Planting recent news COMPARE MATURITY GROUPS: This comparison of varieties from different maturity groups in a variety trial could easily be expanded into a field test comparing varieties of different maturities in your area. Tom J. Bechman

Have you had your eye on a new product that you’re not sure you really need? Perhaps you are waiting until Purdue tests it before you spend money on something that may not work in your operation. On the other hand, this could be the year that you take the research into your own hands and see results in real time.

Setting up your own on-farm trials does not have to be daunting, says Dan Quinn, a Purdue University Extension corn specialist. It’s as simple as finding a product or practice you’re curious about and putting it to the test.

“There are so many products out there, whether it be biologicals or micronutrients or fungicides,” Quinn says. “A lot of them are expensive, and farmers don’t really know if they work. If you are just starting out with on-farm trials, do a simple yes/no trial.”

Design the experiment

This yes/no experiment means simply dividing a field into areas where you apply the product and areas without the product. For ease, you could divide the field in half to get a side-by-side comparison. However, although that may be the easiest route, it most likely won’t give you the most accurate data.

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Instead, Quinn recommends breaking the field into strips to ensure different soil types and conditions are reflected in the data. Ensure strips are long enough for the yield monitor to pick up data. Aim for strips no less than 300 feet long. Strips over 400 feet long are best, Quinn says.

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Additionally, ensure strips are wide enough to accommodate your equipment. Luke Lightfoot, a farmer from Tipton County, Ind., shares that he will make strips that match the width of his equipment.

“We operate a 40-foot-wide planter, a 20-foot corn head and an 80-foot spray boom, facilitating harvest strips that match the application width,” Lightfoot says. He emphasizes the importance of having multiple strips across the field to reduce soil variability and to compensate for human or equipment error.

He also shares that you should set sufficient acreage aside to collect as much data as possible. His rule of thumb is to dedicate 40 acres to each experiment.

Preparation is key

Lightfoot takes time leading up to planting season to write down his plans for on-farm trials and have products ready to go. Setting aside time to prepare will make for a smoother experience when planting season arrives.

“Having the product and a clear application plan increases the likelihood of success,” Lightfoot adds. “Write down your plan so it can be shared with others who might assist you in the field. It’s useful to reference when needed.”

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You also may use your software to plan the trial, build prescriptions and overlay data. Ensure that your precision technology is calibrated heading into planting so that you are collecting the most accurate data possible.

If you want to take an old-school approach to on-farm trials this year, put flags in the field marking where treatment strips will be.

No matter how you choose to conduct on-farm trials, Quinn says that any testing is better than not testing at all. You will never know how a product or practice will perform in your unique situation unless you try it for yourself.

“Until you truly try it in your fields and your environment, you’re not really going to know how it works,” Quinn says. “I’m always stress testing stuff. It’s a lot easier to do it now. It’s one of the best ways you can learn and keep getting bette