Let the buyer beware

Ask questions, remain cautious
if you're approached
about untested products

By Vicky Boyd
Editor

If someone approaches you trying to sell a product that sounds too good to be true, Extension rice specialists say chances are it is. To sort out the worthwhile products from the others, they recommend asking several questions and remaining cautious.

"Every year there are more of these types of things, and some end up being legitimate," says Louisiana State University Rice Extension Specialist John Saichuk. "But most are not. You have to ask yourself the question, 'if it hasn't been tested by researchers, why?'"

Mississippi State University Extension Specialist Joe Street says growers should first ask whether university researchers or Cooperative Extension have conducted field trials with the product.

"If we haven't looked at it, I would be very leery of it," Street says. Before moving to Extension, Street worked in MSU's research arm, and he says he very seldom turned down manufacturers requesting field trials.

University of Arkansas Extension Specialist Nathan Slaton says he and his UA counterparts won't recommend a product until it's been put through replicated trials at different locations.

"We just don't put it in one test one year and say there's a yield benefit," Slaton says. "It could have been a fluke. There may be a single factor that is affecting its performance.

"Take phosphorous fertility on rice at the research farm--it won't respond. When we go to a high pH grower's field, we can do the tests and the benefits are enormous."

Types of Tests

The tests also should be unbiased and preferably conducted by a university researcher, Cooperative Extension specialist or U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist, Saichuk says. The type of trial also plays a role in whether the results are meaningful.

They should include at least three different treatments and be repeated or replicated at least four times to eliminate variability. Replicated trials mean you can conduct them time and again and obtain similar results.

"You need at least four replications of a certain size to determine yield validity," Saichuk says. "Unless you have replicated trials and an appropriate accepted experimental design, you may or may not be measuring real differences."

Always Ask Questions

If you hear of a new product, Saichuk suggests first calling your local county agent to find out if it's ever been tested.

"Chances are if they haven't heard about it, you shouldn't spend much money until the universities have looked at it," Saichuk says. "Always ask questions. There are many claims out there that aren't always true."

Slaton also recommends asking about the product's ingredients. "Tell me how much N, P, K and zinc are in that thing," he says.

If, after investigating an untested product thoroughly, you still want to try it, Saichuk suggests using it on a very limited scale and looking at it objectively. Pull roots, measure root systems, harvest specific areas and weigh the grain.

He warns against splitting a field to do side-by-side trials because inherent human biases will likely skew the results.

"As soon as you draw that line down the middle of the field, one side is better," the LSU Extension specialist says. "You tend to put the product on the good side of the field three quarters of the time. It's going to look better, and you will pay more attention to it. So those things tend to be very, very unreliable."

Slaton says conditions also vary widely within a field and where the grower divides the field may affect the outcome. If he or she places the treatment on the half nearest to the well outlet, for example, the results could be influenced by colder water and pH.

Instead of splitting a field, Slaton recommends something similar to variety strip trials. Since most products are applied by air, have the pilot use a global positioning system and apply strips of the product with at least two plane swaths in between each treatment.

At harvest, use a combine with GPS yield monitor to measure the treated swaths compared to the conventional swaths.

"I encourage that, especially on the things we haven't tested," Slaton says. "I know of growers who have done that just for their own curiosity. They were satisfied when they were over and never used the product again."

Profit tip: Before investing heavily in a new product, call your county agent to find out if it's ever been tested and, if so, the results.