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.

The first episode of season 2 is a short introduction to Jason and Jill Bishop of Living Heritage Farm in Edwall, Washington. In our ‘pre-season episode’ Jason and Jill describe coming back to the farm and working to build out value-added direct marketing enterprises to support the addition of their family on the farm. Hear how they embrace the farm name, and their experiences ranging from specialty beef, to seed increases from the Einkorn heritage grain patch started in their suburban Seattle backyard.

In this episode we hear from WSU Extension Specialist Aaron Esser, and land-owner cooperator Howard Nelson of Creston, WA. In this interview on the WSU Wilke Research Farm in Davenport, WA our guests discuss liming trials along with soil pH as it relates to maintaining soil health. We also hear about a long history of collaboration from work on winter peas, to decision-making for the advisory committee for the Wilke Farm.

In this episode of the On-Farm Trials podcast we hear from Clay Hutchens of Hutchens Family Farms outside of Dayton, Washington. Join the conversation to hear from Clay as the Washington Soil Health Initiative’s Soil Health Producer of the Year for 2023, what soil health means to him and his perspective on the imperative of a safe and abundant food supply. He shares his thoughts on soil acidification and his experience collaborating with the Columbia County Conservation District to ameliorate soil acidification with lime, and his experience as an early adopter of precision nutrient management technology - don’t miss his description of adapting his early computers to the tractor cab!