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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1999 Findings We have compared data from, our farm, One Step at a Time Gardens (OSTG), with the same from Spring Hill Farm (SHF) and Common Harvest (CH). The data for the SHF and CH was provided at …
It always pays to repeat the trial! In 1998 it looked so clear. Angela and John Tedesco, Johnston, looked at the effect of mulching the onions that go to feed members of Angela’s Turtle Farm CSA. The experiment …
The grazing movement is at the end of its first stage of development. The “introduction” stage has brought fencing, watering systems, and grass-based animal systems. An infrastructure has been developed to supply farmers with fencing and watering supplies. …
In this comparison using Farmstead Health Supply’s Restore and Sustain as the herbal wormer and Ivomec pour-on as the chemical wormer, the chemical wormer showed a marked reduction in fecal egg count in four of the six does, …
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE SUPPORTERS HAVE QUESTIONED THE USE OF ACID, SALT BASE FERTILIZERS. FOOD GRADE FERTILIZERS HAVE LOWER SALT LEVEL AND LESS ACID CONTENT WHICH SHOULD BE LESS HARMFUL TO SOIL LIFE. THE CONCERN ABOUT FOOD GRADE MATERIALS IS …
USDA/ARS entomologists working at ISU have carried out on-farm research with PFI for three years, testing a biological control for the European corn borer. This potential control is a fungus, Beauveria bassiana, that is already present in Iowa …
Gary and Nancy Guthrie, Nevada, joined the ranks of PFI cooperators in 1998, carrying out a trial that relates to sweetcorn production. The corn earworm typically plagues growers, especially those who do not use insecticides. It crawls into …
Back in northwest Iowa, Dan and Lorna Wilson and Colin and Carla Wilson want to know how to use the manure and bedding that come out of their swine hoophouse and Swedish-style nursery facility. The nutrients in this …
Dennis and Eve Abbas, Hampton, asked a question pertinent to their organic farming operation. Like the previous trials it relates to nitrogen, although at first glance it may appear to be a population study. On the Abbas farm, …
Nowadays the choice of crop varieties is a decision that reflects not only potential yield but also stress tolerance, genetic technologies and their associated fees and restrictions, and even marketing to various identity-preserved niches. The Dordt College Agriculture …
Tom and Irene Frantzen, Alta Vista, obtained a SARE Producer Grant to investigate methods of quackgrass suppression. Quackgrass is a valued forage species on the diversified Frantzen farm. However, as the operation transitions into organic production, Tom is …
1997 Recap 1997 was my first year to grow certified organic corn. We compared the organic corn with conventionally grown corn, developing production budgets for each. Table 8. The conventional corn was planted April 28th on second-year corn ground …
