Research on the Farm (ROTF)

Objective

The purpose of this project is to quantify the agronomic and economic impacts, in flax, of three different nitrogen rates in alternating strips across the field.

 Summary

• The grower will seed their normal seeding rate in 4 strips, alternating with 4 strips each of a lower and higher nitrogen
• The width of a strip must be at least as wide as the combine pass, preferably wider. Harvest length should be not less than 1,000
• The alternating strips of the flax nitrogen rate can be planted by using GPS to plant every other strip with one nitrogen rate and then filling in the skipped passes with the second nitrogen rate.
• Take a seed sample from planter (about ½ an ice cream bucket).
• Harvesting must ensure at least one “pure” combine pass from each treatment (no mixing of yields from two different seeding rates).

Grower Requirements

• Accurately record soil test results, variety, seeding date and rate, previous cropping history (rotation, fertilizer rates), tillage practices, fertilizer rates and application timing.
• Accurately record where all treatments are within the field.
• Note any significant weather events throughout the growing season, such as high winds, hail, or extreme precipitation events.
• Areas containing waterways and headlands should be avoided. All other factors in the trial area must be treated the same.
• Alert trial coordinator of expected harvest date and ensure all treatments are harvested the same day into a weigh wagon/calibrated grain cart, and that grain samples can be secured for seed moisture and seed quality analysis.
• Allow MCA to use data for research, educational and information purposes.
• Must be a member in good standing with the MCA.

3rd Party Contractor Partners:

• MCA utilizes third party agronomic contractor services to assist and run on-farm trials.
• MCA will cover the cost of these services, there is no cost to the participant.
• Contractors authorized to conduct this trial on behalf of MCA are:
  • Tone Ag Consulting

MCA and Partners agree to:

• Attempt to collect aerial images from each field and provide them to the grower at no additional cost.
• Set up trial with growers in field, soil sample, do plant counts after planting but before harvest, weigh individual strips with weigh wagon, take a harvest sample.
• Provide a report analyzing the statistical and economical treatment
• Keep data in a confidential manner that cannot be linked back to the individual producer by other parties.

Benefits to Growers:

• Access to the latest research which can be adapted to your
• Creating a crop production database for your local
• Higher quality of data – multiple evaluations across numerous farms under different management styles, soil types and cropping