The Organic Farming Research Foundation (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 will support farmers and ranchers in conducting impactful research that can address their unique challenges.
Organic farming and ranching take dedication, financial investment, and a great deal of trial and error to adapt to a growing array of pest, disease, and soil health challenges. In order to address the challenges certified organic and transitioning-to-organic producers face, OFRF’s FLT program will provide support for on-farm learning trials aimed at testing new practices, inputs, varieties, or animal breeds that can improve profitability and environmental sustainability, leading to more resilient organic farms and ranches.
A $1500 stipend is available to fund supplies, equipment, testing, and labor.
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 farmers or ranchers in the United States 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.
Follow this link to the OFRF website to learn more and apply by December 3, 2023. For help in the application process, contact OFRF’s Research and Education Engagement Coordinator, Jose Perez at jose@ofrf.org.