Innovative agronomy tools and resources: On-farm research

Nicolle Ritchie<ritchi67@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

Innovation and adaptability are important for farm success. Explore these free tools and resources to access regional on-farm research data.

A person presses a soil probe into the ground with their boot while collecting a soil sample in a field.
Photo by Nicolle Ritchie, MSU Extension

Being able to innovate and adapt is important for farm success, but it can be overwhelming to make changes. A good tool or resource should make your life easier in some way. It might inform decision-making, simplify calculations or analyze and organize data in a practical way. It should be user-friendly, affordable and reliable or trustworthy. The following is a list of free tools and resources to access regional on-farm research data. It is not an exhaustive list but a starting point.

On-farm research

Research plays a critical role in innovation. On-farm research expands acreage, management type and other variables that are important for knowing if a product or practice will work in specific situations. Local on-farm research provides valuable results with data that is specific to regional growing conditions. These resources summarize statewide on-farm research efforts and results.

Iowa Farmer-Led Research: Access research reports from Practical Farmers of Iowa for various on-farm trials done in Iowa and the surrounding states.


Michigan On-Farm Soybean Research: Every year, the Michigan Soybean Committee and Michigan State University Extension collaborate with farmer cooperators to test products and practices on soybeans statewide. Find a summary of trials from each of the past years and see what worked on farms in your area.


Ohio eFields: This searchable database of on-farm research from Ohio State University summarizes data by location and trial. Check out the yearly report or search the Knowledge Exchange eFields Database to see how locations similar to yours performed.

 

An older red barn and adjacent outbuilding sit beside a rural road, surrounded by grass and fields under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
Photo by Nicolle Ritchie, MSU Extension

Fun!

This bonus tool is a quiz to test your field crop identification skills. Take it yourself and send it to your friends and neighbors to improve agricultural awareness in a fun way.

Field Crops Identification Quiz: Take this quiz to test your field crops identification skills from afar. Focused specifically on field crops in southwest Michigan. Train yourself first with the article “Drive-by crop identification in southwest Michigan” from Michigan State University Extension.


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This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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Tag List
  • agriculture,
  • agronomy,
  • beginning farmer,
  • cropping systems,
  • field crops,
  • msu extension,
  • on-farm research