Clare Boland, Author at Organic Farming Research Foundation

Building Successful Farmer-Researcher Collaboration

Farmers and ranchers are natural researchers, regularly using trial-and-error to address on-farm questions and challenges. Research shows that farmers greatly benefit when they lead on-farm research trials.

Programs like the OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education’s Farmer-Rancher Grant put farmers in the driver’s seat, allowing them to conceive and carry out research on their farms.

For research involving farmers and University scientists, successful collaborations between farmers and researchers can greatly enhance results. However, these collaborations take time to build. Read our report on for lessons learned from organic farmers and researchers about how to form these effective collaborations.

Download the Report

By Clare Boland|2025-12-19T12:51:02-05:00December 19th, 2025|On-Farm Research, Resource|

Crop-Livestock Integration Panel with Organic Farmers

Are you an organic farmer that is interested in using your livestock in your crop rotation? Are you wondering how others have overcome some of the complexities of integrating your farm system? Would you like to hear directly from farmers who have experience in this topic? If so, then this webinar is for you.

This Seeds of Success farmer-to-farmer networking session was an engaging opportunity where farmers came together to ask questions and share their lived experience in integrating crops and livestock in their production systems.

This session features three farmers that have built resilience and a dynamic organic system:

OFRF has partnered with the Organic Farmers Association (OFA) and National Organic Coalition (NOC) to lead a series of virtual farmer-to-farmer networking sessions. These facilitated events will be engaging opportunities for farmers to share their challenges and successes, and will be accompanied with relevant resources you can use.

Funding for this series is provided by a cooperative agreement between OFRF and USDA- NIFA to highlight research investments made through both OREI and ORG grant programs.

Seeds of Success Webinar Crop and Livestock Integration

By Clare Boland|2025-12-15T14:48:08-05:00December 15th, 2025|Cover Crops & Crop Rotation, Crop Livestock Integration, Livestock, Resource, Soil Health|

Crop Livestock Integration with John Bitter

In OFRF’s 2022 National Organic Research Agenda (NORA), organic farmers and ranchers across North America shared a common concern about the lack of technical assistance and educational resources available for Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems (ICLS). Integrating crops and livestock results in numerous benefits, however the process can also lead to increased complexity, especially for farmers who must adhere to National Organic Program rules and regulations.

This series of resources focused on Crop-Livestock Integration is informed by interviews with four highly-experienced organic producers that shared their challenges, successes, and advice for others interested in integrating livestock and crops on their organic farms.

This video features John Bitter, Production Manager and co-owner of Frog Song Organics. Frog Song is a diversified organic farm producing vegetables, orchard crops, herbs, flowers, pork, and eggs. Operating on 62 acres in north Florida, Frog Song employs about 30 full-time workers, supplies direct and wholesale markets in several nearby cities, and runs an online, customizable CSA program. In this video, John talks about integration of crop and animal production systems at this thriving organic farm.

By Clare Boland|2025-12-15T14:38:58-05:00December 15th, 2025|Crop Livestock Integration, FAFO Crop-Livestock Farmers, Insects & Diseases, Livestock, Resource, Soil Health, Weeds|

Food Safety and Crop-Livestock Integration

In OFRF’s 2022 National Organic Research Agenda (NORA), organic farmers and ranchers across North America shared a common concern about the lack of technical assistance and educational resources available for Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems (ICLS). Integrating crops and livestock results in numerous benefits, however the process can also lead to increased complexity, especially for farmers who must adhere to National Organic Program rules and regulations.

This series of resources focused on Crop-Livestock Integration is informed by interviews with four highly-experienced organic producers that shared their challenges, successes, and advice for others interested in integrating livestock and crops on their organic farms.

Food safety is a critical concern for any farmer, and those with integrated systems must take extra precautions. Learn how organic farmers identify and mitigate critical points for food safety and where you can find assistance in developing a food safety plan for your farm.

Download the Report

Food Safety and Crop Livestock Integration report cover

By Clare Boland|2025-12-15T14:27:30-05:00December 15th, 2025|Certification & Compliance, Crop Livestock Integration, FAFO Crop-Livestock Farmers, Livestock, Resource|

Benefits of Crop-Livestock Integration

In OFRF’s 2022 National Organic Research Agenda (NORA), organic farmers and ranchers across North America shared a common concern about the lack of technical assistance and educational resources available for Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems (ICLS). Integrating crops and livestock results in numerous benefits, however the process can also lead to increased complexity, especially for farmers who must adhere to National Organic Program rules and regulations.

This series of resources focused on Crop-Livestock Integration is informed by interviews with four highly-experienced organic producers that shared their challenges, successes, and advice for others interested in integrating livestock and crops on their organic farms.

Learn about the benefits of crop-livestock integration, including reduced inputs, improvements in soil tilth and health, higher nutrient densities in food and forages, pest control in crops and livestock, decreased need for mechanical cultivation, and more.

Download the Report

Benefits of Crop Livestock Integration report cover

By Clare Boland|2025-12-15T14:21:07-05:00December 15th, 2025|Cover Crops & Crop Rotation, Crop Livestock Integration, FAFO Crop-Livestock Farmers, Insects & Diseases, Livestock, Resource, Soil Health|

Infrastructure and Crop-Livestock Integration

In OFRF’s 2022 National Organic Research Agenda (NORA), organic farmers and ranchers across North America shared a common concern about the lack of technical assistance and educational resources available for Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems (ICLS). Integrating crops and livestock results in numerous benefits, however the process can also lead to increased complexity, especially for farmers who must adhere to National Organic Program rules and regulations.

This series of resources focused on Crop-Livestock Integration is informed by interviews with four highly-experienced organic producers that shared their challenges, successes, and advice for others interested in integrating livestock and crops on their organic farms.

Infrastructure for integrating animal and crop systems includes animal housing, watering systems, and fencing. Learn how farmers develop infrastructure that match the type and age of animal, are highly movable, and are adapted to soil and climate conditions.

Download the Report

Infrastructure for Crop Livestock Integration report cover

By Clare Boland|2025-12-15T14:21:17-05:00December 15th, 2025|Cover Crops & Crop Rotation, Crop Livestock Integration, FAFO Crop-Livestock Farmers, Livestock, Resource, Water Management & Irrigation|

Crop Rotations and Crop-Livestock Integration

In OFRF’s 2022 National Organic Research Agenda (NORA), organic farmers and ranchers across North America shared a common concern about the lack of technical assistance and educational resources available for Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems (ICLS). Integrating crops and livestock results in numerous benefits, however the process can also lead to increased complexity, especially for farmers who must adhere to National Organic Program rules and regulations.

This series of resources focused on Crop-Livestock Integration is informed by interviews with four highly-experienced organic producers that shared their challenges, successes, and advice for others interested in integrating livestock and crops on their organic farms.

Farmers with ICLS utilize carefully-planned rotations of crops and animals that intersect and overlap to provide benefits to soil, crop, and livestock health. Read about and see illustrations of examples of integrated crop and animal rotations developed by organic farmers.

Download the Report