1.
ANNUAL REPORT 2013
rural advancement foundation international

2.
As the food and agriculture movement continues to gain momentum, we feel encouraged and downright proud. Long ago, RAFI’s passion for
a just world in food and agriculture helped plant the seeds for what we now see as a growing community of activists, researchers, farmers and
concerned people.Through decades of history in this work, we know that we must pay attention to each moving part in order to achieve our triple
bottom line—a focus on people, environmental sustainability and economic vitality. Progress can only happen when communities, markets and
policies are all aligned to provide opportunities for farmers and rural areas to thrive in empowering ways that work for them.
In 2013, RAFI succeeded in meeting farmers where they are, finding solutions together that preserve and reinvigorate the environment while
sustaining viable economic models and creating innovative markets for future generations.

3.
With both pride and gratitude
With both pride and gratitude, we present this report on the activities
of the Rural Advancement Foundation International for the year 2013.
As we take this opportunity to look back, the principles that underlay
our work are fairly simple ones.
Farmers and rural folks should be treated fairly and have every chance
to succeed based on their hard work and ingenuity, not because of
who they are or who they know. When farmers make the decisions
that are good for their families, the results should be good for their
communities and the environment. Our laws and our markets should
make stewardship of the land and community an economic benefit,
not a disadvantage.
We believe that these principles are both fundamental and radical.
We are committed to creating positive models and change.
RAFI traces its history back to the Southern Tenant Farmers Union of
the 1930’s. During that time, courageous individuals brought people
together across the lines of race and class to make their shared world a
better and more just place.We hope that the activities described in this
report live up to that legacy.
And, as always, we invite you to join us. Together, there is much to do.
Scott Marlow
RAFI Executive Director
Alex Hitt
RAFI Board President

4.
2013 Board of Directors
Along with our dedicated staff, RAFI is fortunate to have an equally
engaged volunteer Board of Directors with broad experience in
sustainable agriculture issues. This includes farmers who span the
spectrum of scale and production, lawyers and activists who have
dedicated their lives to social justice issues, expert academic researchers
and leaders in non-profit management, community lending and
government.
Archie Hart
Program Special Assistant to the
Commissioner of Agriculture
NC Department of Agriculture
Knightdale, NC
Mary Hendrickson
Associate Director, Community
Food Systems and Sustainable
Agriculture Program
Extension Associate Professor
Department of Rural Sociology
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO
Alex Hitt,
Board President, Farmer
Peregrine Farm
Graham, NC
Lenwood V. Long, Sr.
President/CEO
The Support Center
Raleigh, NC
Edna Rodriguez,
Staff Representative to Board
RAFI Development Director
Pittsboro, NC
Randi Ilyse Roth
Executive Director
Otto Bremer Foundation
Saint Paul, MN
Alton Thompson
Provost and Vice President of
Academic Affairs
Delaware State University
Summerfield, SC
Tom Trantham
Dairy Farmer
Trantham’s 12 Aprils Dairyand
HappyCowCreamery,Inc.
Pelzer, SC

5.
24
innovative farm
projects were
funded by TCRF in
2013.
2013 At A Glance
800
More than 800
people attended
RAFI community
presentations on
landowner rights
& fracking.
1,200
More than 1,200
NC residents took
action to oppose
forced pooling.
600
More than 600
faith leaders,
farmers and
hunger advocates
attended regional
Come to the Table
conferences:
50%
of surveyed
attendees took
back tools to their
farm or ministry.
72%
of surveyed
attendees were
inspired to change
relationship with
food, faith or
agriculture.
60
Whole Foods
Market stores
nationwide carry
the Agricultural
Justice Project
Food Justice
Certified Label.
16
varieties of organic
wheat have been
tested on NC farms
since 2010.
54
varieties of organic
soybean have been
tested on NC farms
since 2010.
15
varieties of organic
corn have been
tested on NC
farms since 2010.
274 Pittsboro Elem. Sch. Rd. • Pittsboro, NC 27312 • Tel: 919-542-1396 • Fax: 919-542-0069 • www.rafiusa.org

6.
Keeping the farm
To more than 2 million family farmers in the United States, sustainability
means not losing the farm and ensuring future innovation for
generations to come.
Farm Advocacy is the backbone of
RAFI, both guiding and guided by our
critical analysis that spans decades. The
advocacy work we do is rare, combining
both financial counseling and advocacy
on behalf of the farmer to banks and
other agencies. Family farmers come
to us in crisis, and we help save their
farms. In 2013, we continued providing
in-depth financial counseling to
farmers in danger of losing their farms,
and making sure that they are given
their best chance to succeed.
From 2010-2013, RAFI worked with more than 250 family farms,
preserving approximately $50 million in farm assets. In 2013, we
secured more than $1 million in new credit and restructured more than
$15 million in existing loans for farmers.
The number of organizations that provide this service is very small.
In 2013, we began developing curricula to help other organizations
better serve the farmers in their communities. We piloted a model that
combines training with ongoing technical assistance to address the
needs of farmers in areas across the country. We are honored to work
with Hmong National Development to provide assistance to poultry
PEOPLE
producers in Arkansas and throughout the Southeast.
Sometimeseffectiveoutreachmeansbringingtheagenciestothe
farmers, rather than the farmers to the agency. In 2013, we also
conducted six regional Resource
Rodeos to connect farmers in
underserved communities with
agencies and financial institutions
that can supply needed resources.
Resource Rodeos gave farmers the
opportunity to meet with
representatives of USDA agencies,
banks, Community Development
Financial Institutions and attor-
neys to open the door to new
opportunities.
"I feel like we would not be
able to address our issues
without a trusted leader
like RAFI."
- Gene Jacobs, Coharie Tribe Chief and
American Prawn Cooperative

7.
Our Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund rounded out 2013 with
24 farmer grantees leading the way in farm innovation. A handful of our
2013 TCRF grantees include:
George F. Smith, Jr.
Smith Farms, Gibsonville, NC
Solar collectors on a existing wood-fired boiler system in a former tobacco
greenhouse. The low-cost, solar-energy method maximizes vegetable
production by heating boiler water as well as the 750-gallon water
storage tank for a well-rounded heat. Previously wasted heat during
daylight is now used for nighttime heating.
Brian Rollins
River Bend Nursery, Lincolnton, NC
A farm to pizza operation, with 2,000 shitake mushroom logs, a small oys-
ter mushroom production and 7 acres of winter wheat for Brian’s own
bread in his wood-fired oven.
PEOPLE
2013 Tobacco Communities
Reinvestment Fund Grantees
VJ Switzer
Rural Hall, NC
The only African American farm within 50 miles, a converted an old,
stick-style tobacco barn is now a modern roadside market open 9
months out of the year.
Taylor Williams
Carthage, NC
Fifteen farmers, in the counties of Lee, Moore, and Richmond,
are using this funding to market produce to institutions that are
currently under-served by local foods. Local food produced in the
Sandhills region will be sold to local institutions in the Pinehurst,
Southern Pines and Fayetteville market. To facilitate a “learn by
doing” pilot, Cooperative Extension is assisting the Sandhills Farm
to Table Cooperative to operate this venture for one year.
Neill Lindley
Lindale Farms, Snow Camp, NC
Internal parasites are the biggest health challenge facing naturally
raised goats in the Southeast. Lindale Farms is testing a solution
to this problem by implementing and evaluating the range of
organically permissible methods for a comprehensive Integrated
Parasite Management Program. This includes selection and
breeding, rotational and multispecies grazing, dry lot feeding
during times of highest parasite pressure, pasture grazing during
lower parasite pressure, alternative forages and forest browsing,
and more.

8.
The Right to Know
In 2013, as North Carolina rushed toward allowing hydraulic
fracturing for natural gas extraction, RAFI provided community
members with critical information on both natural gas leases and
proposed regulations. We maintain that people have the right
to an informed choice, whether that choice is to sign a licensing
agreement or not, or to make their voices heard on proposed
regulations.
In 2013, RAFI kept North Carolina residents informed with
comprehensive information and analysis about forced pooling and
mineral rights leases. Our web portal gave community members
access to all of the current proposed regulations, minutes of
committee meetings and hearings, and clear instructions on how
to engage in the process in a constructive way. This spurred action
across the state toward this vision by host forced pooling and the
rush to frack.
Our Landowner Rights & Fracking focuses heavily on the area
of the state where leases have been signed, particularly in Lee,
Chatham and Moore counties with more than 2,100 farms
(spanningover220,000acres). Butthemodelsofcommunity-focused
regulations that we are advocating for have effects on extractive
industries across the state, and the nation.
RAFI’s work with all stakeholders in the process helped build
community literacy on important regulatory issues and ways for
community members to engage in the process constructively.
Community engagement and education in 2013 lays the ground-
work for the push for fair policies coming in 2014.
PEOPLE
"RAFI gives us the right
information."
-Lee County landowner

9.
PEOPLE
What Compulsory Pooling Means
640 ACRES
90%T H R E S H O L D
T O L E E C O U N T Y R E S I D E N T S
This map shows the effects of potential
compulsory pooling in Lee County if the
threshold of consent was legally set at 90%.
*Total map represents 143 intersecting parcels within a 640-acre drilling unit.
Data provided by Lee County Strategic Services, with GIS
analysis by Director Don Kovasckitz.
BY ACREAGE BY ACREAGE
80% THRESHOLD
force pools 79% of landowners
against their will.
90% THRESHOLD
force pools 55% of landowners
against their will.
95% THRESHOLD
force pools 31% of landowners
against their will.
90%
45%
Acreage
leased
of parcels / 576 acres /
65 parcels
10%
55%
Pooled
acreage
of parcels / 64 acres /
78 parcels
MAP KEY
BY PARCELS BY PARCELS
PooledLeased
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
65 parcels of land make up the majority of land
mass in the map example. That’s up to just 65
landowners who consent to drilling.
But, as a result of compulsory pooling, 78 plots
of land would be subjected to drilling… whether
those landowners sign a lease or not.
Even with a 90% threshold of
consent, more than half of
landowners face losing their
property rights against their will.
INFOGRAPHIC DESIGNED BY SHANTHONY EXUM ART & DESIGN
What is a compulsory pooling threshold?
BY ACREAGE BY PARCELS
RAFI’s 2013 infographic on the reality of forced pooling in Lee County.

10.
PEOPLE
Bringing it all to the table
Feeding poor communities is often a rationalization for the
exploitation of land and people, and the externalization of the
costs of stewardship. Addressing poverty in one area should not
increase poverty in another. By bringing the food, faith and farm
communities together, RAFI addresses the needs of the people,
the environment and the market to create cohesive solutions to
hunger, food access and fair markets for farmers.
Our Come to the Table conference year of 2013 energized
communities across the state to grow this movement together
in faith-based, rural farming communities. We met in three North
Carolina towns—Kinston, Greensboro and Sylva—where faith
leaders, empowered youth, farmers and congregations, who often
work in isolation, came together to find collaborative solutions that
benefit everyone.
As a result, communities across the state are invigorated to address
the issues of food access, hunger and farmland loss together as
one goal; people working in partnership to build strong, self-reliant
communities where everyone has access to enough healthy, just
and sustainably produced food.
And we believe that feeding the hungry must not result in cheaper
pay for farmers. In 2013, Come to the Table broadened its scope
by building our vision to create a more symbiotic relationship
between low-wealth communities and local farmers. In a new
strategic plan, we put in place a program plan for January 2014 to
launch a three-year research project that will examine the barriers
and opportunities for farmers selling in these communities, with an
emphasis on market-based solutions for hunger relief.
"This was
fabulous! The
conferences
left me
inspired and
renewed."
-Conference attendee

11.
MARKETS
Ensuring a better farming future
Access to cost-effective crop insurance determines which farms live or die, and which farms grow or shrink. For over 10 years, RAFI has been
active in developing and reforming crop insurance to make it work for farmers who are doing the right thing for their communities and the
environment.
When it comes to analyzing the complexities of ensuring a crop’s return on investment in the face of uncontrollable and unpredictable
obstacles, farmers know best.
In the fall, we proudly made it possible for two North Carolina farmers, Esmeralda Sandoval and Martha Calderon, founders of the Hispanic
Women in Agriculture Cooperative, to meet with USDA officials in Kansas City, MO. They took their concerns and raised their voices directly
to the policy makers, working together toward reforms that give them a fair chance. We anticipate that a reformed whole-farm revenue crop
insurance containing many of our recommendations will be available in 2015.
"I don't want to go back to
being a farmworker. If we
don't have good insurance
for our vegetables, then that
could be what happens."
- Martha Calderon

12.
10years of analysis reap success
2013 saw progress on two of our long-term priorities: USDA eliminated
the surcharge for crop insurance for organic producers, and extended the
availability of crop insurance at the organic price to an additional 6 crops,
with the ability for organic producers with marketing contracts to insure their
crops at the contracted price.
Over the last 6 years, RAFI has testified with farmers in Congress, collaborated
with USDA’s Risk Management Agency and published numerous reports and
a strawberry crop insurance concept proposal.
In September, we completed and published a comprehensive report entitled
Managing Specialty Crop Risk In North Carolina, funded by the NC Department
of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant.
A survey of 157 farmers on crop insurance conducted by RAFI showed that:
MARKETS
50%
of farmers
surveyed do
not know if
crop
insurance is
available.
66%
of farmers
surveyed
self-reported
little to no
knowledge of
crop
insurance.
1/3
of farmers
surveyed say
crop
insurance
plays role in
what they
grow.

13.
By the end of 2013, 60Whole Foods Market stores across the nation
implemented the Food Justice Certified label.
AJP is a partnership of RAFI, The Farmworker Support Committee
(CATA), Florida Organic Growers (FOG), and the Northeastern
Organic Farming Association (NOFA).
For consumers to have confidence in fair trade labels, they must be
clear and trustworthy. To ensure the integrity of fair trade labels as
a whole, RAFI helped found the Domestic Fair Trade Association.
Our Just Foods Director, Michael Sligh, continued as its president
in 2013.
MARKETS
Our Agricultural Justice Project has worked tirelessly since 1999
to ensure justice in food and agriculture. Its goal is to transform
the existing unjust food system to one that is based on thriving,
ecological family-scale farms that provide well-being for farmers,
dignified work for wage laborers, and that distributes its benefits
fairly throughout the food chain from seed to table.
AJP launched domestic fair trade in the United States with a social
justice label, Food Justice Certified.This new label allows consumers
to reward farmers who treat workers fairly and buy products that
reflect their values with confidence.
Making food justice a household name
www.agriculturaljusticeproject.org

14.
ENVIRONMENT
RAFI has a long-standing commitment and focus on seeds, the
rights of farmers and the need for greater public seed choices and
support systems.
In 2013, our Just Foods program continued to advocate for and
expand public plant breeding programs. Our mission remains
rooted in collaboration among farmers and researchers to
protectandenhancetheavailablegermplasmfororganicproducers.
Together, breeders and farmers can make a realistic assessment of
hownewbreedinglineswillperformunderactualorganicconditions.
Through our Breeding for Organic Production Systems (BOPS)
partnership with North Carolina State University, we are facilitating
collaboration between organic farmers and plant breeders to
develop varieties of corn, wheat, soybeans and peanuts that are
particularly suited for organic production in the Southeastern US.
RAFI brought together NCSU researchers and local farmers to
develop criteria for what organic farmers were looking for, assisted
with variety screening, and in 2013 held on-farm variety trials in
soybeans and wheat.
This participatory model allows for the farmer to help determine
what crop varieties work best for their climate conditions,
production methods and business model.
This unified effort strengthens innovation in public plant breeding,
enhancing our mission for the resilient biodiversity of seeds and
breeds for the 21st century and a fair market that keeps control of
seeds in the hands of farmers and communities.
Who will control seed?

15.
ENVIRONMENT
78.9
bu/acre
77.4
bu/acre
82.5
bu/acre
76.8
bu/acre
75.5
bu/acre
72.8
bu/acre
Rankings for Organic
Wheat Varieties
Ryegrass Suppression // Yield Results based on official variety trials
RyegrassSuppressionRanking
WheatVarietyYieldRanking
1st
10th
20th
30th
40th
50th
1st
5th
10th
15th
20th
USG3438
Pioneer
25R32
Southern
States5205
Agrimaxx
413
Agrimaxx
415
Pioneer
26R20
Oakes
DGShirley
USG3201
NCNeuse
Pioneer
26R12
Southern
States8641
NCYadkin
NC
CapeFear
Southern
States520
Featherstone
VA258
95.8
bu/acre
74.8
bu/acre
77.9
bu/acre
85.1
bu/acre
80.1
bu/acre
69.6
bu/acre
78.7
bu/acre
84.4
bu/acre
80.7
bu/acre
74.7
bu/acre
Organic Official
Variety Trials
The organic official variety trials
(OVT) began with wheat in 2010
in order to identify varieties that
perform well under organic
production conditions in North
Carolina. These 16 varieties were
tested in both the wheat OVT and
in the ryegrass suppression OVT.
Featherstone VA 258 surpasses
the other varieties, ranking highest
in both yield and ryegrass
suppression.
BOPS Coalition
Breeding for Organic Production
Systems (BOPS) is a joint project
by North Carolina State University
and in the Rural Advancement
Foundation International, started
in the spring of 2009. The project
develops field crop varieties
specifically selected for organic
production in the Southeast.
For more information and to view
the complete results of all varieties
tested, visit:
rafiusa.org/bopscoalition.
RYEGRASS HEADS IN SQUARE METER
200 300 400 500
501
481
427
426
426
414
411
403
397
386
380
378
373
368
348
308
HOW MANY
RYEGRASS
HEADS
sq.meter
[per]
?
Featherstone VA 258
Southern States 520
NC Cape Fear
NC Yadkin
Southern States 8641
Pioneer 26R12
NC Neuse
USG3201
DG Shirley
Oakes
Pioneer 26R20
Agrimaxx 415
Agrimaxx 413
Southern States 5205
Pioneer 25R32
USG 3438
WHEATVARIETY
RAFI created a series infographics to display the data from our BOPS organic trials.
See more at rafiusa.org/bopscoalition

16.
The Crop Hop
In 2013, we launched our first annual Crop Hop, a square dance
fundraiser for RAFI's Farm Sustainability Program. The community
event brought together farmers and residents from around North
Carolina to celebrate sustainable agriculture and innovation!
About 300 people attended, raising $13,000.
We are grateful to all of our sponsors for their generous contributions
in support of RAFI and The Crop Hop: Fearrington Village, Organic
Valley, First Citizens Bank, The Abundance Foundation, INDY Week,
Grapevine Realty Services, Lisa London CPA, New Belgium Brewing,
Riley MacLean Photography, Lindley Farms Creamery, Fullsteam
Brewery, Carolina Brewery, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, Goat Lady
Dairy, Chatham Marketplace.

17.
Financial OverviewFor the Year Ended December 31, 2013
Support and Revenue:
Private foundations and public funds
Service contracts and honoraria
Individual contributions
Rental income
Registration fees
Special events proceeds (after expenses)
Interest and dividends
Change in value of charitable gift annuity
Total support and revenue
Expenses:
Program Services
Supporting services:
General and administrative
Fundraising
Total Supporting Services
Total Expenses
Changes in Net Asssets
Net Asstes - Beginning of Year
Net Assets - End of Year
2013 Totals
1,512,064
145,062
92,437
22,623
33,576
8,176
653
2,517
1,817,108
1,312,036
145,763
112,756
258,519
1,570,555
246,553
1,834,729
2,081,282
$
$
84%of RAFI’s funds are used for
program services
$1,570,555
Total Expenses
ProgramServices
84%
General&
Administrative
9%
Fundraising
7%

18.
Alces Foundation
Cedar Tree Foundation
Clif Bar Family Foundation
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps
Elise Jerard Environmental and Humanitarian Trust
Farm Aid
Gaia Fund
Google, Inc.*
GBL Charitable Foundation
Hillsdale Fund
Mary L. Richardson Fund
McKnight Foundation
North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church
North Carolina Specialty Crop Grant Program
North Carolina State University
North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
North Pond Foundation
Organic Valley Family of Farms / Farmers Advocating for
Organics Fund
Presbyterian Hunger Program
Southern Risk Management Education Center
Stonyfield Farm, Inc.
Your gift is 100% tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
Financial information about Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA and a copy of our North Carolina solicitation license are available from the
Charitable Solicitation Licensing Section at 888-830-4989. This license is not an endorsement by the state of North Carolina.
RAFI has earned the GuideStar Gold Exchange Seal, demonstrating our commitment to transparency.
2013supporters
DONATE TO RAFI
As farmer and former TCRF grantee George O’Neal of Lil Farm says of our
support,“Nobody does anything awesome by themselves.”
In order to continue the work we do, we depend on donations from
people who share our same fire to lift up the work of all family farmers.
Help us support family farms and a just, sustainable world for agriculture.
Consider becoming a monthly donor to RAFI by visiting:
www.rafiusa.org/donate
The CS Fund
The Ceres Trust
The Duke Endowment
The Park Foundation
The Salesforce.com Foundation *
The William Zimmerman Foundation
Tivka Grassroots Empowerment Fund of Tides Foundation
Wallace Genetic Foundation
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
*Inkind donations valued above $5,000.
274 Pittsboro Elem. Sch. Rd. • Pittsboro, NC 27312 • Tel: 919-542-1396 • Fax: 919-542-0069 • www.rafiusa.org
Thank you to the gracious funders, listed here, who
supported RAFI with a generous donation worth
$5,000 or more.

19.
274 Pittsboro Elem. Sch. Rd. • Pittsboro, NC 27312 • Tel: 919-542-1396 • Fax: 919-542-0069 • www.rafiusa.org