A new on-farm research program is planned to begin in Sioux, Lyon and Osceola counties by the College of Agriculture.

The on-farm research program will allow researchers to conduct studies based on the specific questions of producers and will look at issues related to production rather than background information, said Joel DeJong, ISU extension crops field specialist in Northwest Iowa.

On-farm research has been around for several years within the College of Agriculture, but instead of researching on small plots, farmers plan to use full-length strips on farms. It also allows the farmers to conduct research themselves, which is different from outlying farm research where ISU staff is stationed at the site or travels there to conduct the research.

‘The participating farmers will till and plant normally, but in full-length strips,’ DeJong said.

Gerald Miller, associate dean of Extension and Industrial Programs in the College of Agriculture, said doing research on field-sized strips is a matter of resources.

‘In the future, we would like to try to expand on the work done at the research and demonstration farms,’ Miller said. ‘We plan to take the model and try to expand it gradually, but there is no strict schedule.’

The pilot program idea came from a farmer in Northwest Iowa, said Mark Honeyman, director of research facilities and professor of animal science.

He said the farmer”s idea was to use the land to generate revenue.

The site in Lyon County is owned by a group of farmers.

DeJong said they will be looking at fungicides and seed treatments for soybeans.

There will be five or six farmers participating this year, and the results will be published in the Northwest Research and Demonstration Farms annual report so the information can be shared with other producers.