Three Things I’ve Learned from Converting to No Till and Cover Crops

Ryan Stockwell — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:20:13 +0000

As I wrap up year number two of converting my farmland to no till and cover crops, I thought it would be a good opportunity to reflect. No better time than while on the tractor planting winter wheat to think about the land and how I am striving to farm it successfully now while ensuring my sons (and future generations) have productive farmland in the future.

Click here to view the embedded video.

My thoughts quickly centered on the many barriers and obstacles to making this transition, but I also considered alternatives and found that while difficult, going to no till and cover crops has created some great opportunities.

First lesson: Other farmers are a valuable resource

Going through this process is much easier when networking with other farmers going through similar transitions, especially if they are in your area. In my first year, there were no other farmers in my area using no till and cover crops. Just recently I learned of another farmer choosing to go to no till with cover crops. The conversations since have been quite valuable for the education and information exchanged. Just 10 minutes on the phone, comparing notes with this nearby farmer provided me with insights that would help me improve my system. This type of information exchange is all the more valuable when farmers convert to less well-known systems.

Winter Wheat, October 2012.

Second lesson: No till makes it easier for beginning farmers to get into agriculture

No till and cover crops have allowed me and other beginning farmers an easier entry into agriculture. For those just entering the business, acquiring assets (land, cattle, equipment etc.) is often the most expensive and difficult step. The costs of some of this equipment can be truly astounding. Systems with reduced equipment requirements (such as no till or rotational grazing) lower that initial barrier to entry. By not having to purchase tillage equipment (chisel plow, disk, field cultivator and stalk shredder) and a larger tractor to power that equipment, I am able to keep costs low.

Third lesson: Farm Bill conservation programs make a difference

Despite the benefits to farmers, the environment and taxpayers (see my previous post), conservation programs which help farmers transition to these conservation practices face budget cuts in the next Farm Bill. Few programs provide as many benefits to so many, yet all of the Farm Bill proposals include some drastic cuts to conservation programs. More immediately, because of the current impasse on the Farm Bill leading to its expiration on September 30, some conservation programs cannot take new enrollments.

Take Action

With the Farm Bill debate set to begin again right after the election, speak out for wildlife and let Congress know you value Farm Bill conservation programs for the clean water and wildlife they protect. The many farmers who rely on these programs to implement good conservation practices will certainly thank you.

What I Learned About My Farm from Two Minutes in the Rain

Ryan Stockwell — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 15:00:38 +0000

Driving home one evening earlier this summer, I noticed a lot of water in roadside ditches after a sizable storm rolled through the area. I thought it would be a great opportunity to see if there were any visible differences from the farming practices I am implementing on my land. I had expected some difference, but was truly amazed at what I saw.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Wildlife-friendly farming practices

Wildlife like these Sandhill cranes forage through crop residue in late spring. No till and cover crops not only protect water quality and improve soil health and productivity, but provide vital habitat and forage for wildlife.

Let me first backup and explain. In my spare time I farm a few acres raising corn, soybeans, and wheat in Wisconsin. Two years ago, when I first purchased this land, I implemented two practices: no till planting and cover crops. No till, besides being defined mostly by what it doesn’t do, involves different planting, nutrient management, and weed control techniques that improve soil health and greatly reduce erosion. Cover crops are typically not harvested, help protect and improve soil health, and provide nutrients for commodity crops to use also resulting in reduced erosion and improved crop production. Both help wildlife by providing habitat and forage and reducing agriculture’s impact on water quality (for more information on these practices see this report).

No till and cover crops increase carbon sequestration, provide more benefits to wildlife, and reduce erosion. It was specifically that last point why I went out in the rain a few weeks back. As I made my way down the road I noticed the water running off of my field was still clear. The soil and nutrients stayed in the field. But as I crossed the road it was a rather different story which became immediately apparent. Runoff from my neighbor’s field (using conventional tillage practices) was a thick brown color, indicating considerable soil and nutrient loss—contributing to water quality issues for wildlife and downstream residents.

If I can farm profitably and also protect habitat and water quality, it seems to me a rather easy decision. Yet, not all farmers use these techniques for a multitude of reasons. There are transition barriers, but conservation programs help. I have an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contract through the Natural Resources Conservation Service that helps defray some of the costs of implementing nutrient management and no till practices. Most farmers would agree conservation programs provide the biggest impact in protecting resources and are well worth it for farmer and taxpayer alike.

Opportunity to protect water quality and wildlife in the Farm Bill

This conventionally tilled farm field with massive erosion and nutrient runoff impacts wildlife and costs down stream residents.

Perhaps most worrisome to anyone concerned about water quality, even simple conservation practices are not required for many subsidies; in fact, crop insurance subsidies currently require no conservation whatsoever. This isn’t fair to residents downstream who provide subsidies to farmers or to wildlife dependent upon the land for their food and nesting. In many parts of the country, these subsidies encourage the destruction of valuable grassland habitats, also leading to increased erosion. These newly converted lands are more likely to suffer lower yields and be prone to crop loss, only further raising costs for taxpayers while continuing to fuel the loss of threatened habitat.

Voice your support for conservation in the Farm Bill

We need a farm bill that supports programs that help farmers transition to practices that conserve resources and provide multiple benefits. We also need provisions that ensure basic conservation is implemented in exchange for all farm subsidies and that subsidies do not encourage the destruction of valuable wildlife habitat. Please call your representative to ask them for a Farm Bill that includes conservation compliance reconnected to crop insurance premium subsidies, a national sodsaver provision, and more funding for conservation programs! Take action online: https://online.nwf.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1628 Better yet, with August recess upon us, meet with your representative or a staff member to discuss the value of conservation in the Farm Bill.

Wildlife Promise » Ryan Stockwell