Progress 06/01/24 to 05/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience:During this reporting period, much of our effort was focused on recruiting both student interns and partner farmers for the 2024 on-farm precision experimentation (OFPE) program. These partnerships form the backbone of our hands-on learning model, pairing interns with producers to design and implement real-world field trials. We're proud to report that 7 students successfully completed their OFPE trials during the 2024 season. While we originally started with 11 interns, a few were unable to continue due to personal or life circumstances--an understandable challenge in any first-year program. Looking ahead, 15 new interns have been selected and paired with farmers for the 2025 season, demonstrating strong growth and continued interest from both students and producers. Spring training for these interns began in February and is ongoing, with support from instructors representing six partner schools. This program continues to foster a collaborative learning environment where students bring new ideas and tools to the farm, and farmers contribute practical insights from the field--ensuring mutual benefit and innovation across both groups. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has created a unique blend of technical training, hands-on field experience, and professional networking that supports both student and grower development. Interns received structured instruction on precision agriculture tools and concepts, including variable rate technology (VRT), data collection and analysis, prescription generation, and the fundamentals of on-farm trial design. This training began with a multi-institutional spring program involving instructors from six schools and continued throughout the growing season with guided fieldwork and mentorship. Beyond technical skills, students gained valuable professional development experience through direct collaboration with growers, ag service providers, and educators. They conducted field visits, consulted on experimental design, coordinated data logistics, and learned how to communicate agronomic insights in a professional setting. Presenting their findings to growers and again at a year-end conference further strengthened their communication, public speaking, and critical thinking skills. The conference also offered a peer-to-peer learning platform where students exchanged feedback, discussed challenges, and proposed process improvements. This exposure to collaborative problem-solving and real-world agronomy has proven instrumental in preparing students for careers in precision agriculture and related fields. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of our on-farm precision experimentation project have been actively shared with key agricultural stakeholders through a combination of in-person engagement, institutional partnerships, and emerging digital strategies. Our goal has been to ensure that insights from the program benefit not only the student participants, but also farmers, ag professionals, and educators across the region. Key dissemination efforts include: Advisory Board Engagement: Project updates, student progress, and field trial outcomes have been regularly presented at advisory board meetings. These sessions provide valuable opportunities for feedback, alignment with industry needs, and strategic guidance. Industry and Cooperative Outreach: We've conducted meetings and presentations with implement dealers and ag cooperatives to highlight the mutual benefits of student-led trials and how these collaborations can support innovation and workforce development in precision agriculture. College Partnerships: Partner colleges have helped expand our reach through newsletters, campus presentations, classroom integration, and joint training events--ensuring that both students and educators are informed and involved. Farmer Communication: Direct engagement with farmers has taken place through field days, farm visits, and student presentations. These interactions not only showcased trial results but also reinforced the practical value of student-farmer collaboration. Conference Presentations and Peer Sharing: Students presented their findings at a year-end conference attended by peers, instructors, and some community stakeholders. This served as a platform for knowledge exchange, professional development, and reflection on best practices. Plans for Broader Access: To expand access to the program's results, we are developing online resources, including training materials and summaries of trial outcomes. By using a multi-channel approach and prioritizing hands-on engagement, we've worked to ensure the results of this project are visible, practical, and impactful for all members of our agricultural community. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?? To continue building on the momentum of the 2024 season and meet our program goals, we have outlined several key activities for the upcoming reporting period: Support and Monitor 2025 Intern-Farmer Partnerships: With 15 new interns already paired with farmers, we will focus on supporting these partnerships as students move into trial design, data collection, and in-field implementation. Regular check-ins, troubleshooting support, and mentorship will ensure trial quality and educational value. Deliver Ongoing Training and Technical Workshops: Continued hands-on training will be provided to help students refine their understanding of variable rate technology (VRT), agronomic data analysis, and mapping software. These workshops will also involve ag educators and industry professionals to reinforce real-world applications. Facilitate In-Season Data Collection and Analysis: Interns will work with growers and ag service providers to collect key in-season data (NDVI imagery, scouting notes, etc.) and begin early analysis. This supports better trial management and improves the quality of final presentations. Expand Community Engagement and Dissemination: We will host field visits and mid-season updates for growers, cooperatives, and college partners to showcase student progress and gather feedback. This helps reinforce the value of the program within the local ag community. Develop Online Resource Materials: Work will begin on compiling trial protocols, student guides, and outcome summaries into an accessible online format, supporting future cohorts and expanding the reach of the project. Prepare for the 2025 End-of-Season Conference: Planning will begin for the fall peer-led conference where students will present their findings, reflect on challenges, and share innovations. This capstone event strengthens communication skills and promotes peer-to-peer learning. Through these focused efforts, we aim to ensure that students gain valuable hands-on experience, farmers see real-world value in trial outcomes, and the broader agricultural community continues to benefit from the program's growth.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In alignment with our initial goals outlined in last year's report, the 2024 season marked a successful launch of our on-farm precision experimentation program. Seven students completed all coursework and participated in full-scale, field-level trials in collaboration with local growers, agricultural service providers, and educators. These students were actively engaged in every stage of the process--working alongside their farmer partners to design and implement precision experiments tailored to real-world conditions. Each intern processed and analyzed the resulting data, then presented their findings directly to their partnered growers, fostering two-way dialogue around agronomic insights and future improvements. The season concluded with a peer-to-peer and instructor-led conference, where students shared their experiences, challenges, and proposed improvements to refine both the training process and trial design methods for future cohorts. This collaborative, field-based model is delivering exactly what we set out to achieve: hands-on learning, real-world impact, and a shared path toward more data-driven, sustainable farm management practices.

Publications

Progress 06/01/23 to 05/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:During the reporting period, a significant portion of our time was dedicated to the recruitment process, with a specific focus on two key groups: students for our training program and farmers who would be partnered with these students. The goal of this recruitment effort was to establish partnerships that would commence in spring of 2024. For the student recruitment aspect, our aim was to identify and attract individuals interested in participating in our training program. This program involves providing students with relevant skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience, preparing them for specific roles in on farm precision experimentation. The recruitment process may have included advertising, outreach efforts, informational sessions, and application procedures to select suitable candidates for the training program. Concurrently, our focus extended to cultivating relationships with farmers who would play a pivotal role as partners for the trained students. These farmers will offer their land as a practical ground for the students to conduct field trials. Throughout the process of designing and executing these field trials, the students will actively share their knowledge with the farmers. Simultaneously, they will collaborate by seeking input from the farmers on the specific trials they would like to implement. This reciprocal exchange of expertise aims to create a dynamic and mutually beneficial learning environment between the students and the farmers involved in the partnership. Spring training for the upcoming trials started in Febuary with 11 students exceding our first year goal of 8 students. Training is on going currently with instructors from 6 schools. 2 OFPE trials have been applied with the rest happening late April or early May as the weather allows for agriculture. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The 11 students are currently in training for implementing the OFPE Trials. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The dissemination of results to communities of interest has been a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders. Our team has engaged with advisory boards, implement dealers, agricultural cooperatives, colleges, and farmers to communicate the benefits that the grant is providing for students and the agricultural community. Here's how we've disseminated the results: Advisory Board Meetings: We've actively participated in advisory board meetings, where we've shared updates on the progress and outcomes of the grant-funded initiatives. These meetings serve as a platform for exchanging ideas, gathering feedback, and ensuring alignment with the needs and priorities of the agricultural community. Engagement with Implement Dealers and Ag Coops: Our team has conducted outreach efforts targeting implement dealers and agricultural cooperatives. Through meetings, presentations, and collaborative discussions, we've communicated the specific benefits and opportunities that the grant offers for students and the broader agricultural community. Partnership with Colleges: Collaboration with colleges has been instrumental in reaching a wider audience. We've worked closely with academic institutions to disseminate information about the grant-funded programs through various channels such as newsletters, workshops, and campus events. Direct Communication with Farmers: Engaging directly with farmers has been a priority for our team. We've organized informational sessions, field days, and farm visits to communicate the tangible impacts of the grant on agricultural practices, productivity, and sustainability. Online Platforms and Resources: Future Accessibility Plans: In addition to current dissemination efforts, we're proactively planning to make the grant-funded programs and resources available to everyone in the future. This may involve developing online training modules, creating open-access databases, or establishing partnerships with extension services to ensure widespread accessibility and impact. By engaging with diverse stakeholders and utilizing multiple communication channels, we've aimed to ensure that the results of the grant reach and benefit communities of interest effectively. Our commitment to transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement drives our efforts to disseminate information and foster positive outcomes for the agricultural community. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?To achieve the stated goal, our proposed project involves the creation of a comprehensive semester-long course. This course will be delivered virtually and will be multi-institutional, designed to train students in utilizing cyber-infrastructure. The primary objective is to equip them with the skills necessary for crop consulting, precision field trials and farm management roles, where they will collaborate with farmers to design and implement On-Farm Precision Experiments (OFPEs) on the farmers' own fields. Key components of our plan include: Course starting February 2024: The course will be conducted virtually, leveraging online teaching platforms. This approach allows us to spread the reach across the United States reaching students beyond the regular scope of a school. Multi-Institutional Collaboration: By involving multiple institutions, we aim to create a collaborative and diverse learning environment. This approach encourages the exchange of ideas and experiences among students from different academic backgrounds. Training for Real-World Application: The course content will focus on practical aspects, preparing students to work directly with farmers. Emphasis will be placed on designing and implementing OFPEs, gathering and processing data, and utilizing decision support tools for data-based management advice. Paid Internship Program: Complementing the academic training, a paid internship program will be established. Students participating in this program will work with farmers and crop consultancy companies to practically apply their knowledge in designing, implementing, and analyzing OFPEs. By integrating theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience through the virtual course and internship program, our approach aims to prepare students for a seamless transition into the crop consulting industry. The goal is not only to educate but also to empower students to make meaningful contributions to sustainable and data-driven agricultural practices. After the completion of the trials and the thorough analysis of the gathered data, our next step involves a crucial phase of reflection and knowledge-sharing. We envision bringing all the interns together for a comprehensive recap session, where the focus is on assessing the training experience and the implementation of the trials. Recap Meeting Objectives: Knowledge Sharing: The recap session provides a platform for interns to share their individual experiences, insights, and lessons learned during the training and trial implementation. This collaborative knowledge-sharing fosters a collective understanding of the challenges and successes encountered. Data Analysis Discussion: A significant portion of the recap will be dedicated to discussing the results of the trials. Interns will have the opportunity to present their findings, analyze the data collectively, and draw conclusions. This collaborative approach ensures a thorough examination of the outcomes from various perspectives. Feedback and Improvement: The session serves as a forum for interns to provide feedback on the training program and the overall internship experience. Constructive feedback is invaluable for refining future iterations of the training course and internship program, making continuous improvements. Best Practices and Challenges: Interns will have the chance to highlight best practices that emerged during the trials, showcasing successful strategies. Simultaneously, challenges faced by interns will be discussed, creating an open dialogue to brainstorm solutions and share experiences. Networking and Community Building: The recap meeting goes beyond a review of trials; it also fosters a sense of community among interns. Networking opportunities allow interns to build professional relationships, share contact information, and establish connections that may prove beneficial in their future endeavors. Recognition and Celebration: Outstanding contributions and achievements during the trials will be acknowledged and celebrated. Recognizing the interns' hard work and dedication not only boosts morale but also reinforces a culture of appreciation within the community. Future Opportunities: The recap session serves as a platform to discuss potential future opportunities, both for individual interns and for the broader community. It could include avenues for continued collaboration, advanced training, or participation in upcoming projects. By bringing all interns together for this comprehensive recap session, our aim is to create a cohesive and supportive community of learners. This collective reflection not only enhances the overall learning experience but also contributes to the continuous improvement of our training and internship programs.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The recruitment process involves bringing together students, growers, and agricultural cooperatives for collaborative on-farm precision experimentation in 2024. As of now, we anticipate having 11students commence their training in February. This constitutes approximately one-third of the total student population expected for the three-year training program, indicating that we are on schedule and progressing as planned. The goal is to foster a collaborative environment where students, growers, and ag coops can collectively engage in on-farm precision experimentation, contributing to a dynamic and fruitful learning experience for all participants.

Publications