On-Farm Trials (and tribulations)

In 2018 we decided to a test new area and new techniques, as well as reduce costs by building a greenhouse to start our own plants.

Harry and Aaron after concrete is poured.

Frame is going up

Finished!

On-Farm Trial: Perhaps our biggest struggle, we have discovered has been time management. It has at times been challenging to manage weeds in our fields because of such constraints. In order to address possible solutions to this, we implemented a trial to evaluate several management practices spring 2018 with the financial assistance of the Farmer-Rancher grant program administered by the USDA-NCR SARE program.

In the trial, four varieties (Grosso, Phenomenal, Croxton’s Wild, and Munstead) were planted in three ‘management’ systems:

• Bareground/cultivated
• Black landscape fabric (Dewitt, 3.2 oz)
• White landscape fabric
  

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​Data collected:

• Soil moisture content measured for scheduling irrigation-monitored water usage for each mgmt treatment
  • Drip irrigation (in-line, 30” centers)
• Plant Survival- previous experience led us to assume some plant losses initially:
  • Coldest April on record followed by warmest May
• Plant Vigor, Height and Diameter
  • Measured late summer
• Yield Bundles, bud weights from 10 aggregated ‘sample’ plants in 2nd year
• Also track labor hours spent in each management treatment

The following charts and graphs display data collecting during 2018:

Fall of 2018 looked great. Winter temperatures greatly fluxuated and spring brought so much rain we had flooding in the field. Result was extreme plant loss.

Fall 2018

Spring 2019

Summer 2019

So while we could not continue the experiment as originally planned we still gathered some valuable information.

• Install drip tape above fabric
  • Much easier to repair and install
  • Could make fabric installation much less expensive as well
  • Concern with precipitate clogging emitters…
• Bury the edges, don’t just staple in place
  • Freeze thaw heaving
• 24 plants that survived all but 1 were ‘phenomenal’; none were in very good shape
• White fabric- not suitable for field production (won’t block out light sufficiently)

Possible ideas for further study:

• Winter injury management
  • Soil moisture management during fall/winter
  • Protective covering/wind barrier
• Continue with variety testing:
  • Replication: making data more robust
    • Replicate within farm (soil types, management, etc.)
    • Replicate across farms (regional factors)
    • Keeping data consistent (what measured and how)
• Planting methods
  • Spring vs. fall
  • Fertilization

Good news is we continue to diversify our operation with other herb crops and the selling of live plants. We also have the exciting news of purchasing a farm of our own! Over the next few years we will continue the business while transitioning it from my parent’s farm over to our new homestead. Special thanks goes to NCR-SARE for funding the on-farm project. On with the adventure!

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