Farmer-Led Research

Summary Farmers reported that in 49 of 53 site-years, properly managed cover crops had little to no negative effect on corn and soybean yield (and actually increased soybean yield in 7 site-years).

In a Nutshell Fifteen farms participated in fruit and vegetable production recordkeeping to date. The purpose of the project was to create Iowa-specific production histories for: producers to have baseline comparisons, the advancement of crop insurance options, and …

In a Nutshell This was an informal trial to compare bell pepper production from seedlings started in soil blocks vs. plug trays. Data were collected from 72 plants in each treatment; peppers were harvested at green and red …

In a Nutshell Alternative supplements, such as natural minerals and kelp, are gaining popularity in some livestock production systems. These supplements are said to be more bioavailable to animals, increasing overall health. Cheryl Hopkins supplemented her goats with …

In a Nutshell Three farmers provided enterprise budgets for cucumber production. Cucumbers were grown in a heated greenhouse (Ann Franzenburg), an unheated high tunnel (Emma Johnson), and an open field (Jan Libbey). Key Findings Labor was the largest …

 In a Nutshell Apple cider vinegar has been long advocated for its health benefits and is gaining recognition as a health supplement for livestock. Apple cider vinegar is held to being a health tonic that promotes beneficial gut …

In a Nutshell Five farmers compared two bell pepper varieties, Olympus and Revolution, to determine which produces better in Iowa’s climate. Each farm planted four randomized pairs of research plots, each pair with 10-20 plants of each variety. …

In a Nutshell Cover crops can provide a high-quality, low-cost feed during times when farmers would normally be feeding hay and other stored forages. Dave and Meg Schmidt planted and grazed cover crops and crop residue to extend …

In a Nutshell Extending and diversifying a crop rotation to include a small grain presents farmers with the opportunity to generate biological soil nitrogen using forage legume (green manure) cover crops seeded in the spring and summer. Farmer-cooperator, …

In a Nutshell Fruit and Vegetable farmers want to use cover crops to control weeds, which reduces labor costs and competition with cash crops. In tilled plots, two-foot wide strips of rye were incorporated prior to seeding. In …

In a Nutshell Cultivation of cereal rye for cover crop seed offers the possibility of frost-seeding a legume into the standing rye crop in early spring, where the legume can produce biomass and fix N following rye harvest. …