Are you an organic or transitioning farmer or rancher who wants to test out a new agricultural practice on your farm?
OFRF’s new Farmer-Led Trials program provides farmers with funding and technical assistance to investigate and learn about solutions to their most pressing production challenges. Read more to find out how you can be part of this program!
Research studies have shown that farmers greatly benefit when they lead on-farm research trials at their farms. Conducting your own research allows you to address your farm-specific questions, and has historically supported the adoption and innovation of sustainable agricultural practices across the world (Wettasinha, et al. 2014).
Program Goals
The goals of the FLT Program are to support farmers and ranchers in conducting practical, on-farm research that can address their farming challenges and to support farmer-led innovations in organic farming. While the FLT program includes direct technical and financial support, OFRF also aims to foster a broad community of farmer-researchers. Our newly released Farmers Guide to Conducting On-Farm Research (available now, free to download!) can be a reference for any farmer or rancher wanting to conduct their own on farm trials.
Priority topics for trial proposals include, but are not limited to the following areas:
- Weed suppression
- Maintaining or improving yields
- Soil health
- Cover crops
- Insect pest suppression
- Disease suppression
- Organic crop variety and seed trials
- Organic livestock breeds and management
Eligibility
Eligible participants include any farmer or rancher in the U.S. or its territories.
Farms must be certified organic or in transition to organic.
Participants must have management abilities, lease, or ownership of the farm where trials are to occur.
Priority will be given to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), veteran and beginning farmers.