Farmer-Led Research

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 …

In a Nutshell: Interseeding cover crops to corn at the V4 stage has been met with mixed success, likely because of shading by the tall corn canopy later in the season hindering cover crop growth. Cooperators evaluated the …

Summary Farmers reported that in 61 of 68 site-years, properly managed cover crops had little to no negative effect on corn and soybean yield (and actually increased soybean yield in 8 site-years and corn yield in 3 site-years).

In a Nutshell Eight fruit and vegetable farms provided a profit-loss statement and simple balance sheet for four years (2013 – 2016). Five of the farms averaged more than $24,000/ac in gross revenue for the 4-year period. Four …

In a Nutshell Four diversified vegetable farms planted strips of an annual flower mix. Farms assessed flower establishment and attractiveness to insects. Key Findings Buckwheat dominated the mix, providing early blooms but perhaps to the detriment of other …