Episode Five: From Field Trials to Farm Decisions: Research That Matters

🌾 FROM RESEARCH PLOTS TO REAL FARMS: THE DATA BEHIND THE DIRT 🚜

More than 200 farmers, crop consultants, researchers, and agricultural professionals gathered in Harrisburg for the 2026 Rice & Soybean Field Day at the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center—and there was plenty of research worth talking about!

🎙️ In the latest episode of Dirt to Data, we’re digging into:

🌱 New possibilities for herbicide-resistant barnyardgrass — including a potential new mode of action currently under regulatory review.

🌾 Tougher soybeans — researchers are working on drought tolerance, root-knot nematode resistance, and varieties better suited for Arkansas conditions.

🚁 Spray drones — researchers are looking at how speed and application practices can impact spray coverage and, ultimately, disease control.

💰 Knowing when NOT to spray — five years and 53 on-farm fungicide trials show why scouting fields and making informed decisions can help protect both yields and the bottom line.

👨‍🌾 Research on real farms — because the best data is data that makes its way from the research plot back to the producer’s field.

And we also highlight the career and legacy of Tim Burcham, whose journey from a pickup truck, rubber boots, and a shovel helped lay the groundwork for the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center.

At the end of the day, research isn't just about numbers. It’s about making better decisions in the field. 🌱

🎧 Tune in to the latest episode of Dirt to Data and dig into the research, innovation, and real-world results shaping Arkansas agriculture.

👇 Give it a listen, share it with a farmer or fellow ag professional, and let us know what research you’d like to hear about next!

#DirtToData #ArkansasAgriculture #RiceResearch #SoybeanResearch #AgResearch #Extension #Farmers #CropProduction #AgInnovation #ArkansasFarmers

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SPEAKER_00 0:11

Grab your coffee, settle in, and welcome back to the Dirt to Data Podcast. I'm your host, Jessica Folgium, and whether you're joining us from the tractor cab, checking cattle, putting up hay, or heading down a dusty Arkansas backroad, we're glad you're here. Today, we're headed to Harrisburg, Arkansas, where more than 200 farmers, crop consultants, researchers, and agriculture professionals gathered for the 2026 Rice and Soybean Field Day at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture's Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center. And there was a lot to talk about. From a potential new tool for controlling herbicide resistant barnyard grass to soybean varieties being developed for drought tolerant and nematode resistance, to the growing role of spray drones in crop protection. We'll also look at some research that could help farmers make a decision that might be just as important as knowing when to spray, knowing when not to spray. And we'll hear about the career and legacy of Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center director Tim Bircham as he prepares for retirement. So grab that second cup of coffee and let's dig into the data behind the dirt. Let's start with something that hits home for just about every producer right now. Every penny counts. And that's really the foundation of agriculture research. Farmers don't need research just for the sake of having more numbers on a spreadsheet. They need information that can help them decide what to plant, when to plant it, what products to use, how to apply those products, and perhaps just as importantly, when an input isn't worth the cost. The goal of the Division of Agriculture is to help take some of the guesswork out of decisions farmers have to make every day. And that's exactly what was on display during the field day. Researchers covered everything from weed control and irrigation to nutrient management, planting dates, soybean breeding, and aerial application technology. It was research with a very practical question behind it. How can this help the farmer? For Arkansas rice growers, one of the biggest weed challenges continues to be herbicide resistant barnyard grass. If you've battled it, you know the problem isn't simply having weeds in the field. It's having weeds that don't respond to the products you've relied on for years. That's why researchers are paying close attention to a new herbicide technology currently under regulatory review. Bob Scott, a University of Arkansas professor and weed extension specialist, says that if approved, it could represent the first truly new mode of action for this problem in about 40 years. Think about that. Four decades. That's a long time to rely on the same basic chemistry while resistance continues to develop. Researchers are also looking at a seed treatment designed to reduce herbicide injury. Early field trials have shown promising results, especially when the treatment is combined with chicken litter applications. Now, this isn't a new product sitting on the shelf waiting for you to pick it up. It's still under review. But it's a good example of why research matters. Today's field trial could become tomorrow's management tool. Let's move from rice to soybeans. The University of Arkansas Soybean Breeding Program is working on something producers are always looking for: more consistency. Researchers are developing soybean breeding lines with resistance to root knot nematodes. They're also evaluating hundreds of soybean lines from around the world to find traits that could improve drought tolerance, nutrient composition, and adaptability to Arkansas growing conditions. And that last part is important. A variety can look great on paper, but if it doesn't perform in Arkansas conditions, it doesn't do much good for an Arkansas farmer. Researchers are looking for soybeans that can handle the environmental challenges producers face here. Heat, drought, disease, pest, and everything else that comes with farming. The goal is simple. Build a soybean crop that can keep performing when conditions aren't perfect. Now let's take a look at technology that's getting more attention every year. Spray drones. Researchers Jason Davis and Terry Spurlock compared fungicide applications made using spray drones with applications made using conventional ground rigs. One finding immediately stood out. When researchers increased the drone speed from 30 to 40 miles per hour in one trial, spray coverage dropped by about 20%. But here's where things get interesting. Researchers say coverage alone doesn't tell the whole story. Because ultimately, farmers aren't buying coverage. They're trying to control disease. Additional disease ratings and efficiency evaluations will help researchers determine what drone speeds and application practices actually provide effective control. So the question isn't simply, can I spray this with a drone? It's can I spray it with a drone and still get the job done? That's where the data comes in. And speaking of getting the job done while protecting your bottom line, let's talk fungicides. Terry Spurlock recently released an update on a soybean fungicide study that began in 2020. The research included 53 on-farm trials over five years. And the takeaway? Scout your fields before you spray. Across all treatments, trials, and years, fungicide applications averaged about a 3.3 bushel yield advantage. At $10 soybeans, that's approximately $33 an acre. Sounds good, right? But if your fungicide application costs $30 an acre, you're basically breaking even. And that's assuming the disease develops. There are years when applying a fungicide pays. There are also years when little or no disease develops, and that application may simply become another expense. And there's another issue. Resistance. Applying fungicides unnecessarily, particularly certain chemistries, over and over again can increase the opportunity for fungal pathogens to develop resistance. Researchers are already seeing resistance to group 11 fungicides and frog eye leaf spot. The study also showed that product choice matters. If resistance is present, simply applying a fungicide isn't enough. You've got to use a product that still works. So once again, the message comes back to the same place. Scout. Know what's in your field, then make the decision. One thing I like about this research is that it's not all happening behind a university fence. A lot of it is happening on actual farms. Spurlock says on farm trials allow researchers to work alongside producers, crop consultants, and our very own county extension agents and industry partners. And there's something powerful about seeing research in your own backyard. Farmers can see how a treatment performs under real world conditions. They can see the differences, they can ask the questions, and researchers get the opportunity to learn from the people who are actually managing these crops every day. And that's where Dirt's data really comes in. Because data isn't useful if it never makes it back to the dirt. The field day also marked the beginning of the end of an important chapter for Tim Bircham. Bircham, director of the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center, announced that he'll retire at the end of the year after more than 30 years in agriculture research, extension, and higher education. And when Bircham talks about the research center, he doesn't start with a multimillion dollar facility. He starts with a pickup truck, a pair of rubber boots, and a shovel. That's where the story began. What followed was years of work, collaboration, and determination that eventually helped turn an idea into the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center, which officially opened in 2024. Bircham called being part of that process the capstone of his professional career. But perhaps the most telling part of his remarks was that he didn't take all the credit. He talked about the people who guided him, supported him, and encouraged him throughout his career. And that's agriculture. It's rarely one person. It's farmers, researchers, extension agents, industry, universities, and communities, all working together to move the industry forward. As we wrap up today's episode, let's take one more look at the bigger picture. From a potential new tool for controlling herbicide resistant barnyard grass to soybean research focused on drought tolerance and nematode resistance, to improving spray drone applications and making smarter fungicide decisions. The research happening across Arkansas is focused on one thing, helping farmers make better decisions. Because at the end of the day, research isn't just about data. It's about what we do with that data. It's about taking information from a research plot and putting it to work in the field. It's about knowing when to spend money and when to save it. It's about finding better ways to protect crops, improving yields, and building resilience for the seasons ahead. Thank you for joining us for this episode of Dirt to Data. If you enjoyed today's discussion, be sure to subscribe, share the podcast with a friend, neighbor, or fellow producer, and stay tuned for future episodes focused on Arkansas agriculture. I'm your host, Jessica Fuljam, and this has been Dirt to Data, where Arkansas agriculture meets research, innovation, and real world results. Until next time, stay safe, stay informed, and keep growing. We'll see y'all down the road.