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Participating farmers are compensated $1,300 for a Field Trial and $1,500 for an Advanced Rate Trial.
Participating crop advisers are compensated $600 for each Field Trial and $700 for each Advanced Rate Trial. There is a one site maximum per farmer and ten sites maximum per adviser, funding permitting.

Results and information from these trials will help:

1. Farmers and crop advisers evaluate current nutrient management practices versus another practice (nitrogen rate, nitrogen application timing, use of a nitrogen stabilizer product, or different nitrogen source) on their own farms.
2. Provide an opportunity to compare different nutrient management practices and evaluate the outcomes of other trials.
3. Assist participants in evaluating practices that will help reduce nitrate losses from their fields.
4. Assist in highlighting existing advancements in nutrient management practices from farmers and crop advisers that can help demonstrate Best Management Practice (BMP) adoption in Minnesota.
5. Inform the University of Minnesota’s current nitrogen fertilizer recommendations (Advanced Rate Trials).

Individual results will be kept strictly confidential. Statewide results will be summarized for outreach purposes only to help highlight existing farm practice and Ag industry advancements in nutrient management.

• The Minnesota NMI program is available statewide.

• To enroll, farmers and crop advisers should both complete the simple registration form online, or contact a local NMI representative by March 15 (Farmers are limited to one Field Trial or Advanced Rate Trial, crop advisers are limited to ten).

• Farmers may work with a Crop Adviser or Co-op Agronomist to set up a Field Trial and record and submit required documentation.

  • If a farmer does not have a crop adviser, the MDA staff will be able to assist with Field Trial set up, harvest, and completion of required forms.

  • Crop adviser will verify information is correct by submitting forms for the farmer.

• Farmers can work with a Crop Adviser or MDA representative to set up Advanced Rate Trials and record and submit required documentation.

• Individual identity and locations from the NMI program will be kept confidential and only used for year-end summaries and educational or promotional purposes.

Farmer Payment

The State grant agreement is written to compensate farmers in two payments. A fully executed grant agreement must be in place prior to starting the trial. (Note compensation is different for Advanced Rate Trials):

• Payment 1 for a Field Trial: $650 upon installing the Field Trial, completing and submitting the Crop Management Information Form by June 30.

• Payment 2 for a Field Trial: $650 upon completing the Field Trial harvest, recording harvest results, and submitting the Harvest Information Form by December 31.

• Payment 1 for an Advanced Rate Trial: $750 upon installing the Advanced Rate Trial, completing and submitting the Crop Management Information Form and as-applied fertilizer shapefile by June 30.

• Payment 2 for an Advanced Rate Trial: $750 upon completing the Advanced Rate Trial harvest and submitting the yield monitor data shapefile by December 31.

*Compensation is for participation only. The MDA makes no other guarantees for economic losses as a result of participating with this demonstration project. Failure to meet all timeline requirements will void payment.

Trial Establishment and Harvest Data Collection

• Except for the management variable being tested, all other management practices should remain constant across the field (consistent nutrient application timing and method except where noted, hybrid, planting date, planting population, pest management, tillage, field history).

• Keep detailed records for all field operations associated with trial area.

• If field operations are performed by someone other than the participating farmer (custom applicator, co-op), operations must be performed according to established NMI guidelines and verified by participating farmer and crop adviser.

• Tillage and planting operations should be performed under optimum soil conditions while ensuring that all equipment is calibrated and in good working order.

• Collect accurate crop management and harvest data and ensure information is submitted in a timely manner.

• For Field Trial: If GPS equipment is not available, delineate Field Trial strips prior to nutrient application, identify and reference Field Trial area on an appropriate field map (aerial map, FSA map). The MDA representative can also assist in Field Trial strip delineation if needed with a hand-held GPS unit.

• For Advanced Rate Trial: Variable Rate Technology (VRT) and yield monitors to aid in Advanced Rate Trial design, installation and harvest are required.

• Alert the MDA representative of any issues that may impact successful plot harvest (hail, drought, flooding, wind).