On-farm trials provide an economical way of comparing management options, on both a practical and economic level, without exposing yourself to needless risk.
While a single head-to-head comparison, try-out or demonstration can be an initial step in testing out a new idea, a thorough investigation using a proper on-farm trial will give you more reliable results and be a valuable learning exercise. Make sure you understand what is required before you embark on your journey, especially as much of the work is likely to fall during busy times of the year.
Growers Leading Change (GLC) has updated a series of booklets, originally produced with SFF funding, to help you design and run a reliable on-farm trial. This series of booklets will help you design and run a reliable on-farm trial. Much of the information is also relevant for try-outs (less rigorous on-farm studies) or demonstrations. It includes the following:
10 Point Plan
This 10 Point Plan will help you design and run a reliable on-farm trial. It includes information on understanding your trial’s aims, deciding on treatments and design, measuring, monitoring and recording, as well as results analysis.
On-Farm Trial Guide Reference Book
Successful trials are a mix of art and science. The booklet tries to distil the art and science and provide you with the knowledge required to compare two management options simply and reliably. We do not attempt to provide you with the skills for running complex experiments involving a wide variety of treatments.
Based on the 10 Point Plan, this booklet provides detailed information about how to run each stage of your trial.
Tips for Crops
This booklet describes how to make measurements and observations for specific crops.
Data Analysis Toolkit
This toolkit includes recording sheets and a statistical analysis tool. They are saved as separate files.
ANOVA statistical analysis spreadsheet