NCERA_temp103: Specialized Soil Amendments and Products, Growth Stimulants and Soil Fertility Management Programs
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Draft Project
NCERA_temp103: Specialized Soil Amendments and Products, Growth Stimulants and Soil Fertility Management Programs
Duration: 10/01/2027 to 09/30/2032
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Statement of project alignment with USDA science priorities: This committee has a longstanding commitment to providing timely and unbiased information regarding fertilizer and soil amendment efficacy to American farmers and ranchers to reduce unnecessary inputs and increase profitability.
Multistate coordination across 13 states provides a significant advantage for this group and provides a solid foundation of university researchers, extension specialists and scientists to collaborate on product evaluations across a wide range of environmental conditions and crops. All 13 states are represented by soil scientists, plant scientists or agronomists that bring specialized expertise in crop production common to their clientele needs. The vast differences of crops, environmental conditions and management practices across the North Central region greatly benefit product evaluations in areas to identify when they work or don’t, why they may work or not, and how these differences might influence the end results. It would be extremely burdensome for each committee member to research each new product release but relationships among committee members allow information to be shared with the rest of the committee.
This research is not duplicitous of other NIMSS research in the North Central region and provides needed, unbiased, research driven information to clientele in the region and surrounding areas. A NIMSS search found the most closely related committee is the NCERA 13 committee (Soil Testing and Plant Analysis) which does not overlap with the current NCERA 103 committee objectives.
This committee provides needed guidance for our stakeholders, to include all persons related to agricultural crop production. This group includes the farmer producing the commodity, the industry representative selling the product, and researchers/specialists providing information to interested parties. We see this committee as an information multiplier in which we identify a problem or issue, conduct research, and extend the information to the clientele in the North Central region. The end users are the agricultural practitioners that produce the food and fiber which the American people rely. They can be reached directly or through university specialists, extension educators, industry professionals and others in the agricultural industry.
Objectives
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When possible, committee members will field-test and evaluate performance of specialized soil amendments and products, growth stimulants and soil fertility management programs.
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Maintain a website where farmers/ranchers/crop consultants/ag-industry professionals/others can access independent research reports and journal articles regarding non-conventional amendments and additions, or classes of products that are similar to the product of interest to the searcher.
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Produce educational material on the design and execution of on-farm trials for farmer/rancher evaluation of products of particular interest.
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Meet once a year to review activities and plan construction of deliverables for the upcoming year, discuss the need for and the writing of new or updated publications.