Are you interested in being paid to conduct seed yield trials while contributing to vital research that will benefit seed producers across the country?
The Organic Seed Production Research on Economics and Yield (OSPREY) project is seeking participants for the final trials in 2027, especially if you or someone you know is from the following key growing regions:
- Southwest (i.e. Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California, Texas, Utah)
- Southeast/Mid-Atlantic (i.e. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia)
- Central/Midwest (i.e. Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin)
- Non-continental United States (i.e. Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico)
Even if you are unsure what you will grow in 2027, signing up now helps us understand regional interest, plan seed needs, and recruit from underrepresented growing regions.
Why This Matters:
Building a resilient organic seed system is challenging due to the lack of reliable data on seed yields and production costs. Your participation will help seed producers to:
- make informed decisions about which seed crops to grow
- better estimate yields and plan production
- understand the true costs and labor requirements of seed production
Trial Options:
Data analysis for 2025 and 2026 trials will determine trial structure in 2027. The trial core crops are broccoli (De Cicco, Solstice, Waltham 29), lettuce (Black Seeded Simpson, Green Towers, Red Salad Bowl), summer squash (Costata Romanesco, Dark Star, Yellow Crookneck) and tomato (Amish Paste, Brandywine, Peacevine).
Grow Your Own Trials: Track seed yield data for a seed crop of your choice (harvest from a minimum of 15 plants per crop).
Standard Trials: Track seed yield data for one or more of the core crop(s) and/or varieties (harvest from a minimum of 15 plants per variety).
Participants can sign up for multiple trials as space and time allow. Stipends can range from $200 to $400 per crop or trial, depending on what activities you participate in (stipend cap will depend on the final 2027 budget).
You must be Certified Organic to be eligible for in-field trial stipends.
If you are interested in participating, please complete this Google Survey Form. If you have any questions, please reach out to Molly Travis (molly@seedalliance.org) or Nico Enjalbert (nico@seedlinked.com).
