5 Questions on the Value of On-Farm Research with John Fulton
Farmers are continuously challenged to increase yields while maintaining profitability. To help them stay in the black and make sound purchasing and other operational decisions, more and more are conducting on-farm research to determine next steps or if they want to invest in products or equipment to improve production and efficiencies.
To learn more about strategies for high-value on-farm research and hear how trusted advisers are using them to build business and customer loyalty, make plans to attend the inaugural Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo in Des Moines, IA, July 20-21. Tech Hub LIVE is designed to provide insights and actionable ideas to improve your agronomic program and overall business plan.
Leading the on-farm research discussion at Tech Hub LIVE is John Fulton, Professor and Extension Specialist in precision agriculture and machinery automation at The Ohio State University. Fulton offers some compelling reasons why you won’t want to miss this session and what you will gain from listening to a panel of experts discuss best practices for establishing on-farm research. He also discusses why he considers on-farm research a critical tool for today’s farmer.
1. Technology and farm data are becoming essential to food production. What is top of mind for you as it relates to on-farm research and improving the farm business?
John Fulton: When we consider precision ag technology, it is becoming more common and much of it is embedded in the machines today. We are seeing significant adoption of things like autosteer or auto guidance and variable rate application of fertilizers, and even variable rate seeding is growing. So, we have all this technology, and whether you are an academic/researcher, like me, or a farmer, the ability to conduct on-farm research has been simplified with precision ag technologies.
For example, we ran a survey a couple of years ago and found that of the growers who have adopted precision agriculture technology, nearly 85% are conducting on-farm research using results to fine-tune input decisions and utilization of specific field practices. We also are seeing results inform machinery decisions and farm logistics along with field-level profitability analysis. They are doing these evaluations to confirm decisions or improve their operational efficiencies on the farm with results helping retain farm margins.
2. Confirming decisions or improving operation efficiencies are two great reasons to conduct on-farm research. What are other reasons a discussion enveloping on-farm research projects is an important topic Tech Hub LIVE attendees won’t want to miss?
John Fulton: On-farm research is important for two reasons. Number one, farmers continue to have questions about production practices. New products continue to come out and they want to see data supporting performance or profit for these products before they will make a commitment to purchase.
Some of the questions are simple, but some are more complex, and one way to answer questions for an individual farm is to conduct studies on their farms using their production practices, which helps them learn and provides new insights. Every farm is different.
Number two, and whether I’m a retailer, third-party consultant, or a researcher, on-farm research is an engagement tool. I can work with growers to help them learn, but for myself as a company or as a university/researcher, I can learn at the same time.
For example, here at Ohio State, we are not only conducting studies with individual farmers, but the same protocols are being used across all participating farms. This allows the individual farm to learn, and it enables aggregation of data anonymously across all farms to learn at a higher level.
3. What is one critical area of on-farm research farmers need to know?
John Fulton: Technology simplifies the implementation of on-farm research, but it has to be used correctly to obtain accurate results, especially making sure studies are replicated. Whether it’s a planter, sprayer, or side-dress unit, the equipment must be set up and used properly so we can learn. We don’t want to get to the end of the season and analyze the data only to find we didn’t take the proper steps to ensure good data collection.
This is where the importance of planning comes in. For those conducting on-farm research, you must take the right steps – from planning and establishing the objective through the execution of the plan. Technology and equipment calibration is important along with collecting the right data. You need to collect data that is accurate so postharvest analyses can lead to accurate interpretation.
4. What will the experience of attending your session provide to an attendee?
John Fulton: Part of the discussion or experience during this session will focus on the limitations some experts have had with using technology to implement on-farm research. This will include comments about frustrations they’ve gone through trying to execute and install projects.
Another facet of this session will be diving into the value of on-farm research and how it has led to informing farmers and others. Finally, attendees will hear about postharvest analysis and results. On-farm research has provided valuable insights for farmers, delivering good information so they can make decisions for their farm on whether to implement new practices or make changes to their farm operation.
5. What do you hope to get out attending Tech Hub LIVE?
John Fulton: For me, it’s an opportunity to visit with many technology experts, consultants, and progressive farmers in one location. I look forward to connecting with others and learning about what’s happening in different parts of the country and hearing about their successes and frustrations. I want to understand how the agriculture industry is advancing using new technology and precision ag services being offered across North America.
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