On-farm Research

Defines and searches the NAL Catalog (AGRICOLA) or Google Scholar for terms or resources about on-farm research.

Learn how to conduct research at the farm level using these tips for crop and livestock producers, resources lists and real-life examples.

This article outlines 10 steps agricultural producers can take to plan and execute successful on-farm research trials.

"This Agricultural Research Service (ARS) national program, Integrated Agricultural Systems (IAS), is designed to facilitate the synthesis, evaluation, and transfer of information to all types of agricultural operations using a 'systems approach.'"

Purdue University identified on-farm research programs, presentations, references and useful Web sites to help researchers plan and work with on-farm research trials.

Rodale Institute is conducting independent agricultural research in composting, soil health, weed management, pest management, livestock issues, organic agriculture and certification, agroforestry, and wastewater treatment. The Farming Systems Trial started in 1981 to study the transition from chemical to organic agriculture.

The University of California's Century Experiment (formerly known as LTRAS-Long Term Research on Agricultural Sustainability) is a 100-year study in which researchers "measure the long-term impacts of crop rotation, farming systems (conventional, organic and mixed) and inputs of water, nitrogen, carbon and other elements on agricultural sustainability."

Presents an extensive overview of on-farm research.

This document "tracks and reports organic programs and activity in the U.S. land grant university system. The specific details on organic research, education, and extension of each of the 72 land grant institutions investigated for this report are a rich source of information."