Farmer-Led Research
Research reports are written by Practical Farmers staff to ensure consistency and quality, and are available to view or download for free.
The Latest Research from PFI
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This research was funded by NRCS and Ceres Trust. In a Nutshell: Tarping is an increasingly common practice on vegetable farms for bed preparation and weed or cover crop termination. Farmers place either a black or a clear …
This research report was funded by USDA-NIFA, Albert Lea Seed House, Green Cover, North Dakota State University, KWS and FP Genetics. In a Nutshell: Eleven cereal rye varieties and one triticale variety were screened at four Iowa State …
This research report was funded by Stranahan Foundation, Walton Family Foundation and Ceres Trust. In a Nutshell: Starting seedlings for transplant in the greenhouse is a chore where small, repeated components like covering seeds with soil can add …
This research report was funded by Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. In a Nutshell: Overwintering spinach is the practice of insulating a fall-planted spinach crop through the winter. This practice produces an early spring crop of …
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 …
