We get together with Nella Mae Parks and Maud Powell this week to discuss the challenges of farming in arid environments, and a new network they are forming for growers in those climates! Nella Mae and Maud are from dry parts of Oregon, and they are starting the Western Arid Growers Network (WAGN) to facilitate farmer-to-farmer learning for arid growers. A lot of people think “rainy” when they hear “Oregon.” But Nella Mae and Maud share stories from their own farms to illustrate the peculiarities of farming in their climate, which has low rainfall and wide temperature swings from hot days to cold nights. They also tell us about a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant they are working together on, highlighting the role of the SARE program in supporting sustainable agriculture and the launch of the WAGN. Their SARE project will use on-farm research with moisture monitors to help growers in arid climates evaluate how much water they actually need to use for optimum crop growth. This is particularly important in arid environments where water is limited- if less water could be used without compromising growth, that would make the water that is available go further. Stay tuned for the results of this research project. Connect With Guest: Website: aridgrowers.org Instagram: @aridgrowernetwork Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support: This episode is brought to you by Tend , the all-in-one, AI-powered farm management platform trusted by modern growers. Tend helps you cut through the busywork, so you can focus on growing and selling what matters. With Tend, you can plan your crops, assign and track tasks, manage inventory, and handle your sales and accounting, all in one smart, easy-to-use platform. Whether you run a 1-acre farm or manage a large operation, Tend adapts to your scale and style, supporting everything from manual labor to fully mechanized workflows. Try it for free at Tend.com , no credit card required. Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last. Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure -- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more. Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm. There are a lot of farm sales platforms out there, but there’s only one that’s cooperatively owned by farmers. That’s GrownBy — your all-in-one solution to simplify farm sales. GrownBy makes online farm sales easy and affordable; setting up your shop is free, and you only pay when you sell. Join over 900 farms who have already signed up for GrownBy, at grownby.com . If you have never attended an ASCFG Conference, there is no better time to invest in yourself! The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers is welcoming Growing for Market readers to register at the ASCFG member rate for the 2026 Conference in Albuquerque on January 13-14. Register at ascfg.org . BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of @bcs_america on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost and more – visit bcsamerica.com to find sale pricing and your nearest dealer. Subscribe To Our Magazine - all new subscriptions include a FREE 28-Day Trial
