Farmer Stories Archives - Organic Farming Research Foundation

Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: O’Meara Family Farm

Interseeding Sunn Hemp for Soil Health and Hay Production

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager, and John O’Meara, FLT Program participant

This on-farm trial at O’Meara Family Farm will compare sunn hemp grown alone with sunn hemp interseeded with Japanese millet for hay production. Results from this study will help organic farmers determine whether interseeding can improve forage yield and quality while supporting soil health.

Source: O'Meara Family Farm

Cows grazing at O’Meara Family Farm.

O’Meara Family Farm is a certified organic livestock operation located in Northern Maine, near the Canadian border. Founded in 1999, the farm grows grain and raises grass-fed beef, pork, lamb, and geese. The farm comprises 160 acres, 110 of which are wooded. In addition, John farms another 100 acres of organic land that he does not own. The farm spans two properties located about half a mile apart. The property where John lives has generally higher-quality soil, while the second has been steadily improved since he purchased it and continues to benefit from ongoing land rehabilitation efforts. The operation has been certified organic since 2005 and has participated in the Real Organic Project since 2021.

The heart of John’s approach is a commitment to the health, happiness, and longevity of his animals and the land management practices that make that possible. His farming vision centers on increasing productivity and building soil fertility, with a particular interest in finding crops that serve double duty: first as hay, then as grazing ground. In past summers, John focused primarily on grazing and making hay from local grasses, but now he is shifting to incorporate summer annuals into his hay production. Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), a warm-season legume known for its nitrogen-fixing capacity and rapid biomass accumulation, is a crop that is common in the south, but is not well tested in northern climates.

Finding a Dual-Purpose Forage Crop

One of John’s goals is to rehabilitate fields that have historically been underproductive. The second property, in particular, was farmed intensively for roughly a century, its fertility depleted over generations. While John has made meaningful progress, there is still work to do. He identified several areas that are weedy or low-yielding and began looking for crops that could build soil health while also generating real economic value through hay production.

Sunn hemp stood out as a strong candidate. A tropical legume that thrives in warm conditions, sunn hemp fixes atmospheric nitrogen, suppresses weeds, and produces substantial biomass in as little as 60 days. For a farm where land improvement and forage production are equally important, the crop’s dual-use potential was a clear draw. John had previously explored interseeding it with companion grasses through a SARE-funded grazing project at the University of Maine involving Japanese millet, which gave him a useful starting point.

The core question John wanted to answer was practical: does interseeding sunn hemp with Japanese millet produce higher quality or greater quantities of hay than growing sunn hemp alone? Japanese millet is a fast-growing warm-season grass with a solid track record in Maine. John hypothesized that the two crops might complement each other: the millet adding structure and bulk, and the sunn hemp contributing protein and nitrogen. Getting real data from his fields, under his management, was the motivation behind applying for OFRF’s Farmer Led Trials program.

On-Farm Trial Plan

Source: University of Maine

Sunn hemp in bloom.

With technical support from OFRF, John designed a replicated on-farm trial comparing two hay crop treatments: sunn hemp grown as a pure stand, and sunn hemp interseeded with Japanese millet. The trial follows a randomized complete block design with four replications of each treatment, for a total of eight plots. Each plot measures 80 feet long by 13 feet wide, sized to match John’s 13 foot seed drill and ensure at least one round bale can be harvested per plot. All plots are located within a single long field on the farm to minimize variability. Seeding rates are set at 50 pounds/acre for sunn hemp in pure stand, and 25 pounds/acre each for sunn hemp and Japanese millet in the mixture, with sunn hemp seed inoculated with an OMRI-listed cowpea-type inoculant prior to planting.

Data collection will include stand density counts after emergence, biomass sampling from two 2 foot by 2 foot quadrats per plot, round bale weight estimates at harvest, and forage quality analysis through DairyOne’s standard NIR forage package covering dry matter, protein, fiber fractions, and other key nutritional components. This combination of yield and quality data will give John and the OFRF team a well-rounded picture of how the two treatments compare.

Trial Updates

The 2025 trial season got off to a difficult start. An unusually cold and wet spring pushed planting well past the original mid-June target, and a series of tractor breakdowns made it impossible to get into the field. By early August, the window for planting a 60-day crop had closed and frost risk made it too late to proceed. After consulting with the OFRF team, John and the program agreed to extend the trial into the 2026 season. John is holding onto his seed and plans to run a germination test before next planting season. In the meantime, he prepared the tilled ground with a winter-kill oat cover crop to keep the land ready for spring. John remains enthusiastic about the trial and is planning to move forward in the coming season.

Source: O'Meara Family Farm

The cattle herd at O’Meara Family Farm.

“I wanted to be in the FLT program because decades of farming has taught me that another set of eyes on a topic—especially expert eyes—often leads to creative ideas and better on the ground outcomes.”

– John O’Meara, FLT Program Participant

Source: O'Meara Family Farm

A newly tilled bed, ready for seeding.

This is part of a series of blogs highlighting farmers who are participating in OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials program. Farmers receive technical support to address their production challenges through structured on-farm trials. To learn more about OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials Program, visit our website page at https://ofrf.org/research/farmer-led-research-trials/

To learn more about sunn hemp as a forage and cover crop, visit the USDA Plant Guide for Sunn Hemp.

To learn more about O’Meara Family Farm, visit their Facebook.

Learn more about OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials Program

Meet the rest of the 2025 FLT Program Participants

By Clare Boland|2026-07-22T11:02:05-04:00July 22nd, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|

How One Kona Farm Made Federal Funding Work for Organic Agriculture

Written by Mary Elizabeth Kidd, OFRF Communications Associate

OFRF is currently working to increase farmer and community awareness of the federal funding opportunities available to organic and transitioning farms. As part of our work with the West region of the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), we’re spotlighting the experience of one farm—Makili Farm in Kealakekua, Hawaiʻi—that received funding and support through the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

Their story offers a transparent look at what it’s really like to work with NRCS: the benefits, the obstacles, and the lessons they’ve learned. We hope other farmers can use their experience to navigate the process of applying for and implementing CSP contracts more easily.

Meet Kathy Vass of Makili Farm

Farmers Kathy Vass, holding a chicken, and Rob Vass, holding a shovel

Source: Makili Farm, Credit: John Vass

Location: Kealakekua, Hawaiʻi (west coast of Hawaiʻi Island)

Established: 2013

Acres: 5.8

Production: Coffee, macadamia nuts, cacao, citrus, vanilla, vegetables, tropical fruit, and pineapples

Certification: USDA Certified Organic since 2017

Staffing: Two part-time team members, plus seasonal staff (macadamia harvest)

Markets: Wholesale (grocery stores and local distributors)

Context & Challenges

Source: Makili Farm

Coffee flowers in bloom.

OFRF team members recently spoke to Kathy Vass, owner and primary farmer at Makili Farm, sitting on almost 6 acres at an elevation of 1,500 feet on the west coast of Hawaiʻi Island.

She shared a realistic and dedicated vision of organic farming on Hawaiʻi Island, where approximately 85% of food is imported, operational costs are high, and pest and environmental pressures are tremendous. Seasonal cyclones and recent earthquakes bring even more obstacles.

Her commitment to provide organic, locally-produced food for her community is palpable and powerful: “We’re all struggling financially. I know very few farms that aren’t. We’re providing enough income to live on. But the ones I know who are succeeding are organic.”

Kathy has been working in the soil for over 55 years, from her previous career as a landscape contractor in Long Island, New York, to her 13 years of farming at Makili Farm.

Kathy notes that in the last 5-10 years, pests and invasive weeds have surged. The avocado lace bug and the coffee berry borer, in addition to nematodes, continue to wreak particular damage to her key crops; coffee leaf rust has also led to crop loss.

>> Read more: Kathy and five other farms participated in a 2021 OFRF research grant exploring Organic Farming Systems Options for Controlling Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) in Kona Coffee.

The impact of these pests and diseases is the primary reason Kathy sought support from programs like the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The knowledge and financial support they provide have been a lifeline for her business.

Why Organic?

Source: Makili Farm

Vanilla bean orchid.

“I have always, for 55 years, done nothing but organic methods.”

Despite so many challenges, Kathy’s commitment to organic practices remains unshaken. She continues, “organic farming is, whether certified or not, so important for the health of our soil, our water, and our air. It’s just so important to me to have healthy food from healthy soil.”

The higher market value for organic products was also appealing; organic coffee cherries get $1 more per pound than conventional ones.

That said, each year Kathy questions her desire to remain certified. “It feels like a burden,” she shared, “Every year when it’s time for me to start doing the paperwork, I weigh whether I really want to keep doing the certification. I would always continue to be organic, regardless of whether I’m certified or not. I’m not sure that the price difference makes a big difference.”

Accessing Support through NRCS CSP

Plants growing in raised beds inside a hoop house.

Source: Makili Farm

EQIP-supported hoop house.

Kathy’s daughter-in-law, also a local farmer, suggested Kathy contact Laura Nelson, who leads the Kealakekua Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office.

Kathy first worked with Laura to secure Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) reimbursement for approximately half the cost of a 20-foot-by-72-foot hoophouse, enabling her to increase production.

Laura then encouraged and supported Kathy through the CSP application process. While Kathy was initially apprehensive of another paperwork-laden application process, her existing documentation for organic certification was already comprehensive and helped expedite the CSP application.

Kathy then worked with Laura to develop goals and objectives for a 5-year contract, which reimburses her $5,000 per year to support her conservation efforts.

CSP Goals & Learnings

Together, Kathy and Laura honed in on two goals for the 5-year CSP contract:

Enhance agroforestry with additional trees and shrubs (primarily fruit-bearing).
Continue ongoing organic pest control practices on the farm.

Various trees, including bananas, planted on a farm.

Source: Makili Farm

Agroforestry in motion.

In her first year, she successfully planted cacao, bananas, breadfruit, and cherimoya, expanding her market offerings.

She’s now in the fourth year of her five-year contract and continuing the focus on pest management. A few recent tasks supported by her CSP contract: planting 600 new coffee trees, mulching them, and planting a nitrogen-fixing ground cover, perennial peanut.

While much of her work remains the same—tenacious, focused, and curious—the financial and community support help her stay the course and represent her primary CSP wins. “Having those connections with other farmers has been good…really, really good.”

After her current contract winds down, Kathy is considering another CSP offering focused on native plants. She heavily cites the expertise and accessibility of her NRCS agent, Laura Nelson, as a success-driving factor in her experience with CSP.

Advice to Farmers

“Persevere,” Kathy shared without hesitation. She urges farmers to explore as many USDA and other avenues of financial support as possible, never shying away from doggedly advocating for what they need with USDA agents and representatives. She also recommends plugging into the local farming community, including other farmers, your local Extension, and farmers’ unions.

“Find out what’s available, ask questions, and hang in there.”

Ready to Apply? Here Are a Few Helpful Resources

If you’re a farmer considering applying for CSP or other NRCS programs, here are some helpful tools to get started:

Read how Catherine Nguyen of Mora Mora Farm, a newly-certified farmer, uses CSP to bridge the gap between generating income and investing in conservation.
Download OFRF’s CSP flyer for more information on the federal funding program, including eligibility and application details, available in English and Spanish here.
Connect with your local NRCS office to start developing a conservation plan: nrcs.usda.gov/contact.
Know your eligibility. Farmers who are classified as beginning, limited-resource, socially disadvantaged, or veterans may qualify for higher reimbursement rates and advance payments.

Additional Resources & Reading

By Clare Boland|2026-07-17T14:18:15-04:00July 17th, 2026|Farmer Stories, Insects & Diseases, News, On-Farm Research, TOPP West|

Think Like a Certifier, Lean on a Mentor: Support and Resources for the Organic Certification Journey

Written by Mary Elizabeth Kidd, OFRF Communications Associate

As the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) team continues its work facilitating the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) to strengthen organic farming communities and encourage farmers to transition their farming systems for organic certification, we’re hosting Seeds of Success virtual networking sessions across the country.

The goal of these sessions is to give regional farmers a platform to share knowledge and ask questions on the organic certification process.

OFRF recently hosted an Organic 101 Seeds of Success for the Northwest region. The first half of the webinar was geared toward extension agents and technical service providers (TSPs), and the second half featured a farmer-led panel discussion. The call began with OFRF team members sharing what those without organic expertise need to know: the basics of organic, the National Organic Program (NOP) standards, and compliance basics.

The three farmer-panelists for this call were April Thatcher of April Joy Farm in Washington, Diane Green of Greentree Naturals in Idaho (a Northwest TOPP mentor), and Beth Hoinacki of Goodfoot Farm in Oregon, whose current role as an organic farmer and past role as an organic certifier brought well-rounded expertise on navigating the certification process.

These farmers hold over 80 years of collective experience and expertise in organic farming and certification, and the message they shared was unanimous: you simply cannot do it alone.

When it comes to the rigorous process of organic certification, it’s essential to: 1) lean on other organic farmers, mentors, and TSPs, and 2) you must know your WHY for organic farming and become an expert on your farm’s organic systems and the certification process.

Read on as we share key takeaways from the panel discussion. To listen or watch the session, click here (the farmer panel begins around minute 39:15).

Meet the Farmers

Source: Odeani Baker, Courtesy of Oregon Tilth

Beth Hoinacki of Goodfoot Farm

Where: Philomath, Oregon (Benton County)

Established: late 1990s

Certification: Demeter Certified Biodynamic® since 2012, previously Oregon Tilth Certified Organic

Acres: 5

Markets: Farmers’ markets, CSA, restaurants

Social Media: Facebook, Instagram

Read more: Goodfoot Farm: Conservation Champion from Oregon Tilth

Source: April Joy Farm

April Jones Thatcher of April Joy Farm

Location: near Ridgefield, Washington (Clark County)

Established: 2006

Certification: Washington State Department of Agriculture Certified Organic since 2007

Acres: 24

Markets: Farmers’ markets, CSA, restaurants

Source: Greentree Naturals

Diane Green of Greentree Naturals Farm

Location: Sandpoint, Idaho (Bonner County)

Established: 1990

Certification: USDA Certified Organic for over 30 years

Acres: 1

Markets: Weekly on-site farm stand

Social Media: Facebook

Why Organic?

April Jones Thatcher (April Joy Farm): It made a lot of sense to think about the farm as a living and biological system. Then, if I put my business hat on, it really was market differentiation for us, since there were very few certified organic farms in my county.

And personally, there was a lot of joy to farm in a way that didn’t require me to handle toxic pesticides, to really get my hands in the living soil.

Diane Green (Greentree Naturals Farm): Organic is the only way I’ve ever grown. I started growing an organic garden in 1970. So, for me, it’s making the commitment to support organic certification; it was just a natural thing as far as motivation, to hold true to the integrity of what organic certification stands for.

We have new customers and longtime customers who have been with us for 25 years and are frequently saying, “Thank you for being certified organic.” That keeps us growing, and we’ll keep going with that.

Beth Hoinacki (Goodfoot Farm): We’ve been on our farm for 30 years. We were first certified organic in 2009 and then certified biodynamic in 2012. I’ve worked on organic farms for most of my life and actually worked in certification before I started my own farm, so that was super helpful in the certification process and has also just helped with our general farming approach.

Think Like a Certifier: Record-Keeping = Business Planning

Beth (Goodfoot Farm): [As a former organic and biodynamic certifier], I knew a lot about certification before I got into it so nothing surprised me.

One of the most challenging aspects of engaging in certification is that the National Organic Program (NOP) standard is essentially one-size-fits-all. So you need to understand how the standard works and what parts are more challenging for your size farm. Small or large, organic farms are subject to the same kind of regulatory and recordkeeping requirements.

Diane (Greentree Naturals Farm): The paperwork is extensive and when I’m mentoring farmers who are transitioning to become organic, I’m helping them understand the expected documentation and how partnering that with your business plan can help you manage your business in a much more holistic way—looking at the big picture and fine-tuning it to meet all the documentation that’s required.

It makes a big difference if you’ve got a mentor or a partner helping walk you through that process.

April (April Joy Farm): Understanding the language, documentation, and the steps of what an organic system plan entails can be daunting unless you have an adviser, a mentor, or somebody who’s been through it who can really help translate some of that jargon.

As a small business owner, there’s a lot of information being asked of you, so you want to make sure you understand how it’s going to be used. You want to be honest and represent your operation realistically and you want to make sure you get a sense of how this information gets tracked.

>> Read more: Explore the first in our Seeds of Success series in From Conventional to Certified, where Lynn Schaal of Life Springs Farm in Twin Falls, Idaho, shared a record-keeping hack that kept his inspections less stressful. (Spoiler: Lynn digitally scans ALL applications, receipts, and documentation using an app like Genius Scan.)

Find Support: People & Resources

Beth (Goodfoot Farm): Other farmers are your number one source. Especially local grower networks. I can’t emphasize it enough. And I would also say our university extension agents, because they’re involved with local growers and networks, so they have really relevant information.

And thirdly, I would say some of the other technical service providers (NRCS, for example), but I think you need to be careful. I had the experience early on of TSPs that were promoting hot new sustainable practices that didn’t really work for me. When you enter into these relationships, have the information that’s really relevant to your operation.

April (April Joy Farm): I would add that certifying agencies have been helpful too, in my experience–shout out to the Washington State Department of Ag–they have been a great resource and have a lot of expertise. They obviously can’t provide you with recommendations, but certifiers can help you understand the documents and recordkeeping that’s required.

It really is about that network.

Diane (Greentree Naturals Farm): I’m forever grateful to have established relationships and partnerships with the University of Idaho extension in the very beginning, around 1997, when we worked together to develop the first sustainable, small-acreage farming organization in the Inland Northwest. That was the farmers working side-by-side with extension to come up with what that would look like. It was always the farmers working with extension to look at what we need and what’s there.

Personally, I think empowering the next generation of sustainable and certified organic growers is the best thing we have to offer, and I’ll keep doing it for as long as I’m able.

We farmers want to learn from farmers, and we need to do what we can to promote partnerships with extension to be allies that serve our communities very well.

Next Steps & Resources

Interested in transitioning your farm for organic certification in the Northwest or beyond?

Explore these key resources and connect with mentors, certifiers, and Technical Support Providers (TSP) near you.

Locating Support Providers and Mentors:

Organic Farming Research Foundation resources:

USDA resources:

Connect with OFRF:

By admin|2026-07-06T14:51:17-04:00July 6th, 2026|Certification & Compliance, Farmer Stories, News|

Microgreen Mediums: Testing Jute Verses Soil

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager, and Tiffany Sanders, FLT Program participant

This on-farm trial at Sanders Funny farm will compare the effectiveness of jute fiber mats verses soil as the growing medium for a variety of microgreens. Results from this study will help organic farmers produce healthier microgreens and reduce crop losses.

Farmer Tiffany Sanders stands in front of shelves of seeded microgreens.

Farmer Tiffany Sanders in her microgreen production greenhouse.

Mike and Tiffany Sanders, co-founders of Sanders Funny Farm in Indianapolis, Indiana, didn’t come to farming through a traditional path. With 11 kids, 2 grandkids, and “a revolving door of critters,” the name Funny Farm practically chose itself. At the heart of their operation is a thriving greenhouse microgreens enterprise, where Tiffany grows a diverse lineup of nutrient-dense crops–broccoli, radish, chia, arugula, wheatgrass, and more–sold through their online farm market and delivered directly to customers across Indiana.

Tiffany is committed to growing her operation to make local food easy, consistent, and affordable. Recently her farm and greenhouse became certified through California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). Looking ahead, Tiffany envisions expanding her microgreens line to include more specialty and difficult-to-grow varieties, making her farm a more resilient and diverse supplier. To do that, she knows she needs reliable, data-backed answers about which growing systems actually work, and which ones work best.

Growing Better Microgreens

Since launching her microgreens operation, Tiffany has relied primarily on jute fiber mats, a hydroponic-style growing medium standard in the industry, to grow her crops. Jute mats are convenient, clean, and widely-used, performing well for many varieties. But as Tiffany expanded her lineup and worked to grow more challenging crops, cracks began to show. Varieties like arugula and cilantro struggled with mold and moisture issues on jute. Each failed tray represented not just lost revenue, but a missed opportunity to serve her customers.

At the same time, Tiffany began wondering whether soil-grown microgreens might offer advantages she hadn’t fully explored, like better germination consistency, sturdier stems, more vibrant color, and improved shelf life. These qualities matter enormously in a market where perishability directly affects whether a product can be sold. A tray of microgreens that wilts quickly or arrives limp at market is as good as no tray at all.

The challenge was that Tiffany didn’t have rigorous, side-by-side data to compare the two mediums. Her observations were real, but anecdotal. She needed a structured trial that could tell her, with confidence, whether soil was worth integrating into her production system and, if so, determine which varieties and under what conditions. That question became the foundation of her application to OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials program.

On-Farm Trial Plan

Harvesting microgreens grown on a jute mat.

With technical support from OFRF, Tiffany designed a controlled experiment to compare organic soil mix against jute fiber mats as growing mediums for microgreen production. The trial uses a randomized complete block design, with six replications per treatment, running one variety at a time to eliminate confounding variables like differing light requirements and shelf position. Each experimental unit consists of two 10 by 20 inch trays (one soil, one jute), alternated across the six shelves of a dedicated greenhouse rack. Broccoli is a consistent staple of her product line and will serve as the first variety tested, with radish and black chia to follow in sequential trials.

Key measurements include yield by weight at harvest, a cost analysis tracking seed, growing medium, and labor expenses per tray. She will also take observational data on disease incidence and post-harvest perishability, including color and limpness. Watering volume, light cycle, seed variety, and seed quantity are standardized across treatments to ensure a fair and meaningful comparison.

Trial Updates

The broccoli trial is currently underway. Trays were seeded on May 24, 2026, and harvested on June 6, 2026. Early observations during the germination phase noted that jute trays germinated more quickly and evenly, while soil trays started patchier but caught up noticeably by days 8–12, growing taller, greener, and with sturdier stems. By harvest, the yield data told a striking story: soil trays produced approximately 8–11 oz per tray, compared to roughly 3–5 oz per tray on jute–a more than double difference across six replications. Qualitative observations also favored the soil-grown crop for color vibrancy and fullness. Data collection for the radish and chia trials is planned to follow.

Broccoli consistently does well at Sanders Funny Farm, so it was the first variety to be tested.

“As a grower you hear a lot of opinions about what works best, but I wanted real data from my own farm. This trial has already challenged some of my assumptions and shown me that soil may have some real advantages for certain crops. Having those answers will help me make better decisions, reduce losses, and provide a better product for the families and communities we serve.”

– Tiffany Sanders, FLT Program Participant

Trays of microgreens growing on shelves with indoor grow lights.

Jute and soil trays are alternated between shelves.

To learn more about Sanders Funny Farm, visit sandersfunnyfarm.com or follow along on their Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels.

Learn more about OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials Program

Meet the rest of the 2025 FLT Program Participants

By Clare Boland|2026-06-26T10:31:36-04:00June 29th, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|

Working with NRCS: April Joy Farm’s Story and Recommendations

Written by Rebecca Champagne, PhD, OFRF Conservation Scientist

OFRF is currently working with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a cooperative agreement to help build institutional knowledge of NRCS staff and equip them to better support the unique needs of organic and transitioning-to-organic farmers across the country. As part of this work, we are helping tell the stories of organic farmers and their experiences working with NRCS. We hope other farmers can use this information to learn more about NRCS and feel inspired to pursue conservation programs for their farm. For more information regarding our cooperative agreement with the agency, please reach out to Rebecca Champagne, OFRF Conservation Scientist, at rebecca@ofrf.org.

Meet April Joy Farm

April Joy Farm is a 24-acre certified-organic farm located in Ridgefield, Washington, owned and operated by April and Brad Thatcher since 2006. The Thatchers run a diversified crop and livestock operation, growing organic vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers, as well as layer hens, cows, and goats. Some of the vegetables they grow include beets, cabbage, kale, greens, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, and squash, among many others. The fruit they grow includes apples, plums, pears, and table grapes. April Joy Farm was also the first Pacific Northwest pork producer to receive the Animal Welfare approval, and while they no longer raise pigs, the farm’s logo was inspired by their former farm pig, Rosie.

“I have dedicated myself to caring for our precious soil and restoring relationships between agricultural lands and humans. I love farming because the work is fascinating, challenging, inspiring, and—let’s be real—I love to eat,” said April.

Over the last two decades, April Joy Farm has sold its produce to restaurants, grocers, and through a CSA. Currently, the majority of the farm products are distributed through Farm to Heart, April’s food justice initiative.

Source: April Joy Farm

“Farm to Heart is a matchmaker – we connect farmers, families, and community partners to reduce food waste and create an equitable food system,” April described. The initiative buys from 22 area farms to make local, organic food available to families experiencing hunger while also paying farmers fairly.

April Joy Farm achieved USDA organic certification in 2007, just one year after the farm started. April wanted to become certified as soon as possible, saying, “I considered organic the baseline if I was going to farm. I wanted to be a responsible steward of the land. Yes, there were market value considerations, but that was secondary.”

When April started the farm, she found many opportunities to create a more functional operation, such as soil compaction, broken drainage tiles, and restoration of previously logged land. “I had the time, energy, and passion to do the work, but needed the financial support and technical assistance,” April said. This drive to be a steward of the land led April to pursue assistance from NRCS, whose various programs and technical assistance can help farmers implement conservation practices to improve their crops and land while conserving natural resources.

Working with NRCS

Source: April Joy Farm

April was “reading anything she could get her hands on” when she started farming, and came across NRCS and its conservation programs. She admits she was initially naive about how NRCS worked, including the agency’s processes and terminology, but was determined to do more conservation on the farm. She has since had 10 contracts with NRCS, starting back in 2009. She has utilized both the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), with multiple practice standards and enhancements under each contract to help meet her conservation goals.

“CSP has been valuable because we were already using baseline conservation methods, and now we can go above and beyond that.”

Under her current CSP contract, April is utilizing several conservation practices, including native hedgerows to provide a buffer against a neighboring conventional farm’s spray drift, fencing for rotational livestock grazing, cover crop mixes to build soil health, and a riparian forest buffer for low swale planting that filters and improves water quality and provides habitat for beneficial organisms.

April has seen many benefits from implementing various practices under her NRCS conservation contracts. The riparian forest buffer has resulted in stacked benefits, including habitat for native songbirds and beneficial insects, and shade that cools livestock in the summer. The fencing not only helps with rotational grazing, but also keeps deer out of the crops. She’s also gained an understanding of different native plant species and uses that knowledge to think about other places or situations across the farm that could benefit from them.

April credits the local NRCS staff she’s worked with over the years for much of the success of her involvement with the agency and her conservation contracts. “They all went above and beyond to support me and help me through the process, helping me fill out forms, visiting my farm, and clarifying different parts of the process,” she said. She admitted that the staff sometimes had learning curves about diversified organic operations and organic requirements, but gave them a lot of credit — “They wanted to learn and help me be successful. They met me where I was at.”

She’s currently working with Lisa Schuchman, Resource Conservationist for NRCS in Washington. When talking about her approach to working with organic farmers, Lisa said, “My standpoint and mode of planning is really listening to the farmer’s goals for their operation, thinking about what NRCS has to offer, and how to fit them together. I try to offer good customer service, be flexible, and follow the farmer’s lead where I can.”

Lessons and Recommendations

Even though April is now much more familiar with NRCS and the agency’s processes, she’s not sure she’d still be pursuing these conservation programs if it weren’t for the staff she’s worked with, due to the many parts of the application process and the fact that it can be difficult to fit some organic practices into existing NRCS Conservation Practice Standards (CPS). Crop rotations are complex and diversified at April Joy Farm. Cover crops are often overseeded or interseeded, and high seeding rates for multi-species mixes are used (for maximum biomass production). April found that her cover cropping practices sometimes do not match the specs for the cover crop practice standard. For example, she found that the forms for cover cropping were set up for monocultures or simpler rotations. “I’m using an 8-12-species cover crop mix, and not following a specific timeline of cover crop / disk / cash crop. I’m using methods like overseeding and interseeding, and the documentation was not set up for these more complex methods and smaller scale,” April said. This is why it was so important for Lisa to meet April where she was at with the scale and diversity of her farm and make the contracts work for her. Having an NRCS agent familiar with the complexities of April’s system has been helpful for April to utilize the current practice standard for cover cropping.

Source: April Joy Farm

April’s experiences with NRCS also taught her a lot about documentation. Each CPS has specific documentation needed to show NRCS that you’ve fulfilled the requirements of the practice standard, and this documentation may or may not be the same as the recordkeeping already required for organic certification. Understanding these documentation requirements before getting started with a practice standard, and seeing if your organic certification recordkeeping will fulfill it, is a good practice to successfully implement your NRCS contracts.

The lessons that April has learned offer valuable insights for other farmers interested in participating in federal support programs, and also highlight opportunities for NRCS to further enhance its processes and staff training. For farmers, aligning federal conservation programs with an organic production system can be a significant challenge. Organic farmers can benefit from more specialized support in meeting certification standards and finding service providers with organic expertise who can help them succeed. Through OFRF’s cooperative agreement with NRCS, we aim to work with the agency to streamline these connections and get more organic and transitioning-to-organic farmers involved in conservation programs that both reward them for practices they are likely already doing and build their operation’s resiliency even further.

Lisa offered the following advice to other NRCS staff who may be new to working with organic producers:

“They’re farmers too—I don’t see them any differently myself. They are growing food and want to take care of the land. Some approaches are non-traditional, but the goals are the same. NRCS is here to help people help the land. Treat them like any other farmer.”

When asked what she’d say to organic farmers who are considering pursuing NRCS conservation programs for the first time, April offered the following advice:

“Do your homework ahead of time, and understand the process and costs involved. Make sure your contracts are aligned with your business and production model.”

She also recommends having a solid recordkeeping system and flagging for NRCS anything in your contracts that won’t work for an organic operation. April also stressed the importance of building relationships — “You really need to find the right partner at NRCS. Someone who is willing to go the extra mile and make it an effective partnership.”

Interested in NRCS Programs? Here Are a Few Helpful Resources

Source: April Joy Farm

If you’re a farmer considering applying for NRCS programs, here are some helpful links and tips to get started:

Explore NRCS programs & initiatives: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
Connect with your local NRCS office to receive free technical assistance or to start developing a conservation plan: nrcs.usda.gov/contact
Know your eligibility. Farmers who are classified as beginning, limited-resource, socially disadvantaged, or veterans may qualify for higher reimbursement rates and advance payments.
Ask about the advance payment option early. This can be a game-changer for small farms with limited cash flow.

Download OFRF’s EQIP flyer and CSP flyer for more information on the federal funding programs, including eligibility and application details. Both resources are available in English and Spanish.

This case study was produced with support from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) under Cooperative Agreement No. FBC24CPT0013867. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USDA-NRCS.

All photos credit April Joy Farm.

By admin|2026-06-12T12:20:25-04:00June 4th, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|

Tackling Aphids from the Inside Out: Nutrition, Sap Analysis, and Tomato Health

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager, and Dan Perkins, FLT Program participant

This project at Perkins’ Good Earth Farm will evaluate whether foliar nutrition can improve tomato health and reduce aphid pressure through proactive nutrient management. Results from this study will help organic vegetable growers better understand the impact of timing on aphid interventions.

Farmer Dan Perkins with a foliar sprayer.

Farmer Dan Perkins with his backpack sprayer.

Dan Perkins farms at Perkins’ Good Earth Farm, a certified organic, diversified vegetable operation that utilizes no-till, permanent deep-compost beds. Located in De Motte, Indiana, they grow produce and 18,000 bulbs of hardneck garlic for a 200 member CSA, on-farm stand, commercial kitchen, and local wholesale accounts.

In addition to their garlic focus, Dan has spent years refining his approach to high tunnel tomato production, guided by a commitment to proactive plant health management and ecological balance. His farm includes five high tunnels dedicated to tomato production, each featuring long east-west beds that support intensive, season-extended growing.

With an eye toward both soil health and market quality, Dan is invested in understanding the connection between plant nutrition and pest resilience. His work with sap analysis and customized foliar feeding reflects a broader vision: growing crops that are nutritionally robust, naturally resistant to pressure from pests, and consistently high in quality for his customers.

A Proactive Approach to Aphids

For many high tunnel tomato growers, aphids are a recurring and costly challenge. For Dan Perkins, the question has never simply been how to eliminate aphids, it’s been why are they there in the first place? Dan’s approach to pest management is rooted in plant physiology: the hypothesis that plants with well-balanced nutrition are inherently less attractive to aphids. Specifically, Dan has observed that plants with elevated free nitrates, which can signal nutritional imbalance, may be more susceptible to aphid colonization, as those compounds serve as a ready food source for the insects.

Dan has been exploring sap analysis as a proactive diagnostic tool, likening it to “blood work” for his tomato plants. Unlike standard soil or tissue tests, sap analysis captures a real-time snapshot of what nutrients are circulating within the plant, identifying imbalances before visible symptoms appear. Working with Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA), Dan formulates customized foliar sprays based on sap analysis results that deliver chelated ions directly to plant tissue to rapidly correct deficiencies and support overall plant immunity.

This integrated approach of reading the plant, responding with precision, and then measuring the result, reflects Dan’s broader farming philosophy. Rather than reacting to pest outbreaks after the fact, he wants to understand the nutritional conditions that allow aphid populations to take hold, allowing him to intervene earlier and more intelligently.

On-Farm Trial Plan

This figure shows the randomized tomato plots being used in the trial.

With technical support from OFRF, Dan is conducting a randomized, replicated trial in his propagation house to investigate how the timing of sap analysis-guided foliar feeding affects aphid populations, yield, and tomato nutrient density. The trial uses 84 ‘Cuba Libre’ indeterminate slicer tomato plants arranged across two adjacent beds, with three treatment groups: a control (no foliar spray), an early spray (first application approximately two weeks post-transplant), and a late spray (first application at the economic threshold for aphid damage). Each treatment is replicated four times across plots of five plants each, with buffer plants sprayed with the early treatment to minimize drift between plots.

Sap samples will be collected before and after each foliar application across all treatment groups to track changes in plant nutrition and support the development of a predictive nutritional model. Aphid populations will be monitored weekly by a designated farm team member, using a consistent method of flagging representative infested leaves at the top, middle, and bottom of the three central plants in each plot. Yield will be tracked by marketable grade (A and B) and unmarketable categories. Fruit samples will be submitted for nutrient density analysis through an outside lab. The design also includes a built-in flexibility: if aphid pressure warrants a second spray in the early group, those plots can be converted to an “early + late” treatment, providing a practical real-world comparison of proactive versus threshold-based intervention.

Trial Updates

Tomatoes have been planted for Dan’s trial, and the second round of sap analysis has been conducted. Check back later in the season for the results!

Farmers at Perkins Good Earth farm plant tomatoes in a high tunnel.

Dan planted ‘Cuba Libre’ slicer tomato plants across two adjacent high tunnel beds.

“I applied for the FLT program to conduct research on specific production challenges on my farm. Additionally, being part of a cohort of other farmers sounded fun; farming can be lonely, so connecting with other similarly-minded farmers is important. Working with Mary and Heather has been like having my own research support team. They ensure I stay on task during the busy season and that my questions get answered in a rigorous and valid way.”

– Dan Perkins, FLT Program Participant

Two buffer plants are placed in between spray groups.

To learn more about Sap Testing visit ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/CV004

To learn more about Perkins’ Good Earth Farm visit perkinsgoodearthfarm.com/

Learn more about OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials Program

Meet the rest of the 2025 FLT Program Participants

By admin|2026-06-09T15:35:11-04:00May 29th, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|

Conservation at Work: Cover Cropping through CSP at Mora Mora Farm

By Clare Boland, Communications Manager

OFRF is currently working to increase farmer and community awareness of the federal funding opportunities available to organic and transitioning farms. As part of our work with the Northwest region of the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), we’re spotlighting the experience of one farm—Mora Mora Farm in Oregon—that received funding and support through the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

Meet Mora Mora Farm

Catherine Nguyen bunches greens in a swiss chard field. Source: Emilie Chen

For Catherine Nguyen, a farmer in Troutdale, Oregon, the ethos of her farm is encompassed by the name, Mora Mora Farm, which means “slowly slowly.” After a busy season of farming, Catherine was catching up with a friend who had recently traveled to Madagascar. Her friend shared the phrase “mora mora,” which captured the pace of life there; instead of rushing, there was a culture of patience and contentment, acknowledging that all things take time. The phrase stayed with Catherine, so much so that when she started her own farm in 2018, she used it for the name. “[Farming] is an industry about high production,” Catherine said. “I know my tendency is to go, go, go. The name reminds me to take a moment to slow down.”

True to the sentiment that good things take time, Mora Mora Farm has been steadily growing over the years. Catherine began her farm as part of the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District’s Headwaters Farm Business Incubator, a five-year program that provides land access, equipment, infrastructure, and business support for beginning farmers. After graduating, she moved her farm to a parcel of land being farmed collectively by previous Headwaters graduates. Today, Mora Mora Farm has one and a half acres in production with a diversity of 40 to 60 different crops, including Asian heritage varieties. Catherine considers her community-supported agriculture (CSA) model “the heart of the farm,” but also supplements the farm’s income by vending at the King Farmers Market, restaurant accounts, and nonprofit partnerships.

In May 2024, the farm obtained organic certification through the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). “We had been practicing organic since the start,” Catherine shared, but she decided to pursue certification to build trust with the customer base at the Portland Farmers’ Market. To her, organic farming is about “growing healthy food and feeling good about what you’re doing.”

When it comes to growing her operation, Catherine cites other farmers as her greatest resource. “Everyone is so open and generous with their knowledge,” she said, and when facing specific challenges, “farmers in the region have usually already dealt with what I’m curious about.” A fellow farmer on her land is how Catherine first heard about the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). CSP is a program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that compensates agricultural producers committed to increasing conservation on their farms. In 2024, Catherine started a contract to reduce soil compaction on her property through cover cropping.

Why CSP?

Catherine Nguyen tills her field with a BCS Source: Megan Clark

For Catherine, the CSP program presented an opportunity to get financial support for work she was already doing. CSP supports farmers by providing a minimum of $4,000 per year for a 5-year contract to install, maintain, or improve a conservation practice on their farm. One of the requirements of the Headwaters program is that any land that is not in production over the winter must be put in cover crop. “The practice was already instilled in my growing practices,” Catherine shared, but through the CSP program, she was able to get financial and technical support for it. “It’s an incredible program,” she added. “Every farmer wants to be growing food. They also want to be doing good things for the environment. But it’s costly to do both.” CSP helped bridge the gap between generating income and investing in conservation.

She emphasized that the financial component can’t be overstated; in an industry with razor-thin margins, choosing to seed a cover crop rather than another round of cash crop can feel like a “double loss” in the short term. But with CSP, that burden is reduced, making it easier to prioritize the overall health of the land for the long term.

Deciding on a Conservation Practice

After graduating from Headwaters and moving onto a new property, Catherine had to adjust to a new set of challenges. “Technically, I’m on a wetland, which makes water management key to this site.” Catherine has experienced issues like standing water, flooded aisles, and soil-borne diseases on her new land. When approaching NRCS, her primary focus was on determining how to best move water throughout the farm.

As part of the application process, applicants have a one-on-one consultation with an NCRS staff member to discuss resource management on their farm and determine which “enhancement,” or conservation strategy, will work best. After considering a few different strategies, she and her NRCS agent decided on “cover crop to minimize soil compaction (E340F).” Having living roots in soil can help mitigate excess water. “They kind of act as straws to pull water out of the soil and keep it moving,” she explained. Since she had utilized cover crops before, it “felt like an easy step into improving the soil.”

“I remember being surprised when I was looking at the enhancements online,” Catherine shared. “They were so detailed in a good way. It’s like this is the enhancement, and this is how you implement it. It’s very specific. They gave me a list of cover crops to choose from, and from there it was just me trying to decide, which ones do I want? Which ones are readily available in my area?”

Source: Mora Mora Farm

Timeline

Catherine first heard about the CSP program in spring 2024 and was able to seed her first round of CSP-funded cover crop in October of that year. The first step was reaching out to her local NRCS office and reviewing her conservation options. After that, farmers need to register with the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Catherine was already in the system from utilizing other USDA programs. Her advice is to register sooner rather than later: “Once you’re in the system for NRCS or for FSA, everything becomes so much easier.”

Next, she worked with her NRCS agent to make sure she had all the required documents to begin her conservation work. Catherine said the biggest myth about working with NRCS is “the amount of paperwork.” “A lot of farmers hate doing admin, but it really is manageable.” She described the timeframe as about “a month of emailing going back and forth.” But after the documentation is complete, farmers can focus fully on farm work.

In terms of implementation, “the contract itself is so simple.” She was given a list of recommended cover crops, a designated amount of acreage, and a timeframe to complete the work by. “There’s not a lot of hoops to jump through,” she said. “[The Program] lets us actually be able to be out in the field and not be consumed by paperwork.”

NRCS determines the payment amount per project, but after that, it “is up to the farmer to figure out where it gets distributed.” Farmers receive their project payments as lump sums per each tax year of the contract. Outside of purchasing the cover crop seed, Catherine used the CSP payments to cover the labor costs of the project. Having the CSP funds allowed her “a little bit more wiggle room to have my employee do [the work] versus me.”

That fall, an NRCS agent came out to Mora Mora farm to do a site visit and assess how the project was going. Catherine received her first reimbursement payment later that year.

Doing CSP on Leased Land

Accessing farmland is increasingly cited as a barrier for beginning farmers. Young farmers, like Catherine, often will lease land rather than buying. The land she currently farms is shared with several other farm businesses. When Catherine first considered an NRCS contract in 2023, through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), she wasn’t able to because another farm business was already tied to her land in the system.

When she applied for CSP in 2024, NRCS worked with her to subdivide the plot she farms into three different managing farms in the system. Through the other farms on the property, the land houses multiple NRCS projects, including hedgerows for wind management and high tunnels through EQIP.

>> Related Reading: Héktor Calderón-Victoria of Three Feathers Farm shares his experience working with NRCS’s EQIP to install a hedgerow border and two high tunnels on his four-and-a-half-acre farm in Morgan Hill, California. Read his story.

Outside of the issue of subdividing the property, Catherine has had an easy time implementing her contract on leased land. Besides sharing a lease with NRCS, there are no additional requirements for farmers who lease. “Our landowner is pretty hands-off in terms of the production site,” she shared, “and he is also all for conservation.”

Working with NRCS

Catherine described her experience of working with NRCS as overwhelmingly positive. “Everyone I’ve worked with in the NRCS—and at this point, I’ve probably worked with three separate people—has been so prompt in their responses and really easy to work with,” she said. As an organic farmer, Catherine found that the program generally aligned with her organic certification requirements, though there was some confusion around sourcing organic cover crop seeds. “There was a specific type of clover that’s part of my enhancement that I had a really hard time finding,” but through some back and forth with her agent, she was able to determine a seed that would still meet the requirements of the program and certification.

One hiccup during the process was the 2025 funding freeze of USDA programs. She received an email instructing participants to hold off on implementing their CSP projects unless they could take on the financial risk themselves. During that period of uncertainty, many NRCS offices experienced layoffs, and there was “a weird time of not knowing who my point of contact actually was.” Later that year, funds were released, and Catherine received her reimbursement as planned. Despite staffing changes at NRCS, Catherine noted that the current representative covering Multnomah County has been “amazing,” and she still usually gets a response within 48 hours of emailing her office.

Source: Mora Mora Farm

Conversation at Work

Two years into her CSP contract, Catherine has completed two rounds of winter cover cropping. The practice has aided with soil compaction as planned, noting that “where there is cover crop, the water is being absorbed faster.” Without a clear baseline for the property—Catherine has been using a cover crop since she moved to the site—it’s hard to say how significant the enhancement has been. But she has “definitely seen less standing water since I’ve been on the site.” Catherine considers cover cropping “part of a holistic strategy to figure out water management” on her farmland.

One of the most helpful resources NRCS gave her was a list of cover crops for the project. Having worked on farms in the past, Catherine said that “most farms have their go-to cover crop rotations,” and she had defaulted to using mixes she had previously worked with. Being part of CSP gave her room to experiment and determine what mix works best for her property. Currently, she uses a mix of clover and triticale for her winter rotation. In future seasons, she’s hoping to include a summer cover crop as well. “NRCS was kind of the first entity that put summer cover crops on my radar,” she said, “[working with them] has provided more depth to my crop rotation.”

More than anything, the program has allowed Catherine the time and funding to prioritize cover cropping. Rather than stressing to maximize profit, Catherine said that CSP has “given me a little bit more breathing room, knowing that this project is funded.” Having that comfort has allowed her to commit more fully to the practice, for example, taking extra time to prep her beds to ensure better germination. The experience has led to her putting more of her land into her cover crop rotation. In 2026, she’s planning to “have two acres under management, one in production, one in cover crop.”

“[CSP] allows you to start dreaming a little bit more,” Catherine said. “Cover cropping is a practice I have done before, but I was able to do it better and to think a little bit bigger in terms of conservation.”

Advice for Farmers Considering CSP

For Catherine, working with CSP has been a big help to her farm. She praises the program for letting “farmers do what they’re good at, which is food production.”

In terms of her advice for farmers considering the program, she shared:

Get into the system. Already being registered with her FSA office expedited the process. Once you’re in the system, it “opens the doors to all these other programs.”
Start early. “It will likely take 3 to 6 months to actually get everything signed,” Catherine said. “And especially if you’re taking an off-season, you might as well be cozied up in your house doing a bunch of office work.”

Overall, Catherine wants to share with other farmers “how easy it was.” “It takes a little bit of time to get everything squared away and to learn the definitions of things,” she said, “but the payoff for the work is worth it. The return on investment is great.”

Ready to Apply? Here Are a Few Helpful Resources

If you’re a farmer considering applying for CSP or other NRCS programs, here are some helpful tools to get started:

Download a printable summary of the key takeaways for farmers to consider when applying to NRCS CSP here.
Download OFRF’s CSP flyer for more information on the federal funding program, including eligibility and application details, available in English and Spanish here.
Connect with your local NRCS office to start developing a conservation plan: nrcs.usda.gov/contact.
Know your eligibility. Farmers who are classified as beginning, limited-resource, socially disadvantaged, or veterans may qualify for higher reimbursement rates and advance payments.

By admin|2026-06-09T15:35:22-04:00May 11th, 2026|Farmer Stories, Federal Assistance, News|

Earth Day Spotlight: Organic Farming as Stewardship

By Clare Boland, Communications Manager

Earth Day is a reminder that the health of our planet is intrinsically tied to the way we grow food. No one understands that connection more than farmers! To celebrate Earth Day, we’re featuring four organic farms from across the country that prioritize the health of the planet through stewardship, working in partnership with natural systems, and caring for the land for future generations.

Vilicus Farms

Doug Crabtree and Anna Jones-Crabtree are the owners and operators of Vilicus Farms, a first-generation organic dryland crop farm in Northern Hill County, Montana. For Anna and Doug, organic farming is rooted in a deep commitment to stewardship and working with natural systems to improve the health of the land. As Doug explains, “We philosophically don’t believe you should grow food using poison or subject the earth to the kind of products that are used in non-organic production. We’re committed to stewardship. That really drives what we do, how we do it, and why.”

Anna echoes this philosophy, emphasizing that “organic farming is not a recipe… it’s not a checklist,” but rather “a process of continuous improvement and actually being a partner with your natural systems.” She highlights the importance of building relationships—with land, plants, animals, and customers—and using practices that support soil health, which in turn leads to healthier food and communities. Their approach is reflected in Vilicus Farms’ focus on soil-building, carbon sequestration, pollinator-friendly conservation, minimal-disturbance tillage practices, and utilizing a seven-year crop rotation.

You can follow Vilicus Farms on Facebook and Instagram (@vilicusfarms).

Source: Vilicus Farms

“We’re committed to stewardship. That really drives what we do, how we do it, and why.”

– Doug Crabtree, Vilicus Farms

Source: Vilicus Farms

Hiddendale Farm

Glen Philbrick is the operator of Hiddendale Farm, a fifth-generation family farm in Turtle Lake, North Dakota. The 700-acre farm includes certified organic cropland and rangeland, a cow-calf livestock system, and a wide range of experimental horticultural and specialty crops. Research is central to Glen’s farming operation: he regularly conducts variety trials, soil health experiments, and crop rotation testing, and collaborates with organizations like the Organic Seed Alliance and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Growing up, the farm used some conventional practices, like spraying herbicides, and Glen noticed that 1.) it wasn’t working and 2.) it was adversely affecting the health of farmers and livestock. ”I recognize the dangers of it over and over again,” he said of herbicides. Hiddendale Farm has been certified organic since 2016 and uses practices like limited tillage, rotational grazing, and cover cropping. And being a research-focused farm, Glen prioritizes soil testing, working from the results to balance PH and manage nutrient levels to inform overall soil health. “It is the health of me, of people, of my livestock, and of the whole ecosystem,” Glen shared. “That’s why organic is important to me.”

Source: Hiddendale Farm

“It is the health of me, of people, of my livestock, and of the whole ecosystem. That’s why organic is important to me.”

– Glen Philbrick, Hiddendale Farm

A farmer poses in front of a red barn at dusk.

Source: Hiddendale Farm

Stephens Land & Cattle

Stephens Land & Cattle is a fifth-generation family farm located in Jennings, Kansas, managed by Demetria Stephens, who has been farming the land since she was a teenager. The farm raises livestock and grows organic Turkey Red wheat, which grows well in the semi-arid region of northwest Kansas. In addition to being certified organic for over 30 years, the farm is also certified biodynamic, a holistic approach to farming that centers on the interconnectivity of the natural landscape. Becoming certified biodynamic was a long-term goal of her parents, who studied anthropology and were interested in the human role in fostering ecological systems. Demetria uses organic and biodynamic principles as a framework: “I think of organic as a guide for me to be a better farmer, more than the rules that restrict me from doing things. It is more saying, no pesticides, no synthetics, no GMOs, and those kinds of things.”

Growing in a region with mostly conventional agriculture, and without formal agronomy training, organic principles propel her learning and investment in the land. Stephens Land & Cattle uses practices like limited tillage, cover cropping, and green manures. “I think [of organic as] a way for me to be a more professional farmer,” Demetria shares. “And also raise good food for the next generation.”

A tractor moves through a field of wheat.

Source: Stephens Land & Cattle

“I think of organic as a guide for me to be a better farmer, more than the rules that restrict me from doing things. It is more saying, no pesticides, no synthetics, no GMOs, and those kinds of things.”

– Demetria Stephens, Stephens Land & Cattle

demetria-stepehns-stephens-land-and-cattle-hand-with-soil

Source: Stephens Land & Cattle

PrairieSun Organics

PrairieSun Organics is a diversified organic, family farm in Vermillion, South Dakota, owned and operated by Angela Jackson-Pulse and her husband. Spanning about 20 acres, the farm integrates poultry (meat and eggs), livestock (sheep and cattle), fruits and vegetables, and specialty grains. Angela keeps half the land in crop production, and the other half in perennial pasture for livestock grazing. Angela originally managed the farm using more conventional organic methods, but transitioned into using regenerative organic practices in 2019 after experiencing declining soil health, and increased disease and livestock mortality. She is now certified regenerative through the Regenerative Organic Alliance. “It put the joy back into farming,” she said of the switch.

At the heart of her farming practices is land stewardship: “stewarding this beautiful ecosystem, that is interrelated and interconnected, and making sure it functions as healthy as it possibly can be.” By focusing on minimizing soil disturbance, expanding crop rotations, integrating cover crops, and prioritizing soil biology, Angela saw her farm come alive again. She highlights the importance of a systems-based approach, centering the overall health of the land to set her farm up for the best possible future: “It’s a blessing that we have [this land] and I want to take really good care of it. I know that it’s not going to be in my possession forever. And so I want to leave it to the next generation, whoever that is, so it can be the best possible thing for the next family.”

You can follow PrairieSun Organics on Facebook.

“At the heart of it is stewardship. Stewarding this beautiful ecosystem that is interconnected and making sure that the whole farm functions as healthy as it possibly can be.”

– Angela Jackson-Pulse, PrairieSun Organics

Want to Learn More About Organic?

These farmer interviews were conducted as part of OFRF’s work with the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). Check out our resources for organic farmers:

By admin|2026-06-09T15:35:27-04:00April 22nd, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|

Working with NRCS: North Star Organics’ Story and Recommendations

Written by Rebecca Champagne, PhD, OFRF Conservation Scientist

Meet North Star Organics

Source: North Star OrganicsNorth Star Organics, owned and operated by Cheryl and Alan Kobernik, is a 40-acre certified-organic cherry farm located in Frankfort, Michigan. They bought the farm in 1985 and recently celebrated their 40th season in operation. Out of the 40 total acres, 26 acres are dedicated to fruit production of tart and sweet cherries. In total, they currently have 2,600 tart cherry trees and 180 sweet cherry trees.

The Koberniks have historically machine-harvested their cherries and delivered them to a processor for juice, freezing, or drying. They used to bring their cherries to CSAs in the state and even did some mail orders for repeat customers and some chocolatiers. One of their biggest markets the past several years was the on-farm pick-your-own (PYO). This used to be a thriving market for them, but has started to slow in recent years due to lower crop yield caused by the effects of extreme weather and new pests moving into the region.

“Organic 20 years ago had a lot of excitement, but it seems to be fizzling out with processors. Processors want bigger contracts and not smaller producers. It’s hard to meet their threshold.”

Source: North Star OrganicsNorth Star Organics began the process of transitioning their farm to organic production in 1999 and has been certified since 2002. The Koberniks mentioned the difference between conventional and organic crop prices as one reason for seeking certification. “Production was becoming unsustainable. When we started the transition to organic, the price for conventional cherries was just $0.04 per pound. We decided to go organic as a niche market.” They also attended a local agricultural conference that year and learned more about how organic production could help them sustain their operation beyond just economic reasons.

Organic crop price premiums can help farmers stay competitive, and the various programs offered by NRCS can help finance conservation practices and assist farmers in achieving sustainability goals, thereby hedging against production risks.

Working with NRCS

Source: North Star OrganicsThe Koberniks first learned about NRCS and the agency’s programs through their own research and from agricultural groups in the state. “Our local office didn’t reach out to farmers back when we first bought the farm,” they stated. However, the planner they currently work with, Scott Hughey, makes a point to visit farms and property owners in the area to directly establish relationships.

“I just want to serve all the farmers/land owners in my area, try to understand their perspectives and priorities, and provide them all with the same level of service,” said Scott.

Their relationship with the regional NRCS planner and hearing from other farmers about their experiences is a big reason the Koberniks were motivated to pursue technical and financial assistance through the agency. Reflecting on the past few decades, The Koberniks noticed fewer farmers in the state getting together at events where those conversations can be shared organically.

Source: North Star Organics“Fewer farmers are getting together now in Michigan at things such as Farm Bureau events and trade shows. The average farmer age is older, and the ag community is more behind in technology. A lot of outreach and materials are done electronically and not through the mail. And, a lot of folks don’t trust the government and won’t pursue programs because they don’t want government staff on their farms. We believe farmer education on NRCS is important!”

North Star Organics is currently utilizing the NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). This program is designed to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners address a variety of resource concerns on a farm, including soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and mitigation against extreme weather effects. Their contracts consist of cover crops (radish, clover, and oat mix) to build soil health, habitat for pollinators, and enhancing windbreaks by planting food producing trees and shrubs. North Star Organics has also used the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to assist with a storage facility for on-farm fuel storage, including Agrichemical Handling Facilities and Heavy Use Area Protection for high traffic areas.

Source: North Star OrganicsSince implementing their contracts, Cheryl and Alan have noticed positive changes on their farm. They have seen a visual increase in pollinator populations, and addressing soil health has helped them cut costs. “Our compacted soils were alleviated from the radish in the cover crop. Scott taught us a lot about building soil organic matter (SOM). Now we are consistent with our soil testing (using the Haney Soil Test) so we can better understand what’s going on.”

The Koberniks describe their experience working with NRCS as very positive and helpful. But, they also acknowledged that some farmers have different experiences and may have to advocate more for themselves and for organic operations. When describing how their planner helped them, the Koberniks said:

“[Scott] sat with us at the kitchen table and helped us fill out paperwork. There was no pressure on anything. You, as the farmer, have to do the lift if you really want it, but he guided us through it.”

Lessons, Challenges, and Recommendations

The lessons and challenges that North Star Organics has encountered offer valuable insights for other farmers interested in participating in federal support programs. They also highlight areas where NRCS could improve processes and staff training. For farmers, navigating federal conservation programs and making them work within an organic production system can be a significant challenge. Organic farmers may face extra hurdles in meeting certification standards and finding service providers with organic literacy who can help them succeed.

Source: North Star OrganicsThe Koberniks again emphasized how their experience with NRCS was positive, but there were still a couple of unexpected challenges. They found that they couldn’t always follow the contract timelines, so a contract modification was needed. “It’s important to talk with your NRCS planner along the way about what’s going on,” said Cheryl. They also mentioned that there are many guidelines and regulations to follow, but they personally didn’t feel that these interfered with their ability to work with NRCS.

They hope NRCS staff and other organic farmers will read this story and see how positive experiences can arise from working with NRCS. They hope more organic farmers will get involved with the agency, and urge NRCS to communicate more effectively with organic farmers. Additionally, they hope that NRCS will promote organic-specific initiatives to help farmers get involved and pursue conservation programs in the first place. For other organic or transitioning to organic farmers, the Koberniks emphasized “Be relentless, and advocate for yourself!” They also think it is important for farmers who are considering working with NRCS to do a bit of background research on their own, and come prepared to talk with NRCS about what they’re hoping to do on their farm.

Scott offered the following advice for NRCS staff working with organic producers – “As an NRCS planner, you have to become really well versed in the practices that are adopted in your county. Ask, “what are they already adopting? What could they also adopt to advance conservation?” Conservation can sell itself, you just have to help producers along and give examples of where conservation practices are working in that area.”

Interested in NRCS Programs? Here Are a Few Helpful Resources

Source: North Star Organics

If you’re a farmer considering applying for CSP, EQIP, or other NRCS programs, here are some helpful links and tips to get started:

Explore NRCS Programs & Initiatives: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
Check out NRCS Resources for organic producers: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/other-topics/organic
Connect with your local NRCS office to receive free technical assistance or to start developing a conservation plan: nrcs.usda.gov/contact
Know your eligibility. Farmers who are classified as beginning, limited-resource, or veterans may qualify for higher reimbursement rates and advance payments.
Ask about the advance payment option early. This can be a game-changer for small farms with limited cash flow.
Download OFRF’s EQIP flyer for more information on the federal funding program, including eligibility and application details, available in English and Spanish here.
Download OFRF’s CSP flyer for more information on the federal funding program, including eligibility and application details, available in English and Spanish here.

All photos credit North Star Organics.

By admin|2026-06-12T12:20:14-04:00April 15th, 2026|Farmer Stories, News|

The Impact of Grazing Lespedeza Pastures on Reducing Parasitic Worm Load

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager, and Ed Crowley, FLT Program participant

Source: Mesta Meadows

Lambing for Mesta Meadows FLT trial began in January 2026.

Tucked into the hills of the Ozarks, Mesta Meadows sprawls over 235 acres. The ranch, owned and operated by Ed Crowley, specializes in raising a variety of pasture-based livestock, including lamb, beef, pork, and poultry, along with sheep dairy production and fine wool harvesting. Ed prioritizes responsible land and animal stewardship, using practices like rotation grazing, establishment of native grasses, and providing low stress environments for all of his animals. The farm is currently in transition to organic certification.

Ed wears many hats–his off farm job is teaching entrepreneurship at Southeast Missouri State University, and his ranch hosts many micro-businesses, including an on-farm retail store, the Atelait Creamery (a premium ice cream brand manufacturing facility), and a nationally-renowned Fiber Festival on the farm. He is also Chairman of the Mayfield Entrepreneurial Center.

Using Forage Species as a Natural Deworming Agent

The ranch’s location in Glenallen, Missouri has very high humidity and usually sees more than 60 inches of rain annually. This results in lush pastures, but also increases the incidence of barber pole (Haemonchus contortus) worm load and a high lamb mortality rate after weaning. The treatment for barber pole worms is chemical drenches, however, Ed has seen increased resistance to almost all drenches for internal parasites.

Wanting to find a natural way to reduce the amount of chemical drenches he uses to protect his lambs, Ed has been investigating the potential of different forage species as an addition to his pasture grasses of fescue and clover. Anti-parasitic effects have been reported for a number of condensed tannin-containing forages, including lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), a warm season perennial legume which is well adapted to the warm climatic conditions of the southern states. In previous studies on goats in Oklahoma, lower fecal egg counts (FEC) were reported in goats grazing lespedeza compared with grass pasture. Ed is hopeful that working with lespedeza may help with internal parasite load in sheep and become a cost-effective, natural deworming agent.

On-Farm Trial Plan

A mix of fescue and lespedeza in a forage field.

Source: Mesta Meadows

A mix of lespedeza and orchard grass was used for the trials.

With support from OFRF, the trial aims to quantify the effect of weaning lambs on lespedeza pastures compared to the ranch’s pastures that are planted in fescue and clover.

The trial will test the FEC on about 100 lambs. The lambs will be randomly assigned to one of eight groups: four lespedeza groups; four control groups; with 16 lambs in each group, respectively. All of the lambs will have fecal samples taken at four different time points: pre-weaning, to establish a baseline; at 3-4 weeks post-weaning; at 6-7 weeks post-weaning; and post-trial (2-3 weeks after groups are returned to the fescue/red clover mix). The final sampling will help to assess potential residual effects of the lespedeza pasture.

Trial Updates

The trial was initiated in June of 2025 to help establish the lespedeza in the pasture. Lambing began in January of 2026. The lambs will begin pre-weaning from the ewes in April or May, with sampling to begin prior to the lambs being placed out in the pasture.

Source: Mesta Meadows

Lambs born in the 2026 season that will take part in the FLT trial.

“The FLT program was a great opportunity to partner with other researchers to find new, holistic methods to control barber pole worm, a major challenge for producers in my area.”

– Ed Crowley, FLT Program Participant