I overheard a comment that had to do with row crops being worse for the soil than hay-farming is. Hmmm…food for thought! My first answer would be it really depends on the methods the farmer uses, whether it’s hay or row crops.
First, what is row cropping? It’s crops, usually a mono-crop such as corn or beans, planted in rows wide enough for the ground to be cultivated between them. It’s usually “naked” soil, which we all know is usually dying soil. Row crops are usually synthetically treated with fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, and whatever else the farmer thinks will make a successful crop, will make him money, will be profitable all the way around. These inputs cost…. a lot. So, in the long run, these farmers end up frustrated and financially stressed. Sounds like the Wisconsin farmer might have been on to something!
Can row cropping be done in a way that builds rather than destroys soil? Can the food grown in row crops actually become more nutritious? Can row cropping be regenerative?
There are many different ways to farm the land, and it’s up to the farmer to decide what works for his particular situation, and it’s his duty to do what will improve the land he uses. How does a row crop farmer in Iowa, practice regenerative agriculture? Is it different in the hills of North Carolina? How about incorporating livestock and cover crops with your row crops? If you watched Dr. Williams’ video I posted yesterday, you’ll see how this is possible. This added process will be much closer to the way Nature does. Life in the soil becomes more active, the tilth (the “feels like”) of the soil is amazingly better, water retention is improved. Your cost for inputs goes down dramatically. I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m saying you’re doing the work already…why not redirect and improve everything? Not just for yourself but for the future of the land you’re working? And guess what? We’re NOT the first people to use these regenerative methods.
Again, can row cropping be regenerative? Farmers are sorely aware how past conventional (in 100 years or so) farming has destroyed so much farmland, and many are open to ways to combine row crops with regenerative agriculture. Using cover crops integrated into commodities, and adding the impact of rotational grazing of livestock, much improvement is being seen. Not only are the crops more nutritious, because of soil that’s alive, the pollinators and native wildlife are returning. Erosion is slowing and soil isn’t blowing away. The understanding that our source of life, the planet, was/is in dire straits, has been a hard lesson learned. And we’re still learning.
Can you row crop and diversify? Can you keep a cover on the soil all year long? Can you go no-till? Can you incorporate some livestock into the operation? The answer is yes to all of those!
What if you’re not set up for livestock, or simply can’t manage anything else, or can’t afford to buy livestock right now? You know, when I grew up, people worked together on projects such as this. Somewhere around you there’s someone looking for land to put livestock on. If he/she is a regenerative rotational grazer, knows how to “hay-bomb” or bale-graze, and you can agree on the particulars, this is good! The other farmer gets the land to grow his cattle on and you get the benefit of the hay and hoofs and urine and poop. This takes both farmers coming to an agreement on methods, upkeep, sources and fences, and many other things which needs to be set onto paper; a contract, which protects both parties and makes the understanding of expectations clear.
What if you don’t want to involve another farmer, but you need some livestock inputs? Try chicken tractors…bunny huts…small goats. Livestock is livestock no matter how big or little, and their impact is valuable. If this is something you see the value in and a need for on your farm, then step out in whatever capacity you can and you’ll see lots more opportunities in front of you.
Can you convert a tired old row crop field into pasture? Even if it’s bare-naked soil? You can! Start by letting the ground rest, maybe even a year. Weeds will grow, things that are in the seed bank will come up and the soil is beginning to revive. It takes time…it took time to get in this shape. When the forage is tall and thick (yes, even weeds). Divide it into paddocks and turn the livestock into it. Use good pasture management and rotate those animals often, before they eat it down, which keeps them from eating into the range of worms (close to the ground). No, you don’t need to plant anything. The seed bank, pee, poop, and hooves will do the work. If hay is necessary, do it in a bale-grazing manner. This too adds to the revitalization of the ground. Nature knows and has done this always. Native Americans were using such practices long before Europeans came. The practice is, graze the tall forage, move the animals frequently, and let the ground rest between. You’ll be amazed at the results.
Row cropping, cover cropping, diversifying, bale grazing…it can all be compatible (and profitable) if you follow Nature’s lead, the wisdom of those who were here before us, and be teachable.
By Sherrie Ottinger
