The Online Tool: AgConnect

Why Use AgConnect for On-Farm Research?

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Farmers can:Facilitators can:
  • Join research trials based on their practices and interests
  • Keep all their research protocols and other materials in one easy-to-navigate place
  • Collect and submit field data faster and easier than before
  • Easily contact their research lead; they are just one click away
  • See results of local research
  • Share their ideas with researchers and suggest new experiments
  • Get research reports sent directly to them as soon as they become available
  • Reduce outreach fatigue by reaching a large group of engaged farmers looking to join research in one place
  • Simplify data collection by receiving data directly from farmers through the data logs portal
  • Easily add your research trials’ steps and procedures into AgConnect by using the experiment templates
  • Communicate with research participants and answer their questions
  • Develop research reports and send them directly to research participants

Why Join On-Farm Research?

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There are many reasons to participate in on-farm research.

  1. Farmers can earn payment in exchange for their participation.

    Researchers and organizations often compensate farmers in exchange for the use of the farmers' land, resources, time, and feedback.  

  2. Farmers can use the results of on-farm research to improve their operations.

    By participating in on-farm research trials through AgConnect, farmers will be given a summary of the results after the research is completed. These results help farmers assess the current state of their operations and inform decisions for future improvements. Reading research results online does not tell a farmer whether the practice is directly applicable on their farm, but on-farm research does. Now, by connecting with research professionals through Vermont’s On-Farm Research Network, farmers can bring the research directly to their fields and make decisions for their operation based on experiments performed on-site. 

  3. Farmer participation in on-farm research informs the agricultural community.

    A potential cost to participating in on-farm research could be that the product or management practice being tested does not result in crop improvement or yield increase. This information is still very valuable because it provides critical information to farmers today and far into the future. 

Join an Experiment

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After making an account on AgConnect, farmers can browse actively recruiting research projects that align with their management practices. They can explore the website by filtering through research project and choose which one works for them. 

Researchers will provide details about project timelines and requirements, so they will know exactly what they are signing up for. A schedule of tasks and specific protocols is provided. 

The AgConnect research team will guide farmers through the next steps and will be available to contact throughout the project. 

Research results from the trials can be shared with AgConnect’s database, but identifying information from each farm will remain private. It’s important that farms feel safe to participate in research while preserving anonymity.

Vermont’s On-Farm Research Network is in its first phase of development, and farmers and researchers are currently testing its capabilities. We can help you scale your needs to fit the confines of the tool. Stay tuned for updates and release dates!

Propose an Experiment

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Farmers, do you ever feel like there isn’t any research into a question or topic that is important to you?

AgConnect connects farmers with researchers to make their ideas a reality and prioritize their research questions. Farmers can submit research requests to the AgConnect team, and a researcher will connect with them to specify the details of the experiment. Experiments can test hypotheses about crop varieties, soil health, equipment, tillage practices, pest and disease management, and more!

Vermont’s On-Farm Research Network is in its first phase of development, and farmers and researchers are currently testing its capabilities. We can help you scale your needs to fit the confines of the tool. Stay tuned for updates and release dates!

Our Story

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Why Develop AgConnect?

For generations, dairy products and maple syrup have served as the pillars of Vermont’s agricultural industry. However, changing markets and environmental conditions have threatened the ways that Vermont farms operate. As farmers work to maintain the vitality and sustainability of their farms and businesses, many are adopting new and alternative crops like hemp, soybeans, dry beans, and specialty grains, diversifying our agricultural economy. 

Vermont farmers have long been problem-solvers. Innovation isn’t just a response to adversity; it’s a way of life here. 

The University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils program team developed AgConnect to be a space where this innovation can be fostered and guided with the help of the University of Vermont’s resources. Heather Darby, Agronomist and Soil Health Specialist at the University of Vermont, saw this constant innovation and in-the-field experimental design during outreach work with Vermont farmers. Many other top agricultural universities already have on-farm research networks and related resources in place. Dr. Darby recognized that Vermont farmers could benefit from a one-stop online platform that would serve as a place where farmers can easily enter their trial or experiment results and access results shared by other farmers, so she began development on a resource designed for Vermont’s unique agricultural landscape. It was time for Vermont to catch up. This project is made possible with funding from the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships.