FLT Highlight

Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Oxbow Farm and Conservation Center

Investigating Seeding Rate of Cover Crops for Biomass and Nutrient Content

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

Anthony Reyes, FLT Program Participant. Photo credit Washington Soil Health Initiative, https://washingtonsoilhealthinitiative.com/2025/02/soil-health-ambassador-anthony-reyes-cover-crops/

Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center is a nonprofit farm in the floodplains of Snoqualmie Valley, WA. Anthony Reyes, the Agricultural Program Manager, manages 81 acres of certified organic land by experimenting and trialing climate adaptive and resilient agricultural practices. Along with his team, he works to reconcile our expanding human needs and the health of our ecosystem through sustainable agriculture, thoughtful management of our forests, ecological restoration, and education.

Oxbow Farm cultivates a variety of different crops well suited to the Snoqualmie Valley floodplain, and maintains a crop rotation to allow the soil to recover and regenerate. Anthony strategically removes fields from production each year and leaves them fallowed in cover crop to help protect the watershed, build up nutrients, and manage weeds, pests, and diseases.

Finding a Cover Crop that Works

Anthony was interested in understanding how to find a cover crop that would meet the needs of the farm – managing climatic challenges, erosion, and weed pressure. Ideally, anything that would be planted would help add biomass and could withstand drought conditions. Manipulating the seeding rate of the cover crops had been one way that the farm had considered better coverage of the soil, and Anthony was curious if the recommended seeding rate was the right density for their soil.

Farm Trial Plan

A portion of the cover cropped trial field.

With technical support from OFRF, Anthony is investigating the impact of seeding rate on biomass and nutrient content for German Foxtail, Pearl Millet, and Sudex cover crops. He will plant single varieties at two different seeding rates: the recommended rate and 25% above the recommended drilling rate.

The trial was arranged in  a randomized complete block design, with 24 rows, each 100’ x 10’ wide, with 1’ pathways and borders on outside rows. Each of the 4 replications contained  6 plots (3 varieties at 2 different seeding rates), for a total of 24 plots.

Measurements were taken from a random 3×3’ quadrat from each plot, including a biomass and leaf tissue sample. These samples were sent to Ward Lab for analysis of biomass, nutrient content, dry matter, and C:N ratio of the crop matter.

Trial updates

The quadrat samples were taken in September and lab results were returned in late October. The OFRF team is now reviewing the data with Anthony, for a full report on how the trial went and findings from the data.

Trial fields at Oxbow Farm and Conservation Center

“I have long been interested in conducting and furthering our on-farm research, having worked on and set up many trials throughout my career. The Farmer-Led Trial Program goes beyond and centers the experience and voice of farmers by identifying us as the content experts and by playing a highly supportive and facilitative role in creating sound research from our identified goals. I have greatly valued the time and care given by OFRF staff and am so appreciative of this program.” 

– Anthony Reyes, Oxbow Farm and Conservation Center

An overhead drone shot of Oxbow Farm and Conservation Center

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 Oxbow Farm and Conservation Center, visit their website at https://www.oxbow.org/ 

By |2025-12-03T20:26:34-05:00December 2nd, 2025|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News|
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Two Years of Farmer-Led Trials

Mary (on right) with OFRF’s Research & Education Program Director, Thelma Velez (left)

By Mary Hathaway, OFRF Research & Education Program Manager

Organic farmers are curious. Working with nature to grow an abundance of food provides countless opportunities to learn and continue to improve farm production systems. OFRF has been listening to farmers since our inception, and the constant hum of curiosity, experimentation, and innovation has never diminished. In fact, as we have worked with more and more farmer and researcher teams, we’ve heard farmers express increasing interest in exploring questions and testing out what makes sense for their operations.

The launch of our Farmer-Led Trial program

Urged on by farmers’ questions, and with encouragement from the wonderful work of Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) and Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO), OFRF took the leap to launch our Farmer-Led Trials (FLT) Program in 2024. This program supports organic farmers across the US who want to use the scientific method to trial ideas—in the hopes of learning the research process and what works for them and their farm system.

It has now been two years of working with farmers on their trials, and we are about to open applications for our third season. We started with our guidebook, “Farmers Guide to Conducting On-Farm Research,” which provides practical information, including examples from farmers and ranchers conducting on-farm research, links to additional resources, and worksheet templates for designing a sound research trial. It is available for free as a reference for any farmer or rancher wanting to conduct their own on-farm trials. Our goal is to support farmers in conducting trials in a way that generates reliable data and actionable results. We consider this free resource required reading for farmers who participate in the FLT Program, a 101, if you will. But like so many of my tactile friends, I learn from doing. And there is a lot of doing in farm trials!

Developing an on-farm trial

plot map for on-farm trial at Woven Trifecta Farm

Trial plot map we developed with Women Trifecta Farm

Every on-farm trial begins with the farmer’s ideas—what have they been observing on their farm? What is it that they hope to achieve? We talk through their ideas, their production system, and their goals. From there, we walk through the seven core steps of setting up an on-farm trial, as outlined in the Farmers Guide. Together, we hone in on an appropriate research question, develop the trial plan, and come up with a strategy for collecting the necessary data. OFRF continues to provide support throughout the season, meeting with participants via phone two or three times after the plan is laid out, and helping to evaluate results and compile a final report at the end of the trial. As many of the farmers discover by the end of the trial, the year is just the beginning of a journey of testing out ideas. Once they get a behind-the-scenes peek and grasp how researchers might trial an idea and what that looks like for a farm, they see endless opportunities for continued investigation.

Managing contingencies with on-farm research

Life happens, and as farmers know all too well, weather really happens. In developing an on-farm trial, as with farming in general, there is a plan, and then there is what ends up happening. Together, OFRF and the farmers create the plan, and we hope the timelines work and pieces all fall into place. But inevitably it will be a wetter or drier year than expected, or livestock will get out and eat part of the trial plot, or some other unexpected thing will occur. Farmers get used to this, and just as with all other things, they keep moving, pivoting, and adapting to new situations. It can be challenging to stick with a trial. What seemed fun and exciting at the beginning of the season can become much more difficult to keep up with midway through the season, with dozens of other things vying for a farmer’s attention. In the spring, we love to plan and plot and scheme. Mid-season, when daylight lengthens with our workload, it is an extra piece in the day’s puzzle to make sure the data is collected and recorded, the marked out plots stay marked despite weeds or wind. Dedication at this point is what makes a trial successful. There can be no results without accurate data.

Analyzing data and learning together

Soil solarization in a high tunnel at Salad Days Farm

After months of growing, tending, and collecting information, eventually the time comes in the season when all the data is in. The yields have been weighed, or soil moisture has been measured, or compaction has been calculated. Generally, this is when things have slowed down for the season and farmers start to have a little more breathing room to reflect on results. I am not a statistical expert, but I am lucky to be paired with one. My colleague, Heather, works with the numbers, helping boil down the data into understandable results. We meet again with the participating farmers to talk through what the numbers are saying, and what that means for the farm. Many times, the results are surprising. For example, a farmer tested soil solarization, and we saw microbial biomass bounce back quicker than expected, and the fungal-to-bacterial ratio turned up higher under solarization than in bare soil, which was not what we had hypothesized. Whether surprising or affirming of what we suspected, the trial results are always informative. Time and again, what we have seen is learning—farmers learning something new about their farm, seeing data that confirms something they’d always suspected but weren’t sure was true, or understanding how to apply the scientific method to their operation in approachable ways.

While all of the farmers we’ve worked with have shared with us how much they learned throughout the on-farm trial process, I know that I am learning from them as much as they are from me. Each farmer teaches me so much. There is no limit to the interesting questions and thoughtful considerations that arise about what is happening on organic farms across the country, from the community level down to the microscopic. I only wish that I was able to visit each farm in person to connect more deeply with the farmer, their operation, and their research questions.

The observations each farmer comes to as they complete their trials can often be one of the biggest outcomes, even beyond the actual trial results. There is something to setting a frame around an object, such as setting aside a certain plot for a trial, or committing to walking an area of a field more often to take data points. There is much to be gained from letting our gaze fall with more attention. As Tim Colby, FLT participant and farmer at Colby Farms, put it, “We learned a lot by doing this trial. This land is still pretty new to me. So, the trial put me out walking the rows a lot more often and becoming more familiar with the soil and seeing how it’s changed. So, that is a tangible takeaway.”

Working with the farmers on these trials, I am also reminded how human we all are—how hard it is to narrow the questions down to test just one thing. The temptation to do so much at once seems universal. Almost every farmer we’ve worked with initially wants to create an ambitious, all-encompassing statement. My work with OFRF is to help ground us in science, and bring the scope of the trial down to an achievable level—a level where we can make a small, but accurate statement. But each statement is like a brick, adding one piece at a time to build the foundation of our understanding.

Looking ahead

Source: Colby Farms

Tim Colby uses a penetrometer to measure soil compaction

As preparations begin for the third year of OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials program, I find myself humbled by the research questions and the outcomes. The generous and authentic work each farmer is doing to care for their land and feed their regions, while not harming the environment, is admirable. And the common interest among agriculturalists to better understand how things work—on a macro and micro-system scale—is inspiring.

I have worked as a farmer, with farmers, and for farmers. It is the thread that has tied my adult career together. I am so grateful that in this role, I get to be a small part of a journey for farmers around the country participating in OFRF’s FLT Program. As the ripple of this program grows larger with each year, we hope to see farmers we work with go on to build resilient systems, take on more robust trials such as with a SARE grant, or work with a researcher from their state or region to help build the body of knowledge we need to push organic farming systems into the forefront of production in the US. Like all the farmers embarking on these trials with us, I know that this is just the beginning, and there are so many more great questions out there to test.

Learn more

If you’d like to read more about the farmers who’ve participated in the FLT program so far, and what their trials have entailed, we’ve gathered a collection of the stories and final reports from past FLT Program participants here.

If you’re interested in participating in our next FLT cohort, applications are open Oct 15th-Dec 3rd, 2025, for the 2026 growing season. You can learn more about the program on our FLT page, or join our upcoming FLT Forum on Tuesday, October 21st, 2025, to hear from three former FLT farmer-researchers and gain an overview of the on-farm trial process.

By |2025-10-01T16:04:50-04:00October 1st, 2025|FLT Highlight, News|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: The Woven Trifecta

Testing the Impact of Anaerobic Ferments on Crop Health

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

Samantha Otto is the founder and farmer of The Woven Trifecta, a 10-acre farm in western Michigan. Currently in transition to organic, the farm focuses on diversified vegetables for a CSA, local farmers market, as well as farm-to-school sales throughout the school year. Samantha raises Jacob sheep for fiber as well as assorted poultry for meat and eggs. The livestock is rotationally grazed on just over 3 acres of pasture, with 2 acres of no-till beds in production.

Samantha has a decade of hands-on farming experience and is a graduate of Michigan State University’s Agricultural Technology program. Since she started the farm, her primary focus has been on cultivating no-till organic vegetables and cut flowers. But as a curious farmer, she is continuously exploring innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture. Last year, as a participant in the Midwest GRIT program, she began integrating grains into her system, and  she has also recently incorporated livestock into her rotations to create a closed-loop system to help improve soil fertility.

From Waste Product to Resources: Building Fertility and Reducing Reliance in Off-Farm Inputs

One of the main goals of The Woven Trifecta is to reduce reliance on off-farm inputs, and to transform the farm waste products into a resource. Samantha has experimented with different anaerobic fermentation, and was interested in scaling up and fine-tuning its use as a soil amendment. She is particularly interested in incorporating waste from her livestock and compost into anaerobic ferments to improve soil fertility and plant health.

With the help of OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trial (FLT) Program, Samantha hopes to understand how anaerobic ferments impact the health of her crops. When considering which vegetable to test, the team landed on artichokes – a promising crop that her CSA members love and that has yielded well in past seasons. As a long-season vegetable with a short harvest window, the Tavor Artichoke was an ideal crop to trial.

Farm Trial Plan

To answer Samantha’s question, ‘Does an anaerobic compost tea impact yield or plant nutrition in artichokes?,’ she will weigh all harvested artichokes from each plot. Marketable artichokes will be weighed and counted separately. In addition to weights, leaf tissue samples will be collected prior to flowering stalk emergence. 10 representative samples will be taken from each plot, with one leaf collected per plant.

There are two treatments in the trial: a control with no ferment spray, and the anaerobic ferment foliar drench. Samantha will plant in 8 plots to provide sufficient replication. The trial is in a 30′ x 90′ space, in 3′ wide no-till beds, with each row containing 10 plants spaced 36’ apart. Buffer plots will be added on each side, planted with sunflowers.

plot map for on-farm trial at Woven Trifecta Farm

The recipe for the anaerobic fermentation is 60/40 with vegetation scraps and rabbit manure. Samantha brews a fresh batch every two weeks, beginning in early June and applies the fermented drench application biweekly.  A 5-gallon bucket will be suitable for each batch.

Recipe for Anaerobic Fermentation Fertilizer

Using 5-gallon buckets, mix: 

  • 60% vegetation scraps from on-farm and/or compost club program 
  • 40% manure from our rabbits.  
  • 4 cups of soil. 

These will be well mixed, with scraps being chopped into small pieces, and will fill about 3/4 of the 5-gallon bucket.  This mix will then be submerged in water (from well), covered with a lid and stored in the pump shed. The bucket will be fitted with a fermentation lid with spout to release any built-up gases over the course of the fermentation process. 

Ferment will be checked at 7, 14, and 21 days; ready to use at  21 days. Solids are then strained, and the liquid is bottled for use.  

Application: 1 part recipe to 20 parts water every 14 days, and apply it as a soil drench via backpack sprayer.

Samantha is excited to see how the ferment impacts the health and yield of her plants. The process of testing her application of the anaerobic ferment is something she hopes can impact her farm system, and possibly provide sustainable answers for other small farms like The Woven Trifecta.

Sunset over a crop field at The Woven Trifecta

“Working with OFRF has been an amazing opportunity for our farm! Closing the loop in our production is a long-term goal of ours, and this project has provided the opportunity to take the time to explore a potential process for making that happen. It has been especially delightful to work with OFRF on creating the foundation of our project, making a once-intimidating idea very fun and feasible to trial! It has been a thrill to find on-farm solutions that support both our livestock and vegetable production. While we are a ways away from harvest, our on-farm ferment is visually showing benefits in our test plot. I look forward to collecting further data as the season progresses! This data will help us make decisions on how to incorporate ferments in our wider production in the future so that we can continue to grow beautiful, healthy, thriving vegetables for our community.”

– Samantha Otto, The Woven Trifecta

One of the livestock that Samantha integrates into her crop rotations

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 The Woven Trifecta, visit their website at https://thewoventrifecta.com/

By |2025-12-09T17:35:10-05:00September 2nd, 2025|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, Livestock, News, On-Farm Research, Soil Health|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Parker Farms

Managing Moisture in Organic Tomatoes on an Urban Farm

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

Parker Farms, located in Warren, Ohio, is a small farm with a big heart, committed to serving their community with sustainable, urban agriculture. The farm provides fresh, locally grown produce through wholesale partnerships with food banks and community programs, supporting local food security. Markisha Parker, owner and founder, specializes in sustainable urban farming and organic production and is in her second year of transitioning to certified organic (a process that typically takes three years). With a background in urban agriculture, education, and research, she offers hands-on experience and community education on soil management, crop rotation, and organic pest control.

Her urban farm spans multiple sites totaling approximately one acre with areas dedicated to cultivating native plants, vegetables, and fruits, allowing Parker Farms to grow their impact and bridge the gap between urban gardening and farming. Markisha’s primary crop is tomatoes, but the farm’s mission extends much further: to empower others in agriculture by offering resources and support to help gardeners build successful commercial farming enterprises. While Markisha has done field trials in the past, she was looking for an opportunity to have support in improving her processes and systems on the farm. After this trial, Parker Farms hopes to integrate educational elements by inviting local farmers, aspiring growers, and community members to observe and learn from their research.

Puddling Problems: Managing Moisture in Tomatoes

With limited space in an urban environment, Parker Farms wants to improve their yield and systems in the area that they have. This means making every square foot count. In previous seasons, Markisha had issues with excess moisture and puddling in the fields. One of her biggest challenges was in her most valuable crop: tomatoes. Episodes of excess rain left much of her crop with splitting or blight.

In order to address these issues, she wanted to trial different materials that were readily available as a mulch material to help her tomatoes get to market. In her area, Markisha knew that woodchips, grass clippings, and straw were readily available. So she asked: does a mulching material help mitigate soil moisture for greater tomato yield?

Farm Trial Plan

With technical support from OFRF, Markisha has set up a trial to compare how straw, grass clippings, or woodchips, impact the yield and marketability of slicer tomatoes, and compare it to a control group with no mulch. The design of the trial includes 4 treatments and 4 replications, in a 16-plot layout. Each plot will have 5 tomato plants.

Trial updates

The tomatoes were transplanted on May 22nd, and the mulch types were laid down just after transplanting. The mulch varieties of aged wood chips, straw from a neighboring farm, and fresh grass clippings from areas around her farm, were applied at an approximate 2” depth. The control plot had no mulch added, and was left as bare soil. An initial harvest is expected at the beginning of August. For data collection, Markisha will take both the total weight of tomatoes and the marketable weight of tomatoes. These measurements will help the farm understand if the different mulching materials impact yield, and especially the marketable yield of tomatoes that don’t have damage related to uneven moisture.

Stay tuned for trial updates and a final report at the end of the season!

Farmer-researcher Markisha Parker

“Participating in the Farmer Led Trials has given me the structure and support to test practices that could improve both the health of my crops and the sustainability of my urban plots.”

– Markisha Parker, Parker Farms

Parker Farms.

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 Farmer-Led Trials Program, visit our website page at https://ofrf.org/research/farmer-led-research-trials/ 

By |2025-12-09T17:33:10-05:00July 28th, 2025|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News, On-Farm Research, Water Management & Irrigation|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Ledoux Grange

Can teff handle high winds? This on-farm trial aims to find out.

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager

Ledoux Grange, situated at 7,400 feet in Mora, New Mexico, is an organic-certified, 34-acre operation focused on regenerative agriculture. Farmer Kristin Swoszowski-Tran has been cultivating Lilium species (a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, including lilies) and hybrids  – since the 1990s, registering novel cultivars with the Royal Horticultural Society in Great Britain. As a member of the Southwest Grain Collaborative, Ledoux Grange also specializes in growing drought-tolerant, high-altitude pulses, legumes, grains, and cover crops, and is committed to bringing culturally rich, locally-grown produce to their community.

Testing Teff for Lodging Resistance

One of the grains that Ledoux Grange grows is Teff, an annual grass, a species of lovegrass native to Ethiopia, where it first originated in the Ethiopian Highlands. It was one of the earliest plants to be domesticated and is one of the most important staple crops in Ethiopia. Ledoux Grange is currently testing 14 teff accessions rated for their lodging resistance in its characteristically windy location. Teff’s versatility as human food, livestock fodder, and a drought-tolerant cover crop suited for high altitudes makes it a promising addition to their operation. The farm owner, Kristin, is enthusiastic about experimenting with various accessions, drawing inspiration from past successes with teff in the area. She has a broader interest in lovegrass species and is eager to observe their growth, hoping to identify types that will flourish and resist lodging in her environment.

Terminology Touch Point

ACCESSION: a distinct sample of germplasm representing a cultivar, breeding line, or a wild or cultivated population, maintained in a genebank for conservation and use. Its genetic stability is optimally preserved through careful monitoring and multiplication.

Source: GGCE

On-Farm Trial Plan

The plot layout includes 12 accessions from a western regional station, all of Ethiopian origin, alongside two commercially available varieties: ‘Bolorosso’ from Experimental Farm Network and teff from Great Basin Seeds. The experiment includes four replications, and is laid out in the field as four blocks border rows on each end. Each packet contains 200 seeds, with 50 seeds per plot, weighed out for accuracy. Rows will be one meter long, with seeds distributed evenly within each plot area. Planting is scheduled for late June, following thorough bed preparation.

Trial Evaluation Metrics

Data collection will be comprehensive, focusing on key metrics such as days to emergence, vigor, time to flowering, time to maturity, tillering, height, and lodging. Grain yield and seed color will also be recorded. Vigor will be assessed using either GRIN standards or a custom scale. Lodging will be rated on a 1-5 scale. To assess the tillering, she will record the number of tillers on 10 plants per plot and calculate the average. Grain yield will be determined by weighing the collected seeds. Seed color will be evaluated with a pantone scale.

Plot Map

Looking Ahead

The evaluation of these teff accessions will help Kristin identify promising teff accessions, and will facilitate seed increases for subsequent on-farm research at Ledoux Grange. Looking to the future, Kristin aims to address key challenges for this specific environment, like lodging prevention and optimal timing for growth relative to the monsoon season. Ultimately, Ledoux Grange hopes to expand crop diversity in the region, provide the community with nutrient-rich food options, and create new market opportunities.

Farmer-researcher Kristin Swoszowski-Tran

“I believe that it is crucial to conduct trials in diverse agricultural ecotypes so that we can perpetuate and ensure suitable, local production to idiosyncratic conditions. It is an honor and privilege to work with OFRF staff members, Mary and Heather, to organize this trial. They’ve made an easy and seamless process to plan the implementation. My hope is that we can identify drought-tolerant candidates that can withstand our windy conditions here at this elevation. I’m eager to see what this trial produces!”

– Kristin Swoszowski-Tran, Ledoux Grange

Teff trial layout.

Stay tuned:

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 Farmer-Led Trials Program, visit our website page at https://ofrf.org/research/farmer-led-research-trials/ 

To learn more about Ledoux Grange visit https://www.facebook.com/ledouxgrange 

By |2025-12-09T17:31:52-05:00July 1st, 2025|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News, On-Farm Research, Plant Breeding & Variety Selection|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Farmacea

Farmacea Strawberry Trial Explores Sustainable Mulching

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager

In the heart of Munith, Michigan, Farmacea is undertaking an exciting experiment to help enhance their farm systems and design. Run by Mike Lucas and Rollin Baker, the farm’s 31 acres had previously been dedicated to conventional corn production for many decades. Over the past two years, Mike and Rollin have been diligently working to convert about 2 acres into arable, quality land by incorporating leaf mold and other organic materials. As they work to transition their land to certified organic, they are excited and energized to grow healthy, sustainable fruits and vegetables for their community. Mike and Rollin are committed to bringing the land back to life and hope to honor the tradition of Food as First Medicine.

The Strawberry Trial: Plastic vs. Clover

On-farm research trial at Farmacea comparing clover living mulch with conventional plastic mulch in organic strawberry crops.Farmacea’s project is a strawberry trial comparing traditional plastic mulch to a living mulch of white Dutch clover. Their research question is simple but will help Farmacea determine which strawberry planting system will work best for them in the coming years: “Does a living clover mulch produce higher strawberry yields than a plastic mulch?”.

To answer this, they’ve set up six beds. Three beds use the conventional plastic mulch, while the other three are planted with New Zealand White Clover (Trifolium repens) to serve as a living mulch. Both sets of beds include a mix of strawberry cultivars: Earliglow, Chandler, Allstar, and San Andreas, ensuring consistency in strawberry varieties across the trial.

Careful initial planning was essential, focusing on a consistent number and mix of strawberry plants in each bed. Mike and Rollin standardized the beds and timed clover planting, which faced weather-related delays and farm facility damage. Additionally, deer intrusions necessitated the construction of higher fences to protect the crops.

What They’re Measuring

Farmacea will be tracking several key metrics to determine the success of each mulching method:

  • Yield: Weight of harvested berries, percent marketable yield, and pint counts.
  • Brix: A measure of sugar content in the berries.
  • Weed Pressure: Observations and frequency of weeding interventions.
  • Photo Documentation: Keeping a visual record of the trial’s progress.
  • Soil Testing: Collecting samples to analyze soil health.

Data is being collected consistently over the season, with harvests twice weekly. They plan to document everything from the number of pints of berries to the weight of both marketable and unmarketable yields. Brix levels are being measured to gauge the sweetness of the berries and will ideally be taken at three intervals during the strawberry season.

Why This Matters

Farmacea’s trial is about more than just growing strawberries. It’s about finding sustainable options for weed suppression and improving soil health through practices like cover cropping. They are also interested in decreasing their reliance on nonrenewable resources and preventing microplastic contamination in their soil. Implementing a living mulch strategy is intended to lessen the need for manual weeding, enhance soil structure, and foster an environment that naturally inhibits weeds.

“For too long, the bulk of attention, funding, and resources in the agricultural research world have gone toward so-called ‘conventional’ farming methods. As a result, advances in organic farming practices have stalled and many today consider it an inefficient, outdated, and impractical way to produce food. We couldn’t disagree more. We see participating in a research trial on organic farming to be an important step in turning this tide, and hope that it will lead to better understanding and acceptance of these essential practices.”

– Rollin & Mike, Farmacea

Looking Ahead

As the trial progresses, Farmacea will continue to monitor and collect data. Soil tests will be conducted, and observations on weed pressure will be recorded. At the end of the trial, they will analyze the results to determine which mulching method provides the best yields, berry quality, and weed control.

This trial at Farmacea is a perfect example of how farmer-led research can lead to valuable insights and sustainable agricultural practices. By sharing their findings, Farmacea contributes to a broader community of farmers and researchers working towards a healthier, more resilient food system.

Stay tuned:

  • Follow Farmacea on Instagram @farma.cea to see photos and updates as Farmacea’s strawberry trial unfolds!
  • Check back here for future blog posts on the trial’s progress.

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

By |2025-12-09T17:28:50-05:00May 29th, 2025|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News, On-Farm Research, Weeds|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Kennebec Valley Farm

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager

Up on a ridge in rural Maine is Kennebec Valley Farm, a 22-acre historic farm. Owner Jennifer Barrientos was able to purchase the farm three years ago to become steward of the property, which is a mix of woodland and pastureland. Jennifer grows on just about one acre, including greenhouses. She is certified organic and uses no-till and biodynamic methods to grow her produce. You’ll also find chickens and alpacas on her pastureland, and she makes good use of their manure in her soil fertility regimen. 

Jennifer had a long journey to get to her current farm. She grew up in Hawaii, where she helped grow food and care for chickens, goats, and rabbits on her family’s farm. Many years later, after moving back to the mainland and working as a teacher for more than 25 years, Jennifer began working on organic and biodynamic farms on both the West and East Coasts. Now, settled in at Kennebec Valley Farm, Jennifer grows food for her community, offering seasonal produce at their farm store, through a CSA and local farmers markets. 

Rebecca Champagne, OFRF’s Conservation Scientist, visited Kennebec Valley Farm in October to see Jennifer’s operation and chat about her involvement in the FLT program. They chatted about why Jennifer decided to apply for the program, why she chose the specific research question, and discussed how the trial was going. Jennifer is in the beginning phases of being in no-till production, and after visiting some long-term no-till farms in Maine, she knew she wanted to investigate what would create the healthiest soil at her farm. She is interested in finding the right balance in practices financially, labor-wise, and what will build soil health and microbial activity.

Comparing farm-made compost and commercial fertilizer

In her transition to a no-till system, Jennifer has begun to incorporate Dutch white clover as a cover crop to add fertility to her beds and suppress other weeds. As she’s developing and stabilizing her permanent bed system, Jennifer wanted to make use of more cover crops and farm-generated inputs to feed her soil. However, as a market farmer, Jennifer did not want her change in amendments to decrease her yields. Jennifer decided it was a good idea to compare her farm-made compost with the commercially available fertilizer that she had used in previous seasons. 

Farm trial plan

plot map for field trial at Kennebec Valley Farm, part of the Farmer Led Trials Program at OFRFWith technical support from OFRF, Jennifer built out her trial, asking, “Will purchased soil amendments result in higher yield and soil health when compared to farm-made compost in brassica crops?”

OFRF staff helped Jennifer set up a randomized block design to compare the yields of Brussel sprouts growing with her farm-made compost and a commercial fertilizer that consists of blood meal and potassium sulfate. Jennifer is also taking soil tests of plots before and after harvest to see what impact the treatments are having on the soil, as well as the current crop.

Trial updates

The Brussel sprout harvest will be complete in December, with just over half the crop harvested so far. Jennifer continues to track the yield data as the plants are ready for harvest. To capture a full picture of the impact that the cover crop and amendment treatments have on the soil, she will take soil samples after the ground thaws in spring.

rows of organic veggies in a high tunnel at Kennebec Valley Farm, part of the Farmer Led Trial Program with OFRF

“By embracing a holistic approach to farming, I not only contribute to sustainable agricultural practices but also inspire others to recognize the health benefits of consuming locally grown, nutrient-rich produce. As stewards of the land, this research can cultivate a culture that honors the environment, nourishes communities, and builds a better future.”

– Jennifer Barrientos, Kennebec Valley Farm

the farm store at Kennebec Valley Farm, selling local organic fruits and veggies

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

To learn more about soil fertility rates and various amendments, check out these links:

To learn more about Kennebec Valley Farm visit https://www.kennebecvalleyfarm.com/

By |2025-12-09T17:27:43-05:00December 10th, 2024|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News, On-Farm Research, Soil Health|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Trouvaille Farm

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager

female organic farmer in Ohio inspects pepper plants as part of an on-farm research trial

An apprentice in the pepper field at Trouvaille Farm.

In the hills of Southeastern Ohio you will find Lindsay Klaunig on her farm: Trouvaille Farm. While she has been a grower for more than 20 years, this her seventh season as owner and operator of Trouvaille Farm, something that the name itself acknowledges (Trouvaille means lucky find).  

The farm landscape is a patchwork of diversity. There are grass-fed beef and goats on pasture, heirloom crops on the ridge tops and fruit trees throughout the farm. Many of the open-pollinated varieties are being grown to maturity and processed as seed crops, to be sold through small regional seed companies. 

Lindsay manages the land using regenerative, organic practices and focuses on building healthy soil, and increasing biodiversity so that she can provide nutritious food for her family and neighbors. To avoid using pesticides, there are insectaries, rows of flowering plants that attract beneficial insects, throughout the farm that naturally keep pests under control.

Open Pollinated Seeds for Climate-Resilience

As a seed grower, it is important for Lindsay to have access to varieties that are regionally adapted and able to thrive in low-input systems. She sees the opportunity of open-pollinated seed varieties as a tool that is vital as the climate changes and modern hybrids may not have the same capacity to thrive in severe weather events. Seeds from open-pollinated varieties can be saved by the grower and selected for those that best meet the demands of their own particular climate, growing systems and market. This is ever more important for growers using organic systems, where farmers look to cover crops and compost for soil fertility rather than synthetic fertilizers.

In recent years, the extremes of heat and drought have been a major challenge for many of her long-season summer crops, like tomatillos and peppers. Lindsay has been interested in trying shade cloth on her peppers to help nurture them through extreme weather conditions, but she wasn’t sure if it would have a negative effect on fruit set or seed production. After learning about OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trial program, she decided this would be a relatively risk-averse way to see the impact of this growing practice on her harvest.

Farm trial plan

Plot map – legend S= shade; N= no shade

After considering some of the logistics of on-farm research trials with OFRF staff, Lindsay was able to develop a question that would help her decide if shade cloth would help, or hurt her seed harvest. The trial was further narrowed down to peppers. Research Questions: Will using shade cloth improve fruit set in pepper plants grown for seed? And if so, will that lead to early mature harvest and overall higher yields? 

The trial was designed as a paired comparison with the treatments being peppers that were given 35% black netting shade cloth vs. peppers that received no shade cloth. The measurements Lindsay decided upon were to weigh the fresh fruit harvested and the fresh and dried seed weight in addition to taking basic fruit quality observations. Since she often sells her peppers for seeds, rather than as fresh fruit, this was the most helpful measurement for her production practices.

Trial updates

Harvest data is almost complete, with the first harvests beginning in late September, much later than expected due to the extreme drought conditions. Once the harvests are complete, Lindsay and the OFRF staff are excited to see the results and impact of shade cloth on pepper production.

“Every season we adjust our growing methods and try out new techniques. But inevitably the season gets busy, we lose track of outcomes and end up with incomplete impressions of what worked or didn’t. With the FLT program, I had support in designing a solid project, and funds to allow me allocate time and focus to data collection and analysis.”

– Lindsay Klaunig, Trouvaille Farm

seed saving from organic pepper research trial
Trouvaille Farm farmer-led trial organic peppers
harvesting peppers for on-farm research at Trouvaille Farm in Ohio
shade net over organic peppers during on-farm research at Trouvaille Farm in Ohio

Research Results

Lindsay Klaunig’s farmer-led trial experimented with using shade cloth to improve fruit set in pepper plants grown for seed, and examined the impact on fruit yield, seed yield and seed quality (germination rate).

Key Findings:

  • Total fruit yield (Harvest 1+Harvest 2) was significantly higher in non-shaded plots, with a total yield of 10.9 lb compared to just 4.7 lb in shaded plots (Table 2). Seed yield (per plant and per bed ft) was also higher in non-shaded plots. Seed yield per lb of fresh fruit was higher in shaded plots, but this is likely due to the low fruit yield in these plots.
  • There were, however, some differences between results from the two separate harvests in September and October. For example, in Harvest 1, seed yield per bed ft was not significantly different in shaded vs unshaded plots, but in Harvest 2, seed yield per bed ft was significantly higher in unshaded plots.

The season that this trial took place was one of the warmest and driest on record. The use of black shade cloth may have increased the temperature rather than provide any shade relief, as intended. In the future, Lindsay would like to try white shade cloth, and be sure to use larger hoops to allow space for more airflow over bushier crops like peppers.

For full details on the study’s methodology and results, read the final report.

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

To learn more about bell pepper research, click the following link: Bell Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Crop as Affected by Shade Level: Fruit Yield, Quality, and Postharvest Attributes, and Incidence of Phytophthora Blight (caused by Phytophthora capsici Leon.)

To learn more about Trouvaille Farm, visit https://www.trouvaillefarm.com/

By |2025-12-09T17:26:19-05:00November 7th, 2024|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News, On-Farm Research, Plant Breeding & Variety Selection|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: A Different Chick Farm

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager

A Different Chick Farm booth at market.

A Different Chick Farm is a Certified Organic family farm on just under 6 acres in Johnson City, Tennessee. Tiffany Stanley and her family began growing food for themselves as homesteaders, but saw demand from the local community. From this start in 2018, they expanded their operation into an abundant production featuring rare and heirloom fruits and vegetables, with a large focus on unique pepper varieties. Half of the farm is now a mixed orchard, planted with apples, peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums, pears, blackberries, raspberries and more. Rounding out the offerings at this diverse farm is a flock of heritage breed chickens that are pasture-raised. 

With the help of her son and husband, Tiffany grows over 300 types of peppers, mostly to create value-added products such as hot sauces, pickles, and jellies. The farm sells their pepper products and fresh produce at two local farmers markets, and a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Their homesteading spirit continues to grow, as they look to limit outside inputs into the farm and build a sustainable system with on-farm fertility management. 

Producing On-Farm Compost to Reduce Inputs

A homesteader at heart, Tiffany wanted to explore how the farm could be more self-sustaining, especially in building their soil health with on-farm inputs. She was curious if the farm could make compost that could match the yields of commercial fertilizers. Building an on-farm compost regimen could help offset much of the fertilizer cost, and decrease the environmental footprint of the farm. There were a few factors that the farm considered: would the composting demand a lot more labor, would yields remain viable? As a family enterprise, there were risks in transitioning from a known and reliable yield from commercial fertilizers to a new and untested compost system.

Farm trial plan

With technical support from OFRF, Tiffany decided to get answers and compare two different on-farm compost recipes with her usual practice of applying Harmony, a granular fertilizer (5-4-3). Tiffany wanted to put her chickens to good use, so one compost recipe she wanted to try included chicken manure as the main nitrogen source for one of her compost formulas. Her second compost recipe in the trial used clover and fresh grass clippings as the main nitrogen source. Both recipes included wood chips as the primary carbon source. 

One of her best fall cash crops is cucumbers, so the trial was designed for Socrates cucumber, transplanted out from her greenhouse to be planted in a 12×24 hoophouse in mid-September. At the time of transplanting, Tiffany would apply the different treatments: Compost recipe 1, Compost recipe 2, or the commercial fertilizer, respectively.

In farm trials, it is key to keep things consistent, so Tiffany made sure to count each plant that was transplanted so that each block had the same number of cucumber plants. Once the cucumbers begin to set fruit, she will weigh the yield as well as count the number of cucumbers from each plot. She is hopeful that the results of this trial will help her work towards building her on farm fertility plans, and keep harvests bountiful. Stay tuned for updates on the farm trial outcomes and findings this fall!

“I had a friend that was retired from NRCS tell me about the program and encouraged me to apply.  I read many of the farm trials and what the program did to help organic farming and decided it was a wonderful opportunity.  I am always looking for a better, more sustainable way to farm and was so excited to get picked for this program.”  

– Tiffany Stanley, A Different Chick Farm

Research Results

Tiffany Stanley’s farmer-led trial examined whether the farm could make compost that could match the yields of commercial fertilizers, to support the farm to be more self-sustaining, and build soil health with on-farm inputs.

Key Findings:

  • Lab analysis showed that the green manure recipe had significantly lower nutrient availability than the chicken manure recipe (Figure 2). While this did not translate into statistically significant differences in fruit quantity or yield, differences in plant health and pest susceptibility were observed.

  • Plants grown with chicken manure exhibited robust growth and showed lesser aphid pressure. Plants grown with green manure and fertilizer demonstrated greater susceptibility to aphids, which may have been due to their lower nutrient availability and overall reduced plant health.

While the trial showed no statistically significant difference in cucumber quantity, yield, or average fruit weight between the treatments, Tiffany did notice that the cucumbers grown with chicken manure seemed healthier and more resistant to pest pressure. In the future, she plans to further experiment with her compost recipe, keeping chicken manure in the mix to help achieve her on-farm fertility goals.

For full details on the study’s methodology and results, read the final report.

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

To learn more about composting and farm fertility programs check out these resources:

To learn more about A Different Chick Farm, you can find them on Instagram and Facebook or visit their website: https://adifferentchickfarm.com/ or watch a YouTube video they made about their Farmer-Led Trial.

By |2025-12-09T17:25:14-05:00October 10th, 2024|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News, On-Farm Research, Soil Health|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Salad Days Farm

Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager

A female farmer in a purple coat smiles as the camera in front of rows of lettuce growing in a high tunnel.

Maggie Dungan, farmer at Salad Days Farm

Salad Days farm is a diverse vegetable operation situated on 30 acres in Versailles, Kentucky. Certified organic since 2015, farmer Maggie Dungan’s interest in growing food started with an education in nutrition and the long dream for her family to be self-sustaining. The farm grows year-round in the field and in hoop houses to supply their on-farm store, restaurants, schools, and four weekly farmers’ markets.

Maggie works hard to keep mechanization on her farm minimal, focusing on cover cropping, minimal tillage, and other soil health conservation practices. She keeps only 2-4 acres of the farm in production, allowing her to focus on the quality of her systems to grow high-value and sustainable food for her community.

Impact of Solarization on Soil Microbiology

The inside of a high tunnel, showing alternating rows of uncovered soil and soil covered with clear plastic for solarization research.

Solarization plots in the high tunnel.

Maggie was first exposed to the practice of solarization using clear plastic in 2022 when the farm participated in a research project with the University of Kentucky. The project studied the effect of solarization in high tunnels on root-knot nematode populations. She was impressed by the results of the trial and saw first-hand how this technique impacted a persistent soil pathogen. 

Organic farmers like Maggie, who focus on minimizing tillage, must still manage pathogens, weeds, and other common challenges, and solarization offers potential benefits. However, Maggie was concerned about the impact of the treatment on her soil health, and had some questions – if solarization kills pathogens, won’t it kill the good microbiology, too? How does heat smothering with a plastic tarp impact soil microbial activity? What is the impact on fungal-to-bacterial ratios?

Before beginning to incorporate soil solarization into her field plans, Maggie wanted some answers, and applied for OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trial program to help her build out a solid research plan and find reliable results that would have a positive impact on her operation.

Farm Trial Plan

With technical support from OFRF, the Salad Days trial on soil solarization took shape. By refining her research question to: “What is the temporal and population effect of solarization on the beneficial microbes in the high tunnel?” the research team was able to build an approachable and testable project on the farm.  

Maggie and OFRF built out a block design with two treatments: No soil solarization in the hoop house, used as her control, or regular practice compared to soil solarization in the hoop house. Using her 30’x100’ hoop house as the location for the trial and mapping areas for the treatments, Maggie used a microbiometer to take three different soil samples: first a baseline reading, then one 2 weeks and 4 weeks, respectively, after the tarp had been removed from the treatment plots.

What is solarization?

Solarization is the process of placing a clear plastic tarp over a field or garden bed to heat up the soil underneath. The intention of solarization is to kill weeds or grass, but is also known to reduce pathogen populations in the soil.

On-Farm Trial Updates

Maggie took her final soil reading in early August, four weeks after she removed the tarps from their beds. While she originally hypothesized that the soil microbes would bounce back, she guessed that their populations would need some time to recover after the tarp treatment. 

8 bags of soil sit on a metal counter next to a soil testing kit.

Soil testing for the on-farm trial.

The OFRF team has begun to work with the data collected to get an understanding of any significant differences. In Maggie’s experiment, we see that microbial biomass over time differed depending on whether or not the area had been tarped. Under solarization, microbial biomass increased over time, while biomass decreased over time in areas that had not been tarped. Also, the fungal-to-bacterial ratio was higher under solarization than in bare soil. The ratio was not affected by time after tarp removal.

The data is compelling, and OFRF will be looking into similar research to better understand the why of these results and give Maggie the assurance she is looking for to deploy a practice that continues to foster the health of her soil and improve her farming system.

“Being able to tailor a research project specific to my farm but useful to all growers has been a great opportunity and having the technical assistance from OFRF has been integral.”

– Maggie Dungan, Salad Days Farm

A graph showing the microbial biomass in solarized and non solarized plots over time, with solarized plots higher than the control.

Research Results

Maggie Dungan’s farmer-led trial examined the impact of soil solarization on microbial communities in high tunnels. Using a MicroBIOMETER, she measured soil microbial biomass and fungal-to-bacterial ratios before and after solarization to assess how the treatment affected soil life.

Key Findings:

  • Microbial Biomass Increased Over Time: Contrary to expectations, soil microbial biomass was higher in solarized plots compared to non-solarized plots, suggesting that the practice does not harm beneficial microbes.
  • Fungal-to-Bacterial Ratio Shifted: Solarized plots had a higher fungal-to-bacterial ratio, indicating a potential shift in soil microbiology post-treatment.
  • Potential for Weed & Pathogen Management: While originally concerned about negative effects, Maggie’s findings suggest that soil solarization can be an effective weed and pathogen control method without long-term damage to soil biology.

Encouraged by these results, Maggie plans to continue using soil solarization as part of her organic weed and pathogen management strategy. Future research could explore how different durations of solarization impact microbial communities and soil health over multiple growing seasons.

For full details on the study’s methodology and results, read the final report.

screenshot of Salad Days Farm's OFRF FLT final reports of results

This story is part of a series profiling farmers who are taking part in OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials (FLT) program. Farmers receive technical support from OFRF to address their 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 soil solarization, check out these helpful resources on the web: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/solarization-occultation 

To learn more about Salad Days Farm, visit https://www.saladdaysfarm.com

By |2025-12-09T17:37:34-05:00September 5th, 2024|Farmer Stories, FLT Highlight, News, On-Farm Research, Soil Health, Weeds|
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