Part one of this special two part series features Aaron Flansburg of Palouse, Washington describing his transition from long-term no-till practices to organic management. The first episode is a recording of the June 2024 ‘Farmwalk’ live from Aaron’s farm, co-hosted by the WSU Food Systems program and the Tilth Alliance.

Join the Farmwalk experience as we tour Aaron’s organic grains in the field, as he describes his trials and observations with fertility, marketing organic heritage grain, and weed management. Follow-up with part two, where we hear more on his reflections and lessons-learned a year later, along with what’s new in 2025!

In this episode of the On-Farm Trials podcast, we hear from special guest Eero Kovero of Pekola, Finland- alongside his host and compatriot in direct seeding practices, Mark Sheffels, from his farm in Wilbur, WA. Eero shares his experience connecting with PNW direct seed farmers Mark Sheffels and Russ Zenner for the past 25 years. In this episode we hear about Eero’s experience on his farm in Finland, his conversion to direct seeding practices after his first adventures in the PNW, and his diversified enterprise. The conversation explores the relationship that has developed over the past 25 years between farmers, the respective challenges of farming regardless of location, the power of connecting farmers across the world, and how Eero has played a key role in direct seed adoption in Finland by being a conduit for the lessons-learned in the PNW.

In this episode of the On-Farm Trials podcast, we have Eric Odberg from Odberg Farms in Genesee, Idaho return in season 2, to talk millet with Joni Kindwall-Moore of Snacktivist Foods based in Couer D’Alene, ID. Listen in as Eric and Joni share their trials with growing and marketing millet. The conversation explores the complexity of expanding alternative crops and markets, and how risk is distributed. We hear Eric’s experience of the agronomy for growing millet in Genesee, Joni shares more about millet varieties and quality traits, and why millet might be a good fit for a trial on your dinner plate!

Join the On-Farm Trials podcast to hear from guests Dr. Mark Thorne from the Weed Science program at Washington State University, and Grower-Cooperator Mark Hall of Steptoe, Washington. Listen as Mark Hall describes his experience farming in Steptoe, and the research collaboration with Dr. Mark Thorne on investigating the management of the pernicious perennial weed - Smooth Scouring Rush. In the conversation we hear how the collaboration got started, how the research questions for the management of Smooth Scouring Rush are being asked, what the findings from the research has been, and how it is being used across the farm.

In this episode of the On-Farm Trials podcast, we hear from the farm team of Starvation Farms outside of Lexington, OR. Join the conversation with Chris and Andre Rauch and Leon Luna as they share their experiences with soil health and 22 years of no-till practices and overcoming a legacy of blowing and crusting soil, trying alternative crops and rotations that include camelina and safflower, and adding market value to sustain expanded rotations. Listen to the history of Starvation Farms - like how it was named, as well as the many trials in the course of the farm’s legacy.

In this episode of the On-Farm Trials podcast, join the conversation between Grower Chris Williams and USDA-ARS Researchers Dr. Dan Long, and Dr. Stewart Wuest as they discuss their collaborative work using combine-mounted protein monitors on Chris’s farm outside of Athena, OR. Chris, Dan, and Stewart describe the what, why, and how of leveraging this ‘new’ precision technology in useful and usable ways including to map nitrogen use efficiency across the field, gain a greater understanding of how wheat responds to applied nitrogen, and how that information can translate into management decisions on the farm.

In this episode of the On-Farm Trials podcast, we’re on Esser Farms outside of Moscow, ID. Long-time innovator Garry Esser shares his experience with many soil-health focused trials starting with the transition to direct seed and being part of Shepherd’s Grain. Listen as Garry describes more recent trials such as alternative crop rotations, including intercropping with pulses and underseeding clovers, compost tea, and how ‘unintended consequences’ led to integrated grazing on the farm. The conversation explores getting your feet on the ground and seeing what you’re looking at - and how it can be more fun to try new things with friends.

In the first full episode of On-Farm Trials Season 2 Jason Bishop of Living Heritage Farm in Edwall, Washington, describes his trials building life on the farm with alternative crop rotations, intercropping, and a range of cover cropping strategies that include cows jumping fences- all while looking both forward and backward for inspiration to further the farm’s management goals.