Wild Farm Alliance kicked off the new year with a pilgrimage to January’s annual EcoFarm Conference. Over four days, our staff connected with farmers, researchers, and conservation partners who share our commitment to biodiversity on working lands. This year’s highlights included two beneficial bird sessions led by WFA, as well as a workshop on hedgerows featuring our friend and consultant, Sam Earnshaw.

Our first workshop, “Birds That Work: Songbirds Boost Pest Control,” showcased the growing body of research showing how insect-eating songbirds provide valuable natural pest control on farms. WFA Executive Director Jo Ann Baumgartner and Dr. Matt Johnson of Cal Poly Humboldt shared practical strategies for attracting and supporting these feathered farm allies through habitat enhancements and management practices.

WFA Executive Director Jo Ann Baumgartner presents in Asilomar’s Oak Shelter room.

Friday afternoon, Sam Earnshaw of Hedgerows Unlimited presented “Hedgerows and Other Habitat Plantings: Techniques and Benefits.” Sam offered hands-on guidance for designing and establishing habitat plantings that support biodiversity, strengthen farm resilience, and deliver tangible on-farm benefits.

In our second WFA session, we and Purdue University partners gathered with attendees for “Birds are Beneficial! Share Your Experiences with On-farm Conservation.” This interactive workshop marked an exciting milestone in WFA’s multi-year National Conservation Innovation Grant project with NRCS. We unveiled a prototype of our updated, online version of the Beneficial Bird Habitat Assessment & Native Plant Tool. The Tool is being developed in collaboration with Dr. Ankita Raturi and Hannah Klein of the Purdue Agricultural Informatics Lab and we invited farmers to test the tool and share feedback. The conversation reinforced what we know to be true of growers: they want practical tools to assist with the implementation of conservation practices that benefit both birds and farm productivity.

Workshop attendees explored the Beneficial Bird Habit Assessment & Native Plant Tool via iPads and interactive worksheets.

Over the years, EcoFarm has become a meaningful gathering point for our agricultural community and a powerful way to start the new year. We left feeling energized by the thoughtful questions, practical insights, and honest feedback shared by farmers and partners alike. Thank you to everyone who joined our sessions and contributed their experiences. We’re excited to carry this momentum into the year ahead!