The ISA Agronomy Team talks about what field trials can do for your farm — and why you shouldn’t wait to get started with the new On-Farm Trial Network.

Hopefully by now you’ve heard about ISA’s all-new On-Farm Trial Network, an opportunity for Illinois farmers to discover agronomic solutions on their own operations.

The exciting news is that after much planning, preparation and protocol development, it’s go time! That’s right, registration is officially open, and you can sign up to make your farm part of the future of agriculture. We know the idea of participating in field trials raises all kinds of questions, so that’s why we decided to devote this article entirely to answering your most pressing questions. Plus, we want to give you an outlet to ask more if yours aren’t answered here.

So let’s get started!

Why are field trials important for agriculture and my farm?

Field trials are critical for assessing the potential or limitations of new crop varieties, fertilizers and pest control methods. They help us validate the effects and characteristics of new products and technology, and they drive innovation within the agriculture industry. And they help farmers like you make informed decisions to optimize production and increase yields. — Stacy Zuber, Ph.D., ISA Research Data Scientist

How does the new On-Farm Trial Network differ from previous trial programs?

The On-Farm Trial Network functions as the bridge between Illinois farms and the research generated by universities and industry experts. On-farm trials are an integral step in translating how small-plot or greenhouse research can apply to cropping environments. They allow for testing across a wider range of weather, soils and locations across Illinois. The new OnFarm Trial Network will offer three types of trials for growers to join. —Deanna Burkhart, ISA Producer & Field Services Administrator

Photo Credit: Abigail Peterson

Why are there three types of trials available through the On-Farm Trial Network?

Illinois has an extensive system of agronomic retail trials and strong academic research through its universities. However, retail trials can be biased, and academic research is often conducted on small plots. The different trials available through ISA provide farmers with the opportunity to gain knowledge on implementing these practices at scale, using conventional equipment in different geographies, and working with the ISA Agronomy Team for unbiased information on potentially beneficial production practices. This multi-pronged approach fosters a collaborative network that enables farmers to reap the rewards. – Jim Isermann, independent agronomist specializing in soil health and conservation practices; provides support for the ISA On-Farm Trial Network

What are the different types of trials available?

The first is an exciting new type called Action Trials. We’re starting those for the 2025 growing season, and registration is open now! These are short-term trials, usually one year long, that are designed to provide quick, actionable data that growers can use to make decisions on production strategies more immediately.

The second are our Legacy Trials, which are more long-term, usually five years or more. They address complex issues such as cover crops and tillage that require multiple replications and study.

Third are Demonstration Trials, less intensive trials that provide an opportunity to highlight new products or practices. For the 2025 season, Action Trials and Legacy Trials are available for enrollment right now, with possible Demonstration Trial sites down the road as we schedule Field Days and other events. —Stacy Zuber

What Action Trials are available for 2025?

The first one is on sulfur fertilization in soybeans. We’ll be looking at whether adding sulfur impacts yields. The protocol calls for applying 30 pounds of sulfur per acre in replicated strips, each paired with a no-sulfur control strip, for eight strips total.

Farmers can use any sulfur they like, according to personal preference and regional availability. Once they’re registered, we’ll have a call to discuss application, planting and harvest equipment, strip width and other factors to develop a custom map for the individual field and operation. Then we’ll work together on yield monitor calibration and data collection setup and be ready to roll.

Our goal is 12 to 16 different farm sites across Illinois, including a wide range of soil types, soil conditions and climates.

The second trial will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Nick Seiter, University of Illinois entomologist. This trial follows up on work he and his graduate students have been doing on soybean insecticide ROI.

We’re looking for four sites across the state, and growers can use any insecticide, foliar or seed. We’d ideally like four replicated strips and four control strips, and we’ll assess injury, collect insect counts and record yields. —Stacy Zuber

Why do fields need sulfur when it used to be just N-P-K?

Farmers have known for a long time that we are no longer receiving sulfur from the atmosphere like we used to. As we improve yields, we are finding that secondary nutrients such as sulfur are becoming a limiting factor in many instances. It has become a common practice to add sulfur to corn fertilization programs but adding it ahead of soybeans is just starting to gain traction for many. The implications of sulfur rates, the different forms of sulfur, and application timing on soybeans at the farm level need further study to give farmers the best management practices. —Jim Isermann

What Legacy Trials are available for 2025?

In 2025, we’ll be expanding to our Legacy Trials that integrate cover crops and notill to study soil health and economic metrics. We’d especially like to add sites in central and southern Illinois but will accept fields in any part of the state. Our intention is to add a few sites every year.

Some of our farmers have previously participated in the Soil Health Partnership Program and have field sites conducting cover crop comparisons since 2017. We are looking forward to seeing the long-term impact of those sites and ISA has added an additional two legacy trials that will start cover crop applications this fall. —Jim Isermann

Photo Credit: Abigail Peterson

How can Legacy Trials keep going for so long and still be valuable?

The appeal of the Legacy Trials is the advantage of looking at the long-term impacts of soil health practices. These trials are expected to last at least five years with farmers and have a much more intensive soil testing program, including soil health tests, in addition to standard nutrient tests. Legacy Trials are for farmers interested in validating that long term effect and are willing to spend some additional time to seed the cover crops according to a plot design and harvest the fields to collect quality data year after year.

We are getting to the point that most farmers have tried cover crops in some manner over the last ten years. Not all these attempts have been successful. Most of the failures can be avoided by proper management. However, understanding proper management of soil health systems takes time, dedication and a willingness to learn. Adding cover crops is not like adding a new fertilizer or fungicide. If not managed properly, cover crops can provide a down side beyond the cost of the product.

Generally, across Illinois farmers should start with cover crops ahead of soybeans and wait to use them ahead of corn till they have gained some experience and understand the additional nutrient management needs necessary for a corn crop in a soil health system. —Jim Isermann

What do farmers say they’ve learned from the Legacy Trials?

Our farm has always been conservation-minded—we were the first in the area to move to chisel; we started notill in the ’80s, and we adopted strip-till in the ’90s. I’ve been working with cover crops for about five years. There’s no better way than a long-term trial to show the benefits of cover crops.

I wanted to see what changes I could affect as far as soil health and nutrient management. As the years have passed, even though I wouldn’t necessarily see big changes on tests, I could compare cover and nocover fields and see obvious differences in soil texture and condition.

One consultant showed me the soil cores he took, and fields with cover crops had 17 percent earthworm activity, where fields without cover crops had less than two percent earthworm activity. That is a very good indicator of soil health and microbial activity.

For several years now, we’ve cut back on applied fertility. In soil testing this spring, we showed that things have improved, even though we have put on less fertilizer.

It’s also had an impact on weed control. Where we have cover crops, we aren’t spending as much on weed control. We terminate the cover crop with glyphosate, then don’t have to put anything else on.

With crop prices down and input prices not coming down to match, if you can find anything that can help the bottom line, you do it. I’m pretty much 100 percent cover crops on my fields now. —Brian Corkill, B.A. Farms, Inc., Galva

How do I join a trial or find out more information?

For more information and to participate in the On-Farm Trial Network, visit https:// fieldadvisor.org/on-farmtrial-network.

If you have more questions, please contact Deanna Burkhart at deanna.burkhart@ ilsoy.org or Stacy Zuber at stacy.zuber@ilsoy.org.