On-Farm Research

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 |2025-12-17T17:37:36-05:00December 10th, 2024|Farmer Stories, 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 |2025-12-17T17:37:44-05:00November 7th, 2024|Farmer Stories, News, On-Farm Research, Plant Breeding & Variety Selection|
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Farmer-Led Trials Forum 2024

OFRF believes in supporting organic farmers and ranchers in their constant search for innovation and farm profitability. The Farmer-Led Trials (FLT) program puts farmers in the driver’s seat and recognizes their wisdom, experimentation, and problem-solving skills. Built in the spirit of curiosity and collaboration, this program supports farmers and ranchers in conducting impactful research that can address their unique challenges. The FLT provides farmers with technical assistance and a small amount of funding to investigate and learn about solutions to their most pressing production challenges.

In this forum, you will hear from four of the organic farmers in the 2024 FLT cohort:

  • Maggie Dungan (Salad Days Farm, KY),
  • Jorge Reyes (Reyes Vineyard, CA),
  • Nathan Lada (Green Things Farm Collective, MI), and
  • Rhianna Simes (Verdant Phoenix Farm, OR).

OFRF staff will also provide an overview of steps to conduct on-farm research trials, share opportunities to participate in the program, and explain how it can impact your farm operation.

By |2026-03-02T12:32:16-05:00October 31st, 2024|Certification & Compliance, Insects & Diseases, On-Farm Research, Resource, Soil Health, Weeds|
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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 |2025-12-17T17:37:52-05:00October 10th, 2024|Farmer Stories, 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 |2025-12-17T17:37:59-05:00September 5th, 2024|Farmer Stories, News, On-Farm Research, Soil Health, Weeds|
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Farmer-Led Trials Program Spotlight: Jorge Reyes

Written by Jose Perez, OFRF’s Research & Education Engagement Coordinator

Image: Jorge Reyes in the vineyard.

Jorge proudly comes from a Mexican migrant farmworker family who had a dream of owning a farm one day. After retiring from the Navy, he was able to purchase a 3-acre vineyard located in Potrero, California. Jorge’s young vineyard produces organic grapes, and it is in the process of obtaining organic certification. Jorge plans to produce organic wine.

Finding the Right On-Farm Challenge to Focus On

Jorge was initially interested in conducting a farm trial to find solutions for suppressing gophers. These little creatures are a constant challenge at the vineyard because they burrow in the soil and chew on the roots, severely damaging or killing the vines. He was also interested in testing different practices to manage wasps during grape maturation and harvest. OFRF staff discussed with Jorge the difficulty of designing a farm trial based on these two challenges, given practical limitations, such as the size of the farm and the length of time needed.

The challenges on a young vineyard are not in short supply, so Jorge pivoted to focus on the use of mulch for soil moisture retention, weed management and grape quality. Improving soil moisture is critical to Jorge’s operation, as the irrigation depends on a solar-powered pump. The local climate conditions are generally very dry, with 9 to 11 inches of rain during the winter season. Wildfires are a frequent risk during the dry season, making soil moisture a critical factor and cost to Jorge’s operation.

On-Farm Trial Updates

With OFRF technical support, Jorge is now conducting a paired comparison where 10 grapevines with mulch will be compared with 10 vines with no mulch. Jorge applied 3 inches high of mulch around the vine (about a 4-foot area for each vine) in late May. He marked the trial area with stakes to identify each plant. 

To compare the moisture levels of the two treatments, Jorge purchased a soil moisture sensor. To date, he has conducted two measurements, one in late June and one in mid-July. Based on those readings, Jorge already sees a clear winner: The soil around the mulched grapevines has consistently been showing good moisture levels, while the readings around the un-mulched plants show dry conditions. Jorge’s own observations confirm this: “The mulch is like a double win, the mulch holds the moisture for longer and it suppresses the weeds as well… There are also a lot of creatures and biological activity in the mulched areas, while just putting the soil probe into the un-mulched areas was a challenge, as the soil was hard,” Jorge said.

Image: Side-by-side trials of mulched and un-mulched grape vines.

Jorge has not cut back on irrigation, but after seeing the immediate effects of mulch, he is considering doing so, which would represent some energy and cost savings. In terms of weed suppression, the pictures Jorge took of the plants in late June are striking (see attached pictures). The mulch successfully suppressed weed growth and can represent some labor savings in the long term. Finally, Jorge is curious to know if the mulch will affect the grapes’ sugar content levels. He is planning to conduct these measurements at harvest through a Brix meter.

Below images: un-mulched grape vines on left and mulched grape vines on right. 

“The mulch provides a beneficial ecosystem that is thriving with beneficial organisms like rollie-pollies and pinchers which help increase the soil health. I plan to double my effort to increase the mulch application. This will lead to water conservation, increase soil health, increase my crop yield and reduce my labor requirement. This is a win-win for the environment and myself.” – Jorge Reyes

Research Results

Jorge Reyes’ farmer-led trial examined the effects of mulching on soil moisture retention, weed suppression, and labor reduction in his organic vineyard. Over the course of the growing season, Jorge applied a 3-5” layer of organic mulch around selected grapevines and monitored soil moisture levels, weed presence, and grape sugar content (Brix levels).

Key Findings:

  • Increased Soil Moisture: In both Syrah and Viognier grape varieties, mulched plots consistently retained higher moisture levels compared to unmulched plots. This effect was statistically significant in Syrah at all sampling dates and in Viognier at two out of three sampling dates.
  • Reduced Weed Pressure & Labor Needs: Jorge observed fewer weeds in the mulched plots, leading to reduced labor for trimming and vineyard maintenance.
  • Potential Impact on Grape Quality: While not formally evaluated, preliminary Brix readings suggest mulched vines had slightly higher sugar content (22 vs. 20) than unmulched vines, indicating potential effects on fruit ripening.

Encouraged by these results, Jorge plans to integrate mulching as a long-term vineyard management strategy. He is particularly interested in further exploring its impact on grape yield, soil biodiversity, and irrigation efficiency in future seasons.

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

screenshot of Reyes Vineyard's OFRF FLT final reports of results

At OFRF we are excited to partner with Jorge in his quest to produce a high quality organic wine, while sharing with other small scale grapevine producers the effects of mulching.

“I am 100% sold on organic, protecting our environment and learning to cohabitate with nature. Organic should be the only option, we need to consume healthy food that is not going to poison us.” – Jorge Reyes 

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/

By |2025-12-17T17:38:07-05:00August 2nd, 2024|Farmer Stories, News, On-Farm Research, Soil Health, Water Management & Irrigation, Weeds|
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Organic Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Ajay Nair

Integrating poultry, cover crops & vegetable production can reduce purchased inputs while increasing yields

Written by Brian Geier

Dr. Ajay Nair, Department of Horticulture Chair, Iowa State University

Organic farmers with successful Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems (ICLS) report benefits ranging from increased farm productivity and reduced inputs to improvements in soil fertility and increased nutrient density in food products. Additionally, organic farmers report site-specific benefits, for instance livestock grazing that provides unique options for crop pest control or decreases the need for mechanical cultivation (learn more about these specific benefits to organic farmers in OFRF’s Crop-Livestock Integration resources). 

While these benefits are becoming better understood, researchers at Iowa State University, led by Dr. Ajay Nair, wanted to look more closely at a specific crop-livestock integration scenario: poultry and diversified organic vegetable production systems. “Commonly researched and implemented methods of crop-livestock integration in the United States,” they write, “include grazing livestock on cover crops, rotational grazing of permanent pasture, and grazing livestock on crop residues such as corn or wheat. Several reviews on crop-livestock integration discuss its benefits, such as increased soil organic carbon, aggregate stability, enhanced nutrient cycling, and increased soil nitrogen (N). There is, however, limited research on the integration of animals in vegetable production.” Now, with funding from USDA’s Organic Agriculture Research & Education Initiative (OREI), Dr. Nair and a team of researchers across the country are evaluating poultry, cover crop and vegetable integration.  

Pastured Poultry: a unique fit for diversified vegetable production

Organic vegetable production systems are often highly diversified, requiring intensive management techniques and quick turnaround times between crops. Poultry, which require less space and are easier to move than other livestock could prove to be a unique fit for organic vegetable farmers. Add to that the relatively low capital investment and many growers and researchers wonder if integrating poultry with vegetables could be profitable while still meeting food safety and National Organic Program requirements. “‘How will I integrate poultry? Where? When?’ That was the number one question our growers had,” explains project lead, Dr. Nair.

Above, left: the three rotations in the study are: 1) vegetable > vegetable > cover crop (V-CC), 2) vegetable > cover crop > poultry (V-CC-P), and 3) vegetable > poultry > cover crop (V-P-CC). Above, right: a floorless coop moves around a cover crop in a plot where treatment 2 (V-CC-P) is being evaluated.

The research evaluates the effects of pasturing poultry in movable, floorless coops through vegetable and cover crop rotations. The multi-state project, which involves research in Iowa, Kentucky and California won’t conclude until August of 2024, but it already has several key findings:

  1. Poultry and cover crops can successfully be integrated with vegetable production systems.
  2. Where poultry are integrated with vegetable production systems, nitrogen inputs can be reduced while vegetable yields are increased.
  3. In field tests at Iowa State University, over time, more weeds accumulated in systems where poultry were integrated with vegetables than in systems without poultry.  
  4. Birds in this study are more efficient at converting food to meat. The Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) of birds in this study is almost double that of conventionally raised broilers. 

The impact of USDA funding for organic research & farmers

Dr. Nair, a professor at the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Science who in July of this year became the Department Chair, credits the USDA/NIFA’s Organic Research and Extension Initiative for making projects like his possible all over the country.

“OREI is the foundation for several of the organic projects that happen across the country, and we are very thankful for NIFA for having such a dedicated program for organic growers. It serves as a good platform for us to reach out to organic growers and for organic growers to reach out to us.” -Dr. Ajay Nair

You can learn more about this project and the importance of OREI in this video excerpt from OFRF’s interview with Dr. Nair in early 2024:

This research is funded by the USDA/NIFA’s Organic Research and Extension Initiative. To learn more about OFRF’s advocacy work to protect and increase this type of funding, and how you can help become an advocate for organic farming with us, see our Advocacy page.

By |2025-12-17T18:01:25-05:00July 17th, 2024|Livestock, News, On-Farm Research, Soil Health|
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Organic Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Dil Thavarajah

A breeding pipeline is developing improved pulse crops for organic farmers in the southeast

Written by Brian Geier

New cultivars of pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas, and field peas) may soon be available to organic farmers! These improved varieties, under development through a project led at Clemson University (CU), will: 

  1. be suitable for crop rotations with cash crops currently being grown on organic farms in North and South Carolina,
  2. have high protein content and quality, and 
  3. be climate resilient (to heat, drought, and cold stress). 

The Principal Investigator on the project, Dr. Dil Thavarajah, is an internationally-recognized leader in pulse biofortification (breeding for nutritional traits) who leads CU’s Pulse Biofortification and Nutritional Breeding Program. Her project, Sustainable, high-quality organic pulse proteins: organic breeding pipeline for alternative pulse-based proteins, is funded by USDA/NIFA’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), a program OFRF’s advocacy work aims to bolster and protect. 

Dr. Thavarajah brings an extensive background in pulse breeding and an international focus to the effort to develop organic cultivars for farmers in the southeast.

 “I think the international component is very important because pulse crops especially are inbred and they are not very genetically diverse. Major universities with pulse breeding programs in the US are all conventional. We need to exchange material because the material they develop for conventional is not going to work with organic. Organic is a whole different ball game.”  -Dr. Dil Thavarajah

The project builds on a previous OREI grant that helped to identify varieties that worked well in organic crop rotations with sorghum. These varieties are now being evaluated to identify those with higher protein and sugar content, and better protein quality (measured both by digestibility and consumer preference). Dr. Thavarajah calls her approach “participatory breeding” that includes both consumers and farmers in the process. Interestingly, higher sugar content not only makes pulse crops sweeter and preferred by consumers, but also makes the plant more climate resilient. Having more sugar alcohols in the plants means the plants are more likely to remain healthy through drought stress, extreme heat, or cold snaps.

Ultimately, though, the farmer-collaborators are the centerpiece of the breeding program. “I don’t think I could be successful without my growers,” she admits. The willingness of farms like W.P. Rawl and Sons to trial new varieties and crop rotations led to successful grant proposals and may very well lead to new cultivars being released to farmers very soon. To acknowledge this, Dr. Thavarajah looks forward to releasing new varieties that bear the names and legacies of the farmers involved in the project. 

Learn more about Dr. Thavarajah’s work (including advice for fellow researchers applying for OREI funding) by watching the following short video interview with OFRF, and follow her work to stay updated on the release of biofortified pulse crops for organic farmers in the southeast!

This research is funded by the USDA/NIFA’s Organic Research and Extension Initiative. To learn more about OFRF’s advocacy work to protect and increase this type of funding, and how you can help become an advocate for organic farming with us, see our Advocacy page.

By |2025-12-17T17:58:49-05:00March 20th, 2024|Climate Change, Cover Crops & Crop Rotation, Education, News, On-Farm Research, Plant Breeding & Variety Selection|
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TOMI: Organic Management and Improvement of Tomatoes

Building on previous research (TOMI Phase I), the Tomato Organic Management and Improvement – TOMI Phase II project integrates soil microbiome research, induced systemic resistance, and farmer-participatory breeding to develop disease-resistant, flavorful tomatoes for organic systems. Microbial biofungicides and organic amendments support healthy soils while reducing pathogen risks. Advanced breeding lines show promise for regional adaptation and market-ready quality. Download the full report to learn more about tomato varieties and soil-based disease management strategies.

By |2026-03-02T12:19:20-05:00February 12th, 2024|On-Farm Research, Plant Breeding & Variety Selection, Resource|
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Carrot Improvement for Organic Agriculture: Leveraging On-Farm and Below-Ground Networks

The Carrot Improvement for Organic Agriculture (CIOA) project develops carrot varieties suited to organic systems, using farmer-participatory trials and soil microbiome research. These efforts improve disease resistance, nutrient uptake, flavor, and market traits. Advanced breeding lines include orange, purple, red, and yellow carrots with improved resilience and quality. Download the full report to learn more about these varieties and on-farm research insights.

By |2026-03-02T12:18:10-05:00February 12th, 2024|On-Farm Research, Plant Breeding & Variety Selection, Resource|
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