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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On May 16, 1995, assisted by ISU graduate student Kris Giles, we began a two-year project studying biological control of the alfalfa weevil. This is part of the PFI IPM project supported by the Leopold Center for Sustainable …
Our project was getting local farmers involved in integrated pest management of alfalfa weevils. Entomologist Kris Giles worked with me to conduct the demonstration and collect data. I raised alfalfa weevil larvae in test tubes and noted deaths …
We sought to control the European corn borer in field corn with timed releases of trichogramma wasps. Our experiment was conducted on two one-acre plots with the assistance of Iowa State University entomologists. Our goal was to control …
John and Rosie Wurpts, Ogden, are PFI members who have used Sustainable Project out a long term comparison of fertility management systems. Biological amendments ma Agrienergy, Inc. and recommended by a consultant have been compared to fertilization p …
Many agronomists believe that fertilizer placement can be important in reduced tillage systems like no-till and ridge-till. Some ridge-tillers are placing fertilizer bands 5-6 inches deep, attempting to “take the fertility to the plant.” In each of the …
The above trial by the Thompsons was one of three they are carrying out to find the best combination and timing of manure and fertilizer application. In that particular experiment, the most profitable treatments were spring-applied manure and …
In 1995 Ted and Donna Bauer, Audubon, repeated an evaluation of row spacing for soybeans. They compared their customary 38-inch rows to 19-inch rows achieved with a double pass of the planter (Table 6). In the 38-inch rows, …
Ron and Maria Rosmann, Harlan, are moving their farm toward organic production. They compared their own composted hog manure (at a total rate of 14+14+19) to purchased chicken manure (44+54+33) on a field with very high soil test …
ISU agronomists Rick Cruse and Mo Ghaffarzadeh continue to work with producers to evaluate narrow strip intercropping (Table 7). In 1995, two farmers even planted double rows of corn in the strips, seeking to take advantage of the …
Paul and Karen Mugge, Sutherland, looked at the value for corn of liquid hog manure compared to purchased nitrogen. In the spring following soybeans, they knifed 2,500 gallons into alternate row middles, avoiding wheel tracks. Paul estimates that …
In 1995, Richard and Sharon Thompson, Boone, developed their 1994 trial of light-versus-dark planting into a two-by-two factorial experiment combining light/dark planting and planting date (Table 4). Some experiments in Europe and the U.S. have suggested that weed …
Two PFI farmers in northeast Iowa have invested in diversification, planting a perennial crop – hazelnuts. Tom and Irene Frantzen, Alta Vista, and Mike and Shelly Natvig, Cresco, want to know the most cost effective way to get …
