www.sare.org publications how-to-conduct-research-on-your-farm-or-ranch other-types-of-research-farmers-can-do Other Types of Research Farmers Can Do Changing production practices or modifying your farm or ranch system in some way can be risky, so be sure that you have used correct experimental design and statistical methods to ensure that you have clear, accurate information on which to base your decisions. However, you might ask: “What if I am not quite ready to […]
www.sare.org publications how-to-conduct-research-on-your-farm-or-ranch on-farm-research-for-pasture-livestock-systems On-Farm Research for Pasture/Livestock Systems Adapted from A Practical Guide to On-Farm Pasture Research. Bridgett Hilshey, Sidney Bosworth, Rachel Gilker. 2013. Published by University of Vermont and Northeast SARE. UGA Extension agents Randy Franks (middle left) and Mark Frye (middle right) collect samples of triticale on Greenview Farms, owned by Jonny Harris (far left) and his son, Paul Harris (far […]
www.sare.org publications how-to-conduct-research-on-your-farm-or-ranch basic-statistical-analysis-for-on-farm-research Basic Statistical Analysis for On-Farm Research Statistical analysis involves a sequence of mathematical computations for comparing treatments and evaluating whether any observed differences are truly a result of the change in practices, or if the differences may be due to chance and natural variation. This section looks at statistical analysis in more detail, expanding on step 9 in the process outlined […]
www.sare.org publications how-to-conduct-research-on-your-farm-or-ranch basics-of-experimental-design Basics of Experimental Design The previous section summarized the 10 steps for developing and implementing an on-farm research project. In steps 1 through 3, you wrote out your research question and objective, developed a hypothesis, and figured out what you will observe and measure in the field. Now you are ready to actually design the experiment. This section provides […]
www.sare.org publications how-to-conduct-research-on-your-farm-or-ranch how-to-develop-an-on-farm-research-project How to Develop an On-Farm Research Project A field is prepared for planting with replicated plots of malting barley. Four Wisconsin farmers used a SARE Farmer/Rancher grant to collect data on the performance of barley varieties under different fertilizer and tillage conditions. Photo courtesy Joe Bragger, Bragger Family Farm Where to begin? At the center of every on-farm research project is a question […]
www.sare.org publications how-to-conduct-research-on-your-farm-or-ranch introduction-6 Introduction When Rich Bennett returned to the family farm in the 1970s to help his father, he faced some significant challenges. Poor soils and increasing fertilizer costs were straining the farm’s bottom line. As a result, he began looking into new ways of farming that could improve his land and also improve the profitability of the […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators about-sare About SARE SARE is a grant making and outreach program. Its mission is to advance—to the whole of American agriculture—innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education. Since it began in 1988, SARE has funded more than 4,000 projects around the nation that explore innovations, from managing alternative pollinators […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators about-nraes-2 About NRAES NRAES, the Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service, is a not-for-profit program dedicated to assisting land grant university faculty and others in increasing the public availability of research and experience-based knowledge. NRAES is sponsored by eight land grant universities in the eastern United States. Administrative support is provided by Cornell University, the host university. NRAES […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators about-the-authors-4 About the Authors As National Pollinator Outreach Coordinator at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Eric Mader works to raise awareness of native pollinator conservation techniques among growers and government agencies. He is also an Assistant Professor of Extension at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Entomology. His previous work includes commercial beekeeping and crop consulting for the […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators acknowledgments-4 Acknowledgments This book was produced with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program; the University of Minnesota Department of Entomology; and The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Photos and line drawings in this book were contributed by the authors and their colleagues. Contributors are credited at the top right […]