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This Month
November has brought yet another month of dynamic learning, collaboration, and growth within our farming community. We’re thrilled to debut our latest video featuring Barn Swallows and their role in livestock operation pest control. We share a recap of a recent field day–a bilingual event held at Rancho Corralitos–and highlight two upcoming webinars. We are also excited to share a recent feature spotlighting our partners’ efforts to rewild Midwest farms, and to look ahead to January’s EcoFarm Conference–we can’t wait to see you all there!
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Barn Swallows:
Farmers’ Partners in Pest Control
*New Video Resource*
Learn about the benefits of Barn Swallows in livestock production from farmers Rufus Haucke and Joy Miller of Keewaydin Farms and researcher Francesca Roseo from University of Milan. Rufus and Joy offer an inside look at the vibrant biodiversity on their farm and share how welcoming Barn Swallows has provided fly relief for their sheep. Francesca presents findings from her study measuring the impact of Barn Swallows on fly activity.
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We Can’t Do This Without You!
Joy Miller and Rufus Haucke, featured in the video above, also partnered with us this summer to co-host a field day at Keewaydin Farms. They allowed other growers to see firsthand how birds contribute to reduced pests and a more resilient ecosystem. Resources like this new video, along with field days, workshops, and technical support, are only possible because of people like you. Your generosity allows us to collaborate directly with farmers, share practical tools that work on the ground, and advance a future where agriculture and nature thrive together.
If you’re inspired by the knowledge shared in our new video, or by the farmers who are leading the way, please consider making a year-end gift to Wild Farm Alliance. With your support, we can continue creating resources, hosting learning opportunities, and growing real, lasting change across our agricultural landscapes. Thank you for helping us make this work possible.
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Field Day at Rancho Corralitos
Wild Farm Alliance, Rancho Corralitos, and the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County (RCD) brought together farmers, ranchers, and conservation professionals for an inspiring, bilingual, hands-on learning event.
Participants explored how hedgerows and on-farm habitat can support pollinators, beneficial insects, and overall farm resilience. They learned how healthy soils, thoughtful compost use, and well-managed cover crops contribute to natural pest management and stronger ecosystems. Field tours offered a close look at both newly planted and mature hedgerows, highlighting the successes and lessons from each practice. The day also included a hands-on demonstration of the Whole Farm Scouting Tool, giving attendees practical experience they could take home to their own farms.
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Role of Birds on Midwest Farms Lesson 4
Integrating Habitat into Croplands: Prairie Strips and Bird Conservation
December 2, 2025 / 11:00 am CT
In September we launched our webinar course, Role of Birds on Midwest Farms. In the first three lessons we introduced the benefits of birds on farms, examined the role of American Kestrels in pest management, and discussed pest control services across many types of crops. If you missed any of the lessons, you can find the recordings here.
Please join us on December 2nd, for the 4th lesson in our webinar series. Our speakers Matt Stephenson and Jordan Giese will discuss the impacts of prairie strips and conservation practices upon beneficial bird populations.
We are offering 1 CCA credit via the American Society of Agronomy for this event.
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Harnessing Natural Enemies Webinar
Habitat, Life Cycles, and Sustainable Pest Control
December 9, 2025 / 11:00 am PST
December 9th we will be joined by Kimberly Horton of Taylor Farming and Suzanne Wainwright-Evans of Buglady Consulting for in-depth presentations and discussion on utilizing biological control in on-farm sustainable pest management systems. Together, we'll learn how to manage, incorporate, and support the presence of beneficial organisms and natural enemies.
We are offering 1.5 Continuing Education credits for this webinar via the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
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Food Giants Mad Ag And Whole Foods Bet On Bringing Wildlife Back To Farms
WFA partner Omar de Kok-Mercado at Mad Agriculture is featured in this Forbes article about rewilding Midwest farms.
By Esha Chhabra in Forbs Magazine
The rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin look nothing like the endless flat corn expanses that dominate much of America's Midwest. In the Driftless Area—so named because glaciers somehow missed it—steep valleys carve through the landscape. Prairie grasses still cling to a few remnant patches. And farmers are about to try something unique.
Over the next three years, more than 1,000 acres of struggling cropland will be transformed back into native grasslands. Not as abandoned fields, but as working landscapes where farming and wild nature exist together.
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46th Annual EcoFarm Conference
Connect With More Than 1,500 Organic, Biodynamic, and Regenerative Farmers, Ranchers, and Industry Leaders
January 21-24, 2026
With the 46th annual EcoFarm Conference just a few months away, we invite agricultural professionals and enthusiasts to join us for this year's event. EcoFarm once again will offer a rich lineup of networking opportunities, workshops, farm tours, and inspiring keynotes.
WFA will be involved throughout the week - presenting at a session on Thursday about nest boxes with our partner researchers from Cal Poly Humboldt, hosting a discussion on Friday with our partners at Purdue University about our Beneficial Bird Habitat Tool, and connecting with attendees in the exhibit tent.
We hope to see you there!
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Wild Farm Alliance · PO Box 2570, Watsonville, CA 95077
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Bringing Nature Back to the Farm
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