Grant programs that support on-farm research:

Organic Foundation Research Foundation

ORFR funds projects up to $20,000, usually for one year. Research must meaningfully involve farmers and ranchers, and take place on certified organic land. for research on organic production systems. 

 

Western SARE Professional-Producer

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education center funds projects up to $85,000 for up to three years. Projects must involve the collaboration of 3+ producers, and address identified needs in sustainable agriculture. 

 

NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant On-Farm Trials

CIG projects are funded up to $5 million for three to five years. Awardees recruit producers and provide them with technical assistance and incentive payments to stimulate the adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches on private lands.

Learn more about best practices for on-farm research:​

 

Practical recommendations for researchers engaging in on-farm research. Rodgers et al., 2026

 

Successful approaches for on-farm experimentation. Roques et al., 2022

 

When working together goes against common sense: a framework to bridge conservation and agricultural perspectives in participatory working lands research. Wilmer et al., 2025

 

Would you, should you, could you? Guidelines for successful participatory, on-farm research in sustainable agriculture. Becker 2007 

 

On-farm experimentation to transform global agriculture. Lacoste 2021

Checklist of best practices for on-farm research

Download the full checklist HERE