Farmer-Led Research

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 …

Cover crops provide a high-quality and low-cost feed during times of low feed supplies. • Beef graziers worked with neighboring row crop farmers to plant cover crops and monitored grazing value. • Grazing cover crops extended the grazing …

Cover crops provide a high-quality and low-cost feed during times of low feed supplies. Beef graziers worked with neighboring row crop farmers to plant cover crops and monitored grazing value. Grazing cover crops extended the grazing time on …

Organic hogs typically grow slower and are less efficient than conventional hogs. Differences in management may account for some of this. The Rosmanns worked with ISU swine specialists to implement three levels of feeder management (once-weekly and twice-daily …

Feeding cows during the winter is often expensive, requiring investment in stored feeds like hay and extra labor from the producer. In addition to the numerous benefits of cover crops for row crop farmers, livestock can graze the …

Organic hogs typically grow slower and are less efficient than conventional hogs. Even a low level of parasite infection can reduce feed efficiency and gain in growing hogs, especially finishing organic hogs which cannot be treated with dewormers. …

Cover crop entries were hand seeded at locations into standing corn and soybeans and evaluated for fall ground cover, spring ground cover, and spring biomass production. Key Findings Cereal rye and mustard tended to produce the most amount …

Increased adoption of cover crops in corn-soybean production systems has led to concerns of injury to cover crops by carryover activity of commonly applied herbicides. Four cover crop species were sown into plots with standing corn where one …