Dollar for Research

The Purpose

Questions arise every production season that need answers. Our focus has been to find answers and establish confidence that correct decisions are made. We study available information and conduct research trials that offer value to the producer.  Through the Dollar for Research program we offer local growers the opportunity to get answers they need by supporting and influencing local agronomic research.

We have been conducting field trials since the business was begun in 1984. The majority of these research trials are contracted and paid for by the ag industry and commodity groups. However, we also conduct trials on our own to validate our recommendations for our grower clients.  Now through Dollar for Research we are using our expertise to conduct research directly for growers.

The Plan

1. Survey the grower group members to identify the needs and goals of the group.
2. Establish the primary research goals for the coming season based on the surveys.
3. Create protocols for trials to address the grower group goals for research.
4. Conduct trials on our research farm in Pantego and on-farm with grower members as needed.
5. Analyze the data and produce a written booklet with results.
6. Have an educational meeting at our office to review results and discuss plans for the coming season.

The Fee – $1.00/A

Growers are charged $1.00 per acre that they farm.  We also offer discounts for long-term members and large acre growers.

We pool this money and use it to conduct research to address needs based on the pre-season survey of grower members.  

Types of Research

Research is conducted as replicated small plot trials, on-farm trials, demonstration plots, or other types of studies as needed.  Over the first several years, we have conducted variety trials, herbicide trials, fertility trials, insecticide trials and growth regulator trials.  We have also conducted a large sampling project to better understand the situation on farms with saltwater intrusion problems.  

Each year we gain knowledge and use it to continue to build.  We have initiated a long-term large-scale cover crop trial to help understand the effects on the soil, fertility and yield.  We are taking what we have learned in the salt sampling studies to create new protocols to test in the future to help bring some relief and restoration to high sodium soils.  We continue to build on our corn, soybean and cotton fertility studies to continue to improve our understanding of how to use fertilizers profitably.

All of our research is conducted locally within the Blacklands region of North Carolina.  In our studies we try to help identify the best practices for soil types in our region ranging from mineral soils to high organic muck soils.