On-Farm Farmer Research for Organic Production In Nebraska.

Organic farmers have diverse production interests using a range of practices which generates a vast information need. The Organic On-Farm Research Project in Nebraska enables organic farmers to evaluate production alternatives according to their interest but with sufficient rigor that the resulting information is of high quality and applicable by other farmers. Examples of such farmer research, with technical support from Extension educators, include: the use of a Rodale Design Roller Crimper to kill a cover crop followed by no-till planting; biochar as a soil amendment; milk and fish products as pop-up ‘fertilizer’; cover crops intersown with wheat and sown following wheat harvest; manure use; and relay sowing of proso millet strips into sunflower to create vegetative barriers to wind erosion following sunflower harvest. The farmer research is complemented by researcher driven on-farm trials including research on flaming for weed control, alternative practices for improving nutrient balances, and cover crops for weed suppression and improvement of soil productivity.  Poster will outline the mechanism to develop on-farm projects with organic farmers: develop proposal, collect data and share results.