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Field Talk Friday | Dr. John Murphy | Why Local On-Farm Trials Are the Most Valuable Data You Can Use

In this Field Talk Friday clip, Dr. John Murphy discusses one of the most overlooked sources of agronomic insight: on-farm trial data gathered from growers in your local geography.

Whether you’re planting new hybrids, testing fertility strategies, or exploring a biological, the truth is simple—the closer the trial is to your soil, weather, and management style, the more relevant it is to your farm.

“Local data is where decisions turn from theory into ROI.”

🌱 Why Local Trials Outperform National Data Sets

Big university trials, national yield contest results, and glossy seed guides may offer broad trends—but they don’t capture:

Your soil type and drainage profile

Your rotation history

Your equipment setup

Your in-season management decisions

In this clip, Dr. Murphy explains:

Why field-scale grower trials show real-world variability

How replicated local trials drive confidence in decision-making

The value of building long-term data sets across the same acres

Why farmers should partner with agronomists to design trials that test real questions, not marketing claims

📊 Turning Local Trials Into Actionable Insights

Dr. Murphy also covers how growers can get more out of their local data:

Use as-applied maps and yield data overlays to evaluate side-by-sides

Document in-season decisions like weather events, foliar applications, or stand issues

Run split applications, hybrid vs. hybrid, or rate trials with intention—not just curiosity

Share your results with local agronomists or trusted peers to build broader insight

“What you learn in your field is worth more than 20 glossy charts from somewhere else.”

🧪 What Makes a Good On-Farm Trial?

It’s simple enough to execute but structured enough to measure

It answers a real economic or agronomic question

It has controls or comparisons built in—so you’re not guessing

It’s replicated or repeated across environments whenever possible

Even a basic check strip can teach you something valuable when observed with purpose.

🤝 Don’t Trial Alone—Build a Network

Dr. Murphy encourages growers to reach out to:

Local agronomists who can help you design, analyze, and validate your trials

Retail partners or seed reps who can provide side-by-side comparisons

Neighboring farmers running similar systems who are willing to share results

You don’t need a Ph.D. to run a good trial—but you do need a plan, a question, and a way to track outcomes.

🧠 Questions to Ask This Season:

What decisions are you unsure about in your current crop plan?

Could a simple trial help you make a more confident decision next year?

Are you running trials—and actually analyzing the data?

Are you getting results from your region—or relying on numbers from 300 miles away?

If you’re making 2026 plans now, let your own field—and your neighbors’ fields—guide the process.

📣 Join the Conversation:

What’s the most valuable trial you’ve ever run on your farm?

What have you learned from local plots that changed your strategy?

Do you share your data with other growers or agronomists?

Drop your experience in the comments. Let’s elevate what we learn from one another.

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👍 Like this episode if you’ve ever learned something game-changing from a check strip
💬 Comment with your most surprising trial result
📤 Share with your agronomist or local co-op to start planning 2026 trials now

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