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 The history of the Herman Rosholt Research Farm goes back over 3 decades. A series of research trials have been completed over the years. The Farm was purchased by Pope SWCD in conjunction with Kandiyohi SWCD, and Stearns SWCD on May 27, 1968. The location is near Westport in Eastern Pope County. This location was chosen after a lengthy study was conducted by a Soil Scientist. It was determined that the 40 acres had the required uniform soil type, soil depth, level, topography, and adequate water for the irrigation research. Eventually Pope SWCD became the sole owner of the farm. The objective of the farm is to conduct soil and water research.
Over the history of the Rosholt Research farm several research studies have been conducted by the University of Minnesota Soils and Agronomy Extension, with the most recent being the hybrid poplar biomas study.
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Prairie Lakes Coop and the Pope County SWSD have created a resource through a cooperative partnership to draw out agricultural practices essential for interpreting, discovering, and continuing on-going development for producers and communities. Rosholt is located directly west of Westport, Minnesota along Hwy 28.
The 2010 Rosholt Field day has been set for July 27, schedule coming. Thank you to the 2010 sponsors: The Mosaic Company, Croplan, Agrisolutions and Syngenta.
At Rosholt, producers have access to new genetics that maximize grain yields while remaining environmentally favorable. Producing higher yields economically will ensure that the practices are adopted quickly and are sustainable. While genetics are an important part of increasing yields, balanced crop nutrition is also critical to provide a solid foundation to success. The objectives of the research farm are to 1) Introduce growers to newer concepts in production agriculture, 2) Provide local research data, and 3) Evaluate high yield systems that can be integrated into grower operations.
In the cropping year of 2010, the corn experiments are designed to evaluate a high yield system that focuses on four of the seven components of the R7 concept. Plant populations are 35,000 in 30” rows and 45,000 in a twin-row spacing. A soil test based fertilizer recommendation of 160 # N, 100 # P2O5, and 200 # K2O in 30” rows will be compared to higher technology recommendations utilizing additional specialty blended fertilizer components to promote higher yields. Trials are conducted on continuous corn as well as a soybean and a wheat rotation. A fungicide treatment will be added to the south half of the field at both the V5 and R1 corn leaf stages. Economic returns will be calculated in addition to yield.
The soybean high yield plots are designed to evaluate nutrient blends containing secondary and various micronutrients in both 30” and twin-rows. A soil test based fertilizer recommendation of 22 # N, 55 # P2O5, and 115 # K2O was applied. A strobulin fungicide will be applied on the south half of the field to evaluate its effectiveness in promoting higher yields and minimizing disease effects.
An additional soybean trial is planted at the north end of the research farm to evaluate seeding rates of 100,000, 140,000, 180,000 and 220,000 with two varieties.
High yield corn treatments:
1.35,000 plant population in 30” rows
2.35,000 plant population in 30” rows plus 125#/acre of fertilizer blend 5-16-12-16S-0.4Zn using MESZ and KMag
3.45,000 plant population in twin rows
4.45,000 plant population in twin rows plus 250#/acre of fertilizer blend 5-16-12-16S-0.4Zn using MESZ and KMag
High yield soybean treatments
1.Potash at 125#/acre
2.MESZ + KMag + potash at 270#/acre
3.MESZ + potash at 225#/acre
4.Potash + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 at 125#/acre
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