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QGetting startedHow do I know whether a new practice helps me or just creates more work?
Expert answer
In short: Keep a control area with the old method, record costs and compare yield and margin — over more than one year.
Keep a comparable area under your current technology and record what you put into both: seed, fertilisers, plant protection products, fuel, labour and services. At harvest, compare the yield and quality, and then what is left after costs.
Also watch for problems: emergence, weeds, compaction, moisture retention. Lower costs are not an advantage if they lead to a bigger crop loss. One year can show whether a practice is workable, but a more reliable assessment needs observations under different conditions.