Research on the Farm (ROTF)

Objective

The purpose of this project is to quantify the impact of a fungicide treatment on Sunflower for control of Sclerotinia Head rot.

 Summary

• The grower will plant either a confection or oil type sunflower hybrid.
• The grower will manage their crop as per their normal best management practices.
• The grower will apply 1-2 fungicides for sclerotinia head rot control to 4 strips. Untreated strips will be included.
• Strips should be full length of the field (minimum 1000 ft.) and width to allow for a full “pure” pass with combine header.

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