Buy Merchandise

Next Generation

Cooperators' Program

On Farm Research and Demonstration by Program and Topic

Research Planning Tools

Practical Farmers of Iowa was created to be a vehicle for farmer-to-farmer information sharing and support. PFI quickly found itself in need of tools to validate the information it was passing on to farmers. From this need was born both a set of methods for farmer research and a statewide network of farmer-researchers. Here are the fruits of those farmers’ labors. These annual research reports cover a very wide range of topics, from row crops to horticulture, from fertility to tillage, and from livestock to hazelnuts. For a full years in pdf format, click here

Table of Contents
Cropping Systems
Soils
Weed Management
Niche Pork
Horticulture
Grazing

For On-Farm Research and Demonstration reports listed by topic, title and year see below.

On-Farm Research and Demonstration: Cropping Systems

Establishing Red Clover, Hairy Vetch and Turnips at Last Cultivation of Corn printable pdf (2009) new
Cover Crops' Effect on Cash Crop Yield, printable pdf (2009) new
Aphid Resistance in Organic Soybean Production, printable pdf (2009) new
Comparison of High-methionine Maize, printable pdf (2009)

Low-Linolenic Oil Organic Soybeans (2005)
Seed Treatments (2004-2007)
Matching the Hybrid and the Year (2005)
Breeding Corn for Sustainable Agriculture (2004-2007)
Triticale - A Step Towards Diversity (2004)
Flax as a Niche Crop (2004-2007)
Fitting Flax in the Rotation (2007)
Oat Crown Rust vs. Biodiversity (2004-2007)
Evolving Our System-What Didn't Work and What is Working Now (2007)
Corn Breeding for Quality (2003)
Biological Control of Soybean Aphid (2003)
Triticale- Is This My Beautiful Alternative Crop? (2003)
Klinge/Tidwell Cropping Systems Analysis (2003)
Thompson Cropping System Analysis (2003)
Corn Variety Trials (2002)
Cropping Systems (2002)
Organic Soybeans Production Budget (2001)
Variety Comparisons (2001)
Variety and Planting Trials (2000)
Strip Intercroppin - Walking and Jumping in a Dry Year (2000)
1999 Organic Soybeans Production Budget (2000)
Variety and Planting Trials (1999)
IPM and Seed Trials (1999)
Cropping Systems (1999)
Strip Intercropping - Taking Advantage (1999)
Multiple Treatment Variety Trials (1998)
IPM and Planting Trials (1998)
Organic and Conventional Corn (1998)
Strip Harvesting to Manage Potato Leaf Hopper in Alfalfa (1998)
Fungal Control of Corn Borer (1998)
Weed Managment Trials (1998)
Multiple-Treatment Weed and Planting Trials (1998)
Strip Intercropping (1998)
Crop Varieties and Engineered Genetics (1997)
Fungal Control of Corn Borer -- Year Two (1997)
Optimizing Biotic Mortality to Reduce Insecticide Use in Alfalfa (1997)
Oats and Seed Firmers (1997)
Specialty Crop Production Systems (1997)
First Year experience with Organic Corn (1997)
More Planting Trials (1997)
Strip Intercropping: Life on the Edge (1997)
Variety Trials (1996)
Dave and Lisa Lubben Profile (1996)
Planting Trials (1996)
Paul and Karen Mugge Profile (1996)
Richard and Sharon Thompson Profile (1996)
Strip Intercropping: Yields and "Bugs" (1996)
Rootworms in Strip Intercropping (1996)
IPM Projects: Learning to Work with the Agricultural Ecosystem (1996)
Corn Borer Control with the Fungus Beauveria (1996)
Trichogramma Wasps for European Corn Borer at New Melleray Abbey (1996)
Improving IPM (1996)
Testing the Fungus Beauveria on Corn Borer: Three Cooperators Perspectives (1996)
My Experience with IPM and Biological Control of Alfalfa Weevil and Potato Leafhopper (1996)
Biologicals (1995)
Other Seed and Seeding Trials (1995)
Biological Control of Corn Borer (1995)
Biological Control of Alfalfa Weevil-1 (1995)
Biological Control of Alfalfa Weevil- II (1995)
Strip Intercropping (1995)
Nitrogen (1994)
Biologicals and Unconventional Products (1994)
Corn Population Trials (1994)
Miscellaneous Trials (1994)
Narrow Strip Intercropping (1994)
Miscellaneous Trials (1993)
Narrow Strip Intercropping (1993)
Miscellaneous Trials (1992)
Tillage Trials (1992)
Narrow Strip Intercropping (1992)
Other Trials of Interest (1991)
Narrow Strip Intercropping (1991)
Nitrogen Trials (1990)
Oat Trials (1990)
Tillage (1990)
And More (1990)
Nitrogen Experiments (1989)
Tillage Trials (1989)
Cover Crops (1989)
Fall Legume Cover Crops (1988)
Biological Additions (1988)
Insecticide (1988)
What is P.F.I. (1987)

On-Farm Research and Demonstration: Soils

Fertility Trials (2003)
Fertility Trials, Field Crops (2002)
Fertility Trials, Vegetable Crops (2002)
Fertility Paradigms (2001)
Nitrogen and Seed Treatment Trials (2000)
Manure and Compost (2000)
Starter Fertilizer (2000)
Fertility Paradigms (2000)
Nitrogen (1999)
Other Fertility Research (1999)
Fertility Paradigms (1999)
Nitrogen (1998)
Manure Trials (1998)
More Fertility Trials (1998)
Deep Banding--One Year Later (1997)
Livestock Manure--Crop Response and Economics (1997)
Manure Source Trial at the Ken Rosmann Farm (1997)
Nitrogen (1997)
P, K, and Lime (1996)
N and Manure (1996)
Berseem Clover Before Corn (1995)
Using the Late Spring Test (1995)
Purchased Manure (1995)
Deep Banding (1995)
Manure and Planter Row Fertilizer (1995)
Banded Fertilizers (1994)
Nitrogen (1993)
Manure Trials (1993)
Starter and Fertilizer Placement Trials (1993)
Other Fertilizer Trials (1993)
Nitrogen (1992)
Late Season Stalk Nitrate Test (1992)
Manure Trials (1992)
Starter Fertilizer Trials (1992)
Biological Soil Amendments (1992)
Other Fertility Trials (1992)
Nitrogen (1991)
Manure (1991)
Starter Fertilizers (1991)
Phosphorus and Potassium and Deep Banding (1991)
Manure (1990)
Other Fertility Trials (1990)
Other Fertility Demonstrations (1989)
Nitrogen Experiments (1988)
Side Dress Liquid Manure (1988)
Nutrient Tie Up (1988)
Food Grade Fertilizers (1998)

On-Farm Research and Demonstration: Weed Management

Weed and Cover Crops (2004-07)
Let Sleeping Weeds Lie (2007)
Cover Crops with reconfigured Ridge-till (2003)
Deep Tillage (2003)
Weed Management (2002)
Assorted Questions (2001)
Weeds-Alternative Approaches (2001)
Tillage (1999)
Weed Management Trials (1999)
Tillage and Weeds (1997)
Weed Management (1996)
Weed Management Trials (1995)
Tillage (1994)
Weed Management (1994)
Tillage Trials (1993)
Weed Management Trials (1993)
Weed Trials (1992)
Forage, Cover Cropping, and Weed Management (1992)
Weed Management Trials (1991)
Cover Crops (1991)
Cover Crop Trials (1990)
Weed Trials (1990)
Weed Control Trials (1989)
Other PFI Trials (1989)
Herbicide Experiments (1988)
Weed Counts (1988)

On-Farm Research and Demonstration: Niche Pork

Hoophouses and Composting - A Good Match? (2004-2007)
Oats in Swine Rations (2001-2003)
The Research Alliance for Farrowing Project (2004-2007)
Herd Health (2002)
Biosolids-Who Pays? (2001)
Composting Hoophouse Manure-is it worth it? (2001)
First Year Experience with Hoophouse Hogs (1997)
Alfalfa as a Feed Supplement for Finishing Hogs (1996)
Barley Versus Corn Based Hog Rations (1995)
Barley-Based Hog Ration vs. a Corn Based Ration (1994)

On-Farm Research and Demonstration: Horticulture

Season Extension: Small Potatoes Farm printable pdf (2009) new
Blue Gate Farms High Tunnels Take 2 printable pdf (2009) new
Storage Solutions, printable pdf (2009) new
Tomato Support Systems for Heirloom Varieties, printable pdf (2009)
High Tunnels: Are they Lucrative?, printable pdf (2008) new
Combination Treatment for Cucumber Beetles (2006)
Cucumber Beetle Management (2003)
Veggies: Varieties, Fertilization, and Planting (2001)
Cucumber Beetle vs. Tedesco (2000)
Farm Economic Analysis (2000)
Flaming For Weeds (2000)
Mulch Ado About Onions (and Potatoes) (1999)
CSA Farm Economic Analysis (1999)
Hazelnut Establishment (1996)
Trees for Biodiversity (1995)
Hazelnut Establishment (1995)

On-Farm Research and Demonstration: Grazing

Alternative parasite Management- Are We There Yet? (2003)
Parasite Research (2002)
Grazing Plus - What? (2000)
ZJ Farm Organic Wormer Project (2000)
Alternative Parasite Control in Dairy Goats, An On-going Study (1999)
Grass-based Dairy Farming in the Upper Midwest (1999)
Why Holstein Heifers? (1998)
Stream Monitoring on the Norman Borlaug Farm (1998)
Time Calving to Suit Your Circumstances (1997)
Learning How to Use Management-intensive Grazing in our Dairy Operation (1996)
Rotational Grazing at Neely-Kinyon (1995)
Learning When to Calve in a Grass-Based Dairy (1995)
Pasture Versus Feedlot for Dairy Heifers (1994)
Transition to Grazing for Dairy (1994)
Forage Quality and Returns from Grazing (1994)
Grazing (1993)