A Cornell University research team is working with farmers to design and evaluate experiments conducted on their own farms, an approach intended to make agricultural research more practical and collaborative.
The Farmers DataLab is led by Louis Longchamps, an assistant professor in Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, with graduate student Katie Rohrbaugh. The project combines farmers' firsthand knowledge with scientific tools for collecting and interpreting data.
The team said farmers help decide what questions to test, while researchers provide support with experimental design and analysis. The model is meant to give producers useful evidence about practices under real operating conditions.
Longchamps' lab said the work can strengthen trust between farmers and researchers while encouraging innovation. The broader goals include food security, environmental stewardship and stronger rural communities.
The project is part of Cornell's effort to expand farmer-led, scientist-supported research beyond traditional field trials.
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