In an effort to provide further explanation about the county plots, I give you this post!
Phil has been hosting the county extension plots for many years. He provides the land & labor as well as any fertilizer & such as needed.
Various seed companies donate 1/2 a bag of seed in however many varieties as they choose. They can enter up to 3 varieties per company. They are asked to help with either planting and/or harvest of the crop. They also pay a fee to be part of the plot.
I just counted from the results pages. This year there were 14 companies in the soybean plot and 14 companies in the corn plot. There were 38 varieties of corn & soybeans in each plot. I don’t think they try to make them the same numbers!
Because we rotate our crops, the corn & soybean plots rotate their locations each year. Both are easily accessible. One is on our highway with lots of exposure and the other just around the corner so anyone can stop to see the plots. The sign is nearby.
So we end up with a wide variety of corn or soybean companies. Each variety is planted as we plant any other field and there are 6 rows for each variety. Phil plants them all the same, treats them the same, and they get the same weather.
When the crop is harvested, the extension workers keep accurate records of how each variety of seed produced. The amount of bushels for each variety, the moisture, and test weight. This information is compiled in one form and sent back to the seed company dealers as well as local farmers. Everyone can see how each seed variety produced on our farm.
Many plots are hosted by seed companies. They are able to show how their seed out-performs the other seed companies they have used in their plot. However, one would wonder if the records are straight when the sponsoring seed company frequently comes out on top.
The difference in our plot is that it is sponsored by the county extension office, not a specific seed company. There isn’t any favoritism to any particular company. We are also no-till/minimum tillage farmers so you can get results for that kind of farming and the extension office is helping to promote the neighboring conservation office’s work.
The planting day and the harvest day each go slower for Phil because of only making one pass at a time. Then the planter or combine has to be emptied and reloaded. Someone keeps accurate records and each pass is marked with which variety is where.
My part in plot days is to help Phil get ready (early lunch, calls if necessary, clear JP’s school schedule) and to provide snacks and drinks for the 2 sets of workers. (one on each end of the field) Before driver’s licenses for the dc, I was also the chauffeur for when Phil was ready for their help.
Several years ago, it was difficult getting one of the plots scheduled for planting. Phil had to do it on a Saturday which meant it would be hard to get the helpers there. That year the team included Phil & his dad (always there anyway), one county extension worker, and our 2 kids. It actually went really well. Maybe not so much “chat” inbetween the work.
It is interesting to Phil to see the detailed records of yields for all the seed varieties. The workers seem to enjoy the camaraderie and snacks!
Does this help explain it? Ask what other questions this has brought up! I’ll answer short answers in the comments section.
And for your viewing pleasure…. this is out my kitchen window this afternoon. Yesterday these branches were coated quite heavily. Today’s blowing snow forced me to return home and miss my aqua aerobics class. That made me grumpy! :p
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The workers are here. At some point P comes in to tell them their missions for the next few hours.
and sew on... 