Agronomy

The Carrington Research Extension Center conducts a wide variety of agronomy research with emphasis in the following areas:

Crop Index
Browse through this index of crops to find crop-specific research.

Alternative Crop Development:
Investigates existing and emerging alternative crops including borage, buckwheat, camelina, chickpea, crambe, field pea, flax, juncea, juneberry, lentil, lupin, niger thistle, onion, safflower, and others.

Crop Production and Management:
Develops, refines and improves crop production and management practices. Includes plant establishment (row spacing and populations), crop fertility, inoculation, crop rotations, planting dates and input application strategies.

Crop Variety Evaluations and Development:
Research conducted on barley, borage, buckwheat, camelina, canola, chickpea, corn, crambe, dry bean, durum, spring emmer, field pea, flax, forages, juneberry, lentil, lupin, millet, mustard, oats, onion, spring rye, winter rye, safflower, sorghum, soybean, spelt, sunflower, spring triticale, winter triticale, hard red spring wheat, and hard red winter wheat.

Cropping Systems and Crop Rotation Research:
Established in 1987, a long-term cropping systems trial evaluating rotations, tillage, and fertility.  

Disease Management:
Conduct extensive research on fungicide efficacy and application strategies. Evaluates disease resistance on potential new varieties.

Insect Management:
Research focuses on observed and potential problems in production fields. Chemical and non-chemical products and cultural practices are evaluated to identify management systems with increased effectiveness and reduce costs.

Irrigation Research:
Provides farmers and industry with best management practices to grow traditional and high-value crops. Potatoes, dry beans, soybeans, corn, small grains, carrots, onions, and others are being studied under irrigation. Dry land plots are established to compare yields with dry land farming.

Weed Management:
Research trials on weed management in grass and broadleaf crops to screen herbicides for crop tolerance and to develop weed management strategies. 

Horticulture and Forestry Variety Evaluations

Extension Outreach:
CREC Extension specialists and researchers serve as resources for educators throughout the state.  Seminars and demonstrations provide training in crop and livestock production and livestock waste management to agri-business and governmental resource persons across the state. Extension Outreach Archives
 

From Crops Research Report Day, April 13, 2023
ABERLE. Long Term Cropping Systems Research started in 1987 and comprises about 50 acres. Research crop rotations follow three 4-year plans, with the ninth cycle ending in 2022.

ENDRES. Selected production management studies reviewed included winter rye as a cover crop preceding soybean, tolerance of broadleaf crops to preplant, low-rate dicamba for early season weed control; corn response to P and Zn; prior-year P for soybean; durum intensive management, and 2023 research and demo plans.

FEWELL. The ND Farm Management Education Program works with about 400 farms, assisting farmers and ranchers with record keeping, planning, business analysis, and goal setting as part of a nation-wide farm financial standards benchmarking program. More information is available at www.ndfarmmanagement.com .

OSTLIE and SIMONS. Current CREC Agronomy research includes evaluation of over a dozen crops, as development continues with new crops such as white sorghum and lupin. Addtional research will look at planting dates, planting rates, inoculants, soil health, cover crops and grazing.

WUNSCH. CREC Plant Pathology research examines fungicide application timing, assessing the risk of sclerotinia, and optimizing spray droplet size.

YUJA. CREC Soils research includes fertility, product testing, crop rotations, salinity, crop water use, cover crops, nitrogen additives, and crop response to specific minerals.

Foundation Seedstocks Program:
Part of NDSU’s Foundation Seedstocks Program focusing on seed increase, conditioning and distribution.

Northern Plains Fruit and Grape Production
The Northern Hardy Fruit Evaluation Project introduces growers, processors and consumers to unfamiliar yet healthy and delicious fruits which are easily grown in North Dakota so that new and existing agri-businesses can explore untapped markets.