March 8, 2012

Nebraska corn growers are invited to take an active role in a new on-farm research project sponsored by UNL Extension in partnership with the Nebraska Corn Growers Association.

The goal of the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network (NOFRN) is to implement a statewide on-farm research program addressing critical farmer production, profitability, and natural resources questions.

The project includes three research comparison topics. Growers can choose to participate in one or more areas. They are:

• irrigation — water application management in corn production;
• nitrogen management in both irrigation and dryland corn production; and
• corn population in irrigated and dryland fields.

Through the project, growers will conduct replicated treatment comparisons in their fields, using their equipment.

How it Works

A UNL specialist or staff member will work with the grower or agonomist on developing the field length, replicated and randomized research strips before and throughout the growing season and harvest. On-farm visits are made during the growing season.

• A GIS technician and Extension educator will review the harvest plans with the grower in advance of harvest. Harvest data is collected and formatted by the GIS technician. Statistical analysis is reviewed with the UNL Department of Statistics.
   
• Local Extension educators meet with producers for individual consultations. Results and a financial analysis are shared with the producer and with collaborating faculty.
   
• An annual report including data from all producers involved in the project statewide is shared with producers and released to the public.

Benefits for You

• Conducting critical, replicated research on your farm can help get the answers you need to fine-tune your operation and get the most from your investments in irrigation, nitrogen, and seed. 
   
• UNL specialists will help you get started, provide valuable feedback about what you're seeing along the way, and then help you evaluate the results and determine whether they might lead to changes on your farm.
   
• You'll be part of a network of growers conducting similar research and will have an opportunity to share your findings with them and learn from what they found too.

Contacts

UNL Extension educators Keith Glewen and Gary Zoubek are leading the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network with project partners Scott Merritt and Mat Habrock of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association.

Growers wanting to learn more about this program and how to participate should contact:

• Keith Glewen at 402-624-8030 or kglewen1@unl.edu
• Gary Zoubek at 402-326-5508 or gzoubek1@unl.edu, or the
• Nebraska Corn Growers Association at 888-267-6479, 402-438-6459 or info@necga.org.

Information is also available on the web at the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network website.