Request for Proposals:
Supporting on-farm evaluation of profitable nitrogen use through Field Trials
Across Canada, there is broad acknowledgement amongst farmers and agronomists that nitrogen (N) rate recommendations need to be updated. As crop genetics and yields have been improving, N rates need to be fine-tuned to ensure maximum profitability, especially as global politics continue to impact fertilizer and commodity prices. FaRM wants to support farmers to calibrate N rates for their own fields, in their own context. The FaRM Nitrogen Management Field Trials supports farmers and agronomists in evaluating the most profitable nitrogen rate on major crops in Canada to enhance on-farm profitability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As peer-to-peer learning is the backbone of the FaRM Program, we also want to encourage knowledge sharing that supports evaluating profitability as a way to make N management decisions.
FaRM Field Trial objectives:
To evaluate the most economical N rate that results in enhanced on-farm profitability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
To normalize N rate return on investment (ROI) calculations.
To generate regionally relevant on-farm agronomic and economic data.
To develop on-farm economic analyses to assist producers and agricultural professionals in decision-making.
To build stronger regional and cross-country networks among agricultural professionals and between professionals and producers.
Eligibility requirements:
Trials must be conducted on working farms, using standard field-sized equipment (small plot-scale trials are ineligible)
Trials must be delivered in partnership with at least two fully engaged farmer-cooperators (preferably more) across at least two fields total (preferably more). Farmer-cooperator(s) must be willing to participate in all key aspects of the project including trial planning and execution, providing necessary farm data, and knowledge transfer and peer learning activities (see “Key deliverables details”).
Farmer data privacy and ownership is important to us. Agronomic and economic data will be presented either anonymously, or pooled across multiple farms.
Trials must have at least three in-field replicates. Each treatment strip must be at least 1 acre.
Treatments must include, but are not limited to:
Growers’ standard practice (Business as Usual)
Business as Usual +20% N rate
Business as Usual -20% N rate
Optional, but recommended, “low N” control (<30 lbs N/ac)
Projects must be on major Canadian cash crops.
You must be a Canadian organization, a Canadian citizen, or permanent resident currently operating and residing in Canada and able to enter into a legally binding agreement.
Farmers for Climate Solutions
FCS is a national farmer and rancher led coalition that advances pragmatic policy and program solutions to support farmers and ranchers in making the transition to low emissions, high resilience approaches to agriculture
The Farm Resilience Mentorship Program
The FaRM Program began in 2021 as a peer-to-peer, regionally adaptive, education and knowledge sharing program to support farmers and ranchers in adopting low emissions, high resilience Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs), specifically:
- Nitrogen Management
- Cover Cropping
- Rotational Grazing
Through partnerships with organizations across the country, FaRM has supported over 800 in-person and virtual learning events, with farmers and ranchers, agrologists, agronomists, Certified Crop Advisers and agricultural researchers as knowledge sharers at these events. The free program also includes the FaRM Learning Hub where farmers, ranchers and agronomists can take online self-directed courses to build their knowledge on how to adapt BMPs to their farm or ranch. So far, FaRM has reached over 26,000 farmers and ranchers across the country, representing over 8 million acres.
Cross-country sector consultations have noted that producers and agronomists face regional barriers to BMP implementation, and are hesitant to implement practices without local, regional data to support them.
Funding amount
Up to $45,000, with any applicable taxes included. Farmer-cooperator compensation is strongly encouraged (suggested $50/hr)
If a farmer-cooperator includes a “low N” control (<30 lbs N/ac), they are eligible for additional compensation of up to $1,000.00 (taxes included) directly from FaRM (see “Key deliverables details”).
If a farmer-cooperator can provide yield map data from a yield monitor for the trial, they are eligible for an additional $500.00 (taxes included) directly from FaRM (see “Key deliverables details”).
Key deliverables summary
Design and execute scientifically robust on-farm, field scale trial(s) evaluating economical N rates. Trials must be conducted in partnership with at least two farmers and include a minimum of two fields total.
Write a Field Trial Report for widespread publication through FaRM channels. The report must include a Producer’s Perspective section, a partial budget analysis, and a simplified nitrogen budget that 1) details N added from all sources (including historical manure and legume plowdown) and 2) estimated N removal in the crop. Templates provided by FaRM (see “Key deliverables details”).
Share the results of the trial, emphasizing profitability as a basis for N decision-making, at a regional conference, field day, webinar, tailgate meeting, etc.
Participate in FCS evaluation activities that may include a group reflection with other Field Trial participants and/or a brief survey.
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Key deliverables details
1. Run field trial
Design and execute scientifically robust on-farm, field scale trials in partnership with at least two farmers. Trials must be implemented on a minimum of two fields in total and include three in-field replicates. Each treatment area must be a minimum of 1 acre. Treatments must include, but are not limited to:
Growers’ standard practice (Business as Usual)
Business as Usual +20% N rate
Business as Usual -20% N rate
Optional: “Low N” control (<30 lbs N/ac in the starter fertilizer)
Either a full treatment replicated across the field (which FaRM will offer $1,000.00 compensation, taxes included, to the farmer) OR a single “Low N” strip (which FaRM will offer $250.00 compensation, taxes included).
Yield must be measured on each strip. FaRM will issue payments to farmers when all data are received.
FCS is working with Dalhousie University to assist in developing tools for measuring potentially soil mineralizable nitrogen. To support this work, the following is required:
A soil sample should be collected from each block prior to fertilizer application.
Samples should be collected from both the 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths and the two depths should be kept separate, and depth and block should be labeled.
Collect the soil from each depth at 10 sample points and bulk them into a single sample for each depth in each block (total of 6 samples for three replicates).
Samples should be air dried, and once air dry shipped to:
Centre for Sustainable Soil Management, Dalhousie University
21 Cox Road, Truro, NS B2N 5E3
Attention: Drucie Janes
Submit a field activities data collection sheet that clearly details all 4Rs for each treatment as implemented in the trial area, including planting date, planting rate, field history, etc. (due July 2026)
Provide trial maps for each field, showing all treatment details.
Collect and record data on nitrogen management practices. Sufficient data must be collected to develop a simplified nitrogen budget, elaborate on successes and challenges. For example:
Measure plant response to N (e.g. tissue test, tillering, etc.) as well as yield (weigh wagon, truck scales, or yield monitor) and quality (e.g. protein, test weight, etc.)
A fall post-harvest soil nitrate sample from each strip at a minimum depth of 0-30 cm (30-60 cm also if possible) is required. This may be sent to any commercial lab following their sampling protocols.
Collect economic data pertinent to the trialed practices in order to develop a partial budget analysis.
You are encouraged to think about potential risks that may affect your trial and to develop risk management strategies to try to minimize that risk.
2. Field trial report and extension materials
At the end of the trial, submit a completed Field Trial Report (see template below), highlighting economic impact of N rate (e.g. which treatment generated the greatest returns, what worked, what didn’t work, what applicants might change in the future, etc.).
We also want to acknowledge that, often, as much learning happens from things that go wrong, as from things that go well—we encourage you to be willing to share your mistakes and failures and what was learned from them.
The report will be used to publicly share project objectives, data, and outcomes in formats such as the FaRM Learning Hub or FaRM’s forthcoming online extension journal.
The report must include the following four elements:
Completed report narrative (template provided by FCS).
As peer-to-peer learning is a cornerstone of the FaRM Program, the report must feature a Producer’s Perspective section. This first-person storytelling can be submitted as an article, video, or audio file. If your trial involves multiple sites with different producers, please provide a Producer’s Perspective from a producer at each trial site.
Partial budget analysis (template provided by FCS). Partial budgets focus on the differences in benefits and costs between the new practice (e.g. +20% N rate and -20% N rate) and the baseline practice (e.g. standard N rate). A partial budget analysis is required for each farmer participant in the trial, and must cover all treatments. The partial budget analysis allows you to consider the net return of adoption, or net change in farm income, so:
Net Return = Change in Benefits - Change in Costs
Photos are required to be included in the final report, videos are also welcome.
3. Share findings
Share the results of the trial at a regional conference, field day, webinar, tailgate meeting, etc. Please record and share:
The total number of people you shared the information with
Approximately how many farmers and agronomists attended (e.g. this could be captured with a hand-raising survey or poll)
Acknowledge and promote the FaRM Program and Learning Hub at events and in all communications related to this project. Templates and materials will be provided.
FaRM would love to cross promote these events. Where possible, please share event details as far in advance as possible of the event date so that we can help publicize the event through our regional newsletter, our regional partners and our Events listing page.
Additional forms of extension materials are welcomed and encouraged (e.g. podcast, instructional YouTube video, factsheet, infographic, etc.).
4. Participate in evaluation
FCS values feedback on our programming and, as such, we ask that you and the farmer-cooperator(s) participate in a group reflection hosted by the FaRM team and/or complete a brief survey at the end of the contract.
Expenses
Eligible expenses
Salaries and wages.
Stipend to cover producer time (suggested $50/hr) or to cover possible profitability loss; highly recommended.
Field trial costs (e.g. flags, specialized equipment rental, etc.).
Some equipment >$500 is eligible with pre-approval by FaRM staff.
Knowledge transfer costs related to sharing the results of the trial at a regional conference, field day, webinar, tailgate meeting, etc. (may include venue, audio-visual rentals, supplies, and materials, etc.).
Third-party expenses (soil and tissue testing, feed analysis, custom operator, shipping expenses, etc.).
Travel related to Field Trial (mileage, accommodation).
Ineligible expenses
Capital costs (building improvements, office furniture/equipment, field trial/farm equipment over $500 unless prior approval from FaRM staff, computers, projectors, etc.).
Standard crop production costs (e.g. seed, fertilizer).
Alcohol.
Finance charges, loan interest payments, bank fees and charges.
Contact
Should you be interested, please reach out to Taryn Dickson, FaRM Agronomy Program Manager, at taryn@farmersforclimatesolutions.ca with subject line “Profitable Nitrogen Use FieldTrials application inquiry”.