The North Dakota On-Farm Research Network, in partnership with the University of Illinois Data-Intensive Farm Management program, is inviting farmers to participate in on-farm research during the 2025 growing season. The research will focus on variable-rate nitrogen application in corn and hard red spring wheat within soil health management systems. Fields no-tilled for 10 years or longer qualify as soil health management systems.
This research serves as a pilot project for the ND-OFRN, says Rob Proulx, NDSU Extension agriculture technology systems specialist and ND-OFRN coordinator.
“There has been interest in on-farm research within NDSU Extension and among our stakeholders for many years,” says Proulx. “With this pilot project, the ND-OFRN team aims to learn valuable lessons we can use to grow and expand the ND-OFRN.”
Participating farmers will receive a financial incentive for implementing the trial and be fully reimbursed for treatments that lose money, such as yields lost due to zero N rates, making this a risk-free opportunity. The research will be implemented entirely with precision agriculture equipment, and each farmer will receive an individualized report at the end of the season.