Biodiversity As It Relates to Terwidlen Farms

Transcription

1 Biodiversity As It Relates to Terwidlen Farms A presentation for A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium Prepared by Tom Barrie November 2010

2 The History of Terwidlen Farms Harvey Barrie (Grandfather) rented in 1917 and purchased the farm in 1927 Predominantly a mixed farm Gordon Barrie (Father) became owner in 1951 Farm evolved into a dairy farm with a cash crop sideline Tom, Steve, Glenn (Sons) became owners in 2007 Dairy farm, with cash crops playing a key role

3 The History of Terwidlen Farms (cont) Organic farming interest in the late 1980 s Due to poor markets and limited land available Rented chemical free land The farming end was satisfactory, however the marketing end was a total disaster The practice of using intense crop rotation was seen to be a possible key to success

4 The History of Terwidlen Farms (cont) land becomes available after large cash cropper quits Terwidlen Farms rents 500 acres In order to handle the extra amount of acreage: intense crop rotation implemented

5 Biodiversity of Terwidlen Farms Initial crop rotation was fixed as: Corn Soybeans Oats or wheat Oats were underseeded to clover Clover used as dairy feed and 2 nd cut seed harvested

6 Biodiversity of Terwidlen Farms (cont) Fall of 1992 purchased 750 No-Till Drill due to new cash crop land being too hard A 4-wheel drive tractor could not pull a chisel plow Spring of 1993 all acreage was seeded using 750 drill

7 Biodiversity of Terwidlen Farms (cont) Continued with the 750 drill until 1996 Purchased FlexiCoil Air Seeder in 1996 Currently using this unit Air Seeder allows seed, fertilizer, and clover to be planted in one pass

8 Biodiversity of Terwidlen Farms (cont) Fine Tuning the Crop Rotation Oats underseeded to clover Clover used as hay Wheat seeded into clover stubble Corn seeded into wheat/clover stubble Soybeans seeded into corn/clover stubble Canola seeded into soybean stubble

9 Biodiversity of Terwidlen Farms (cont) Benefits of this rotation Alternating grass and broadleaf crops Oats for dairy feed Clover adds nitrogen to soil Wheat uses some of this nitrogen; corn uses the rest Soybeans are tough; corn stalks are nearly gone following a year of soys Canola a recent addition to avoid planting wheat too late in the year

10 Biodiversity of Terwidlen Farms (cont) Features of crop rotation that are occurring (and what we ve learned!) Oats and clover are natural hosts for mycorrhizal fungi Mycorrhizal fungi is the medium that allows the transfer of nutrients from the soil to the plant roots (REF) 2 succeeding crops supercharge the soil for the corn and soybean crops that follow

11 Biodiversity of Terwidlen Farms (cont) Soil life is greatly enhanced by the different biological activity that occurs from each crop Wheat straw is almost completely decomposed by the end of the corn crop Corn stalks are nearly gone by the end of the soybean crop

12 Biodiversity of Terwidlen Farms (cont) Benefits to Terwidlen No investment in tillage equipment Fewer tractors needed Less labour needed Less crop failure risk Rotation of chemicals manages risk of resistance Better yields Improved soil structure and drainage Soil erosion is reduced or eliminated A good feeling of doing what s right for the soil

13 9/20/2008

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15 8/16/2009 fall seeded

16 8/16/2009 small plants

17 8/16/2009 seedlings coming up through straw

18 9/01/2009

19 Spray date 10/4/2009

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24 Excellent Soil Structure

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28 References Top Crop Manager Oct 2008 Vol 34 No.12

29 Biodiversity of Terwidlen Farms Questions?