FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nine Organic Farms Selected for Next Round of Innovative On-Farm Research Trials

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., April 9, 2026 — The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) is thrilled to announce its latest selection of organic farmers who will spearhead on-farm research trials with the support of OFRF in 2026.

Organic farmers are known for their resilience, investing time and resources while continuously innovating to overcome challenges such as pests, diseases, soil health, and climate change. Addressing these unique obstacles faced by certified organic and transitioning growers necessitates that farmers take an active role in identifying issues and testing viable solutions. To support this initiative, OFRF offers technical assistance to a select group of organic growers annually through its Farmer-Led Trials (FLT) program.

Entering its third year, the FLT program enables farmers to experiment with novel practices, inputs, varieties, or animal breeds aimed at enhancing profitability and environmental sustainability.

“As we prepare for the third year of OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials program, I am genuinely impressed by the research questions posed and the resulting outcomes,” stated Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager. “Each farmer’s commitment to caring for their land and feeding their communities, while mitigating environmental harm, is commendable. The shared curiosity among agriculturalists to deepen their understanding—both on a macro and micro scale—is truly motivating.”

Selected Farmers and Their Projects

The newly chosen cohort will explore various research questions, focusing on aspects such as organic livestock parasite management, climate-smart planting dates, and dry farming strategies. For those interested in the Farmer-Led Trials program, we invite you to visit our program page for the latest updates and testimonials from the 2025 cohort. Furthermore, we encourage farmers to access OFRF’s complimentary guidebook, Farmers Guide to Conducting On-Farm Research, which offers insights on structuring farm experiments to yield useful, reliable, and repeatable results.

About the Organic Farming Research Foundation

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), based in Santa Cruz, California, operates with a remote team across the United States. The organization aims to promote the advancement and widespread adoption of organic farming methods. OFRF engages in research, education, and policy advocacy to encourage more farmers and farmland to transition to organic production. For additional information about OFRF, please visit our website at www.ofrf.org.

Media Contact

Ashley Dulaney
Communications Director, OFRF
ashley@ofrf.org