The field trials are the basis of almost everything
The results that come out of the field trials are the basis for a wide range of AGRO’s products and therefore their quality must be tip top. The technicians in MARK ensure this.
AGRO’s field trials are in good hands with the MARK technicians but that does not mean that a few things cannot be adjusted here and there in order to make things even better and more efficient.
This was the reason for a theme day for MARK technicians on 25 October 2018 organised by managers Henning Carlo Thomsen, Askov, Thomas Birger Jensen, Flakkebjerg, and Jens Bonderup Kjeldsen, Foulum. The framework for the theme day was Askov Research Station and the main theme was quality assurance of the field trials.
Henning Carlo Thomsen (right in the first of the above photos) gave a tour of Askov and told about the long-term trials, among other things - including from the underground angle (bottom photo).
It is almost impossible to overestimate the importance of the field trials to AGRO’s work. The results are the basis for scientific articles, policy support, lectures, and advice to and collaboration with the industry.
The quality must be tip top
Producing correct and credible results is crucial to how the results are used as well as our good name. Quality trials require clear guidelines for how data is gathered, treated, evaluated and explained – including data that is missing or incorrect. Everything needs to be accounted for!
The first speaker at the theme day was centre leader for AgroTech at Danish Technological Institute (TI) Birgitte Feld Mikkelsen. She explained how they quality assure their trials. Technological Institute provides services for many customers in Denmark and abroad, including the national trials (Landsforsøgene). TI therefore has a lot of experience with working with pre-defined quality criteria and very short deadlines, and there were many good tips to be had.
Birgitte Feld Mikkelsen also described the concept OnFarm Trials (OnFarm Forsøg), which is a simple and uncomplicated way in which farmers, advisers or businesses can conduct trials.
Down to earth examples and tips
Birgitte Feld Mikkelsen was followed by Elly Møller Hansen, JORNÆR, who with the aid of concrete examples from trials in Flakkebjerg, Askov and Foulum gave practical tips regarding how tasks can be carried out in order to minimise mistakes during the processes of planning, carrying out and monitoring of the trials, harvest and sampling, and data treatment.
The next item on the agenda was a tour of Askov's research facilities, after which it was time to work with certain subjects in so-called 'experience exchange groups'. The exchange of knowledge and experience does not stop with the theme meeting but will continue in the future across the geography og AGRO.
