Perspective of US farmers on collaborative on-farm agronomic research

On-farm research has emerged in recent years as a unique approach to involve farmers and other agricultural stakeholders as active participants in knowledge development and as an effective method of technology and innovation transfer across farms. This study assessed the perspective and knowledge of US farmers regarding on-farm research via the implementation of a 24-question survey distributed across most of the US Midwest and South-Central regions. We found that farmers generally are willing to engage with universities to conduct on-farm research and were 40% more likely to adopt practices supported by on-farm research findings than research not conducted on-farm. Notably, a shift toward conservation practices was made, with cover crops and no-till at the forefront. Insights of this nature have implications for fostering collaborations, addressing constraints, and maximizing the impact of on-farm research, offering guidance for sustainable agriculture progress in the United States and beyond. Results from this research survey could be used to initiate much-needed policies to promote on-farm research. Further, information on the benefits and drawbacks of on-farm research could be used in the development of studies that benefit both farmers and researchers.