Farmer Nitrogen-Reduction Experiments Yield Results

Twenty-four farmer researchers cooperated with Practical Farmers of Iowa to test whether reducing nitrogen application rates could save money, and the results of their tests are available in a report. All of the farmers have routinely used cover crops in the last five years. Participants conducted 27 replicated strip trials on corn with nitrogen reduced at the level of their choice, by 10% to 62% of typical rate. Ten farmers also included control strips with no nitrogen application in their testing. According to the final report, 19 trials potentially saved money when reducing their nitrogen application rates.