January 22, 2025

by Anastasia Kurth
As much as we tend to think we have cropping systems perfected, there is still much work to be done. Research questions are not only considered by scientists, but also by farmers, who work on the land every day and see issues as they arise.
Increasing climate variability and growing weed and disease resistance to chemical control options are just a few of the drivers behind these research questions. Farmers are some of the most innovative people on the planet, and are constantly gambling with factors beyond their control. On-farm research has gained popularity — and for good reason. Farmers are taking the initiative — either on their own or with the help of their agronomist, consultant or Extension professional — to implement research trials on their farms to test management practices that work for their climate, soil type and production goals.
Does this make sense for my farm?
Innovation, research and “giving things a try” are ways that agronomics can be responsive to or stay ahead of challenges. There is increasing demand for regionally specific data. Traditionally, university and government research are conducted as small-scale plot trials, many of which are no bigger than 10 feet by 30 feet. These small plots provide a venue where many research ideas are born and first tested.
A common question farmers ask when learning about research conducted in small plots is, “Will the research results be viable on my farm if the small-plot research was conducted at a research station 200 miles from me?”
Universities are not able to have research plots in every microclimate and soil type across the state, which is why some farmers may question if the research makes sense for their farm. The best way to know? Try it yourself. On-farm research data serves as a complement to research station data.
Participatory and farmer-to-farmer learning has proven successful in the adoption of problem-solving practices that crop production needs to embrace in the face of volatile weather and markets. Research shows that farmers learn best from other farmers, and attitude toward participation in on-farm research is positive. For example, farmers were 40% more likely to adopt practices from research conducted on-farm rather than not on-farm.
Don’t be afraid to try something new. On-farm research does not need to be complicated or expensive; consider trying a couple of acres in a field to start. And no, it does not need to be in the back corner of a field that no one can see — show it off to your neighbors and visitors. It might spark some good conversation and additional ideas!

PLOT MAP: This is an example of a simple on-farm research plot map with four treatments of different cover crops. Replication (each treatment repeated three times) and randomization (treatments placed in different orders) are represented in these large-scale field plots.
How to find out
Here are some tips for conducting effective on-farm research:
Have a specific research question in mind. What are you trying to measure?
On-farm research can fit into any system regardless of equipment. Check your local Extension office and county land and water office for equipment and tool loan availability.
Have a solid experimental design. Use randomization and replication as depicted in the graphic above. Reach out to your crop consultant, Extension educator or other collaborator to create a design. Remember that simple is effective.
Collect applicable data and keep track of it. A simple spreadsheet works!
Take pictures. Sometimes a picture can be worth a thousand words.
Poor results are reportable results too. Stick with your project even if results are trending away from what you expected.
Share your results! This is the most important part; be proud of what you accomplished.
Repeat your research over two or more years, if able. Each year can bring different weather conditions that can dictate results (just think of the rainfall differences in 2023 and 2024). Rule out weather biases with multiyear data.
Many universities provide an on-farm research guide or resource. Check out this one from University of Nebraska-Lincoln or SARE. For more insights, contact your local Extension crops and soils educator for guidance. If you are tech-savvy, check out this article on open-source software. This is a great time of year to start planning for the upcoming year’s projects and goals. University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension is committed to the growth of on-farm research. Stay tuned for more updates from the On-Farm Research Program.
Kurth is the University of Wisconsin Extension regional crops and soils educator for Sauk, Juneau and Richland counties.
You May Also Like