Farmer-Led Research

This research report was funded by: Cargill In a Nutshell: Many farmers plant corn and soybeans in cover cropped fields using either no-till drilling or strip tillage before planting. Strip tillage requires an extra equipment pass compared to …

This research was funded by Cargill and Walton Family Foundation. In a Nutshell: Johnson-Su is a composting method that allows for rapid and complete breakdown of materials such as woodchips, leaves, and manure for soil amendment. Rory Van …

This research was funded by USDA-NRCS, FFAR and Walton Family Foundation. In a Nutshell: Nineteen farmers performed 22 replicated strip trials testing their typical nitrogen (N) rate against that rate reduced by an amount of their choosing. Farmers …

This research report was funded by Cargill. In a Nutshell: Green manure cover crops like clovers are often used by organic farmers to provide soil fertility. Doug Alert and Margaret Smith have been using red clover as a …

This research report was funded by USDA-NRCS and Cargill. In a Nutshell: An in-row roller crimper is designed to roll-crimp only in the interrow between cash crop rows. Michael Vittetoe seeds cover crop in 10-in. twin-rows on 30-in. …

This research report was funded by Ceres Trust.  In a Nutshell: PFI Cooperators including Jack Boyer have a long history of testing biological products that are marketed to complement or partially replace regular fertilizer and/or pest management programs …

This research report was funded by USDA-NRCS and Cargill. In a Nutshell: Roll-crimping is a mechanical method for terminating cover crops that allows farmers to reduce tillage and herbicide use. Fred Abels, Jon Bakehouse, Keith Gorham and Kevin …

This research report was funded by Stranahan Foundation and Ceres Trust.  In a Nutshell: Potatoes have notoriously high nutrient demands and organic fertilizers can help maximize yield and long-term soil fertility in organic potato fields.   Kate Edwards, Jason …

This research report was funded by Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Johnny’s Selected Seeds. In a Nutshell Timing the fall planting of cauliflower and other slow-maturing crops is often difficult, especially when planting a new …

This research report was funded by USDA NRCS; Walton Family Foundation. In a Nutshell Interseeding cover crops into standing corn is a growing practice that allows cover crops to establish earlier in the season and opens earlier grazing …

This research report was funded by Cargill, NRCS and Walton Foundation.   In a Nutshell: Planting green is a practice where farmers plant soybeans into a green and growing rye cover crop to maximize growth and benefits of the …

This research report was funded by Ceres Trust.  In a Nutshell Corteva’s Utrisha N is an organic certified fertilizer amendment product that contains N-fixing bacteria and is marketed as increasing nitrogen supply to crops. Three PFI cooperators (two …