Testing Questions

Introductions / Demographics

1. What region are you located in?

2. What is your job?

3. What is your level of technical experience? [low, mid, high]

4. What is your level of knowledge with seed mixtures? [low, mid, high]
   

Empowerment Questions

1. Do you feel empowered after using the tool to make a see mixture? [Scale of 5]

2. Do you feel like the tool gave you what you needed to make a seed mixture? [Yes or No]

3. For the above, what do you feel like the tool had that helped you do this or didn’t provide that would have helped you do this? [free response]

4. Could you easily modify an existing seed mixture to better meet their goals? [Scale of 5]

5. For the above, what do you feel like the tool had that helped you do this or didn’t provide that would have helped you do this? [free response]

6. [Extension Agents or NRCS staff] Do you feel equipped to support growers in exploring and confirming seeding mix options? [Scale of 5]

7. [Extension Agents or NRCS] Would this make you more or less likely to recommend cover crop mixtures?

Ease of Use Questions

1. Did you understand how to make your way through the tool?

2. Users understand the results they get from the tool.

   1. How easy or hard was it to understand the results?

3. It is easy for Extension Agents or NRCS staff to evaluate a mixture created by someone else (seed company, farmer, consultant, etc.)

4. It is easier for users to use this tool when compared to existing seeding rate and mix tools.

5. The above is true no matter what level of technology experience someone has.

Accurate Information

1. The tool provides information that is accurate to a user’s location.

2. Farmers feel the tool provides a seeding rate that fits their needs and resources.

   1. Is there a high or low of what you’re typically using?

3. Farmers feel the tool provides seeding mix options that fit their needs.

   • Are there species missing? Does each species have enough info?

4. Extension Agents or NRCS staff feel the tool provides a seeding rate is a good fit for the needs and resources of the growers they support.

Did you get the information you were looking for?

Does the information feel like a good fit for your resources/ the resources of those you’re helping?

5. Extension Agents or NRCS staff feel the tool provides seeding mix options that are a good fit for the growers they support.

   • Are there species missing? Does each species have enough info?

6. Users can check the accuracy of a recommended mix or seeding rate.

7. Users trust the information they get from this tool.

Potential Supporting Questions for Testing

• Does the tool increase your knowledge of the function, benefits and use of cover crop mixtures?

  • Does the tool make users feel empowered to find additional information / expand their knowledge?

• Does the tool help users see a ROI by getting creative with how they’re planting, whats in the mixes, when they’re planting?

• What type of characteristics users will be looking for in plant materials (example: soil erosion & N fixation)?

• How do users currently get their seeding mixes? For example do you take soil tests in the planning phase.

• How easy is it to adjust seeding rates?

• Is it easy to understand the seeding rates based on how they look in the tool?

• What parts of the tool seemed most useful?

• How else can the tool give users an accurate expectation of what a seed mixture will look like in the field?

• What level of experience do you have with seeding mixes and seeding rates?