Improving Soil Health. Through Innovation, New Technology, and Partnerships

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1 Improving Soil Health Through Innovation, New Technology, and Partnerships

2 Sussex Conservation District Located in Sussex County, Delaware Formed by state law in 1944 Political Subdivision of the State of Delaware Governed by an 8 member Board of Supervisors 3 in Delaware (each county) 50% of Sussex County is located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Chesapeake Bay

3 Sussex County, Delaware Facts 938 square miles 303,800 acres of cropland (2012) 50% of the county is agricultural 3 Major Watersheds Chesapeake Bay (50%) Delaware Bay Inland Bays Largest broiler producing county in the nation Flat topography Sandy Soils 46 of average rainfall Major resource concern: Water Quality

4 A little history Sussex Conservation District is a big proponent of cover crops Administered a Cover Crop Cost-Share Program for nearly 20 years About $1.2 Million in Cost-Share annually 34,820 acres/year average ( ) Receive funding from multiple sources General Assembly - Bond Bill (State) Federal Sources EPA Chesapeake Bay & NPS Programs NRCS Contribution Agreements

5 A little history The Sussex Conservation District attended the 2014 Cover Crop & Soil Health Forum at the Delaware NRCS State Office National conference - streamed live videos and testimonies from farmers throughout the nation Discussion about how to promote cover crops and soil health in Delaware Farmers in the room said that they needed to go out-of-state to get soil health information We need to change the mindset of farmers to plant cover crops for soil health instead of for the incentive payment

6 Sussex Conservation District s Soil Health Initiative National initiative through USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Health can be improved by: Provide continuous living roots and maximize soil cover by planting cover crops Minimize disturbance by utilizing minimal tillage practices Maximize biodiversity through multi-species mixes and crop rotation practices Practicing soil health management can decrease farm inputs, increase crop yields, therefore improving the bottom line.

7 Left the Forum with two questions How can the Sussex Conservation District help get soil health information to the farming community? How do we get the air seeder technology to Delaware?

8 What Happened Next Getting an Air Seeder to Delaware Establishing a local Soil Health Committee for information sharing Utilizing the NACD Soil Health Champions Network to promote and share soil health knowledge

9 Air Seeder Technology to Delaware The District began talking with members of the ag community and with the SCD Board. Would it work in Delaware? Would farmers be willing to run this equipment through their cash crops? What are the benefits of early established cover crops? Researched air seeders Widely used in the Midwest Successful at early establishment of cover crops Crop damage was minimal

10 Benefits of Early Established Cover Crops Crop benefits from longer growing degree days in the summer Cover crop is already established when cash crop is harvested Gives cover crop as much as a 30 to 90 day head start to establish a good root system Increases uptake of nutrients Improves water quality More biomass leads to increased organic matter Improved soil health

11 How does the Air Seeder work? Miller Nitro high clearance sprayer with a 90 boom Adapted with a specialized seed box Allows farmers to plant cover crops while their cash crop is still in the field. Drops seed below the canopy Better seed to soil contact More even seed distribution Planting early allows the cover crops to take advantage of the longer growing degree days

12 Grant request SCD submitted an NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) promote soil health through workshops and field days purchase the air seeder develop a 2-year pilot program at no cost to landowner After the two years SCD would charge a nominal fee for service to cover costs Objective 1 - Give farmers the opportunity to try new technology with little or no risk Continue to use it without having to purchase the expensive technology Objective 2 Get cover crops planted early for improved water quality and soil health

13 Grant Writing Process Gathered information Water quality and soil health benefits Benefits of the early establishment of cover crops How this technology would help our farmers Outreach and education plan Equipment costs??

14 A New Partnership Contacted local equipment dealers looking for air seeder prices No idea what it was Sent the video to equipment companies Went straight to the source Contacted David Brandt Ryan Shanks Buckeye Soil Solutions LLC, Ada, Ohio Beginning of a new friendship and partnership

15 Grant Process Worked with Buckeye on a price for the air seeder List them as a private partner Grant was not approved Back to square one

16 Next steps SCD still believed it was a good idea and continued talking about it with partners Gained support from Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) because it would help meet the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) and TMDL goals

17 Final decision Board discussed the option of purchasing the air seeder for several months Mike Willeke of Buckeye Soil Solutions came to Delaware to meet with the Board to answer questions about the air seeder Custom application business Board had concerns Crop damage Going into farmers fields New type of service SCD Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of the air seeder

18 SCD Air Seeder Pilot Program Year 1 SCD developed a pilot program with a first year planting goal of 4,000 acres Through outreach efforts and interest by the farming community, 24 farmers participated in the program SCD offered a $60 per acre incentive Farmers were responsible for the seed, loading the seed, and fuel All other expenses were covered by SCD

19 Air Seeder Pilot Program - Year 1 Took delivery of the air seeder on July 14 Buckeye came out and provided training Held two hands on training days for farmers interested in using the air seeder It was decided that most of the farmers were uneasy operating it Southern States Dagsboro Store partnered with SCD by providing an operator Started planting on July 30 into corn Finished planting on October 15 into soybeans

20 Air Seeder Operation Had some growing pains Calibration issues Loading of the seed Cleanliness of the seed The operator had Buckeye Soil Solutions on speed dial

21 SCD Air Seeder Pilot Program Year 2 Second year planting goal of 8,000 acres Much more interest by the farming community (40 enrolled in program) 32 farmers participated in the program 2 farmers experimented by planting a few acres extra early in late June and early July SCD offered a $60/acre incentive for new customers, $50/acre for returning Farmers were responsible for the cost of the seed and loading the seed Offered to purchase the seed All other expenses were covered by SCD

22 SCD Air Seeder Pilot Program Year 2 Rye, Radish 6% Rye, Radish, Clover, Hairy Vetc Radish, Clover 17% Rye, Clover 20% Other 6% Rye, Radish, Clover 48% SCD became a seed broker Partnered with Southern States Dagsboro Store Purchase seed in bulk Utilize their seed/fertilizer auger to load One stop shop Offered 4 different seed blends Rye, radish, crimson clover Radish and crimson clover Triticale, radish, and crimson clover Rye and crimson clover District supplied seed for ~75% of the acres planted with the air seeder

23 Comparison of Acres Planted 6,324 Acres Planted in The District planted 4,020 acres with the Air Seeder in That s a 57% increase in Year 2! Corn Soybeans Other Crops

24 Cover Crop Acres on the increase Fall of ,374.7 acres planted in Sussex County alone Countywide % increase from 2014 Chesapeake Bay % increase in acres planted from 2014 Only reflects acres cost-shared through SCD Program Fall of ,189.3 acres in Sussex County Countywide 12.9% increase from 2015 Chesapeake Bay Watershed 4.6% increase Inland Bays Watershed 42.6% increase Why the increase? Extra early acres planted with the air seeder Soil Health workshops and field days Commodity prices

25 Program Success Fixed calibration issues from previous year Rolled out a new seed program to: Make the air seeder program more efficient Minimize application issues Offer a lower seed cost to farmers Simplify participation Optimize incentives for participants among multiple costshare programs

26 Crop Damage? Crop damage was minimal Mostly on turn rows, and entrance and exit points Air seeder could follow the sprayer tracks in soybeans if both were 90 booms

27 Air Seeder planting into corn on July 30, 2015

28 Planting into sorghum in early September

29 Planting into soybeans in September

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31 Photo taken January 15, 2016 Root Structure Earth Worm

32 Winter kill of Radish and Hairy Vetch Taken February 22, 2016

33 Winter kill of Radish and Hairy Vetch Taken February 22, 2016

34 Tillage/forage radishes are one of the most popular cover crop choices Radish measured 18.5 long Radish and hairy vetch

35 Radish, clover, and rye planted with the air seeder on August 17, 2015 Photo taken 8 days after seeding Photo take 20 days after seeding

36 Results after first year SUCCESS! Program Success!! 4,020 acres were planted with the air seeder Corn 2,786 acres Soybeans 867 acres Sorghum 82 acres Other vegetables 285 acres

37 Results after Year 2 SUCCESS again! Goal was 8,000 acres 6,324 acres were planted in 2016 Corn 4,891 acres Soybeans 1,135 acres Other crops 298 acres 57% increase over 2015 Weather was a challenge

38 How can the District help get soil health information to the farming community? SCD established a Soil Health Committee and the Delaware Soil Health Partnership was born Met with several progressive, early adopters to find out what information they wanted and how best to share the information Held soil health workshops and field days in conjunction with Delaware Ag Week and throughout Sussex County

39 Field Days and Workshops 1 st workshop Soil Health 101 in December 2014 Hold 3 or 4 workshops per year Winter (in conjunction with Delaware Ag Week) Summer (field day) Late fall (after harvest) This year Soil Health Series 3 workshops (Dec, Jan, and Feb.)

40 Field Days and Workshops Discussion topics Started with basic soil health principles Feedback from farmers What topics are they interested in learning more about Some of our most popular topics Choosing the right cover crop/mix? Nutrient management and soil health Transitioning to no-till Early establishment of cover crops Vegetables and soil health Economics of soil health

41 Air Seeder Demo and Soil Health Field Day August 2016

42 Air Seeder Demo and Soil Health Field Day August 2016 Demonstrations Air Seeder Rainfall Simulator Herbicide Carryover Extra early establishment of cover crops 115 participants Used the watermelon bus so people could see the air seeder in the corn

43 Air Seeder Demo and Soil Health Field Day August 2016 Feed them and offer continuing education credits and they will come Served homemade ice cream by a local dairy farm that has opened a creamery Former board member

44 Soil Health Outreach Events Congressman Carney, now Governor Carney (right) talking with Soil Health Champion, Chip Baker at our field day in August. Now Governor Carney talking with local farmers and DE Secretary of Agriculture (seated front) and SCD Board Member Richard Carlisle.

45 National Soil Health Champions Network Initiative In 2015 NACD sent out a Call for Candidates Several farmers in our county that are championship material Sussex County, DE has 5 Soil Health Champions Practicing soil health on their farms Share what they have learned Participate on farm panels and host field days Delaware Soil Health Champions Jay Baxter Brad Ritter Chip Baker Guy Phillips C.P. King, Jr.

46 Soil Health Champions on Farm Panels Soil Health Champions

47 DE Soil Health Champions

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51 Soil Health Champion Outreach Partnered with DE NRCS and the USDA Office of Communications to create soil health videos Four area farmers were featured in the commercials that aired on local TV stations from May through August 2016 Two were Soil Health Champions Individual short videos were also done for the champs

52 Soil Health Champion Outreach NC Soil Health Champion OH Soil Health Champion

53 Delaware Soil Health Champion Outreach Efforts Film Crew from WTOL-TV Toledo, Ohio came to Delaware to learn about our air seeder and how we were using it to protect the Chesapeake Bay Interviewed Champion Jay Baxter on using the District s air seeder Jay took the opportunity to talk about soil health

54 A model for others WTOL-TV from Toledo, OH came to Delaware to learn what we are doing to protect the Chesapeake Bay.

55 Our Partners!

56 Questions? Debbie Absher, Dir. of Ag Programs Sussex Conservation District Berlin Road, Unit 4 Georgetown, Delaware (302)