Setting Up On-Farm Trials Using Climate FieldView to Test Regenerative Agriculture Practices: A Step-by-Step Guide

The use of technology in agriculture is transforming how farmers manage their operations. The Climate FieldView platform is an innovative tool that enables farmers to collect and analyze data from their fields. One of the powerful features of this platform is its ability to set up on-farm trials, allowing farmers to test different practices and inputs to optimize yield and efficiency. This allows farmers to experiment with changing their systems, which is the foundation of transitioning fields to regenerative practices. For instance, experiments could include looking at the following impacts on yields: cover crop species, cover crop planting dates, cover crop interactions with fertility rate and timing, cover crop termination timing, reducing tillage, and finetuning the 4Rs of fertility management (i.e., right time, right place, right rate, and right form).

For an example experiment, using yield as a response variable, or the value that will be compared at the end of the trial. First, split a soybean field into quarters. Next, implement the following experimental testing to determine when to terminate a grass cover crop before soybeans. The first section will be considered your control. A grass cover crop will not be planted on this quarter of the field. For the second section, you will terminate the cover crop two weeks before planting. The third section will be terminated at planting. The fourth section will be terminated two weeks after planting. By comparing your yield over the four sections, you will be able to understand how termination timelines may impact your profitability. Additionally, by understanding this, you can evaluate your window to accomplish this every year, allowing you to deal with variable field conditions.

Let's get started!

Before diving into the specifics of setting up on-farm trials, ensure that you have:

1. A Climate FieldView Account
   If you don’t have an account, you can create one on the Climate FieldView website. Make sure to get a Climate FieldView Plus or Premium subscription to unlock Field Region Reports!
2. A ForGround Account
   Sign up for ForGround (It’s Free!) and receive a discount on your Climate FieldView subscription.
3. Field Data
   Familiarize yourself with your field data, which may include historical yield data, soil maps, and field boundaries.

Accessing Field Region Reports to View Field Variability

Field Region Reports are crucial for understanding the variability within your fields. This ensures you are running your trials across the same diverse conditions within the field. Here’s how to access and utilize them:

• Step 1: Navigate to Your Fields
  Open the FieldView app (log in with your credentials if you haven't previously) and select the Fields tab. Choose the field you want to run the report on.
• Step 2: Select Year, Crop, Application Layer
  Select the year, crop, and application layer that you want to view from the drop-down menus.
• Step 3: View Field Region Reports
  Tap the Field Region Report button and select the type of region: Freeform, Polygon, Pivot, or Rectangle. Draw the region you what to analyze and click Done.
• Step 4: Analyze the Data
  Review the data presented in the Field Region Reports. Pay attention to areas with significant variability, which can help you decide where not to conduct your trials.

Setting Up an On-Farm Trial by Using the Applications Feature

Step 1: Define the Trial Objectives
- Determine what you want to test (e.g., different cover crop types, fertilizer rates, or planting techniques).
- Set measurable goals for the trial, such as increased yield or reduced input costs.

Step 2: Create a New Application
- Navigate to the FieldView™ Cab app and click the Settings tab.
- Select Applications from the menu.
- Click + Add New Application.

Step 3: Set Up Application Parameters
- Give your trial a descriptive name. Next, indicate whether the products being applied will be Granular or Liquid.

Step 4: Input Treatment Information
- Enter the details for each treatment or practice you are testing as an application (e.g., no cover crop, cover crop termination 2 weeks prior, cover crop termination at planting, cover crop termination 2 weeks after).
- Specify the application rates, dates, and any other relevant information (most of this will not be applicable to your experiment).

For more information on Creating Applications in the FieldView Cab app, click here.

Accessing Field Region Reports by Application to View Results

Follow steps 1-3 from Accessing Field Region Reports to View Field Variability section.
Step 4: Analyze the Data
- Review the data presented in the Field Region Reports based on the applications you set up. - Pay attention to areas with significant variability, which can help you decide where to conduct your trials. - Save your report to review at a later date.

FRR by Application includes:
- Application name with date applied.
- Number of acres within the selected area that tank mix was applied.
- Average Yield for each application with the selected region.

For more information on Field Region Reports by Application, click here.

For more information on using field region reports on FieldView's different platforms, click here.

Make Informed Decisions

Use the insights gained from your trial to inform future farming decisions. This might include scaling successful practices across other fields or re-evaluating less effective strategies. By following these steps and utilizing the resources available, you can effectively set up and manage on-farm trials that will contribute to the success of your regenerative agricultural practices.

Conclusion

Setting up on-farm trials, using the Climate FieldView platform, is a straightforward process that can lead to significant improvements in farm management, as well as the potential to understand how to transition fields to regenerative practices without jeopardizing yields. By leveraging Field Region Reports, farmers can make data-driven decisions that enhance productivity and sustainability. As technology continues to advance, tools like Climate FieldView will remain essential for regenerative agriculture.

For Further Information & Assistance

For more information, please reach out to our Climate Support Team at 1-888-924-7475, or your local Digital Enablement Lead, for questions on how to set up trials in Climate FieldView. For Agronomic information about your potential trials, and to help interpret results, reach out to your ForGround Sustainable Systems Agronomist at bayerforground.com.