to develop an Organic Agriculture Program within the Center for Resilient Agriculture and Food Systems (https://beav.es/organic-ag). Join us to meet the new OSU Organic Agriculture team.
Organic Vegetable specialist, Nick Andrews
Organic Pasture & Forages specialist, Shayan Ghajar
Organic Grains & Pulses specialist, Brigid Meints
Organic Seed & Planting Stock specialist, Lucas Nebert
Organic Soils specialist, Shannon Cappellazzi
Organic Tree Fruit & Nuts specialist, Pending
USDA Launches Resources for Urban Agriculture – Amanda Welker, Urban County Executive Director, USDA Farm Service Agency
USDA has launched 27 urban ag pilots across the country to engage urban producers with USDA programs, lending and grant opportunities. Explore opportunities across USDA with the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and more! Learn from urban producers’ success stories, and learn how to register, participate, or fund a project or marketing with the urban agriculture initiative. This is a great opportunity to share firsthand knowledge about experiences, needs and challenges for urban producers.
USDA RD’s Value-Added Producer Grants – Erika Knight, Value Added Producer Grant Program Specialist, USDA Rural Development; Max Sprague, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA Rural Development
USDA RD’s Value-Added Producer Grants are a great way for small farms to grow their business by engaging new markets, designing new value-add products, expanding staff, and more. Small farms don’t need to be in rural areas for this grant, and it’s especially helpful for underserved producers. This year, USDA RD is rolling out a new application portal to make applying easier. We would like to present info on the VAPG and the new application process so that more farms can take advantage of unprecedented funding levels and new opportunities.
Unlocking E-Commerce for Small Farms: Challenges, Success Stories, and Strategies – Trang Ho, Cofounder, Masafresh; Ameer Fofanah, SEO Specialist, Masafresh; Lucy Loftis, Social Media Specialist, Masafresh; Luis and Edson Munoz, Farmers/Owners, Irie Farm; Mohammad and Shahedah Ayufail, Farmers/Owners, Sufiya Farm
This workshop delves into the transformative power of e-commerce for small farms, focusing on how online platforms can increase visibility, expand market access, and foster financial stability. Participants will gain insight into the unique challenges farmers face and explore actionable solutions to overcome barriers to success in the digital marketplace.
Through real-life stories, you’ll hear directly from small farmers who have transitioned to online sales, sharing the struggles they encountered and the opportunities they uncovered. The workshop will also provide practical guidance on setting up e-commerce platforms, crafting effective digital marketing strategies, and leveraging community support to drive success.
