W.K. Kellogg Biological Station KBS Long-Term Agroecosystem Research

An Experiment for Now and the Future

MSU’s Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Agroecosystem Research site (KBS LTAR) is part of the U.S. LTAR Network established by the USDA to develop national strategies for the sustainable intensification of agricultural production. LTAR is a partnership among 18 long-term research sites across the U.S.

At KBS, we are helping to meet future sustainability challenges for cropping systems of the upper Midwest. Our research is co-designed with stakeholders to advance both food production and positive environmental and societal outcomes for agriculture.

Our signature experiment is the Aspirational Cropping System Experiment, designed by stakeholders and researchers to embody state-of-the-art practices that deliver positive outcomes—high productivity and economic returns, clean water and air, climate resilience and mitigation, soil health, and biodiversity benefits like pollination and pest suppression. As technology and farming systems evolve over the years, so too will our aspirational system—helping to define the practices that provide the greatest returns for farmers and the environment and lead agriculture into the future.

From the Director – Phil Robertson

Welcome to the first KBS LTAR Newsletter. Two years ago, MSU joined the national network of Long-Term Agroecosystem Research sites with USDA funding that allows researchers to push the boundaries of regenerative agriculture in partnership with state and national stakeholders. We’re pleased to showcase examples of research and outreach accomplishments that highlight our intent to contribute to the long-term success of Michigan agriculture. Join us as we build the foundation for sustainable cropping systems that deliver multiple benefits for farmers and society.

Agronomy & Economics

Two drought periods bookended the 2023 growing season and provided great learning opportunities during the second year of the KBS LTAR Aspirational Cropping System Experiment.

• Spring drought challenged the ASP crops—winter wheat and canola suffered from lack of moisture during grain fill.
• Slug herbivory severely damaged winter canola in some areas.
• Late termination of cover crops depleted soil moisture, reducing ASP corn and soybean emergence and early growth.
• ASP corn and soybeans showed promising vigor in late summer while BAU crops withered in the September drought.
• Perennial forages were limited by low moisture after the first cutting in mid-May.

Overall, the ASP cropping system was profitable ($223/A) but less so than the BAU system ($315/A), largely due to lower profit from ASP canola and losses from ASP forage.

2023 Summary

Partners & Field Days

In January 2023, the KBS LTAR Stakeholder Advisory Board was formed with 15 initial members who committed to two years of collaboration with the KBS LTAR Scientific Steering Committee to guide research and outreach priorities. The team identified a shared purpose of bridging the gap between the agricultural systems needed by present and future generations.

In September, KBS LTAR held its first annual Field Day, co-hosted with MSU Extension. Over 90 farmers, agriculture and conservation professionals, and scientists participated in a day-long tour of LTAR field sites and research presentations. Laura Campbell, chair of the Stakeholder Advisory Board and Senior Conservation and Regulatory Relations Specialist for the Michigan Farm Bureau, shared that the day “included innovative ideas on how to make conservation practices work on farms and provided information to farmers on what works, what doesn't, and how both farms and LTAR research can adapt to future challenges.”

Insect Research is Buzzing

A major goal of the LTAR Aspirational Cropping System is to enhance biodiversity across many organismal groups, with insect research leading the way in 2023.

MSU PhD student DeShae Dillard studies flies as potential indicators of productivity and resilience in Michigan row crops. To date, she has examined over 5,000 flies from 46 taxonomic groups.

MSU PhD student Alice Dykstra investigates how prairie strips affect beneficial insects, focusing on pollinators and parasitoid wasps and flies. Her research aims to reveal how prairie patches benefit adjacent cropping systems.

MSU PhD student Katherine Hulting studies how the spatial distribution of prairie habitat influences plant-pollinator interactions and how patch size affects pollination dynamics.

Throughout the winter, researchers are identifying insects, counting seeds, and summarizing data to measure how the KBS LTAR Aspirational Cropping System affects insect biodiversity and crop performance.

Full Funding Brings New Research

In May 2023, KBS LTAR became a fully funded site in the national LTAR Network, which provides about $850,000 annually through USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. This funding supports long-term, transdisciplinary research for sustainable agriculture.

With full funding, KBS LTAR is investing in lysimeters to measure water quality and eddy covariance towers to measure greenhouse gas exchange. These tools will help identify how installing perennial grasses in low-yielding areas influences a field’s overall greenhouse gas footprint and could inform NRCS standards and Inflation Reduction Act policies that reward climate-mitigating practices.

LTAR Network Update

The LTAR Network, led by Dr. Teferi Tsegaye, completed a multi-year strategic planning process in 2023, resulting in refreshed goals and three strategic science initiatives:

• Core performance indicators for agricultural innovation
• Science for climate-smart agriculture
• Understanding the adoption of climate-smart solutions and innovations

Hundreds of scientists working across 18 LTAR sites will prioritize these initiatives through multi-site and network-wide projects. Working Groups coordinate science around outcomes such as water quality, soil health, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Network celebrated its first 10 years at the National Agronomy, Soil Science, and Crop Sciences meeting in St. Louis, MO, where KBS LTAR researchers presented several talks.

Staff Appreciation

Big thanks to Josh Dykstra and Tyson Robbins for their contributions to KBS LTAR. Josh and Tyson manage 300 acres of LTAR crops, collect samples, and support dozens of research projects.

Our Team

Leadership: Phil Robertson, Tayler Ulbrich, Brook Wilke

Scientific Steering Committee: Bruno Basso, Sarah Evans, Nick Haddad, Sasha Kravchenko, Doug Landis, Sandy Marquart-Pyatt, Christine Sprunger

Systems Integration Team: Dean Baas, Jennifer Blesh, Tim Boring, Kim Cassida, Marc Hasenick, Manni Singh

Stakeholder Advisory Board: Laura Campbell (Chair), Adam Reimer (Vice-Chair), Christine Charles, Julie Doll, Colleen Forestieri, Randy Heinze, Cade Klein, Henry Miller, Mark Mills, Kristin Poley, Sherman Reed, Melissa Shaw, Jason Stegink, Ben Wickerham, Lisa Woodke

Upcoming Events

• June: Small Grains & Canola Field Day
• August/September: 2024 LTAR Field Day

Contact Us

Email: kbs.ltar@msu.edu
Website: ltar.kbs.msu.edu

Photo Credits: Alice Dykstra, Tyson Robbins, Meredith Mann, Tayler Ulbrich, Ruben Ulbrich, Brook Wilke. Front page illustration: Trevor Grabill.