Connecting & Collaborating
At the heart of the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network (NOFRN) update meetings is sharing information. Farmers share information about what they are learning on their own acres. Researchers share what they are learning from the on-farm research. It's an opportunity to look back at the year and share what was tried, what worked and what didn't work.
NOFRN projects often start with a question. I wonder if that new product does what it says it will? I wonder if that technology will work on my farm? If I reduce inputs, like Nitrogen, what will my yields look like? NOFRN seeks to help growers find those answers to make data-driven decisions and remain competitive leaders in production.
The NOFRN meetings are a time to pass the mic around the room and share what was learned in the recent production year. The on-farm research topics in 2025 focused on:
- Cover Crops
- Crop Production
- Crop Protection
- Equipment
- Fertility and Soil Management
- Forage Management
- Non-Traditional Products
Each on-farm research update meeting across the state is unique in that the content covered focuses primarily on regional projects. The update meeting at ENREEC predominantly focused on on-farm research projects done on eastern Nebraska farms with farmers and cooperators from Saunders, Dodge, Lancaster, Butler, and Douglas counties attending, as well as from Iowa.
Southern Rust was again a major concern in eastern Nebraska corn production in 2025 and brought up in multiple project updates. Participants also shared updates about their experiences with white mold, fungicides, utilizing University of Nebraska recommendations for Nitrogen use and other on-farm research.
This session also included discussion several projects conducted at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center. Studies at ENREEC included: 1) Effects of Row Spacing and Fungicide Timing on White Mold in Soybean; 2) V6 vs. V12 Rainfed Nitrogen Timing; and 3) Comparing Fertigation Management Strategies in Corn.
Farmers, cooperators and researchers shared details on weather-related challenges, significant increases in insurance, the value of in-season sensing, and more. When it came time to focus on insects, those attending got to choose which topics were most important to hear updates on.
Nebraska On-Farm Research Network farmer Bruce Williams talked about some of the challenges of having land that is prone to ponding. He also reported on using the University of Nebraska's updated in-season Nitrogen management recommendations for irrigated corn.
Williams utilized satellite imagery through Sentinel Ag® to help determine if/when additional nitrogen was needed throughout the growing season. He discussed the impact of residue, cost of inputs and cloud cover on gathering images.
When asked if he would have felt comfortable just applying a lower base rate of Nitrogen without the recommendations based on field imagery, the answer was no. Williams went on to explain that the savings in reduced Nitrogen application costs covered using the imagery/sensing/recommendation services. With his yields, he also noted that even if there would have been the possibility of higher yields from applying more nitrogen, it wouldn't have offset the additional cost for Nitrogen.
Remaining Update Meetings
The update meetings are the ideal platform for informal exchange of information, to compare notes and to brainstorm on future projects. There are still several update sessions taking place in 2026:
Feb. 24: Kearney (Buffalo County Extension Office)
Feb. 26: Alliance (Knight Museum and Sandhills Center)
March 3: O'Neill (Holt County Extension Office)
March 4: Nebraska City (Kimmel Orchard Event Center)
Learn more (and pre-registration appreciated for upcoming meetings): https://on-farm-research.unl.edu/
With investments from the Nebraska Soybean Board, Nebraska Corn Board, and Nebraska Dry Bean Commission, NOFRN aims to provide feedback and support in the numerous farming operations in our state.
Photos, story, and link to pre-registration for remaining update sessions: https://go.unl.edu/ngfp
