Farmers’ Guide to Conducting On-Farm Research 2024 Research Manuals & Guides
Description
A guide to conducting on-farm research by the Organic Farming Research Foundation.

Publish Date
November 7, 2024
Farmer(s)
Overwintering hoophouse crops in northern Ontario 2023 Research Project Seed Production, Selection & Breeding
Description

Ryan and Isabelle tested different varieties and planting dates across two winter seasons to assess overwintering success of kale, cilantro and swiss chard in their unheated hoophouses in Cache Bay, northern Ontario.

 

In a Nutshell
  • Kale and cilantro successfully overwintered in both years and were affected by their locations between the two hoophouses.

  • Swiss chard did not survive in 2022 and was not included in the 2022/2023 trial.

  • Planting date did not affect the yield of kale or cilantro.

  • Winterbor F1 was the best kale of the three varieties tested and Caribe was the best cilantro of three varieties tested, with respect to its saleability and survivability.

Publish Date
November 6, 2024
Farmer(s)
Ryan Spence and Isabelle Spence-Legault
Planting methods for easyleaf type lettuce 2023 Research Project Soil Health
Description

To optimize labour associated with planting of easyleaf lettuce, farmers at Fresh City Farms compared transplanting, direct seeding and a step-in method.

 

In a Nutshell
  • Among four succession plantings, there was a lot of variability and we were unable to discern clear differences between the three planting methods.

  • Trends and observations support that transplanting has the potential to be highest yielding; and, depending on soil conditions, the step-in method may reduce labour time.

  • The process of conducting a trial on the farm highlighted other areas for optimization, such as bed preparation, which ultimately led to greater yields in 2024.

Publish Date
November 6, 2024
Farmer(s)
Jeremy Stojan
Assessment of established beetle banks for pest control in small scale market gardens 2023 Research Project Pollinator Service
Description
To explore the use of beetle banks at smaller scales, Fianna established a beetle bank in the market garden at Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute urban farm.

 

In a Nutshell
  • There was the same type of ground beetles in the beetle banks and cropped beds

  • There were more ground beetles in beetle banks than cropped areas

  • Beetle banks provided habitat for numerous other beneficial insects in addition to ground beetles

  • Beetle banks provide opportunities for niche enterprises such as cut flowers and mushroom production

Publish Date
October 24, 2024
Farmer(s)
Fianna Dirks
No-till organic potatoes with a rye cover crop 2023 Research Project Soil Health
Description

Continuing previous work on an organic system for no-till potatoes, Ken tested the performance of the varieties in this system and the effect of planting depth on marketable weight.

 

In a Nutshell

  • Gemstar Russet and SP327 produced similar yield and marketable weight under tilled and no-till management

  • Norland had lower yields under no-till management

  • Ken found no significant difference in yield or marketable weight between 3” and 5” depths under no-till management

Publish Date
July 30, 2024
Farmer(s)
Ken Laing
No-till potato variety trial 2023 Research Project Seed Production, Selection & Breeding
Description
Rob evaluated 28 potato varieties using a no-till deep mulch method with spoiled hay that requires no hilling.

 

In a Nutshell

  • Most of the potato varieties, including a diversity of types, did well with the mulch method with limited greening.

  • Chieftain had the highest yield and marketable yield.

  • Huckleberry Gold, Yukon Gold, Kennebec, Sangre, Purple Viking, Dakota Pearl were lowest yielding varieties.

Publish Date
July 15, 2024
Farmer(s)
Rob Read
Cover crops to regenerate fallow fields for vegetable production 2022 Research Project Cover Crops
Description
Over two years, Eric compared five methods of preparing fallow land for vegetable production with respect to soil regeneration and cost of implementation.

 

In a Nutshell

  • Cover crops with micronutrient amendments increased active carbon, a sensitive indicator of soil health and soil regeneration potential.

  • Micronutrient amendments alone did not increase active carbon.

  • Eric saw some added benefit of adding chicken manure and woody compost to the diverse cover crop, with respect to yield and cost effectiveness per unit biomass of an indicator crop of sorghum sudangrass.

  • Moving forward, whether Eric uses cover crops with or without manure and compost will depend on the return on investment of the following cash crop.

Publish Date
November 14, 2023
Farmer(s)
Eric Barnhorst
Farmer knowledge as formal knowledge: A case study of farmer-led research in Ontario, Canada 2023 Manuscripts Community
Description
Abstract

Farmer-led research (FLR) is a process of inquiry wherein farmers use scientific methods to address their own on-farm curiosities and challenges in ways that are compatible with the scale and management style of their operations. With its flexible, adaptable, participatory, grassroots-oriented nature, FLR has typically been employed by farmers interested in ecological farming techniques and technologies, and evidence shows that it contributes to the adoption and improvement of ecological management practices across a range of contexts. Engagement in FLR initiatives has also been linked to positive social outcomes, including community building, farmer empowerment, and enhanced capacity for leadership and collective action. In this paper, we present a case study of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario’s (EFAO) Farmer-Led Research Program (FLRP), which is currently one of relatively few FLR initiatives in North America. We draw on data from a participatory, mixed-methods research project. Our results highlight how the FLRP is enabling farmers to feel more knowledgeable, confident, motivated, and inspired to adopt and/or improve ecological practices on their farms, in part by supporting them in building robust social networks that align with their farming values and priorities.

Keywords

  • Farmer-led Research, Ecological Agriculture, Farmer-to-Farmer Networks, Knowledge-Sharing, Social Learning, Evidence-Informed Practice, Ontario

Publish Date
August 23, 2023
Farmer(s)
Farmer-researchers
Essai de variété de gombo dans le sud de l’Ontario et le sud du Québec 2022 Research Project Seed Production, Selection & Breeding
Description

Rav et les autres agriculteurs voulaient documenter les meilleures variétés de gombo pour la production dans différentes fermes du sud de l’Ontario et du Québec.

En Bref

  • Une grande variabilité entre les variétés a rendu difficile la distinction entre les « meilleures » et les « pires » variétés de gombo.
  • La variété Emerald Green a été performante en ce qui concerne la germination, le rendement, la cote et les préférences des producteurs.
  • Les clients du marché des producteurs et des paniers d’ASC aiment toutes les variétés. Les producteurs sont alors invités à opter pour les variétés les mieux adaptées à leur système de production.

Read report in english

Publish Date
July 5, 2023
Farmer(s)
Rav Singh, Orlando Martin Lopez Gomez, Nikola Barsoum, Jessica Tong, Rashel Tremblay, Nasser Boumenna, Paterne Mirindi, Hamidou Maïga
Living Laboratories Initiative: Advancing Reduced Tillage for Organic Vegetable Systems 2022, 2021, 2020 Research Project Cover Crops
Description

To innovate systems that reduce tillage and keep the soil covered using cover crops for organic vegetable production in southern Ontario, Ken Laing tested 60+ combinations of crops and ground cover over three years.

In a Nutshell

The most promising systems that emerged from his investigations included:

  • Garlic no-till planted in the fall into a mown cover crop of sorghum sudangrass
  • Potatoes no-till planted into winter rye, which is mown before potato emergence
  • Winter squash no-till planted into hairy vetch or deep compost mulch
  • Field tomatoes planted into winter rye and hairy vetch; with more trials needed to confirm

Publish Date
May 25, 2023
Farmer(s)
Ken Laing
Living Laboratories Initiative: Advancing Reduced Tillage for Organic Field Crop Systems 2022, 2021 Research Project Soil Health
Description

As part of the Living Lab–Ontario project funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Brett Israel tested strategies to make reduced tillage more scalable for organic field crop production systems in southern Ontario by double cropping soybeans with small grains and forages and adding N-fixing forages to his corn rotation.

In a Nutshell

Over two years of trials, the most promising systems that emerged from his investigations included:

  • Overwintered cereal rye harvested for forage before planting soybeans
  • Winter barley planted ahead of short season soybeans
  • Spring-planted alfalfa harvested for forage and then incorporated as the sole nitrogen source for the following corn crop

Publish Date
May 25, 2023
Farmer(s)
Brett Israel
Fava bean variety trial for field and rooftop gardens in southern Ontario 2022 Research Project Seed Production, Selection & Breeding
Description

The growers’ objectives were to document the best fava varieties for urban rooftop and field production across different farms in southern Ontario.

In a Nutshell

  • Distinguishing the “best” and “worst” among fava varieties wasn’t possible due to crop failure and missing data
  • All fava varieties had issues with disease and heat stress, leading growers to note a need for regionally adapted varieties of fava
  • Fava was a popular item at markets and through CSAs as many customers don’t see fresh fava very often!

Publish Date
May 3, 2023
Farmer(s)
Micheline Lalond; Michelle Dang; Martina Schaefer; Leslie Moskovits
Iceberg lettuce variety trial 2022 Research Project Seed Production, Selection & Breeding
Description

The growers’ objectives were to document the best iceberg lettuce varieties for successional head production across different farms in southern Ontario; and to assess the viability of the varieties for seed production in Zone 3 in northern Ontario.

In a Nutshell

  • Iceberg can be a difficult lettuce to grow and market because of the variability and inconsistencies in head development
  • Due to issues with replication, no concrete recommendations can be made on which iceberg variety is best for successional head production in southern Ontario
  • Two varieties that rose to the top for growers were Laibacher Eis 4 and Marius, both of which came from a co-operative organic breeding network in Germany
  • Due to disease pressure, no seed was produced in Zone 3 from any of the iceberg varieties

Publish Date
May 3, 2023
Farmer(s)
Kristine Hammel; Sarah Judd; Evalisa McIllfaterick
Red pepper variety trial for Ontario and British Columbia 2022 Research Project Seed Production, Selection & Breeding
Description

Mike and the other farmers wanted to document the best red pepper varieties for production across different farms in southern Ontario and on one farm in British Columbia.

In a Nutshell

  • Ace F1 is still the red pepper to beat in terms of productivity and flavour
  • Some growers around Guelph experienced extreme levels of pepper maggot infestation, which prevented some data collection for the trial
  • Most Ontario growers mentioned that they would not likely grow these varieties of red peppers outdoors again, but instead would stick to poly tunnels or hoophouses as yields and quality are better
  • Ace F1, Sprinter, and Crimson Carillon surfaced as favourites for the unreplicated hoop house trial in British Columbia

Publish Date
May 2, 2023
Farmer(s)
Mike Smith; Anne Dockendorff; Matthew Brearley; Karlo Bobinac; Angie Koch and Nikola Barsoum; David Catzel, Siri van Gruen, and Gillian Murphy
Okra variety trial for southern Ontario and southern Québec 2022 Research Project Seed Production, Selection & Breeding
Description

Rav and the other farmers wanted to document the best okra varieties for production across different farms in southern Ontario and Québec.

In a Nutshell

  • High variability among varieties made it difficult to distinguish “best” and “worst” okra varieties
  • Emerald Green performed well with respect to germination, yield, ratings, and grower preferences
  • Market and CSA customers like all varieties, so go with the varieties that are best suited to your production system

Lire le rapport en français

Publish Date
May 1, 2023
Farmer(s)
Rav Singh; Orlando Martin Lopez Gomez; Nikola Barsoum; Jessica Tong; Rashel Tremblay; Nasser Boumenna; Paterne Mirindi; Hamidou Maïga
Screening of quinoa transplant date and viability 2022 Research Project Seed Production, Selection & Breeding
Description

In a continuation of his 2021 quinoa variety screening trial, Dean screened the viability of transplanting quinoa for five seeding dates and two transplant dates.

In a Nutshell

  • Quinoa can be successfully grown from transplants and this method offers excellent weed control under organic management
  • The efforts and cost of transplanting labour appears to be feasible with the high price of organic quinoa
  • Dean believes that with no difference in germination and transplant survivability, earlier transplanted quinoa would be easier to manage with a longer harvest window and less possibility of head sprouting in the fall

Publish Date
April 3, 2023
Farmer(s)
Dean Orr
Alternatives to traditional peat moss starter mixes 2022 Research Project Soil Health
Description

Hans was interested in finding a starter mix that can produce healthy and vigorous seedlings without the use of peat moss.

In a Nutshell

  • Both biochar and coco coir mixes performed comparatively well to ProMix BX by Hans’ observation
  • Hans prefers the potential of biochar mixes over coco coir, given that biochar can be locally sourced or produced
  • More on-farm trials are needed to assess the viability of alternative starter mixes
  • More research is needed into the life cycle assessment of both peat moss and biochar

Publish Date
March 31, 2023
Farmer(s)
Hans Ning
When is intensive too intensive? The production of table beets in three vs. four row spacing 2022 Research Project Weed Control
Description

Ann wanted to know if there was a yield benefit to growing four-row compared to three-row beets in a three foot bed system. She also wanted to investigate whether there is a difference in labour required for weeding and disease pressure between the two systems.

In a Nutshell

  • Using an Earthway seeder with no thinning, Ann found no difference in beet yield between three-row and four-row plantings.
  • Ann observed three-row beets were less labour intensive for weeding and that she could use time-saving tools like a wheel hoe longer into the season.

Publish Date
March 15, 2023
Farmer(s)
Ann Slater
Quantifying plant available nitrogen from cover crops 2022 Research Project Cover Crops
Description
Jesse and Meghan wanted to understand the contribution of spring legume cover crops
towards the nitrogen requirements of the following cash crop. They established a randomized
block design with low- and high-legume cover crop treatments. They sampled cover crop
biomass and used lab analyzes paired with a free online calculator from Oregon State
University to estimate plant available nitrogen (PAN) from the cover crops, and also tested
an in-field method to estimate PAN. Finally, they took soil nitrate samples throughout the
growing season to better understand the best tools to manage his fertility.

In a Nutshell

  • Legume cover crop mixes can supply a lot of PAN, potentially in excess of the needs of some vegetable crops.
  • Cover crops act as an effective catch crop by reducing soil nitrate early in the season.
  • Legume content in a cover crop mix moderates in-season PAN as indicated by soil nitrate.
  • Cover crop biomass sampling coupled with lab analysis and the online calculator provided a simple, cost effective tool for quantifying PAN contribution of cover crops.
  • Both pre-plant and mid-season soil nitrate-nitrogen sampling were effective tools for predicting PAN availability when Jesse and Meghan compared their results to the literature.

Publish Date
February 22, 2023
Farmer(s)
Jesse Way and Meghan Brandenburg
Organic no-till soybean production: Making it work in Ontario 2020, 2019 Research Project Cover Crops
Description
Growing cover crop-based organic no-till soybeans requires a different system approach than for standard organic production. Three years of extensive research trials in Ontario have guided the development of four key best practices for growing no-till organic soybeans following a cereal rye cover crop. This tip sheet is designed to provide practical advice for Ontario growers.

Publish Date
September 20, 2022
Farmer(s)
Jake Munroe