Celebrating Stewardship in Indiana

Stewardship Week kicks off on Sunday, April 28. The theme this year is "Where Does Your Water Shed?" The purpose of having a week dedicated to learning about and celebrating stewardship gives us the opportunity to remember our own commitment to protecting our resources, as well as show off our accomplishments and announce our goals and expectations for the coming challenges.

In Indiana, our abundant natural resources are truly something to celebrate, as are the women and men who work tirelessly to protect and improve them. Farmers who value the sustainability of their operation and the long-term health of their land; scientists who are committed to determining the best practices for conservation, improving water quality, and soil health; community members dedicated to making sure their neighbors are aware of the value and benefits of conservation; the elected or appointed leaders of the state who make sure conservation issues are given a voice; and volunteers who go above and beyond to be good stewards of the land in all capacities.

Inspiring stories can be found in all corners of the state. One of my favorites comes from the southeast, an area known for old coal mines, freeway construction projects, and low-lying river bottom land. In this instance, invasive weeds had totally dominated an area of an abandoned, exposed surface mining project. A local man, dedicated to restoring the land's integrity, worked with all sorts of companies, government agencies, and neighbors to eradicate acres of kudzu, honeysuckle, tree of heaven, and other rampantly-growing invasive plants. It involved renting heavy machinery, hours and hours of time, and a sustained commitment to seeing it through.

In another story, closer to our office's home in Indianapolis, a section of a parking lot at the Indiana State Fair was reclaimed in order to build a model of a healthy watershed. Crazy idea, huh? The crazier thing is that twenty years later it's still there, attracting hundreds of visitors and learners each year. Pathway to Water Quality was featured in the February issue of My Indiana Home - check out the article here. This coming Tuesday, we'll be reading a proclamation recognizing Stewardship Week and the value of watersheds out at PWQ with members of the Indiana Conservation Partnership and state government.

What is your commitment to stewardship? Make sure to let your community know! Any time is good, but this coming week - Stewardship Week - is particularly good.

For The Sake Of Soil, Sustainability and Profits, Just Say "No" To Tillage

Spring tillage is a tradition that is steeped deeply into American agriculture. But more and more producers are realizing that this iconic tradition is costing them – in more ways than one.

Tillage, which was once considered necessary in order to prepare a proper seed bed for planting, comes at a high price in terms of increasing diesel prices and labor costs. But according to Barry Fisher, a soil health specialist with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Indianapolis, the bigger, long-term cost may come at the expense of the health and function of the soil itself – resulting in lower yields, higher input costs and reduced drought resiliency for Indiana farms.

Barry Fisher at a field day.
Photo credit: PlantCoverCrops.com

“Tillage is incredibly destructive to the soil structure and to the soil ecosystem,” Fisher said. “In healthy soil you have 50 percent air and water – which is made possible by the pore space in the soil – and 50 percent mineral and organic matter. But tillage collapses and destroys that structure, making the soil vulnerable to erosion and compaction,” he said.

The possibility of another dry year should also have producers rethinking their use of tillage, Fisher said. “Because it destroys organic matter and soil structure, tillage actually reduces the soil’s infiltration capacity,” he said. “Additionally, studies have shown that each tillage pass can release a half an inch of soil moisture from each acre. In short, tillage tends to limit the availability of water in the soil,” Fisher said. “And that could prove very costly during those long, summer dry spells.”

Fortunately, more and more producers in Indiana are farming with systems to build soil health, Fisher said. “Using a suite of conservation practices, like quality no-till and diverse cover crops,” he said, “they’re keeping living plants in the soil as long as possible and they’re keeping the soil surface covered with residue year round.”

And according to Fisher, the benefits of improved soil health extend beyond the farm. “Producers who improve the health of their soil are also increasing its water-holding capacity, which reduces runoff that can cause flooding. Improved infiltration keeps nutrients and sediment from being carried off-site into nearby lakes, rivers, and streams,” he said.

Producers interested in learning more about the basics and benefits of soil health, or in receiving technical and financial assistance to implement a soil health management system, should contact their local NRCS office www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/directory/field_offices.html. Additional soil health information is available at www.nrcs.usda.gov.

Barry Fisher is a soil health specialist with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Indianapolis.

March: Indiana Ag Appreciation Month and Women's History Month

There's an old saying about March: "In like a lion, out like a lamb." As I type a snow-rain-ice storm seems to be creeping up on our office in Indianapolis. Ugh. Hopefully the old maxim holds true.

Despite the weather, March is an important month for many. Across the state, March has been designated as a day to celebrate Indiana Agriculture (we're kicking it off today at the Statehouse!) Across the nation, March 19 will be given to celebrating all our country's food & fiber producers, and the land that we rely on for our sustenance. March is also Women's History Day in the United States. The day of March 8, this Friday, is celebrated as International Women's Day for the past 105 years.

What about Women in Agriculture?

The USDA's Farm Service Agency states:

"Women are key to the development of rural areas through their contributions to sustainable agriculture and rural development, including food security, but women are often marginalized in the agricultural sector, do not share equal status at the banks or within the agribusiness sector, and often do not fully participate in USDA programs and services."

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations states:

"Farmers. Workers. Entrepreneurs. Care-givers. Bread-winners. Bread-makers. Mothers. Wives. Daughters. Women are the backbone of the rural economy, especially in the developing world. Yet they receive only a fraction of the land, credit, inputs (such as improved seeds and fertilizers), agricultural training and information compared to men. Empowering and investing in rural women has been shown to significantly increase productivity, reduce hunger and malnutrition and improve rural livelihoods. And not only for women, but for everyone."

Despite these upsetting, yet very real statements, strides towards empowering women in agriculture are increasing with every passing year and generation. For those who follow international development and food security, you can no doubt call to mind some of the leaders of the slow revolution: Vandana Shiva, Muhammad Yunus & Grameen Bank, Kiva, etc. Powerful international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank have also focused their efforts on highlighting the importance of women's roles in agriculture and stable societies, with the UN's FAO reporting that having equal access to agricultural resources could reduce world hunger by 12-17%.

The revolution that's taking place across the country—the feminine approach to farming—might be enough to save the future of food, according to Temra Costa [in] Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat. Photo: Rodale Institute

In the United States, the number of women who own farm operations increased by 19% between 2002 and 2007 (source). In that same time period, the number of women who are principal farm operators rose as well. National and regional women's organizations have grown as well. Close to home, Indiana is the site of the Purdue Women in Ag Conference. Nationally, several exist. Here are some:

• American Agri-Women

• Women's Agricultural Network (WAgN)

• Women's Food and Agricultural Network (WFAN)

• Rural Women's Network 
• Women Food & Agriculture Network

There's much too much to write about all the exciting facets of the intersection between women and agriculture in one blog post - which is a good problem to have! Indulge your curiosity by checking out these infographics and articles:

• The Female Face of Farming (FAO)
• Are Women the Secret Weapon in the Battle for Food Security? (The Guardian)
• The Girl Next Door is the Future of Farming (Rodale)
• Women at Chico State Look Toward Future in Farming (AgriCorner)

Apps for Modern Agriculture

Apps. 

They're everywhere. Even if you don't own a smartphone or a tablet, you can't have missed all the buzz around these new tools and toys.

Though it's perceived that most apps are developed for young urbanites, creatives, and tightly-scheduled business people, many apps have come out that are especially relevant and useful for agriculture-related purposes. Apps to aid in precision farming, determine soil types, and plant identification are widely available. Check out this list of ag apps, from our Soil Health Program Manager Lisa Holscher:

• FieldScripts – from the Monsanto Integrated Farming Systems
• LandView – We understand Becks has been providing some growers with iPads and the application. They’re doing a lot of field scouting using the program
• AdaptN - From Cornell University, this app uses climate information to calculate N needs. Especially useful for farmers who side-dress.
• GreenIndex – This app aims to help verify chlorophyll content in the field (you could also use a hand-held GreenSeeker). This could be a great companion to AdaptN.
• Weed ID Guide – from University of Missouri Extension
• 1000 Weeds of North America - Fairly self-explanatory.
• Aphid Speed Count – An app to help count aphids on soybean plants. How fun!
• SoilWeb - This lets users access digital soil survey data from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The Power of Conservation: Today's Actions, Tomorrow's Rewards

The Power of Conservation. We use this phrase frequently in the soil and water arena.

The simple act of conserving our natural resources is, in my mind, a very powerful daily job that Soil and Water Conservation Districts and our Indiana Conservation Partners are deeply committed to.

It is an act that each one of us hopefully does every day in some way, whether we live on a farm, in a large urban environment, or a small town.

Right now that power of conservation can be seen in action across Indiana farm fields as cover crops are taking hold, setting deep roots into our Hoosier soils. Cover crops, that will protect the soil over the winter, provide rich nutrients and fertilizers for spring crops while improving and preparing the soil for spring planting.

The power of conservation is visible in neighborhoods all over Indiana on any given day as recycling bins are set curbside for trash pickup, or as leaves and other fall garden debris are collected and composted.

The rewards are forthcoming. Some are in the short-term. Many will be seen years down the road. We all have a stake in today's actions, because they affect tomorrow's rewards.

If you are committed to our soil and water resources, join us January 7-9, 2013, for The Power of Conservation: Today's Actions, Tomorrow's Rewards. It is the 70th Annual Conference of Indiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts at the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott.

You'll find 12 excellent hands-on training sessions, keynote speakers, and exhibitors designed to provide you with the tools you'll need for The Power of Conservation: Today's actions, Tomorrow's Rewards.

Register today!

Guest Post: Drought Provides Opportunities to Improve Soil Health

Guest post contributed by Joe Kelsay, Indiana Agriculture Director and owner of Kelsay Farms

This year's historical drought has provided a prime opportunity for a special focus on a most precious resource, our soil. Though we tend to think first of the extreme weather's effect on our 2012 crop yields, its impact on feed supplies and the health of our fields could easily extend the damage into next season and well beyond. ISDA encourages our farmers to minimize this impact by spending some time this fall considering their opportunities to improve soil health.

One way to address soil health and make the most of these conditions is through the establishment of cover crops like oats, clover, rye grasses, and/or radishes. These can provide emergency forage, reduce soil loss, scavenge precious nutrients, improve water quality, offer wildlife habitat and rehabilitate pastures, all while developing soil health at the same time.

Cover crops improve soil health by creating more organic matter in the ground and increasing water-holding capacity. They help to reduce soil compaction and erosion, and can ultimately suppress weed pressure while increasing the yields of subsequent crops. They can also provide critical forage for grazing, chopping or haying at a time when livestock producers everywhere are facing cost-related challenges and having to reassess how to manage feed sources for their animals.

As evidence to the interest in cover crop benefits from our farmers, we witnessed overwhelming response to emergency cover crop cost share assistance from recent announcements of federal and state programs. In spite of the fact that the interest from Indiana landowners proved to be much greater than the availability of funds, many landowners are choosing to continue with these conservation efforts on their own. There are a host of resources that can assist these efforts, including the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI), Purdue University Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD's) Certified Crop Advisors (CCA's) and numerous online chats, blogs and message boards, just to name a few.

Image credit: Flathead Conservation District

Much time will be invested in the recovery from this year's drought, and we will find solutions to minimize the challenges of 2012, with a deliberate focus on improving our soil. Many different avenues can offer help, arming producers with the essential tools they need to get to the best position for the future.  What is most exciting is that Indiana has proven over and over again that by focusing on our strengths and constantly innovating, especially in difficult times, we continue to propel Indiana Agriculture forward.

Why Weren't We No-Tilling Until Now?

Excerpted from an interview with Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative coordinator Hans Kok:

Q: When did we determine no-till was better?

The 1960s. We didn't have the technology . . . it's that simple. We couldn't seed in the ground with this much trash or residue on the surface and we couldn't control the weeds. That's why we were doing tillage. It's not that we were doing things so wrong, it's that we were using 1700's technology. We've progressed, but it always takes a long time for new technology to be adopted.

Now in other places in the world, they've adopted no-till like crazy. Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil ... they are almost entirely no-till out there, so they've taken the technology, they've seen the value of it, they money it saves the farmers to go no-till and realizing we have the tools. But here in the States, we've been slow to adopt it, and in Europe it has been even slower.

But with something like this educational tool (the rain simulator) it shows what happens the value of no-till. It wakes a lot of people up. A farmer came up to me in Kansas and said he saw my rain simulation a couple of years ago and started thinking about it what we were doing to the land and switched the whole farm over to no-till. I've yet to meet a farmer, topography or soil type or climate where we can't no-till.