Farmer-Led Research

In a Nutshell Enhancements of early growth can be achieved by banding P fertilizer with planters or deep-banders but will seldom increase yields compared with broadcast fertilization. The deep banding of K, however, will seldom increase early growth …

Beauveria bassiana (say “bo-vária”) is a widely distributed fungus that kills insects including the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis. Recent research at the USDAARS, Corn Insects Research Unit demonstrated what we call an endophytic relationship between B. bassiana …

In 1996 we continued the project begun the previous year, a study of alfalfa weevil and other insects in alfalfa supported by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. We worked with the ISU entomology Department through graduate student …

In 1996 I learned how to: Use a sweep net Identify insects at different stages of growth Raise captured weevil larvae and determine how many of them were infected with the Zoopthora fungus. Carry out on-farm research so …

In addition to PFI projects with management of insects in strip intercropping, cooperators have been working in two projects that seek to expand the toolbox for insect management in corn and alfalfa. In 1995, PFI and ISU entomologists …

Two cooperators conducted nitrogen rate trials in 1996. Ray and Marj Stonecypher, Floyd, used the late spring soil nitrate test (Figure 3) and then sidedressed two rates that were close to the recommendation (Table 3). Testing and sidedressing …

In past years, PFI cooperators have carried out a variety of tillage comparisons. Ted and Donna Bauer, Audubon, have done several trials of 19- inch versus 38-inch-row soybeans. In 1996, because of planting delays, they custom hired a …

Investigations continued on the Mugge Farm on the possibility of rootworm damage in the strip system. Soil was sampled for eggs, adult emergence was monitored, and root damage was rated on a 1 to 9 scale. As in …

Ron and LaDonna Brunk, Steve and Tara Beck Brunk, Eldora We are interested in the possibility of controlling corn borers in field corn without chemical insecticides. An insecticide program is costly, takes accurate timing, and includes the inherent …

The monks of New Melleray Abbey farm nearly 2,000 acres as their primary source of income and have farmed since 1849. A three-year “discernment” process begun in 1991 led to a renewed commitment to farm sustainably. To this …

Comparisons of crop varieties in 1996 addressed two topics: specialty markets and biotechnology. The Neely-Kinyon Farm, near Greenfield, compared a popular “tofu”-type soybean cultivar, LS201, to a standard variety from DeKalb (Table 1). Seeding costs were sixty percent …