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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In a Nutshell: Farmers conducted high tunnel tomato variety trials comparing hybrid varieties Big Beef and Bigdena, and heirloom varieties Black Krim and Italian Heirloom. Key Findings At Lee Matteson and Rose Schick’s, Big Beef produced higher yield …
In a Nutshell: To meet customer demand, Iowa vegetable farmers need to grow lettuce during the hot summer months when lettuce, a cool-season crop, is most difficult to grow. Six farmers compared four lettuce varieties – Concept, Cherokee, …
In a Nutshell: Delaying cover crop termination date in the spring can result in more growth (and attendant environmental benefits) but could also result in corn yield drag. In this experimental trial, Arlyn Kauffman compared two cereal rye …
In a Nutshell: Two farms provided enterprise budgets for cherry tomato production in 2018. Yield, revenue, net income and details about expenses and labor are reported by each farm. Key Findings The two farms were similar in their …
By Hayley Nelson and Stefan Gailans In a Nutshell: Waiting to plant organic, no-till soybean until terminating cereal rye by roller-crimping delays planting to late May. To try to plant soybeans earlier in roll-crimped cereal rye, Scott Shriver …
In a Nutshell: Raising pigs on pasture increases the exposure to and intake of forages, which can affect the fatty acid composition of pork. Grass-fed animal fats contain higher proportions of omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed animals. Increased …
In a Nutshell: Lee Matteson and Rose Schick determined differences in cost and labor for strawberry bed establishment using two methods: biodegradable plastic and a matted row of mulch. The farmers tracked labor, expenses, yield, and revenue during …
In a Nutshell: Planting soybeans within one day of terminating a cereal rye cover crop does not reduce yield and can improve weed control compared to terminating the cover crop 10–14 days prior to planting soybeans. In experimental …
In a Nutshell: A successful management strategy for corn and soybeans following a cereal rye cover crop may differ across farms in terms of tillage, N fertilizer application or both. Farmer-cooperators Jack Boyer, Tim Sieren and Jeremy Gustafson …
In a Nutshell: Proper management is required for successfully overcoming yield drag in corn following a cereal rye cover crop. This typically involves waiting 10-14 days between cover crop termination and corn planting as well as applying a …
By Hayley Nelson and Stefan Gailans In a Nutshell: The costs associated with planting and managing cover crops are a barrier to adoption for many growers despite the benefits to weed control and soil and water quality. Farmer-cooperator …
In a Nutshell: Proper variety selection and timely management are necessary to raise a profitable oat crop. 16 oat varieties were screened at three Iowa State University research farms and one commercial farm. Key Findings: Top yield performers …
