Organic farmers want crop cultivar recommendations to be based on field comparisons in certified organic environments. These farmers, along with crop scientists, also want to know what growth traits explain the relative ranking of cultivar performance. In Minnesota and North Dakota farmers and crop scientists responded by comparing spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars for grain yield and quality in eight certified organic environments during 2003 and 2004.  Cultivar recommendations were provided as a result of those field studies, but specific growth traits explaining cultivar ranking consistently were not identified (P > 0.05).  These results complemented interest in a farmer-directed selection effort that led to the release of the spring wheat cultivar KW 175 in 2006 (renamed FBC Dylan in 2007).  The Farm Breeding Club affiliated with the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society reflects the commitment of organic farmers to develop and select cultivars for organic management in the region.  Researchers in Iowa (USDA-ARS) and Wisconsin (Michael Fields Agricultural Institute; MFAI) are focused on developing corn (Zea mays L.) varieties by traditional methods suitable for farmers practicing organic and other low-input systems. The effort in Iowa is focused on the central Corn Belt using inbred breeding methods, while MFAI work in WI is directed at earlier adaptation using population breeding methods. Those scientists have integrated their independent corn breeding efforts through germplasm exchange, coordinated yield tests, and collaborative experiments. Partners in the corn improvement project include the Practical Farmers of Iowa, whose farmers along with those in the MFAI network are involved through participatory approaches that include on-farm selection, seed increases, on-farm yield testing, strip trials, field days, and planning meetings.