• OEFFA Press Releases

    Registration Now Open for Ohio Sustainable Food and Farm Conference

    Registration is now open for Ohio’s premier educational and networking event for ecological farmers, backyard growers, and others committed to sustainable agriculture, local food, and green living. The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s (OEFFA) 40th annual conference, A Climate for Change, will run Thursday, February 13-Saturday, February 15, 2020 at the Dayton Convention Center in Dayton, Ohio. “This year’s event features speakers and sessions dedicated to creating a climate to change agriculture,” said OEFFA Program Director Renee Hunt. “Cultivating a resilient, just, and sustainable agricultural system can help farmers mitigate their climate risks, and address our global crisis.” Each year, the conference draws more than 1,100 attendees. Online registration is now open…

  • OEFFA Press Releases

    Organic Farming Has Much to Contribute to Ohio’s Water Quality Plan

    Columbus, OH— A prominent Ohio agricultural organization applauds the DeWine administration for its H20hio plan to address harmful algal blooms and other critical water quality issues, but says it fails to acknowledge how organic farming can provide solutions. The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) finds Gov. DeWine’s top 10 list, released yesterday, misses a critical approach to farming that can reduce phosphorus runoff. “Organic farming should be at the top of this list,” said OEFFA Executive Director Carol Goland. “Synthetic phosphorus is not used in organic agriculture; what could be more effective than that?” The National Organic Program (NOP) standards include some of the best practices identified in…

  • OEFFA Press Releases

    OEFFA Awarded Funds to Provide Hands-on Training, Farm Viability, and Land Access Support for Ohio Beginning Farmers

    Columbus, OH—The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) today announced the second phase of its Begin Farming Program to advance the viability of beginning farms and successful transfer of farmland between new and retiring farmers. For the project titled, On Solid Ground: Hands-on Training, Farm Viability, and Land Access Support for Ohio Beginning Farmers, OEFFA and its partners will build on previous work to comprehensively address the educational, skill-building, and service needs of new and beginning farmers to enhance their ability to acquire land, be successful as producers, and manage viable farm businesses. OEFFA will coordinate applied learning experiences, with the nationally-recognized Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, a new Specialty Crop…

  • OEFFA Press Releases

    New Online Matching Tool, Heartland FarmLink, Connects Landowners with Land Seekers

    Columbus, OH—The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) announces the launch of Heartland FarmLink, a new land linking service for farm seekers and farm owners. HeartlandFarmLink.org is a free online profile listing service where beginning farmers and farm land owners can review potential matches, contact each other, and find resources to help with the financial, legal, and communication challenges inherent in farm transfer. Ohio ranks sixth in the nation with a total of 33,885 beginning farmers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. These young farmers, increasingly well trained and eager, struggle to find affordable farm land. At the same time, the average age of…

  • OEFFA Press Releases

    Fibonacci Brewing Company Brewing a Special All Ohio Beer for OEFFA’s 40th Anniversary

    Columbus, OH—To toast 40 years of the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), Fibonacci Brewing Company and OEFFA will tap the first keg of This is Spelta!, a special all-Ohio beer brewed for the occasion. Festivities will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, October 12, at Fibonacci’s Mt. Healthy tap room and will feature remarks from some of OEFFA’s Cincinnati-area founding members and special tours of the brewery. Located in Hamilton County, Fibonacci is a family-owned nanobrewery founded by Betty and Bob Bollas. The brewery produces a wide variety of craft beers, concentrating on non-traditional and hybrid beer styles. Proud supporters of local agriculture, the brewers source from a variety…

  • OEFFA Press Releases

    OEFFA’s 5th Annual Dinner Celebration at Maplestar Farm Set for August 25

    Columbus, OH—The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association will present its 5th Annual Dinner Celebration at Maplestar Farm Sunday, August 25. The organization will mark its 40th anniversary with a fun and delicious evening hosted by Maplestar farmers Jake and Dawn Trethewey. The Tretheweys will lead guided tours of the farm as guests enjoy delicious bites of summer in the field and at the table. Maplestar Farm and The Driftwood Group will once again collaborate on a fabulous farm-to-table menu of small plates to showcase a diversity of Ohio flavors, all paired with Great Lakes Beers and Wente Vineyards wines. Tickets are $70 and include drinks for the evening. They…

  • OEFFA Press Releases

    OEFFA’s Farmers’ Table Event Returns to Jorgensen Farms August 4

    Columbus, OH—The Farmers’ Table returns to Jorgensen Farms Sunday, August 4, with a special menu crafted by Jorgensen Farms Head Chef Alonzo Horn. Surrounded by picturesque Jorgensen Farms, diners will enjoy a social hour with local drinks, and a lush assortment of hors d’oeuvres before sitting down to three full-service courses. Ingredients will be carefully sourced from OEFFA farmers, and Land-Grant Brewing Company will thoughtfully pair their beers with each course. Chef Horn’s special menu will envision a New Ohio Farmers’ Cuisine focused on what Ohio’s finest small, sustainable farmers are bringing to market in 2019. “Every year Ohio’s farmers show their passion, skill, and innovation in growing and selling…

  • OEFFA Press Releases

    Survey of Agriculture Reveals Challenges, Opportunities for Ohio Agriculture

    For Immediate Release: June 5, 2019 Contact: Amalie Lipstreu, OEFFA Policy Director, (614) 421-2022, amalie@oeffa.org Lauren Ketcham, OEFFA Communications Coordinator, (614) 421-2022, lauren@oeffa.org Columbus, OH—The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) recently released its five-year, comprehensive survey of U.S. agriculture, the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Using that data, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) has published an analysis, “Ohio Agriculture: The Changing Contours of Farming,” which illustrates important trends and opportunities for growth and investment in Ohio agriculture. “The new NASS data reveals ongoing challenges, like an aging farmer population and consolidation in agriculture, but also very positive growth in the number of beginning…