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.
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Compost extract (compost steeped in water, then sieved) is a popular soil amendment to increase beneficial biota and increase yields. Two treatment levels of compost extract were applied to carrots on two farms to determine impact on yield …
Pollinators are a critical component of agricultural production, and the populations of bees are declining. Some farms are implementing bee-friendly pollinator habitat, and are curious what effect their efforts have on local populations. • Pollinators were collected in …
Neonicotinoid seed treatments in soybean production are ubiquitous but recent evidence has called their benefit to yields and their ecological impact into question. Farmer-cooperators compared soybean yields from soybeans of the same variety grown from neonicotinoid-treated seeds and …
Fruit and vegetable farmers use mulch to control weed competition plus increase moisture retention for cash crops. Many fruit and vegetable farmers use plastic mulch but concerns about its environmental sustainability have farmers wanting to test other mulch …
Using cover crops and side-dressing nitrogen fertilizer is a common bundle being investigated by Iowa farmers concerned about soil health, water quality and return on investment of cover crops. Cooperators grew corn following a winter rye cover crop …
Fruit and Vegetable farmers use cover crops to improve nutrient cycling and control weeds for increased production efficiency. Summer cover crops can be challenge due to dry conditions. Four farms evaluated summer cover crops to determine aboveground biomass …
Extending and diversifying a crop rotation to include a small grain presents farmers with the opportunity to also include green manure cover crops. Three farmer-cooperators grew a small grain + red clover and a small grain + cover …
Extending and diversifying a crop rotation to include a small grain presents farmers with the opportunity to also include a forage legume that could possibly reduce the need for synthetic N fertilizer. Cooperator Tim Sieren grew corn in …
Worm castings, or vermicompost, are a common addition to potting soil mix and greenhouse bedding, and are recommended for use with nearly any plant. Castings can be added at seeding or transplant, used to side-dress during the growing …
Internal parasites are an important issue in goat production, and parasite resistance to drugs is prevalent. • Grazing management, including frequent rotations and providing browse, reduces the likelihood that goats ingest larvae. • Reductions in FAMACHA score and …
Three farms recorded the energy used during seed starting for the 2013 season. For each plant started, energy cost ranged from $0.002 – $0.033. Commercial grow lights were the most energy intensive item used by any farmer in …
We compare the energy use of winter high tunnel production to the product revenue during the first season of operation. Greenhouses and high tunnels allow farmers to extend the growing season. Greenhouses and high tunnels can increase revenue …
