Field Days

Opening a Dialogue with Plants: The Future of Smart Farming with CROPPS

At the Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS), researchers are developing technologies that allow plants to signal their status—like water or nutrient stress—through advanced sensors and data systems. By combining plant science, engineering, and AI, the project aims to enable real-time communication between crops and farmers. In our Aurora field experiment, the first reporter prototypes from this research are being tested under varying nitrogen conditions. Our reporter plants sense the level of nitrogen in the soil and turn purple if nitrogen levels are low, giving an early indication of depleted nitrogen to the grower. Through programming plants to respond to their environments and communicate with growers, CROPPS’ goal is to support more precise, responsive, and sustainable agricultural practices.

Pollinator Strips in the Margins: Managing Weeds and Boosting Biodiversity 

Research on pollinator strips in field margins explores how these plantings influence weed diversity and overall biodiversity on farms. Findings highlight how strategic margin management can support pollinators and beneficial insects while balancing weed pressure, offering a pathway to more ecologically integrated and productive farming systems.

Precision Nitrogen Management Using Imaging and Models

An overview of how imaging technologies and crop models (Adapt-N) are used to guide nitrogen applications that capture seasonal effects as well as localized soil variability. The approach aims to improve nitrogen use efficiency, reduce environmental losses, and support more sustainable crop production.

Soil Health on Solar Farms

Findings from research on agricultural solar installations reveal how soil health and water dynamics are affected by solar site development.  

New York On-Farm Research Partnership

The New York On-Farm Research Partnership is a partnership of producers, the Cornell Nutrient Management Spear Program, PRO-DAIRY, Cornell Cooperative Extension, crop and nutrient management consulting firms, and other farm advisors and agencies. Here we highlight examples of collaborative research ranging from field-scale assessment of the power of manure to whole farm evaluations of nutrients and greenhouse gas emissions.

Farmers Datalab: How farmers and researchers can learn together?

This project supports farmers in designing and analyzing on-farm experiments to explore nitrogen management strategies following cover crops in corn production. By leveraging digital agronomy tools and expert guidance, participants gain deeper insights into their practices and contribute to a collaborative network aimed at enhancing nutrient efficiency and sustainability.

Life After Neonics: Exploring The Effect of Manure, Cover Crops, and Seed Treatment on Early Pest Risk in in NY Field Crops

Early-season pests of field corn have traditionally been managed through the prophylactic use of neonicotinoid-coated seeds. However, this form of protection will no longer be available in New York State after 2029. As a result, concerns have emerged that incorporating plant residues or animal manure for fertilization may increase early seed damage and reduce yields. Despite these concerns, few studies have experimentally tested these effects. Here, we present preliminary data and a field experiment investigating how manure and cover crop additions interact with different seed treatments, and how these combinations affect early-season pest pressure, corn emergence, and yield.

Integrated weed management strategies in NY corn and soybean

Rapid spread of newly invaded Palmer amaranth and waterhemp is an increasing concern among NY producers Evolution of glyphosate resistance in these pigweed species and marestail pose additional threats to NY cropping systems. This session will showcase and discuss the combination of seeding rates and effective herbicide programs for weed control in Smart corn. Crop safety and weed control effectiveness withpreemergence applied metribuzin alone or in various combinations will also be demonstrated. Attendees will observe the effectiveness of new herbicide tools and learn how integrating multiple modes of action can support long-term resistance management.

Reducing tillage in corn production with living and rolled-crimped legume mulches

Reduced tillage organic corn production has potential to prevent soil degradation while maintaining yields and farmer profitability.  We will discuss two experiments leveraging legume cover crops to reduce tillage in organic corn production, including planting corn into strip-tilled clover living mulches and rolled-crimped hairy vetch.

DEC and CCA credits have been requested.

The program is free and open to the public. A light breakfast and free lunch will be provided.

Schedule at a glance:

• 9:00-9:45 am - Registration & light refreshments outside Field House
• 9:45-9:50 am - Welcome & instructions
• 10-11:55 am - Morning tours
• 12-12:55 pm - Lunch
• 1-2:55 pm - Afternoon tours
• 3:00 pm - Opportunity for discussion with presenters

Location