Infield Advantage

 The INfield Advantage program offers an innovative approach to conservation through an innovative programing framework that provides access to nutrient management and soil health trials to farmers who may not traditionally engage in conservation programs. This program allows farmers to initially begin receiving baseline data through sampling, as well as, enroll in a split field trial pertaining to nutrient management, reduced tillage practices, or Cover Crops. Through this framework, farmers move through a navigable path towards understanding which practices may work best on their individual operations. The program divides the state into six watershed-based regions, and the trials offered are developed to address specific concerns in each of the watershed-based regions. Trials are developed and offered in partnership with private industry and university extension and include opportunities with Cover Crops, including cover crop and manure management trials, reduced tillage and nutrient management. Farmers receive feedback on the trials through an agronomist and discuss results and experiences in small peer group meetings. The objectives for this program are to increase the use of soil health and nutrient management practices in priority watersheds in Indiana. Specifically, the program will focus on increasing cover crop acreage and advancing 4R principles, particularly on fields that use manure. The program will target outreach to farmers who traditionally do not participate in conservation programs or utilize a private agronomist. By offering small, local peer group meetings, the findings and experiences on each farm will be shared among multiple farmers to advance broader adoption of practices. Additionally, evaluation data collected through Field to Market and social surveys will be aggregated and shared broadly to promote information learned and progress made through the program.