-
Healthy Communities Start with Healthy Farmers
As Mental Health Awareness Month, May serves as a reminder of the importance of mental wellness. However, we should consider supporting farmers’ and farmworkers’ mental health as a year-round responsibility. Food and agriculture are Ohio’s top industries, employing one out of every seven people in the state. In caring for our communities, health, and environment, many producers navigate challenges like extreme weather events, trade disruptions, market fluctuations, difficult management decisions, trying working conditions, and isolation. These can all take a toll on their mental health, with stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms commonly reported by beginning and experienced farmers alike. Need help right now? If you or someone you know is…
-
Important Changes to the 2026 OEFFA Conference
In 1979, a group of 130 farmers and consumers came together around the shared values of keeping family farms healthy and improving access to locally grown organic food. They founded a new organization to further these goals: Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA). This action marked the start of the annual OEFFA conference, bringing together farmers, eaters, and advocates in community and learning. In many ways, the conference is synonymous with OEFFA. The conference has changed greatly in the past 46 years, just as OEFFA as an organization has grown and evolved. Whether taking place in a barn, high school, or convention center, this beloved event is known for…
-
Statement: Budget Reconciliation Bill Threatens Passage of Much-Needed Farm Bill
On May 22, 2025, House Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This budget reconciliation legislation would slash critical support systems for families, increase funding for agricultural subsidies inaccessible to most farmers, and imperil the likelihood of farm bill reauthorization. As the bill moves through Congress, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) urges the Senate to reject it and its potential to devastate the farm bill coalition and threaten the passage of a desperately needed new farm bill. Since the reauthorization of the 2018 Farm Bill, the cost of living has increased, requiring more families and communities to stretch resources and make difficult decisions when purchasing food.…
-
Farmers, Organizations Impacted by Funding Freeze Ask USDA to Honor Farmer Contracts
Since January, billions in lawfully signed federal funding contracts have been frozen for review or cancelled. As the situation unfolded, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) surveyed our community to assess the impact. We interviewed three respondents, briefly capturing their experiences in the short video below [transcript here]. As farmers prepare for each growing season, they must make decisions with a large degree of uncertainty in the outcomes. How the weather, market, seeds, and soil respond is out of their hands. Despite their experience and planning, every year is a gamble that their yields will be what they need. Farmers must always tolerate uncertainty; however, this growing season…
-
OEFFA Launches 2025 Farm Tour and Workshop Series
The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) announces its annual Farm Tour and Workshop Series. The 2025 series of public tours and workshops includes a number of events showcasing organic and ecological farms in Ohio and one in West Virginia, plus educational and social opportunities. This programming opens the door for farmers, gardeners, educators, and conscious consumers to learn about local foods and farming firsthand. “OEFFA is excited about this year’s farm tour series and grateful to our farmer members and partners who are sharing their experience and expertise with anyone interested in learning more about farming, where our food comes from, and why healthy soil is so important…
-
Mental Health Awareness Month: Resources for Farmers
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, making it a good time to center our farmers and recognize all they go through to feed our communities and steward our land. Farmers carry a lot on their shoulders—climate unpredictability, market fluctuations, stress, isolation, and uncertainty. This is a heavy load to bear alone. That’s why we’ve prepared some mental health resources for farmers. If you are experiencing a crisis, call 988 to talk to a caring counselor. You are not alone. Breaking the Stigma Agriculture is Ohio’s top industry. Farmers give their all to keep the industry strong and our communities fed. Many factors are out of farmers’ control, and that can…
-
Member Spotlight: Ava Johnson of SE Urban Farm
Originally published in the Autumn 2023 edition of the OEFFA newsletter. As we arrived on a steamy July afternoon, it was hard to imagine anything different for the church’s backyard. Teeming with abundance, there were overflowing vegetable beds, blooming flowers, and lots of happy bees. But seven years ago, SE Urban Farm looked a lot different. The now-thriving space was made up of layers of plastic and sod. It took a lot of work to get the barren land to where it is now, and the local community is benefitting as a result. Meet Ava Johnson It’s also difficult to wrap one’s head around the fact that this is mostly…
-
Clintonville Farmers Market to Showcase Local Food Systems During National Farmers Market Week
The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), in partnership with Common Greens, is celebrating National Farmers Market Week (August 6-12) at the Clintonville Farmers Market this Saturday, August 12. Regional staff for Sen. Sherrod Brown will be in attendance, along with Ohio State Sen. Bill DeMora (OH-25). As hubs for connection and community resilience, farmers markets are vital to how local residents get together and support the local economy. In recognition of farmers markets and their critical role in the American food supply chain, this week (August 6-12) has been officially proclaimed by Sec. Tom Vilsack as National Farmers Market Week. “This is a wonderful time to celebrate farm…
-
Senator Brown Introduces Bipartisan Effort to Help Ohio Farmers, Support Local Economy
Today, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the Local Farms and Food Act. The legislation would reduce applicant barriers for some local food programs, increase investments in critical infrastructure, and sustain impactful nutrition incentives. The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) proudly endorses this local food marker bill. “OEFFA has been meeting with members and partners throughout the state of Ohio since last fall to talk about what is needed to continue the progress on local and regional food system development in the upcoming farm bill,” said OEFFA Policy Director Amalie Lipstreu. “After hearing from Senator Brown’s office and seeing the Local Farms and Food Act, it is clear they…
Ecological Food and Farm News
