SANTA CRUZ,
California, November 16, 2004: The Organic
Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) announced the availability
of grant funds specifically for research on managing
weeds, insects, and diseases using organic methods.
These research funds result from a partnership with
Region 5 and Region 8 of the Environmental Protection
Agency under the EPA’s Sustainable Agriculture
Initiative.
Region 5 includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota,
Ohio, and Wisconsin and 35 Tribal Nations in those states.
Region 8 includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and 27 Tribal Nations in those
states.
OFRF’s Board of Directors will accept proposals
from farmers, scientists, extension agents, and other
interested research partners and individuals in these
Region 5 and Region 8 states and Tribal Nations.
The proposal application deadline is Dec. 15, 2004.
At its meeting in Santa Cruz on Nov. 5-6, OFRF’s
Board of Directors voted to defer its fall 2005 grants
cycle in order to conduct an evaluation of its general
grants program. The Board made this decision in light
of recent significant increases in federal research
funding for organic agriculture.
“Our policy work has been so successful at gaining
federal dollars for organic research, we felt that it
was time to assess our niche in funding organic research,”
commented OFRF Board president Steve Ela, organic fruit
grower from Hotchkiss, Colorado. “We know that
OFRF’s small grants program has initiated organic
research all around the country, and we want to continue
its effectiveness in a changed organic world.”
As its general grants program evaluation proceeds,
OFRF will continue to offer research grants in partnership
with the EPA. The Foundation expects to re-open its
general grants program following the evaluation. The
deadline for March 2006 consideration of grant proposals
is December 15, 2005.
The Organic Farming Research Foundation funds organic
research and education projects in North America, and
has awarded 233 grants totaling more than $1.5 million
in support of organic farming research and education
projects since 1990.
For more information on the OFRF grants program, including
a list of previously funded projects, guidelines for
applications, and a free guide to conducting on-farm
research, contact OFRF at 831-426-6606, or e-mail jane@ofrf.org.
Complete information is on-line at http://www.ofrf.org.
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