Resources for Farmers: Ways to Stay Updated

In the food and farming world, it can be hard to stay on top of a constantly evolving landscape of events, resources, program deadlines, and policy alerts. Fortunately, there are several free email lists and other resources that can help you stay connected and informed on the news, resources, and opportunities that impact you.

We’ve compiled the list below based on community input. Is it missing anything? Let us know at members@oeffa.org.

Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA)

Are you signed up for OEFFA emails yet? Whether you want to get the latest policy advocacy opportunity or to know when the OEFFA Conference is happening, pick your email interests here. Our monthly News Bites is a crowd favorite, offering a digest of relevant news, resources, funding, and events in organic and sustainable agriculture on the 10th of each month.

OEFFAdirect

The OEFFAdirect listserv is a grassroots email list that anyone can use to share sustainable agriculture job openings, upcoming events, news, resources, and more. To contribute, send an email to oeffadirect@oeffa.com.

Join the OEFFAdirect listserv

USDA Service Center

Farmers, ranchers, partners, and stakeholders can now subscribe to receive free email communications directly from your local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Center. This includes important information on programs, eligibility requirements, and deadlines from FSA, NRCS, RMA, and other USDA agencies. After subscribing, you can self-select what type(s) of emails you would like to receive (from dozens of options) and from which local USDA Service Center. There is also an option to subscribe to text message alerts.

Subscribe for USDA emails

Farm Service Agency (FSA)

The USDA’s FSA supports farms and farming communities through disaster relief, conservation, commodity price guarantee, and loan programs.

Subscribe for FSA updates

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

The USDA’s NRCS was born out of the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s and is now the USDA’s primary lands conservation agency. It focuses on the American farmer and offers one-on-one, personalized advice to producers and communities to find the best solutions to meet their unique conservation and business goals.

Subscribe to the NRCS newsletter

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is a competitive grants and education program that is divided into four different regions that operate as separate entities and run grant programs for their states. Ohio is in the North Central region.

Subscribe to SARE’s email list

The Ohio State University Agroecosystem Management Program (OSU AMP)

AMP works to improve agroecosystems and their impact on society, the economy, and the environment. They do this by deepening connections between people, enhancing their understanding of agroecosystems, and expanding the use of agroecological approaches to farming.

Join the AMP email list

Ohio Food Policy Network (OFPN)

OPFN is a grassroots network that represents interested people and organizations in our state who share values and a common vision for the food system in Ohio. Their network allows them to share and develop the skills and expertise needed to grow and develop a food system that supports and serves all Ohioans. OFPN serves as the social scaffolding to connect people across sectors and geography.

Join the OFPN listserv

Looking for land? Or a farmer?

Ohio FarmLink connects farmers seeking land with landowners wanting to make their land available for farming. The platform is free, easy to use, and regularly updated. Start by creating a profile, which can be used to securely contact farmers or landowners.

New to farming?

OEFFA’s Next Farm Team Facebook group is a friendly, inclusive forum for beginning farmers to network, ask questions, and share ideas, resources, photos, and events.