Kansas Farm Research Network

Every farmer has those burning questions about what decisions will make their farms more productive and profitable, but finding reliable, consistent answers for the scales and circumstances of our farms is a big undertaking. Most simply don’t have the time and resources to add a layer of scientific experimentation to the demanding occupation of farming. That’s where the Kansas Farm Research Network (KFRN) comes in.

KFRN is a pilot collaboration program between the Kansas Agricultural Research & Technology Association (KARTA) and K-State Research & Extension (KSRE). KFRN is a group of agricultural producers from across Kansas who conduct on-farm research projects at farm-level scale with the technical support of agricultural research professionals. By bringing together the research expertise and human networks of each organization, KFRN simplifies the intellectual and labor demands of performing on-farm research. Plus, participants are encouraged to be involved in developing the research questions they tackle on their farms, guaranteeing an emphasis on the subjects that are top of mind for Kansas farmers.

Download KFRN Producer Information Guide

KFRN in Year One

KState_Extension_RiverValleyDistrict_R_P

In the first year of KFRN, assistance will be focused in the River Valley Extension District (Clay, Cloud, Republic, & Washington Counties) and immediately surrounding counties. This will allow the support team to optimize their time serving participating growers while adding depth to the portfolio of on-farm research in the region.

Success in the first year will mean opportunity to expand KFRN to new regions of the state in future years. River Valley District will host a KARTA-sponsored Summer Research Assistant (RA) to perform critical recurring tasks like scouting fields, reporting observations, and compiling data.

Jewell Republic Washington Marshall

Mitchell Cloud
Clay Riley Pottawatomie

Lincoln Ottawa
Geary

Saline Dickinson

The KFRN Process

Here's what it looks like to participate in KFRN:

Interested growers sign up to participate and submit research question ideas (or use an experiment pre-designed by our team of K-State ag researchers) by Dec. 10, 2025

KSRE staff work with growers to identify research ideas with broad applications & interest and form them into practical, on-farm scientific experiments

Registered growers meet with KSRE staff and KARTA board members at the Kansas Agricultural Technologies Conference (Feb. 20, 2026) to finalize plans of action

In Spring 2026, KSRE staff connect KARTA’s Summer Research Assistant (RA) with registered growers to define technical support role for growers’ research projects

RA helps registered growers execute research plans by setting up treatments, taking measurements, compiling data, and reporting observations

KSRE staff & RA assist registered growers to transform raw data into actionable results and report findings through presentations, publications, and public relations

Research Project Options

Wheat-Soybean Relay Project

Residual Herbicide Prescription Project

Targeted Herbicide Efficacy Project

SUBMIT YOUR OWN IDEA!

GET INVOLVED

Click HERE to Sign Up!

Proceeds from KATCON 2026 will go towards the Kansas Farm Research Network

Past Research Projects

Our association raises funds through our annual conference to offer a on-farm research technical support system to Kansas growers. Members experiment with everything from product application, seeding rates, hardware and software, irrigation practices, cover crops, and more.

Irrigation Innovation
Plant Growth Regulator on Wheat
Phosphorous on Soybeans
Red Clover Inter-seeding in Wheat
Soil Fertility System Testing
Soybean Population
Strip Planting
Wheat Streak Mosaic Impacts
Wheat Population