“The farm economy is hard,” says South Dakota soil health advocate Jamie Johnson. “It’s a hard life to make ends meet and [crop] diversity helps keep things even as far as income and expenses… you’re spreading out your risk, you’re spreading out your wealth, and you end up with a higher return.” Less risk? Additional…
Soil Health Applied – Planting Biostrip Covers (4/6)
“Several years ago we were planting our [cover crops] with the drill and we weren’t terribly happy with the placement. We knew there had to be a better way that would work for our operations.” That better way would turn out to be what the Johnsons call their “biostrip“. What is a biostrip? Watch the…
Soil Health Applied – Crop Diversity and Weed Suppression (3/6)
“On our farm we really don’t have a lot of problems with [weeds] and that can be attributed to using the small grains in [our] rotation and keeping it diverse.” Crop diversity is one of the greatest tools a farmer has at their disposal. Hear how Brian and Jamie Johnson continue to experience the benefits…
Soil Health Applied w/ Brian and Jamie Johnson (1/6)
Brian and Jamie Johnson run an operation in Frankfort, South Dakota where corn-soybeans are the standard rotation. So why do the Johnsons like small grains in their rotation? How do they profit from the small grains both as a cash crop and as a yield booster to their corn and soybeans? Find out in the…
Integrated Systems w/ Doug Sieck – Managing the Change to No-Till (7/7)
“We (all) need to challenge ourselves and quit saying, ‘(No-till) won’t work here’ and we need to start saying to ourselves, ‘how do I make this work here?’” In the finale of our 7-part “Integrated Systems” series, Doug Sieck explains how all of our concerns regarding the transition to no-till can be overcome with the…
Integrated Systems w/ Doug Sieck – Building a Community of Producers (6/7)
Humans aren’t great at this thing called “change”. So why do so many of us try to do it alone? If we want a change to be successful and to LAST, getting involved with a community of like-minded individuals and experts who have come out the other side can go a long way. This applies…
Integrated Systems w/ Doug Sieck – Livestock Integration (5/7)
Livestock integration is a serious tool to offset financial risk. If we aren’t using it, we’re missing out on a litany of benefits! Does this mean it doesn’t come with it’s own concerns, though? No! Pugging and compaction, fencing, water, and for some, a shortage of livestock can be serious obstacles to overcome. As Doug…
Integrated Systems w/ Doug Sieck – Alternative Views of Soil (3/7)
Let’s not beat around the bush — transitioning from conventional tillage to no-till can be tough. Throw diverse rotations, cover crops, and grazing livestock into the mix and it can feel downright overwhelming. The fact is, there are equipment changes, steep learning curves to climb, and mindset changes that need to happen for this to…
Integrated Systems w/ Doug Sieck – Holistic Mindset (2/7)
When it comes to farming, “holistic” is often a word that gets a bad wrap. Walworth County farmer Doug Sieck knows this first hand. He had his own reservations when it came to the term, but that has all changed. In the second video in our 7-part series, Doug shares with us his insights on…
Integrated Systems w/ Doug Sieck – Intro (1/7)
In 2007, Doug Sieck of Walworth County, SD began his soil health journey. A little over a decade later, his soils , his operation, and his mindset have all transformed. In this 7-part series, Doug shares with us his eye-opening journey into soil health, how to make the transition easier, and why we all should…