Answering Your Own Questions With On-Farm Research

Alan Blaylock, Ph.D.

Alan Blaylock, Ph.D.

Nutrien

Senior Agronomist

Dr. Alan Blaylock brings extensive North American and international experience in nutrient management to the agronomy team. University studies and service as a university extension soils specialist prepared him for a long career in the fertilizer industry. Having managed both domestic and global research and education programs, Dr. Blaylock has a wealth of experience in applying science-based nutrient management principles and products to solving practical questions. Dr. Blaylock earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in agronomy and horticulture from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in soil science from Iowa State University. He has been in agriculture his entire life — from his childhood on an irrigated farm in eastern Oregon to teaching soil science at Iowa State University to his current role as an agronomist at Nutrien. These diverse experiences helped Dr. Blaylock develop the skills to excel in translating complex scientific principles into practical solutions. Although early in his university studies he explored computer science as a profession, deep family roots in agriculture brought him back to the people and values of his heritage. His career satisfaction comes from helping others improve the performance of nutrients and cropping systems. Dr. Alan Blaylock is a recipient of the 2022 Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference Leadership Award. The Fluid Fertilizer Foundation also recognized Dr. Alan Blaylock with the Werner Nelson Award for his outstanding contributions in the development of soil fertility practices and plant nutrition management to increase crop yields for the benefit of North American farmers and consumers

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With the fast pace of technology advancements in agriculture, farmers can find great value in systematic on-farm testing of new products or practices. The universities have been the backbone of agricultural research and education in the United States, but they can’t possibly test every new product or practice locally. Routine testing on the farm can provide the farmer local results with specific products to help make better decisions for the farmer’s own operation and conditions.

A recent University of Minnesota Extension release describes how on-farm research is being used to fine-tune the University’s nitrogen recommendations for specific soils and conditions. One of the notable observations of these on-farm trials is that optimum nitrogen rates for a “corn-on-corn” rotation seem to be increasing, while optimum nitrogen rates for corn after soybeans is remaining stable. The trials also confirmed that the University’s Maximum Return To Nitrogen (MRTN) recommendations generally provide reasonably good estimates of nitrogen fertilizer need, although the recommendations for corn after corn may need some adjustment for higher yielding hybrids. You can read more about the Minnesota on-farm trials and nitrogen recommendations.

Farmers can conduct their own quality trials by keeping the variables limited and using proper techniques. There are lots of great resources to get help design on-farm trials. There are collaborative networks like Minnesota’s Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Promotion Council (AFREC), which organized and conducted the trials described above with the help of independent agronomist Matt Wiebers. Most land-grant universities have published information on conducting on-farm trials, including proper replication and even some simple statistical analysis. Proper trial design assures your trials properly account for field variations. Of course, treatments should be replicated so statistical probabilities can be established. Cooperative Extension staff, consulting agronomists, or your Nutrien agronomy team can also help ensure your trial is properly conducted.

Today’s modern equipment with yield monitors and satellite guidance systems can greatly simplify on-farm trials. Most growers will have the basic equipment to do their own testing and get answers to their specific questions on a particular product or practice. It’s a great tool to get the answers you need for your farm and validate results of others’ research.

Other resources and how to conduct on-farm research:

On‐Farm Research: Experimental Approaches, Analytical Frameworks, Case Studies, and Impact. 2019. P. M. Kyverga. Agron. J. 111: 2633-2635.
https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2019.11.0001
https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.2134/agronj2019.11.0001

On-Farm Research. USDA National Agricultural Library. https://www.nal.usda.gov/

A Practical Guide to On-Farm Research. 2008. R.L. Nielsen, Purdue University. https://www.agry.purdue.edu/CCA/2008/Proceedings/NielsenResearch.pdf

Some examples of on-farm research networks:

Nebraska On-Farm Research Network

Purdue Collaborative On-Farm Research

South Dakota Soybean On-Farm Research Program