Luke Byers, Crop Production Agent

Photo Courtesy of RVED

Every farmer has those burning questions about what decisions will make their farms more productive and profitable, but finding reliable, consistent answers for the unique scales and circumstances of their farms is a significant undertaking. Most simply don’t have the time and resources to add a layer of scientific experimentation to the demanding occupation of farming. That’s where the Kansas Farm Research Network (KFRN) comes in.

KFRN is a pilot collaboration program between the Kansas Agricultural Research & Technology Association (KARTA) and the River Valley Extension District (RVED). KFRN is a group of agricultural producers in north-central Kansas who conduct on-farm research projects at farm-level scale with the technical support of agricultural research & extension professionals. By bringing together the research expertise and human networks of each organization, KFRN simplifies the intellectual and labor demands of performing on-farm research. Plus, participants are encouraged to be involved in developing the research questions they tackle on their farms, guaranteeing an emphasis on the subjects that are top of mind for Kansas farmers.

Here’s what it looks like to participate in KFRN:

· Interested growers sign up to participate and submit research question ideas (or use an experiment pre-designed by our team of K-State ag researchers) by Dec. 10, 2025

· KFRN team works with growers to identify research ideas with broad applications & interest and form them into practical, on-farm scientific experiments

· Registered growers meet with KFRN team members at the Kansas Agricultural Technologies Conference (Feb. 20, 2026) to finalize plans of action

· In Spring 2026, KFRN team connects Summer Research Assistant (RA) with registered growers to define technical support role for growers’ research projects

· RA helps registered growers execute research plans by setting up treatments, taking measurements, compiling data, and reporting observations

· KFRN team & RA assist registered growers to transform raw data into actionable results and report findings through presentations, publications, and public relations

In the first year of KFRN, RA assistance will be focused in the River Valley Extension District (Clay, Cloud, Republic, & Washington Counties) and the immediately surrounding counties. This will allow the support team to optimize their time serving participating growers while adding depth to the portfolio of on-farm research in the region. Success in the first year will mean opportunity to expand KFRN to new regions of the state in future years.

KFRN is distinct from strip trials or demonstration plots by applying the scientific method at the farm-level scale:

· Replicated: Successful research requires applying different field treatments within the same field replicated multiple times

· Significant: Scientific conclusions are only drawn if the difference in outcomes between treatments are statistically significant

· Reliable: When data and results reach scientific standards, they move beyond opinion and become knowledge

· Shareable: Reliable results can be compiled and presented with audiences everywhere to improve Kansas agriculture

To learn more about the Kansas Farm Research Network and information on how to get involved, visit the RVED Agriculture & Natural Resources webpage: (rivervalley.k-state.edu/program-areas/agriculture-natural-resources/) or the KARTA Research webpage (karta-online.org/research). You may also reach out to River Valley Extension District Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent, Luke Byers, at 785-632-5335 or by email at lsbyers@ksu.edu. Because of the emergent nature of the program, certain details may be subject to change. Keep abreast of any updates by staying in touch with your extension agent or other KFRN team members and by following RVED and KARTA media releases. We hope to bring on-farm research into your field soon!