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As an organization working for an ecologically sound regional food supply, we work on many fronts simultaneously. Our greatest tool is information, but we have a huge educational task ahead of us. There are hundreds of federal and state agricultural agents as well as conventional farmers who do not understand basic organic agricultural methods. Nor are we done defending organic practices. Despite the beautiful organic produce that can be found in many stores and farms, some people continue to disparage the viability of organic farming for sustainable agricultural production. While yield and quality are usually competitive with conventional agricultural products, we still need a great deal of basic and applied research to explain why some practices work and to improve on others. Lastly, people need to understand the connection between healthy soils, the healthy foods they produce and healthy people.
2008 Projects Update ~~~ 2008 Organic Field Days
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Every year, more and more sponsors, exhibitors and participants join us for our three-day Education Conference because it is the place where people gather & learn, share, network and plan for the next season. Our conference is popular for many reasons. Many are attracted by our keynote speakers. Others rave about the opportunity to learn innovative techniques and ideas from over 70 diverse workshops, and many value our intensive Friday workshops offering in-depth study. All conference attendees enjoy the community of businesses, farmers, consumers and food advocates who work together in support of organic farming and food. Join us and enjoy local organic foods, socializing, and networking with the NYS and NE organic community each January.
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2009 Conference Program (coming soon) |
2004 Conference Program (pdf) |
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2008 Conference Program (pdf) |
2003 Conference Program (pdf) |
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2007 Conference Program (pdf) |
2002 Conference Program (pdf) |
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2006 Conference Program (pdf) |
2001 Conference Program (pdf) |
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2005 Conference Program (pdf) |
2000 Conference Program (pdf) |
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Past Projects
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Public Seed Initiative Overview
Working with Cornell seed breeders, the USDA's seed bank staff in Geneva, NY, the Farmer Cooperative Genome Project and farmers throughout the Northeast, NOFA-NY developed a vegetable breeding and seed production training program that will enable farmers to improve organic productivity, profitability and the viability of agriculture in the Northeast. This project has both short and long-term potential, as farmers work with other professionals to break out of the box of limited seed supplies now offered by the few seed companies still in business after the wave of consolidations in the 1990's. First, dovetailing with regional seed companies, we sought to engage our most knowledgeable growers in on-farm seed breeding of varieties that work in Northeast organic systems. Second, we trained growers to become seed producers. Third, we worked with breeders at Cornell to get new, disease-resistant open-pollinated varieties they have developed out in the field and into regional catalogs, since major seed companies have dropped vertually all open-pollinated varieties. Fourth, we connected the public with participants in an network involved in on-farm demonstrations, visiting days and working groups.
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Northeast Organic Network (NEON)
NOFA-NY, organic farmers and research scientists from several states and Cornell University worked together researching the connections between specific organic practices and to develop new, practical decision making tools for farmers. This unique interdisciplinary study of successful organic farmers in the Northeast sought to better understand how organic soil fertility practices, weed management, crop rotations and pest pressure are related in organic systems. This project was funded by a USDA grant, the first time NOFA-NY had ever received funding from the federal government for a project.
