On-Farm Research Development from the OSU Agronomic Crops Team

1. Introduction Meeting clientele needs through on-farm research projects has been an important mission of the Ohio State University Extension Agronomic Crops Team. During focus group meetings with clientele in 2003, on-farm research in regional areas was identified as an important contribution that could be provided by the Agronomic Crops Team. The closer to the farm that research can be conducted the greater the confidence that clientele have in the results. An annual summary of on-farm agronomic crops research has been produced for ten years in either printed form as an Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center Circular or as a web publication. Currently we post the yearly results of our peer-evaluated reports on the team website: http://agcrops.osu.edu. Development of potential on-farm trials comes from discussion of research needs at team meetings, from discussions with state specialists, from discussion with local producers and commodity group leaders. County Extension Agents choose projects that best address local concerns and issues, coordinate projects with cooperators, collect appropriate data and prepare a final report for the project. Some projects are repeated across several counties in different parts of the state. Reports are peer reviewed by two state specialists but in some cases a state specialist and another specialized agent. Reviews insure that adequate statistical analyses are conducted and sound objectives are described. The completed report is posted on-line once the review process is complete. The value of the on-farm trials is three-fold. Agents gain experience with current issues, local producers gain access to research results and team members have more credibility when discussing practices with consultants, industry agronomists and producers. In addition the projects help meet local research needs and build a larger base of research results on a variety of topics across a wide range of soil types and climatic conditions in Ohio. • Formed in 1995, the Extension Agronomic Crops Team provides accurate and timely information, educational opportunities and conducts research projects addressing the needs of Ohio’s agronomic crop industry. • The Team consists of 24 Extension Agent/Educators and 23 Specialists • All crop production disciplines are represented • Horticulture & Crop Science • Crops • Weed Science • Forages • Plant Pathology • Entomology • Ag Engineering • Applications • Precision Ag • Soil Management • Natural Resources • Soil Fertility • Water Quality • Ag Economics • Farm Management FUTURE PLANS • Our goal is to conduct research addressing local needs. • To date most on-farm research is developed either at the request of state specialists who need multiple locations, or by local county agriculture agents responding to requests for work. • Future needs: • Coordinate trials across region • Prioritize need • Submit suggestions and need in December • Determine wide area need • Set trial number needs, • set common protocol • Publication • Since 2003 only published on the web - this is a limitation • Ease, cost and access great but… • Growers desire printed and in hand • Discuss, make notes and to determine applicability • Increase use as summary articles in the C.O.R.N. newsletter • http://corn.osu.edu - our web-based agronomic crops newsletter • Add OARDC (Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center) Research Report • Would be printed in limited number with 6-10 going to each county to be made available to interested growers • Also have the ability to print from web - • Individually as now, • or as complete Research Report in pdf format On-Farm Research Development from the OSU Agronomic Crops Team Harold Watters, Greg LaBarge, Edwin Lentz, Peter Thomison and Robert Mullen,The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH The Ohio State University Agronomic Crops Team conducts yearly field research in support of our crop producers. Website: http://agcrops.osu.edu RESEARCH NEEDS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL The Agronomic Crops Team field members also conduct research in cooperation with state specialists. • The presenting author is the AgNR Agent for Champaign, County Ohio. • How is the on-farm research used in Champaign County? • Champaign County is a row crop intensive county with approximately 200,000 acres in crop production. • We have several issues that need research to address: • Nitrogen (N) management on corn • To reduce costs • To reduce nitrates in groundwater • To potentially reduce N needs with cover crops • Fungicide seed treatments on soybeans • To potentially decrease costs • As a result of our low levels of Phytophthora root rot • Addressing the needs: • Currently in the fifth year of nitrogen management on-farm trials • Work with growers to establish a yield comparison of their “high nitrogen” rate to the lower “state university” recommended rate • Due to size limitations established cover crop trials at the nearby Western Research Center, the local University crops research center • Measure corn yield after cover crop treatments and N rate treatments • Soybean variety by fungicide seed treatment trials • Treatment size limitations established small plot trials at nearby Western Research Center • Similar soils and planting conditions allow comparisons to local situations • Results are communicated on-line, at local meetings, through newspaper articles, the C.O.R.N. newsletter and in person. HISTORY OF AGRONOMIC CROPS TEAM ON-FARM RESEARCH • Editors of the On-Farm Research Reports • Have required at least two reviewers • Require replication and statistics to be performed • Published 1997 to 2002 as printed OARDC Special Reports • Distribution by mail: • 208 international libraries • 162 U.S. libraries • 44 Ohio libraries • 87 county extension offices • 5 Ohio district offices • Past editors • Phil Rzewnicki On-Farm Research Coordinator • Ed Lentz Northwest District Agronomist • Greg LaBarge Agronomic Crops Team Co-Chair • Available as a web-based research report 1997 to present • Greg LaBarge has been editor since 2003 • Published on http://agcrops.osu.edu • Continue with two reviewers • Utilize state specialists, regional specialists and specialized county agents