Proposed modifications threaten analysis, conservation help, and farmer entry to USDA applications.
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 28, 2025 — On the Natural Farming Analysis Basis (OFRF), we’re dedicated to advocating for natural analysis in addition to the establishments and applications that make that work attainable. That’s the reason OFRF submitted feedback to the USDA concerning the reorganization proposed in a July twenty fifth memo.
The USDA’s proposed plan—developed with out enter from affected communities or Congress—comes at a time when public agricultural analysis and technical help are extra very important than ever. For natural and transitioning-to-organic farmers, this plan threatens the very basis of the USDA’s potential to ship on its mission, significantly in analysis and conservation help.
“All farmers and researchers, not simply these utilizing or finding out natural farming programs, want continuity, not turmoil,” stated Gordon N. Merrick, OFRF’s Coverage Program Director.
In our feedback, linked right here, OFRF highlighted how the actions outlined on this plan would:
- Erode institutional capability agency-wide. The 2018 relocation of the Nationwide Institute of Meals and Agriculture (NIFA) and Financial Analysis Service (ERS) demonstrated how hasty relocations lead to important attrition of seasoned workers, an impression that the company has but to totally get better from.
- Hinder grant administration. Employees reductions would solely worsen the present delays in RFA administration, undermining analysis timelines and belief.
- Delay on-the-ground help for farmers. Pure Useful resource Conservation Providers (NRCS) area workplaces, already understaffed, are essential to conservation implementation and free technical help. This plan would exacerbate delays regardless of rising demand and programmatic funding ranges.
- Disrupt public-good science. Agricultural Analysis Service (ARS) websites and Germplasm Assortment Packages, very important for long-term analysis and system resiliency, could be misplaced.
- Scale back entry to USDA applications for rural communities. OFRF and companions function bridges to USDA applications, however all of us in the end want strong employment in all county-level workplaces. Centralizing programs and shutting workplaces would reduce farmers off from important help.
OFRF is urging the USDA to pause this reorganization instantly, and as a substitute:
- Conduct a cost-benefit evaluation that assesses service disruption dangers and different components.
- Publish a public justification report displaying how modifications will strengthen USDA’s mission.
- Launch a proper notice-and-comment course of, together with listening classes in agricultural areas.
“Disrupting institutional data and repair capability now threatens the natural sector’s potential to satisfy the challenges of our time, from financial to ecological,” Merrick added. “This reorganization plan wouldn’t end result within the strengthening of USDA to satisfy its mission, however a major blow to its potential to satisfy that mission.”
Learn the total model of OFRF’s submitted feedback on our advocacy web page right here.
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Concerning the Natural Farming Analysis Basis
The Natural Farming Analysis Basis (OFRF), headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, with a distant workforce primarily based throughout the U.S., works to foster the advance and widespread adoption of natural farming programs. OFRF cultivates natural analysis, training, and federal insurance policies that carry extra farmers and acreage into natural manufacturing. For extra details about OFRF, please go to our web site: www.ofrf.org.
Media Contact: Ashley Dulaney, ashley[at]ofrf.org
