Our Mission
The Dry Farming Institute (DFI) empowers growers to thrive with less water. We support growers’ exploration of dry farming and other water resilient agricultural practices through collaborative projects, outreach and education.
Our Approach: Curiosity, Adaptation & Innovation
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to water resilience. That’s why we lead with curiosity, flexibility, and deep collaboration. DFI works alongside growers, agricultural advisors, and researchers to try new things, explore possibilities, and co-create place-based strategies grounded in lived experience.
Pathways to Water Resilient Farming:
What Adaptation Looks Like at DFI
Our Farm: A Living Laboratory for Dry Farming Innovation
Our farm sites serve as a living laboratory for hands-on experimentation and educational demonstration. From crop variety trials and seed stewardship to soil health and water conservation strategies, our land-based work generates practical insights that ground and inform all we do .
Our Work: Technical Assistance for Exploring Water Resilience
We partner with growers, agricultural advisors, and researchers, primarily in the maritime Pacific Northwest, to co-create low-input, water-resilient solutions that fit local contexts and challenges.
Flexible, Collaborative Projects
DFI is operating through a flexible, project-by-project model. This nimble approach allows us to test ideas and work with highly motivated partners on initiatives ranging from educational storytelling and workshops to technical support for demonstration farms. Each project is tailored to meet growers where they are and share what’s learned with broader networks.
2025 Projects
Storytelling for Impact: Case Studies
We’re capturing the stories of growers who are navigating water uncertainty with creativity and building resilience in the face of water uncertainty. These case studies help translate innovation into action and foster connection across regions. We’ll be sharing these stories online, in community-centered presentations, and alongside partners who are helping to spread the word.
Virtual Water Resilience Workshops
These interactive sessions bring together ag professionals and growers across the West Coast to explore tailored water strategies, share knowledge, and build peer-to-peer networks.
A Water Resilience Toolkit
The Dry Farming Institute (DFI) is developing a practical, grower-centered toolkit that provides clear, actionable steps for exploring and implementing water-resilient strategies on farms. This toolkit is based off of a decade plus of collaborative participatory research started at Oregon State University and continued exploratory trials with DFI.
This resource will include:
- Understanding Context: Water, Climate & Soil
- Soil preparation and practices
- Crop & variety selection guidance
- Soil moisture monitoring techniques
- Peer learning frameworks
- A facilitator’s guide for technical service providers
We’re excited to explore different ways of sharing this resource in 2026–from our website to consultations with motivated partners.
Strategic Visioning & Planning
Engaging with partners and collaborators to co-create a vision for the future of our collective work to empower growers to thrive with less water.
Why This Matters
Water insecurity is one of the greatest threats to the future of small-scale agriculture. We’re not just building tools—we’re building capacity, confidence, and community.
Join Us! For more information visit www.dryfarming.org or email us at info@dryfarming.org.
Previous work
Improving Access to Dry Farming Resources
- Dry Farming Suitability Map: helps growers assess and understand site suitability for dry farming in Oregon.
- Dry Farming Seed Directory: enables growers to identify and source high quality crop varieties that perform well under dry farmed or minimally-irrigated conditions.
- Dry Farming Resources: curated list of educational resources on dry farming.
Seed to Table: Collaborative Market Development for Dry Farmed Products
Critical infrastructure is needed to make dry farming a viable market opportunity for growers. From identifying the most promising crops and cultivars, to educating consumers and retailers about the benefits of dry farmed production for stewardship and flavor, DFI is working with partners to support dry farmed products from seed to table through collaborative projects.
- Resilient Seed Stewardship Program: in collaboration with OSU’s Dry Farming Program, we are working to increase accessibility of seed for crops that thrive when dry-farmed.
- Dry Farmed Produce Directory: connecting producers with consumers and retailers.