The CCOF Foundation gives grants to higher education and vocational students pursuing organic agriculture programs, to help with tuition and educational expenses. Applicants must be enrolled in educational programs in the United States that will benefit their careers in organic agriculture, including vocational training/certificate programs, junior college/two-year degree programs, and bachelor's/four-year undergraduate degrees. Up to 33 awards of $2,500 are available.  More information here.  Application deadline is May 15, 2017.
 

With SARE's newly revised bulletin How to Conduct Research on Your Farm or Ranch, farmers have a new resource available to help them conduct research and improve their practices.  The 32-page technical bulletin will introduce you to the purpose and goals of on-farm research and show you how on-farm research works on real farms. If you are exploring on-farm research for the first time and want to get an idea of what is involved, this publication will introduce you to the basic steps.  Free download or order a free print copy.
 

Which U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies have programs that are tailored to meet the needs of diversified farming operations, organic growers, or beginning farmers? What resources are available for small- and mid-sized growers looking to reach expanding regional markets, and where can you find them? For most people, even many farmers and ranchers, the answers to these questions remain elusive. In 2016 the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) partnered with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to produce a one-stop guide to USDA services for family farmers and ranchers. Growing Opportunity: A Guide to USDA Sustainable Farming Programs is a free resource that is now available online as well as in FSA’s 2,600 ......