Ryan Lee didn’t expect a nitrogen study to change how he farmed. But after working with e Fields, CFAES’ on-farm research program, Lee quickly realized the value of using data-driven insights to make better decisions.
“It would be easier to list the studies we haven’t participated in,” Lee said. “We’ve tested everything from corn and soybean seeding rates to fungicide applications and planting speed. The protocols are easy to implement, and the data helps us make better decisions.”
Lee is one of many Ohio farmers collaborating with eFields. Each year, eFields partners with producers in over 40 Ohio counties to conduct on-farm research, helping the producers refine precision agriculture strategies. With studies covering nutrient management, drone applications, and artificial intelligence-driven decision-making, the program provides research-backed insights to improve efficiency and profitability.
With 260 on-farm trials in 42 Ohio counties in 2024, eFields continues to bridge the gap between research and real-world application, ensuring that Ohio farmers stay at the cutting edge of digital agriculture. For Lee, one of the biggest takeaways has been the confidence to push his equipment to higher performance levels.
“We’ve been able to verify that high-speed planters can operate efficiently without sacrificing emergence or yield,” he said. “It’s also helped us pinpoint optimal seeding rates, ensuring that we’re making smart agronomic and financial decisions.”
Elizabeth Hawkins, a CFAES agronomic systems field specialist, has seen firsthand how eFields transforms farm management. Producers working with the program have made key adjustments, such as reducing soybean seeding rates from 160,000-200,000 to 140,000-160,000 seeds per acre, leading to major seed cost savings. Others have adopted new planter technology to improve efficiency.
“The collaboration between Extension and producers is what makes eFields so powerful,” Hawkins said. “By combining farmer insights with research expertise, we’re able to develop practical, science-based solutions that are directly applicable on the farm.”
Looking ahead, Hawkins sees AI and automation playing an even bigger role in shaping the future of agriculture. Innovations such as drone applications, precision nutrient management, and autonomous machinery will help farmers reduce labor challenges, increase efficiency, and maximize input effectiveness.
For producers like Lee, programs such as eFields take the guesswork out of adopting new technology.
“As farmers, we’re naturally conservative when it comes to trying new things — especially if there’s financial risk involved,” Lee said. “The eFields program provides reliable data and the confidence that what we’re implementing will actually work. That peace of mind is invaluable.”