Nebraska On-Farm Research Network: Better Yields with Less Water
The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network helps growers test a new practice, product or technology against their usual approach. Trials run on the grower's own farm, with the grower's own equipment. The goal is to find out whether a change is more profitable or more efficient under real farm conditions.
Goanna Ag joined the network to test one question: can GoField soil moisture data make better irrigation decisions than the grower's own experience with the field?
Each center pivot used variable-rate irrigation (VRI) speed control to split the field into sectors, with both treatments repeated several times around the circle. Everything else stayed the same: same field, hybrid or variety, and management.
• Grower's decision: the grower irrigated these sectors whenever they would normally choose to.
• GoField: these sectors got water only when GoField soil moisture readings called for it.
The pivot's speed controlled how much water each sector got, and yield was measured by sector at harvest.
Goanna Ag · Nebraska On-Farm Research Network trials, 2025–2026
Savings ranged from 0.8 to 3.2 in per field, and GoField cut water by about half in two of the five fields.
| Harvested Field | Yield, Grower / GoField (bu/ac) | Net Return, Grower / GoField ($/ac) | GoField Advantage ($/ac) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Soybean 2 | 78.8 / 80.1 | $929.90 / $957.20 | +$27.30 |
| 2026 Corn 1 | 236.5 / 235.1 | $974.60 / $971.00 | −$3.60 |
| 2025 Soybean | 68.7 / 70.3 | $684.10 / $695.80 | +$11.70 |
| Average | +$11.80 |
In 2026 Corn 1, the $13.50/ac saved on water more than covered the 1.4 bu/ac yield gap ($6.16/ac). The $11/ac GoField cost tipped it to −$3.60/ac.
Net return = yield × grain price ($4.40/bu corn, $12.40/bu soybean) − water ($7.50/ac-in, 135-ac pivot) − GoField ($11/ac, GoField sectors only).
Across two seasons and both crops, GoField matched the grower's yields with nearly 30% less water. In the harvested fields, the water savings more than covered the cost of the service. Results for the last two 2026 fields will be added after harvest.