Missed a meeting? You can find recordings of working group meetings on OCFSN’s Youtube Channel and other materials in our Public Google Drive.

Stay looped into the latest news for each of the working groups by joining the mailing lists: How to Use OCFSN Google Groups.

The September Food Hub meeting included updates from Enhancements to Farm Direct Law with Alice Morrison of Friends of Family Farmers and Oregon Farm to Institution Collaborative (OFIC) updates from Amy Gilroy of ODA. Watch the recording here.

During the Veggie Rx virtual convening in August, we worked on jamboards and identified these top 3 goals for the working group.

1. Systematize & streamline statewide program operations

2. Develop shared administrative capacity

3. Develop sustainable growth & funding plan

Link to notes include recording, slides, jam board and list of attendees.

IN-PERSON Veggie Rx Convening scheduled for Friday, November 3 at Estrada Supermarket in Gresham.! Please RSVP by October 23.

If you support producers in Oregon and have not joined the Farming for the Future Working Group (F4tF), I hope you will consider joining our collaborative work to support Oregon’s socially and ecologically responsible producers! We need your passion and ingenuity! The working group is fun, voluntary (you choose your level of involvement), has an active information and resource sharing listserv, and meets regularly on specific issue areas to share resources and build our collective capacity. Here is a link to join our working group and get updates on the F4tF happenings!

We have lots of ways to get involved, see some highlights below, and I hope to see you at an upcoming meeting or drop me a line at andrew@ocfsn.org.

Subgroup Meeting Updates:

• Climate Resilience & Stewardship Subgroup Tricky Topics Series:

• This subgroup has been hosting tricky topic conversations on issues at the intersection of climate and agriculture. In July we hosted a talk on western water law, agriculture, and climate change (recording). On October 18th at 10am we are hosting a conversation with National Sustainable Agriculture Coalitions (NSAC) staff on the intersection of climate change and federal crop insurance and disaster relief programs (add to your calendar). The presentation and discussion will focus on crop insurance and disaster relief — both expanding access, and how the current safety net is a primary driver of industrial farming and an impediment to climate adaptation.

• Farm Viability Subgroup:

  • In August, Oregon farm/ranch business technical assistance providers met to discuss how to best connect to the new Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center, how to communicate that farm business TA is value added to social benefit food production, and the challenges of this work under increasingly difficult economic conditions. (meeting recording and notes)

  • The next meeting is October 17th at 1pm. Add it to your calendar.

• Beginning Farmer and Rancher Subgroup:

  • At the August subgroup meeting, UO graduate and F4tF 2023 intern, Tara Olson, presented her thesis - Agroecological Transformations in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Many of you in the working group were interviewed for the project (email andrew@ocfsn.org to get the research briefs). Members shared their program updates and we discussed next steps for the OCFSN BFR brochure and story map. Use this link to update your listing on the map or to get added. (meeting recording and notes)

  • Next meeting November 16 at 10am. Add it to your calendar.

• Land Connection Technical Assistance Subgroup:

  • This subgroup consists of partners (FoFF, OAT and RFC) working on the Transitioning Oregon's Farmland (TOF) BFRDP project. Updates on project elements include:

    • Friends of Family Farmers' Navigate Program is actively accepting new applications from eligible farmers across Oregon to work with their staff Navigators.

    • Rogue Farm Corps' Future Farms Program just closed its third year of recruitment for the Farm Launch Program. Upcoming are 2024 Changing Hands Workshops and Host Farm applications to host and train aspiring farmers (due 11/15/2).

    • Oregon Agricultural Trust has many upcoming workshops and educational opportunities across the state this fall.

  • We want to expand this collective work to address the inequities of farmland access. An educational series on land access would be a great way to start this work. A presentation on the Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act would be an interesting start. If you would like to participate in the creation of that series please reach out.

The Public Policy Skills and Engagement Opportunities Working Group has hosted two presentations in our Farm Bill Series. The goal of these presentations is to increase Oregon food systems professionals understanding and comfortability in engaging in Farm Bill advocacy.

The first session was a Farm Bill 101 led by staff at the HEAL Food Alliance. The HEAL Food Alliance's Farm Bill platform is an inspiring look at how the Farm Bill could contribute to thriving communities and the planet. Event Recording

The second session featured presentations from Matt Newell-Ching, Oregon Food Bank, and Rachael Ward, Farmers Market Fund, on Food Security in Oregon and the Farm Bill. Event Recording

Stay tuned for the next event in our Farm Bill series on the work of the Native Farm Bill Coalition!

The CFS at the Legislature Working Group is in the process of planning for the 2024 Short Session. This group meets monthly during Oregon Legislative sessions to share updates and strategies for food systems legislative priorities. This collective sharing and support has built the reach and capacity for food systems policy work in Oregon over the years resulting in part to wins like the 2023 disaster resilience grants programs. Our next meeting is Oct. 31 at 9am (add it to your calendar) and folks are welcome to bring their legislative priorities or come and learn.