Wisconsin On-Farm Research Network
Connecting farmers and the University to answer practical questions.
The WI Farm Research Network supports farmers in conducting their own on-farm research and demonstrations while leveraging university resources to encourage a high-quality research process and help share results.
The Wisconsin On-Farm Research Network recognizes that farmers are constantly experimenting on their own farms and that collaborating with and learning from other farmers is often critical to adopting new practices. Building on this immense capacity for innovation among WI farmers, the WI Farm Research Network supports farmers in conducting their own on-farm research and demonstrations while leveraging university resources to encourage a high-quality research process and help share results.
The Network is open to all WI farmers with focus on the expanding fields of regenerative agriculture, including organic, grazing, and cover crop-intensive practices which enhance soil health, as adaptive strategies to build resilient farms, farmers, communities, and ecosystems.
How we support on-farm research?
- Assist farmers with
- Developing and fine-tuning research questions, plot design, and data collection methods
- Instruction and technical assistance with data collection
- Data analysis and results interpretation
- Connect farmers with others interested in similar research questions including other producers and university researchers.
- Share research results with other farmers and educators across the state and region.
- In some cases, funds may be available for research supplies such as seed costs, soil and tissue analysis and simple tools such as soil probes and biomass quadrats.
Who we work with?
Farmers throughout Wisconsin who want to conduct on-farm research about agronomic practices related to regenerative agriculture, cover crops, and soil health; engage in peer-to-peer learning; and share research results.
Research projects supported by the Network focus on agronomic practices related to regenerative agriculture and soil health but can span a wide variety. Examples of topics include:
- Strategies to integrate diverse cover crops into grain and forage rotations, including interseeding, overseeding, and crop maturity.
- Variety trials, especially centered on cash or cover crops that increase options for diversification.
- Reduced tillage or no-till systems.
- Cover crop termination strategies.
- Novel crops that improve diversity or increase sustainability of rotations.
Want more information?
Contact Francois Anglade
On-farm Research Network Program Manager