Among their many tasks, farmers engage in informal research regularly. Trying a new variety, a new technique, a new product requires background research, forming a good question, testing the new approach, and keeping records for comparison. For the past three years the Ohio Organic Farmer Researcher Network has offered support for farmers to develop their on-farm questions, connect to research resources, and share results with other farmers and farm educators.
This fall the network has organized a series of Fall Farmer Exchanges. Each event will provide opportunities to see farmer-led research that focuses on organic and regenerative farming practices. Tour organizers encourage attendance from others who have experimented or wondered about these or similar research questions. Events will include ample time for questions and discussion. To register or learn more, visit: go.osu.edu/oofrn-fall25 or contact Cassy Brown at 330-263-3634 or brown.1844@osu.edu.
Woodlyn Acres Farm in Dalton, Ohio (Wayne County) will host an August 27 tour on their current project comparing plow-down vs. harvest of leguminous cover crops. Scott Myers will share how this on-farm research project was designed with other area farmers and what questions they hope to answer. He will discuss other conservation practices they have tested on-farm. This research is part of a larger multi-institution project creating farmer-led research nodes across Ohio and Missouri to improve the performance of conservation practices. Read more about the From the Ground Up Project at ftgup.org. Registration for this tour is encouraged to help with planning.
On September 3, Rose Hill Farm in Roseville, Ohio (Muskingum County) will share their investigations of managing cucurbit pests with cover crops. Henry Peller will share the ways Rose Hill has used cover crops to impact their operation’s weed management and how it impacts soil health and other production concerns. Registration limited due to parking constraints.
In collaboration with Rural Action, Blue Owl Hollow in Newark, Ohio (Licking County) will host a tour of their forest farm on October 16. After the tour the focus shifts to a current on-farm mushroom spawn production trial which received a Warner grant from Ohio State’s Agroecosystem Management Program. Janell Baran and educators from Blue Owl and Rural Action will lead a Technical Woods Walk on forest farming from 12-3 p.m. From 4-6:30 p.m., participants can join a demonstration and discussion about the research project with Baran and other research team members Andy Gedeon of Soulshine Earth and Erika Lyon of Ohio State Extension Harrison County. Between the tour and research presentation we’ll have refreshments and time for one-on-one conversation. Registration for this event is limited. Carpooling is strongly encouraged!
The Ohio Organic Farmer Researcher Network is a group of farmers, agricultural professionals, and researchers who meet regularly to discuss emerging issues, possible projects, and recent or ongoing research on organic and other under-researched low-input practices. The group relies on farmer leadership but is facilitated and supported by staff at Central State University, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farming Association, and The Ohio State University. Learn more or sign up for updates at offer.osu.edu/oofrn.