Cooperators' Program

Grazing

1. Low-cost in-pasture handling facilities
2. Monitor forage quality, animal and environmental improvement with pasture renovation
3. Forage mixes for grazing, season extension
4. Grazing cover crops
5. Measure seedbank distribution in the soil
6. Mob grazing's effect on animal/pasture performance

Field Crops

1. How can cover crops be used to improve weed management?
2. How can I scale up the size of my machinery in a diversified farming system?
3. How can I improve the design of my farming system to improve time/labor management? How can I substitute more August hours for April hours?

Poultry

1.      Nutritional composition of chickens (vs. store) and how it is affected by breed, feed, & pasture

Hort Crops

Pest control

1.  Flea beetle control in eggplant
   
   1. Surround (slurry @ planting, spray until fruit are ¼ size)
   2. Row cover
   3. Control
2. Cabbage moth control in brassicas
   1. Dipel
   2. Surround
   3. Row cover
3. Flea beetles control in arugula
   1. Row covers
   2. Control

Marketing ecofootprint

1. Miles traveled to provide local
2. Brix readings of local produce (vs. grocery store)
3. What motivates Iowa consmers to purchase local? (survey)

Season extension

1. Low tunnels in high tunnels-optimize heat gain vs. light loss
2. Long term fertility tracking in high tunnel systems
3. Low tunnel technology options in the field

Soil health

1.  Replicated trials of cover crops
   
   1. throughout the state
   2. for conversion to hort use
   3. loosen soil, ease compaction
   4. increase fertility, organic matter, and soil biology
2. Simulating extreme weather in hoophouse
   1. effects on plant varieties, soil compaction
3. Switch to permanent raised beds from narrow, temporary rows
   1. Double digging?
   2. Layered beds?
   3. 3-5 year project

Grazing 

1. How do we improve pastures to extend the grazing season and reduce hay feeding?
2. How do we improve animal performance in grazing systems (weight gain, efficiencies)?
3. Ho do we conduct successful mentoring/outreach projecs to get young people involved?
4. What are the ecosystem benefits of grazing systems (i.e water quality, runoff, wildlife, soil biology, carbon sequestration)?
5. What facilities will help me handle my cattle better?
   

Field Crops

1. Can I be profitable while adding cover crops/living mulch/rotations to my system?
2. When is the proper time/equipment to plant a cover crop?
3. How do cover crops affect the following crop yield?
4. What cover crops can be grazed? How many grazing days per acre?
5. How much carbon is sequestered with the addition of a cover crop in a rotation?
   

Niche Pork 

1. How can we reduce breeding herd feed costs?
2. How can mange be best controlled in organic herds?
3. What alternative protein sources could be grown in Iowa?
4. How can diseases in niche herds be best detected and identified?
5. How can niche producers develop feed formulations that help reduce costs?

Horticulture

1. What are effective pest control methods in a chemical-free fruit and vegetable system?
2. How do I control weeds in my fruit and vegetable system without using synthetic chemicals?
3. How can I successfully extend my season?
4. How do I maintain and increase soil health on my fruit and vegetable farm?
5. How do I investigate and market the ecological benefits of local produce?