On-Farm Network trial establishment is well underway. Pea, faba bean, dry bean and soybean trials have already been planted. Establishment of soybean trials will continue across the province this week. As the crops emerge, observations and data collection will begin.
For each trial, we take an early season plant count to get a sense of emergence and stand uniformity. This also gives us a chance to scout our trials early in the season. Plant stand information can be useful in comparing treatments where we might expect an emergence difference. An example of this is our field pea nitrogen fertility trial, comparing “starter N” (11 lb N/ac, from S15) with 30 lb N/ac and 60 lb N/ac, applied as a combination of S15 and ESN in the seed row. Early season observations and plant stand data will help us determine if the higher N rates influenced emergence, and plant stand as a result.
Stay tuned to MPSG’s social media for updates on OFN research throughout the season!