Final MW TOPP November 2023 Newsletter
Midwest
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Issue No. 2
November 2023
NEWSLETTER
MIDWEST TOPP NEWS
SUPPORTING ORGANIC PRODUCERS TO ADVANCE FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCE
YEAR IN
REVIEW
By Allison Walent
Program Director, MW TOPP
READ MORE
If you are wondering what some of your Deliverables may
look like for your TOPP projects, particularly in Workforce
Development (WFD), you may derive some inspiration from
the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) “Human Capital
Capacity Building Initiative,” launched as a national program
in 2021 and 2022 to “support the long-term growth of the
organic industry by expanding the pool of well qualified
organic professionals who ensure consistency, fairness, and
integrity.
READ MORE
It was just one year ago that MOSA announced it was named
by the National Organic Program to lead the Midwest
Region’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP).
The past year has been filled with learning moments,
programming, systems development, relationship building,
and more learning moments.
ORGANIC
WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT
By Kathleen Delate
Iowa State University
TOPP PRIORITIES
MENTORSHIP
Our Mentorship Program connects producers transitioning to organic
practices with experienced organic producers who serve as mentors.
These mentors guide them through the transition process and offer
valuable insights into their journey into organic farming.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TOPP offers a variety of workshops, field days, and educational
events in the region to provide technical assistance, training, and
advising on organic-specific resources.
COMMUNITY BUILDING
To foster connections within the organic agricultural community, we will
organize conferences, workshops, field days, and round table discussions
to facilitate networking and collaboration.
WORKFORCE TRAINING AND
DEVELOPMENT
TOPP provides targeted training and education for the organic
workforce, including the entire supply chain. Workforce development
is key to our mission.
APPLY TO BE A MENTOR
OR MENTEE
Visit: www.organictransition.org to
complete the online form
PARTNER FEATURE:
A Q&A WITH HEATHER FRIEDRICH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
ARKANSAS CENTER FOR ARKANSAS FARMS AND FOODS (CAFF)
TELL US ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION’S MISSION
The Center for Arkansas Farms and Food (CAFF) (caff.uark.edu) is focused on training aspiring, new and established
specialty crop farmers in sustainable production and business methods for regional food markets. We have two co-hort
based, experiential learning programs, our Farm School and our On-farm Apprenticeship Program, along with an online
beginning farmer class series and intensive short courses. And we also support our farm community network through
formal and informal networking activities throughout the year.
WHAT TOPP RELATED
PROGRAMMING ARE YOU
CREATING?
farmandfoodsystem.uada.edu
We have a new podcast, Arkansas Organic Chronicles, and a new
video series on Instagram and YouTube that will for the first time in
Arkansas deliver structured, consistent organic information over the
long term. I’m looking forward to seeing how these bite size and
portable modes of information will reach broad audiences. I’m also
really excited about working with new partners in the effort to
increase organic production across Arkansas. We are a diverse state geographically, culturally and agriculturally which underscores the
importance of working with partners that focus their efforts in other
parts of the state, in different crops and that reach different
audiences. And finally, in January, we will be launching the Arkansas
Organic Network as a platform for those working in the organic
industry in Arkansas – farmers, buyers, suppliers, educators, service
providers and others, to come together, share resources, strategize
approaches to solve problems and to create momentum for the
organic industry in Arkansas.
WHICH TOPP PRIORITY AREA ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT
AS IT RELATES TO THE WORK OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AND
THE NEEDS OF YOUR REGION?
I appreciate each of the priorities because it’s quite a holistic approach – from very targeted assistance to transitioning
farmers; building up the broader organic community and filling education gaps; to increasing knowledge and
confidence among farmer educators/advisors. This is an important approach for meaningful impact. I think the piece
that is most exciting for our organization that will have the most impact for Arkansas is building community and
providing broader educational opportunities. I see it as a way to bring the people (farmers, educators, etc) who are
working in organic ag and are scattered throughout the state together to build critical mass and recognize that there
are others working in organic agriculture too. In regards to education, there has not been any consistent, educational
programming in organic agriculture offered by the University of Arkansas (or any other organization that I’m aware of)
so I feel that is an important gap to fill and it’s important to represent the University of Arkansas in that role.
WHAT IS A RECENT SUCCESS STORY RELATED TO YOUR TOPP
PROGRAMMING?
We are still in the building phases of launching our program so our success aren’t that flashy – yet! We have built a
strong team at CAFF and are starting to release some important content through our new website, podcast and videos.
And we also are working on developing strong partnerships with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (a Historcically
Black College and University (HBCU) land grant), Winrock International, National Center for Appropriate Technology
and Black Women in Agriculture.
WHAT UNIQUE CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE IN YOUR REGION IN
TERMS OF GROWING ORGANIC ACREAGE?
MENTORSHIP
TRAINING
MATERIALS
In collaboration, the six regional TOPP
leads developed training materials for all
partners to utilize in the execution of
their mentorship programs. Find a
mentor and mentee video training series,
a mentor position description, technical
assistance resources and more at
www.organictransition.org.
For agronomic crops which are grown in the Delta, central Arkansas
and River Valley, the main challenges are Dicamba drift, lack of
transition and organic markets that are accessible in Arkansas, and
the (lack of) willingness among farmers to change to something new.
This leads to issues with developing markets and having enough
supply for a buyer to work in Arkansas. Most large scale, agronomic
farmers we’ve talked with changed to certified production out of a
dire situation, financially, and stuck with it because they were able to
carve out markets, and understand and overcome production
challenges.
For specialty crops which are mostly grown on small acreage across
the state, these crops are primarily sold directly to consumers so the
value in certification is limited unless the farmer is really committed
to it. Wholesale markets are increasing, however, so this dynamic
may change.
But production-wise there are some legit challenges – Arkansas has a
long growing season which means we have different weed issues
throughout the year and multiple generations of insect pests and,
we get a lot of rain and high humidity which creates wonderful
conditions for disease. And we lack Arkansas based research to
overcome these issues.
IF YOU COULD FAST FORWARD TO 2027 AND THE END OF THE
FIVE YEAR TOPP PROGRAM, WHAT DO YOU ENVISION? WHAT
DO YOU HOPE TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED?
By 2027, I hope we have transitioned 10-20 Arkansas farmers to organic production in a variety of agronomic and
specialty crops, which would be a 40% – 80% increase in organic crop farmers in the state. I envision building a critical
mass in our organic community that is well connected, and that we have educated Arkansas farmers and those
supporting farmers on market opportunities, production practices and certification steps through various channels.
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST
TOPP REGION
GREAT LAKES EXPO – FRUIT,
VEGETABLE, AND FARM MARKET
December 5 – 7
Grand Rapids, MI
IOWA ORGANIC ASSOCIATION ANNUAL
MEETING
December 5
Boone, IA
2024 KENTUCKY FRUIT AND VEGETABLE
CONFERENCE
January 2 – 4
Bowling Green, KY
ORGANIC GRAIN CONFERENCE
January 4 – 5
Oregon, OH
MINNESOTA ORGANIC CONFERENCE
January 11 – 12
St. Cloud, MN
ORGANIC ASSOCIATION OF KENTUCKY
(OAK) ORGANIC FARMING CONFERENCE
January 25 – 27
Frankfort, KY
OGRAIN WINTER CONFERENCE
February 2 – 3
Madison, WI
MARBLESEED’S 35TH ORGANIC
FARMING CONFERENCE
February 22 – 24
La Crosse, WI
Editor: Elle L. Lynch, Midwest TOPP Operations Manager
elynch@mosaorganic.org
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