Perspective of U.S. Farmers on Collaborative On-Farm Research

Farmers worldwide increasingly emphasize improving agricultural practices to enhance sustainability and build resilience in the face of various environmental and production challenges. In this scenario, on‐farm research is gaining traction as a participatory approach involving farmers and stakeholders in knowledge development and technology and innovation transfer across farms. However, despite the enthusiasm for the concept of on‐farm research within the agricultural community, there are still uncertainties regarding farmers’ willingness to collaborate.

Researchers from several U.S. universities surveyed farmers across the U.S. Midwest and South‐Central regions, revealing that they are generally open to collaborating with universities for on‐farm research. The findings suggest that farmers are 40% more likely to adopt practices backed by on‐farm research compared with those not conducted on the farm. Their primary motivators for engaging in on‐farm research were productivity and profitability.

These insights have implications for fostering collaborations, addressing constraints, and maximizing the impact of on‐farm research. They offer guidance for sustainable agriculture progress and policy and initiatives promoting on‐farm research.