Field-Scale Agricultural Research

Transforming
Agriculture.

Enhancing Water Productivity|
& Resilience.

The WCS-FARM project focuses on Water Productivity, Carbon, Field-Scale Agricultural Research Multi-Crop Systems. This initiative integrates multi-crop systems through field-scale research, aiming to enhance water use efficiency, carbon sequestration and profitability through advanced management practices, promoting resilience to the cropping systems in the US.

Explore the project Research & Extension

A large-scale, multi-institutional project

Collaboration across the U.S. Corn Belt & Great Plains

With collaboration from universities and organizations spanning the U.S. Corn Belt and Great Plains, our research investigates how agricultural management influences soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions. FFAR, Kansas State University and Bayer Crop Science — together with Iowa State University, the University of Kansas and partner institutions — have driven this transformative initiative.

8Field-scale research sites

7States across the U.S.

28+Researchers & collaborators

$16MFFAR & Bayer grant

Project goals & research priorities

Building productive, resilient agroecosystems

The project's objectives align with critical aspects of agroecosystem productivity and resiliency — addressing knowledge gaps and developing tools and technologies for site-specific decision-making that connect farmers and scientists to co-create durable solutions.

Long-term productivity

Determine the long-term impact of multi-management factors on productivity and sustainability.

Soil microbes & carbon

Characterize how management practices affect soil microbial diversity and activity, and their link to soil carbon storage and greenhouse-gas emissions.

Process-based modeling

Use process-based modeling to predict and explain cropping-system productivity and soil-carbon contributions.

Rotation intensity Nitrogen application Tillage vs. no-tillage Cover crops

Innovative approaches & technologies

Sensing the field at high resolution

To achieve its objectives, WCS-FARM employs high-resolution soil sensors, water-monitoring wells, carbon modeling and detailed profitability analysis. The research explores crop-management practices — rotation intensity, nitrogen application, tillage versus no-tillage, and cover crops — to refine the knowledge, technology and practices that address water and environmental challenges.

Field study locations

A coordinated network of research sites

Eight coordinated field sites across the U.S. Corn Belt & Great Plains. Hover a marker or state to highlight it.

1
Illinois — SpringfieldRainfed
2
Minnesota — ArcoRainfed, shallow soils
3
Mississippi — ScottSupplemental irrigation
4
Nebraska — GothenburgSupplemental irrigation
5
Ohio — PerrysburgRainfed & tile drainage
6
Kansas — Garden CityFull irrigation
7
Iowa — AmesWater-table monitoring wells
8
Kansas — LonsingerDryland

Research & Extension · 2025–2026

New results from the field

Explore the latest WCS-FARM presentations and posters from CANVAS 2025 and ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2025 — covering N₂O emissions, soil health, cover-crop adoption and multi-factor crop productivity across the network.

Open Research & Extension

News & publications