This paper provides a succinct methodology to report on On-Farm Experimentation (OFE) initiatives, based on a Norwegian case study that investigated machinery improvements for pasture soils. This external appraisal was commissioned by some participants wanting to elucidate how to improve future outputs, and welcomed by the others as a means to maintain successful collaborations. The project was close to farmers yet largely industry-motivated and science-led, and thus relevant to other OFE situations featuring institutional involvement. The study was based on 10 individual interviews with the major participants. These were from a local machinery company, a technology start-up, the country’s major agricultural research institution, a large agronomic services provider, and the farmers who hosted the experiments. Results included: (i) a break-down of expected value propositions with points of contention, (ii) strengths and weaknesses of the processes involved, and (iii) scoring against the six major OFE principles. We discuss how this OFE project: exemplifies key global issues in research practice calling for mainstream agronomy to evolve; demonstrates that room for exchanges and on-the-go adjustments must be made within action-oriented projects; shows that prioritizing farmer-centricity can solve enduring issues. We also argue that beyond any individual effort or process fault, constraints lie with scientific institutional settings and policies that do not incentivize researchers to conduct farmer-centric research.