INVESTING CHECKOFF DOLLARS
Peter Kyveryga and Aaron Prestholt collect samples from a soybean field during the growing season.
DELIVERING DYNAMIC DATA I S O FAST O F F E R S N E W, I N T E RAC T I V E WAY TO H E L P FA R M E R S P U T R E S E A R C H DATA TO WO R K BY LAUREN HOUSKA
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armers make countless decisions throughout the year — some easy, some difficult. Now, they have access to a free, one-of-a-kind tool to aid in making tough agronomic and economic decisions using results from on-farm replicated trials. The Interactive Summary of On-Farm Strip Trials (ISOFAST) tool was developed by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) in partnership with Iowa State University (ISU). It provides growers with an edge on the probability that specific products, practices and technology will offer a return on the investment. The summaries are comprehensive by including the interactions of field management, soil and weather on yield response. “The role of ISA as a research entity is to communicate what works, to ask bigger questions and to seek a
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deeper understanding of agronomic and economic impacts,” says Peter Kyveryga, ISA director of analytics and affiliate assistant professor of agronomy at ISU. “How well does a product or practice work? Where and when does it work best? What factors could impact its performance? Will farmers see a return on their investment?” ISOFAST can help farmers answer those questions (and more), which is critical when every cost is being carefully considered as farmers try to balance the ledger. “It’s an easy way to figure out if something will pencil out on my operation,” says Brent Renner, ISA At Large director. The Klemme soybean farmer has utilized the tool a few times. “I like that no one is trying to sell me anything. It’s verified and unbiased information I can trust.”
Reliable results The tool is based on field-level data, measuring yield response in about 1,300 on-farm replicated trials conducted across Iowa by farmers working with ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation. There are 27 trial categories for soybeans and 21 categories for corn collected during the last 15 years. On-farm trials reflect conditions farmers are likely to experience in their own fields, says Kyveryga. “We’re here to serve farmers and they expect us to offer objective data they can use on their operations,” says Suzanne Fey, ISA data analyst. “The data from our trials is all quality-assured, and all data is reported, regardless of whether it shows a favorable result for the product or practice.”
