Research digs into ag challenges

When it comes to growing better crops and the challenges farmers face, researchers are at work looking for answers and improvements.

Iowa State University Extension Weed Scientist Wes Everman does research as part of his work.

“I do a lot of applied crops research,” he says. “We really try to take the challenges farmers are facing day in, day out, and try to figure out how to be more efficient, more effective and ultimately make the growers more profitable.”

Everman says he looks for practical solutions, although he says it helps that he can try things farmers often can not because it would be too risky to their bottom line to try them without proof it works.

“I can try some crazy things that farmers might be interested in, but they can’t try without risking their bottom line,” he says.

As for deciding what to study in his research, Everman says he talks with farmers to see what they are facing.

“The vast majority comes from talking with growers in the industry,” he says. “What challenges are they facing? What are they wanting to try?”