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Farmers needed for MSU field crops climate study

A new climate resilience study at Michigan State University aims to study what practices help field crops during weather extremes.

Extension Field Crops Educator Monica Jean tells Brownfield she’s recruiting farmers for different levels of commitment over the next three years.

“We’re hoping that they’ll be able to really compare what they’re doing to their own farm, their own practice, and improve to be better for the rotation, but also for their bottom line,” she explains. “On a grander scale, we’re hoping just to capture what is working on farms and not working to share with other farmers.”

Jean says it will be the first on-farm data collected on field crops in Michigan trying to quantify climate change and how farmers can adapt.

“The sampling we do, it does look at in the carbon cycle and those properties, but we’re also capturing nitrous oxide and what’s impacting that on the farms as well,” she says.

She says farmers who complete an online survey about their farm and management will receive two free soil samples. A group of select sites throughout the state are needed to participate in more in-depth on-farm research.

Jean also wants to hear from farmers who are new to certain conservation practices to quantify soil changes and provide additional personal support.

AUDIO: Monica Jean, Michigan State University Extension