Program Impacts
NSFGPP - Producers Voice Approval
The Nebraska Soybean and Feed Grains Profitability Project (NSFGPP) is a unique on-farm research partnership among Nebraska farmers, agribusiness (crop consultants, seed dealers, etc.) and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension faculty (Extension Educators and Specialists). Together partners analyze farmers' production and marketing systems, then identify potential agronomic practices or marketing strategies that can lead to a more profitable farming operation.
Recent NSFGPP participant surveys have indicated substantial financial benefit to Nebraska farm operations. Producers estimate $7,768 annual benefit while private industry representatives estimated $5,253 benefit.
Participants were asked to identify specific farm/business benefits that they could directly attribute to their NSFGPP experience. A few testimonials follow…
- "I have improved no-till corn yields by about 4 bu./ac. averaged over the last five years through improved residue management at planting, based on results of replicated strip trials. In the last two years, I have scaled this practice up to all of my corn acres (150 acres.)"
- "I received several benefits from the project using Fremont biosolids. The first benefit was realizing that 120 pounds of urea (actual nitrogen) could produce 200+ yields of corn. This year I plan to reduce my nitrogen use by at least 20 pounds per acre. I was surprised the biosolids with no additional fertilizer could generate that kind of yield."
- "The Gaucho project has resulted in my using Gaucho on most of my corn acres. The seed based treatment is certainly safer than planter box powders."
- "We have participated for almost 10 years in the NSFGPP and find that year in and year out more is learned about how to make the bottom line blacker from this type of program rather than from reading journals. Why? Because it fits the field and farmer in his conditions, using his methods."
- "I was interested in the potential return of lime and fertilizers to the soil. I just didn’t want to throw a great deal of money out on the soil without feeling secure of a potential return. The NSFGPP program provided me academic and technical help to perform the study. Without NSFGPP I would not have had the knowledge and resources to do the study properly." NOTE: Rusty’s lime vs. no lime study has consistently increased corn yields by 3-4 bushels and soybean yields by 7 bushels annually since 1997.
- "From my starter fertilizer plots, I learned that 10-34-0 was as effective as a more expensive starter fertilizer. This has saved me $5/acre per year on 500 acres of corn for the last 6 years. This has been a savings of $15,000 for me for the last 6 years."
- "The program has provided a method to generate accurate data for controlling costs in our operation. We have determined that it doesn’t pay us to apply wireworm control on our hill ground bean stubble. This saves us $3-5/acre in insecticide costs on 150 acres every year."
- "The on-farm research on biosolids versus commercial fertilizer by Brandert, Stewart and Vinduska certainly gives me confidence in working with Fremont biosolids on farms I manage. The cost savings in fertilizers plus doing the right thing environmentally by using the biosolids rather than burying them in a landfill gives agriculture a positive image."
- "The lime studies lengthened my projections for recovering the cost of applying lime. I had been using a four-year recovery projection, but now see it as a seven or eight year recovery and benefit."
- "NSFGPP is a great program. I really appreciate sharing with other producers the results of our projects. The program has made me really think about different aspects of my family’s operation. Since joining the program we have adapted a no-till corn program, no-till beans, and applying biosolids to cropland. In tillage costs alone, we have saved $7-8/acre on 2,500 acres. I would recommend this program to anyone."
- "Utilizing results from my plot since 1997 I have averaged a yield increase of four bushels of soybeans per acre annually on 380 acres. I increased corn yields by eight bushels per acre annually on 380 acres. At the same time my phosphorous level went from 9 ppm to 23 ppm. I have had a very consistent yield increase every year that more than paid for fertilizer in long term no-till land."
- "To me, the approach of the farmer asking the question that will be answered by testing on his farm with his equipment and labor is in the highest tradition of teaching, and the best part is that both the farmer and consultant benefit."
NSFGPP participants meet with UNL faculty during the winter monthts to review the statistical results of the past growing season's on-farm research comparison(s). Using this data and the growers' production and marketing data an economic analysis of each treatment is generated on a field, acre, and per bushel basis. The statistical analysis shows the producer which treatments are truly different and the economic analysis indicates what the treatment differences mean to his operation's profitability.
Producers share their individual on-farm research findings with other NSFGPP participants and prospective members at an annual educational program in early March. On-going results of Nebraska Soybean & Feed Grains Profitability Project research can also be accessed at the NSFGPP Web Site (on-farmresearch.unl.edu).
For more information contact Dave Varner (402-727-2775) or Keith Glewen (402-624-8030).
Nebraska Soybean and Feed Grain Profitability Project Shows Financial Impact
The Nebraska Soybean and Feed Grains Profitability Project (NSFGPP) is a unique partnership among Nebraska farmers, agribusiness (crop consultants, seed dealers, etc.) and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension faculty (Extension Educators and Specialists). Together partners analyze farmers' production and marketing systems, then identify potential agronomic practices or marketing strategies that can lead to a more profitable farming operation. Thirty-seven percent of NSFGPP producers and eighty-three percent of NSFGPP consultants use GIS/GPS technologies to conduct their on-farm research.
A recent survey of NSFGPP farmers and agribusiness representatives demonstrated the impact of this dynamic relationship among Nebraska farmers, agribusiness and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Presently, 62 NSFGPP private industry cooperators and farmers, with average project tenure of 5.75 years, represent more than 150,000 acres of cropland. Forty-six farmers, representing forty farm operations estimated that the NSFGPP project improved their profitability by an average of $7,768/operation annually for a cumulative impact of $310,720 annually. Private industry cooperators estimated the annual value of the project to their business to be $5,253 annually, or cumulatively $84,048 annually.
Ninety-seven percent of NSFGPP members indicated that considering all of the agricultural educational opportunities that are available to them they would rank the NSFGPP "above average" or the "best" agricultural education program available to them. Forty-one percent of this group rated the NSFGPP as the "best" agricultural education opportunity available to them.
Project participants were asked why the NSFGPP should exist and/or continue. A few responses included:
- There is a positive image of this program because of the joint effort among extension, industry and agricultural producers to help improve agricultural profitability.
- It educates all of us on proper scientific methods for on-farm testing of production questions.
- A small amount of dollars leveraged into a huge savings/revenue enhancement.
- NSFGPP is made up of farmers set out to make their operations and others more profitable while not creating problems for the community.
- Very unbiased presentation of data. Much of this information tends to apply to everyone farming.
- This is a totally unique program with a lot of volunteer effort, producing information that benefits all area producers.
- Because any research done on farm is more believable for a lot of producers.
- To increase profitability to farmers. To provide more agricultural research without more tax dollars.
- It is the only large-scale, farm-size and current research available.
- I like the backup support and statistical data, plus design setup for practical on-farm projects.
- Discussions with other growers, sharing of ideas.
- The people. Makes one think critically about all inputs. Open discussion at meetings.
- It helps farmers independent of supplies, fertilizer, seed, technology, etc.
- Farmer involvement in research.
- Excellent management of program by extension personnel.
- Camaraderie with a unique group of farmers.
- Companionship between university and producers.
- Exposure to reliable, impartial information about crop production practices and products. I can more profitability adopt new, cutting edge technologies.
- Like networking with the farmers and UNL faculty and advisors
- I visit with the best operators in eastern Nebraska
- I'm continuing to learn information that I can practically apply to my operation.
NSFGPP members indicate that the commodity marketing component specifically has taught them to use more information for marketing decisions, develop annual marketing plans, calculate their break-even prices and understand season price trends better.
Quad Counties On-Farm Research
The Extension model depends on a feedback loop connecting farmers, educators, and researchers. New data collection technology on the farm allows renewed connections as researchers and educators incorporate farmer assets to conduct high quality on-farm research. Farmers teaming with Extension educators and Extension researchers add value to University research and gain value by testing topics of interest on farms in their area.
For farmers, nothing beats seeing results of on-farm research conducted in your neighbors' fields. Since 1998, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension has teamed with 20 farmers in Clay, Fillmore, Hamilton and York counties for on-farm research trials. Farmers identify the topics and trials are replicated on each of their farms. This cooperative effort strenthens the validity of the research and increases replication that would be difficult for a single farmer to achieve. Findings are summarized and Extension educators, specialists and farmers discuss the results.
Participants say this information helps reinforce or improve their production practices. A recent survey of participants indicated all gained a better appreciation for research methods. "I have better understanding of the need for randomization of plots and the value of replication," said one participant.
Some on-farm research trials help the University by eliminating study topics, such as the 2000 test of chloride, which has been reported by researchers in another state as a possible cure for stalk rot. Forty-two replications at 14 sites produced 7,000 bits of data that led to the conclusion: chloride did not reduce stalk rot in south central Nebraska.
The project has also saved farmers money, as one indicated he was influenced by the plant population data, saving about $4,000 a year on seed. One of the participants summed up the benefits for him by saying, "With this group of producers, I trust the data. This is unbiased data collected from some very good producers in a region."
The research agenda is set by farmers working closely with Extension educators and Extension specialists. All parties offer research topics and the farmer-researchers select topics they will test in a given year. Since the strength of this pooled effort is gained through the large number of replications and large-scale plots, one project is selected for replication on all participating farms.
Extension educators write the research protocols and help farmers with plot layout. Educators also assist with treatments and data collection. Extension specialists analyze data at the end of the year and results are published and related to other farmers during winter meetings. There have been 20 farmer-researchers in the project since 1998. The group is flexible, and growing to include neighboring counties.