2012 Research and Demonstration Project Ideas

Practical Farmers of Iowa cooperators’ top project ideas for 2012 by research and demonstration area:

How does the energy use and cost for a farm built, walk-in cooler using a CoolBot system compare to a commercial cooler of the same size?
What is the energy savings and payback period for adding insulating foam to the outside of a commercial vegetable cooler?
How does the energy use and cost in our newly constructed farmhouse, which is designed for energy efficiency, compare to our previous farmhouse?

What is a cover crop's effect on soil quality and weed control?
What are the differences between planting a cover crop with a hi-boy or no-till drill?
How does transgenic corn compare with same iso-line that is non-transgenic?
Does seeding oats and red clover cover crops decrease corn N use?
What are the yields and aphid counts of aphid-resistant soybeans?
What are the yields of improved organic and non-GMO corn hybrids?
Does seeding hairy vetch with a cultivator at last cultivation increase nitrogen?
Can tillage radish be established in a clover crop?
What cultivator modifications are best to improve weed control?

How does stockpiling and grazing in fall and winter affect spring grass growth?
What winter feeding regimes work best in a no-grain system?
How do we monitor fly populations on cattle to determine threshold levels for animal welfare and profitability, and to determine the efficacy of a treatment?
Is high protein content in forages and feed affecting livestock health, and the health of livestock products for people?
Can annual forages inter-seeded into a warm-season prairie grass stand improve forage quality?
Can compaction in pastures be alleviated using an Aerway or Keyline plow?

Will the yields of marketable tubers increase by lifting sweet potato vine?
Does planting thyme along with brassica prevent the damages of cabbage worms?
Are living mulches suitable for weed control without competing for nutrients and light with my peppers (cash crop)?
Can a soybean “smother crop” be used to effectively reduce weed pressure in organic asparagus production? What is the impact of a soybean cover crop on asparagus’ fertility and yield?
Does organic commercial paper mulch control weed better than bare soil?
Which non-toxic methods (kaolin clay and row covers) are effective in controlling flea beetle populations?
Which cover crop species grow adequately between spring and fall crops to add a rotation, build soil, and suppress weeds?
What are the Ideal green bean seeding rates?
Does planting clover as living mulch control weed in sweet corn production?
How much cover crops benefit is eradicated with tillage?
Recordkeeping project: collect records on production and sales from fruit and vegetable farms to provide agencies with information to create better insurance options for fruit and vegetable farmers.

What is the cost of production, processing, and marketing for my particular poultry system?
What are economic and soil impacts of the rotation system in poultry production (cover crops - cash crop versus poultry - cash crop)?

How do alternative hog rations compare to typical corn-soy diet in terms of cost?
Is Linseed meal a viable alternative feed for pastured pigs?