Friends of Family Farmers is the only statewide agricultural organization working to promote and protect socially and environmentally responsible family farming, ranching and healthy rural communities in Oregon. We engage in a variety of work under our Farmer, Eater, and Advocacy Programs to support this mission. Learn more about these programs below:
Farmer Program
Friends of Family Farmers brings farmers and ranchers together with consumers to address issues facing family-scale agriculture in Oregon. We hold biennial Farmer and Rancher Listening Sessions to hear directly from producers and guide our advocacy efforts. This process began back in 2010, leading to the creation of the Agricultural Reclamation Act, a farmer-produced roadmap for sound agricultural policies and strong local food systems in Oregon. We give farmers a voice in efforts to promote and protect small and mid-sized family farms and socially responsible agriculture in Oregon. Our Farmer Program also includes the Oregon Pasture Network, a network of producers engaged in family-scale pasture-based livestock production, to provide consumers an alternative to large-scale concentrated animal feeding operations. Learn more about the Farmer Program here.
Eater Program
We might not all be farmers, but we are all eaters! Friends of Family Farmers launched our Eater Program to help the public better understand the issues that socially responsible family farmers and ranchers face, and the connection between food and farms in Oregon. From tabling at farmers markets and presenting at events and conferences, to our long-running InFARMation Series, we work to educate Oregonians about the value of local, sustainable agriculture and family-scale farms.
Next Generation Program
The average age of farmers in Oregon is nearly 60 years old. Without a plan to get the next generation of farmers on land, with access to education, financing and markets, we stand to lose 25% to 50% of the farmland that is currently in agricultural production in the next 20 years according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
In response, Friends of Family Farmers developed Oregon Farm Link to connect new and beginning farmers with landowners, job opportunities and resources.
Advocacy Program
This program keeps tabs on the influence that corporate agribusiness entities have in Oregon, as well as state and federal agencies charged with promoting and regulating agricultural activities. We monitor and make the public aware of threats to Oregon agriculture, such as factory farms moving into rural communities and the harmful impacts from lax oversight of genetically engineered crops. We advance legislative and policy proposals organize that support small and mid-sized farms in Oregon, and organize big events like a biennial ‘Family Farms Mean Business’ Rally and Day of Action at the Oregon State Capitol when the Legislature is in session.
As part of our Advocacy Program, we also provide support to rural communities who are seeing their rural way of life being threatened by factory farms. Please contact us at info@friendsoffamilyfarmers.org if you need assistance in your community.