Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
scientists' terms. Scientists formed the majority of the group; all data were
generated on the research station in the 8-ha main experiment and a 3.2-ha
satellite plot; data were taken for credibility with scientific peers. Scientists
gained insight into grower decision-making, particularly the difficulty of
learning to use cover crops and new farm machinery, the difficulties of
growing new crops for the first time, and the uncertainty created by weather
and prices.
However, this approach had few mechanisms for comparisons with a
greater diversity of on-farm conditions or involvement of larger groups of
growers in co-learning. Yield averages for the county were the reference for
comparison of experimental crop yields, but other local farm data were not
available, for example, on weed abundance or floristics or grower weed
control methods. Farmer advisors recommended the use of transplants
instead of direct seeding in the organic and low-input tomato for easier weed
control, and a longer growing period for green manures (Lanini
et al
., 1994).
Were scientists adopting practices already used by most organic growers? By
the third year, tomato yields were similar in the three systems, although weed
biomass was significantly higher in the organic and low-input systems. The
collection of data by growers on weeds, soils, and pests in their fields could
have provided useful reference points for the experiment as well as a basis for
broader farmer-extensionist-scientist discussions on variability among fields
and farms.
Iowa grain cropping: farmers design and run replicated trials
During the midwestern USA farm crisis of the 1980s, a group of Iowa
farmers organized the Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) (Harp, 1996). They felt
that university research and extension programs were unresponsive to
farmers' economic and environmental problems. Organized in five chapters
across the state, they test alternative management practices such as lower
nitrogen fertilizer rates and ridge tillage without herbicides. Scientists from
Iowa State University were recruited to collaborate on experimental design
and data analysis. At an annual winter planning meeting in each chapter,
farmers and scientists meet to discuss research ideas and to draw up experi-
mental procedures. Individual farmers identify problems that interest them.
The on-farm research is conducted in replicated trials, usually with two treat-
ments and six replicates, on each farm. Plots are the length of a field and a
single or double planter width (Thompson & Thompson,1990).Farmers plant
the trials and collect data with support from researchers and students.PFI has
attracted over 10000 people to summer field days and farm tours in eight
years.Farmers and researchers also present results at other extension events.
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