WinField United Expands Answer Plot Program to Research Farm In North Dakota
WinField United’s Answer Plot program is expanding in two ways: first, with a larger dedicated research farm covering 162 acres in North Dakota, and second, with a focus on hard red spring and winter wheat, spring and winter canola, field peas, sunflowers, and other diversified field crops.
As explained by Ryan Moeller, seed product manager, this first of its kind dedicated research farm allows for the WinField United team to use crop rotations at the site necessary for the diversity of its research. The Wilton, North Dakota site consolidates and elevates the opportunities for diversified field crop research which had been previously scattered and in smaller scale.
“It’s tricky to get all of these crops in the rotation,” he says. “Whereas the Answer Plots before have been exclusively corn and soybeans and located on smaller sites, we needed a bigger space.”
He says another advantage is they can use the site as a draw for bringing in people for educational agronomy events. This summer had the initial field day for the site, and Moeller said attendees were impressed about the investment and data behind the Croplan brand.
“Really, I want ag retailers to know this is their farm. This is also the farmer’s farm. We are committed to diverse field crops. There are a lot of companies, it’s corn/beans/corn/beans. Our corn/beans are important and we believe diverse field crops are just as important,” Moeller says. “It shows our commitment to them and their diverse field crops.”
Currently, one crew lead and two additional team members are establishing the first field trials.
As Moeller says, the goal of the Innovation Farm is to collect agronomic data to help bring improved product and agronomic recommendations to help growers.
Some of the first research trials include:
- Large-scale genetic and performance testing and screening capabilities for multiple crops
- Herbicide efficacy trials
- Nitrogen trials
- Fungicide response
- Shatter testing on commercial and pre-commercial canola products–a first for Croplan.
“We want this site to be the best applied agronomic research center and be known as leaders in bringing forward the kind of insights we are researching,” Moeller says.