May 2, 2006
Addressing opportunities and challenges facing agriculture in Iowa while stimulating on-farm research is the goal of a new collaborative program involving Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Extension Sustainable Agriculture Program and Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI).
Ten projects were chosen from 18 proposals for the 2006 ISU On-Farm Research and Demonstration grant program. One-time grants up to $5,000 each will be awarded annually in the three-year program. The $50,000 annual funding comes from the College of Agriculture. PFI provided advice on the design of the on-farm program and staff support to connect farmers with researchers.
"Farmers can add much to the research process and provide insight and direction on what is needed," said Jerry DeWitt, interim director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State. "This unique program recognizes the importance of farmers and researchers working together to tackle emerging problems in the field."
"We are very excited and appreciative of Iowa State's commitment to on-farm research," said Teresa Opheim, PFI executive director. "The more collaboration between Iowa State researchers and farmers, the better we'll be able to solve the daunting challenges facing Iowa agriculture."
Josh Sievers, agricultural specialist at the Sutherland Research Farm, and Joel DeJong, extension field specialist, will work with five producers on a soybean seeding rate trial.
"We want to see how the new recommendations for lower soybean planting rates work," said DeJong. "We also want farmers to get first-hand experience with the lower seeding rates so they can feel more comfortable with them, and so they can share their results with other producers."
The project involves at least triple-replicated, field-length trials comparing 125,000 soybean seeds per acre to 175,000 soybean seeds per acre. Data will be collected with yield monitors or weigh wagons. Stand counts will be done after emergence and shortly before harvest. Producers involved in the project are Brian Kemp, Sibley; Russell Glade, Sibley; Rodney Mogler, Alvord; Steve Abma, Rock Valley; and Nate Ronsiek, Hawarden.
Susan Jutz, Solon, is the PFI board president and a 2006 grant recipient along with Henry Taber, horticulture professor.
"Our grant deals with one of our most challenging problems, cucumber beetles and squash bugs," Jutz said. "We've done some informal trials in the past but couldn't tell if our treatments were working. This grant will give us the opportunity to work with an Iowa State researcher, someone with expertise that we don't have."
The project looking at organic controls of cucumber beetles and squash bugs also involves research on two other PFI farms - Laura Krouse (Abbe Hills Farm), Mt. Vernon, and The Homestead, Runnells.
Other projects and participants are:Combining high tunnel, greenhouse, and field production to produce and sell high-value crops year-around - Eldon Everhart, Shelby County Extension, Harlan; Milton Amos and Robert Amos, Griswold.Diversifying the Iowa farm landscape for improved pest management - Matt O'Neal, entomology; Rick Hartmann and Stacy Bastian, Minburn.Weed control in perennial wetland pastures using goat browsing - Ryan Marquardt, natural resource ecology management; Stephen Barnhart, agronomy; Dan Morrical, animal science; Betty Wells, sociology; Norman and Miriam McCoy, Maxwell; Loren Lown, Polk County Conservation; Eric Finch, Iowa Meat Goat Association; Gary Huber, PFI.On-farm research for improved seed quality of organic flax - Sarah Carlson and Mary Wiedenhoeft, agronomy; Margaret Smith, value-added agriculture extension; Jim Kliebenstein, economics; Alan Gaul, seed science; Doug Alert, Hampton; Art and Rose Behrens, Carroll; Ken Choquette, New Virginia; Paul Mugge, Sutherland.Manure rate effects on soil quality - Douglas Karlen, National Soil Tilth Laboratory; Richard Thompson, Boone.Demonstrating how to fabricate a low cost strip tillage tool - Mark Hanna, agricultural and biosystems engineering; Fred Abels, K and A Acres.Exploring Illinois bundleflower as an alternative crop for Iowa - Valentin Picasso, sustainable agriculture; Charles Brummer, agronomy; Derrick Exner, agronomy extension; Norman and Miriam McCoy, Maxwell; Loren Lown, Polk County Conservation.The use and effects of controlled traffic farming - Amy Kaleita and Jacob Bolson, agricultural and biosystems engineering; Clay Mitchell, Waterloo.