View from inside a tractor cab looking over the red hood at a striped field, with a Green Lake County farmer, Jim Hebbe, visible in the side mirror.
Ever wondered what it takes to conduct an on-farm research trial? Many farmers across Wisconsin, with varying levels of research experience, are conducting trials on their farms in 2026.
One program that supports farmer-led trials is the Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP). This grant program focuses on answering farmers’ nitrogen-related questions to improve farm profitability and protect water quality.
UW–Madison assists farmers, agronomists, and other collaborators with developing both practical and scientifically sound research trials. Once a plan is in place, baseline sampling—including pre-plant nitrate, baseline soil fertility, and cover crop biomass tests—and planting can begin!
Planting On-Farm Research Trials
Green Lake County farmer Jim Hebbe is planting his NOPP trial comparing a rye cover crop to no cover crop to see the effects on soil nitrogen and yield within his long-term soil health system. He has been no-tilling and planting cover crops on his fields for over a decade, and is curious if the rye causes a yield drag in this system.
To find out if that’s the case, Jim is carrying out a randomized, replicated trial with six nitrogen rates across no-cover and rye cover crop treatments. When asked why he is willing to do this work, Jim says, “I’ve always had lots of questions on my farm, and through NOPP, I can get some answers.”
A red tractor pulls a large blue planter through a field, straddling a green cover crop on the left and old crop residue on the right.
Cover Crop Biomass and Soil Sampling
For another trial exploring nitrogen credits and yield impacts, collaborating Extension educators and the NOPP team sampled biomass from a legume-dominant cover crop. Around this same time, soil sampling for routine soil fertility and pre-plant nitrate tests are done in some projects.
Field-scale nitrogen dynamics can be complex. Collecting data on soil fertility, and when cover crops are present, cover crop biomass and nutrient content, will greatly improve farmers’ and researchers’ understanding of the results and processes in action.
The next step for NOPP trials will be around sidedress time for nitrogen fertilization. Pre-sidedress nitrate tests will be taken in many trials. Stay tuned to hear more!
A white square sampling frame lies on a green field next to a clipboard, a pen, pruning shears, and plastic buckets for collecting biomass.
What questions do you have about nitrogen management on your farm? Reach out to Megan Blauwet, Nitrogen Management Outreach Specialist, at megan.blauwet@wisc.edu to connect.
More projects will be funded in 2027 with applications open this fall. For more information, explore the Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program webpage.
An aerial view of a research field showing a striped pattern of alternating green cover crop bands and light brown soil bands.
Connect with us
Receive support with developing a research question and study design; using precision ag technologies; collecting, analyzing, and sharing data and results; and more.
Why on-farm research?
Farmer-driven, on-farm research is extremely valuable to inform management decisions, promote practice adoption and support the economic, environmental and social well-being of Wisconsin farmers.
Getting started
These resources will help you get started on your on-farm research journey, covering topics of developing a research question, trial design and logistics, data analysis, and more.