eco soil building panel
DESCRIPTION
Ulrich Hack, Hack Farm; Chris Boettcher, Bob Kerr, and Roger Rivest. Facilitated by Phillip Woodhouse “Don’t treat your dirt like dirt!!” These four organic producers, with a wealth of knowledge will discuss how to build the optimal soil. They will discuss healthy soils, soil structure, compost, cover crops, tillage systems; healthy eco-systems, and much more!TRANSCRIPT
Ecological Day GBFW 14Soil Building Panel Participants:
Ulrich Hach, Hack FarmChristian BoettcherBob Kerr, Kerr FarmsRoger Rivest, Keystone GrainFacilitated by Phillip Woodhouse
Hack Farm
The Farm is located near Kincardine and North of Hwy 9, an area that seems to miss a lot of summer rains due to the lake effect.
The Farm is 900 acres in 1 piece, plus some nearby rented fields.
Farm SituationAbout 50% of the Farm are
drought-prone sandy soils.Being in the snowbelt translates
into being in the rain-shade in summer (lake-effect).
Windy area due to the lake.Soil prone to wind erosion.Fertility challenges on sandy
soils.
Hack Farm
The Farm is a cash crop operation, with a herd of 70 beef cows to help maintain fertility.
The Farm is Organic and Demeter certified and uses the biodynamic principle of the closed Farm organism.
That means we strife to produce all our fertility needs on the Farm.
Hack Farm
916 acresOf crops and pastureCrops include:Hay, Spelt, Soybeans, Oats,
Forage-Peas, Rye, Green Peas, Millet, Flax, Corn, Clover-seed
Hack Farm
Organic Since 1982We came from a Demeter Farm in
Germany, that was converted in 1967.
In 1982 we came to Canada and converted to organic and Demeter.
In 2004 we bought additional land and converted it.
The rented parcels were converted as we got them, starting in 2000.
Hack Farm
Soil HealthCrop rotation and the green-
manure crops are the main tools for soil health.
They get enhanced by the use of our homemade biodynamic Preparations.
The manure is composted prior to application
Animals are a big asset for long-term fertility
Hack Farm
Green ManureRed clover is best if sufficient
moisture If moisture is not sufficient, it
can enhance Quackgrass population.
Oats and forage peas are an alternative, as they can still grow with cooler temperatures with the fall moisture
Hack Farm
Green Manure CropsCloverSweet cloverRyeOatsPeasTillage Radish or winter canolaBuckwheat
Hack Farm
Green Manure CropsClover -Beautiful soil structureSweet Clover -Deep rootRye -Low temperature growthBuckwheat - Fast germinating when
warmOats, PeasClover for seed to add fertilityTillage Radish, Canola, Oilradish
Hack Farm
Crop RotationOur crop rotation is not fixed,
as the soils (sand to clay), drainage and weed pressure vary considerably
Hack Farm
Crop RotationHay CompostHay CompostHay Summer-fallowSpelt Red CloverSoybeansRye Red Clover CompostMillet
Hack Farm
Crop Rotation ContinuedSpelt Red Clover CompostRed CloverFlax Red Clover CompostSpelt Red CloverSoybeansMillet Clover?Mixed Grain Underseeded to hay
Hack Farm
Considered ChangesRed and Sweet clover, Ryegrass
Tim.Spelt Red cloverSoybeans RyeRye Seeded downRed and Sweet clover, Ryegrass Tim.Spelt Oats, Peas, Canola, Red
CloverSoybeans Rye, OatsMillet Sweet Clover
Hack Farm
Considered Changes Cont.Barley UnderseededRed and Sweet clover, Ryegrass
TimSpelt Red CloverRed Clover Rye, OatsSoybeans Rye, OatsMillet Sweet cloverOats Underseeded
Hack Farm
Avoid CompactionStart working the soil shallow, and
slowly go deeper2 passes within 24 hours dries out
the hair-roots of quackgrassPlowed clover leaves best seedbedPlowed ground has less weeds
than chisel-plowed
Hack Farm
Weed ControlBlind harrowing is most effectiveLater harrowing mainly gets the smaller
weedsFor scuffling row-crops, set the cultivator
close to the row (from 12” down to 5”)Front-mount makes control easierMirror or guidance system for rear mountLate scuffling before canopy closes
Hack Farm
Hack Farm
Rotate to Break WeedCyclesCool season annual MustardWarm season annual VelvetleafBiennial PeppergrassPerennial QuackgrassMustard can not compete in
wintergrain or hay fields
Hack Farm
First cut hay
Hack Farm
Hack Farm
Mixed GrainHack Farm
SoybeansHack Farm
Rye
Red clover after RyeHack Farm
Boettcher Family Farm
Boettcher Family Farm Located S/E of Brussels, Huron
County on the edge of the Stratford plain.
Soil types range from:Perth Clay LoamBrookston Clay LoamBlack Muck in low lying areas
Have farmed this land with his wife Gabriele and their 5 children since the early 1980’s.
After a health crisis they switched from conventional agriculture to biodynamic/organic farming in the early 1990’s.
Lost faith in conventional agriculture.
Boettcher Family Farm
Run a 430 workable acre mixed operation.
Main livestock component is a flock of 400 breeding ewes and their +/- 600 lambs.
Crops – Grow spelt, soybeans, oats, rye, experiment with canola, and 5-8 acres of vegetables.
Boettcher Family Farm
Boettcher Family Farm
Boettcher Family Farm
Boettcher Family Farm
Boettcher Family Farm
Boettcher Family Farm
Boettcher Family Farm
Was developed to balance the needs for the livestock, field crops, and soil building simultaneously.
To build up soil fertility and humus content, they grow 2 years of an 8 species forage mixture for grazing and hay production.
Boettcher Family Farm Crop Rotation
At the end of year two after a 5 T/acre compost application, the forage stand is worked in ahead of Fall Spelt seeding.
The third year spelt is underseededto double-cut red clover.
Fall of year three – lamb grazing
Boettcher Family Farm Crop Rotation Cont.
Year four produces a crop of oats/peas which is harvested.
Bin run oats is broadcast and disked into the year four oat stubble in August.
Green oats is grazed in the Fall.
Boettcher Family Farm Crop Rotation Cont.
Year five sees soya beans planted and grain rye seed is broadcast and disked into soy stubble in Fall of year five.
In year six, rye is underseeded in the Spring to an 8-way forage mix again.
In the Fall, this new forage seeding can be lightly grazed if needed.
Boettcher Family Farm Crop Rotation Cont.
Built up through crop rotation and is maintained by “thoughtful” tillage.
Overall diesel fuel consumption amounts to 16 litres/acre per year on all tillage and harvesting operations.
Boettcher Family Farm Soil Health
Boettcher Family Farm
Boettcher Family Farm
Their principle:
“Do everything to create soil biological activity and avoid everything that hinders this
biological activity”
Boettcher Family Farm Soil Health cont.
Boettcher Family Farm
Through soil testing they can monitor biological activity in numbers.
Soil organic matter is steadily rising as is the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC).
The macro minerals are leveling off at medium to medium high and the micronutrients are bouncing back from his conventional days.
Boettcher Family Farm Soil Health cont.
Soil life is fed almost every season by sheep manure and inter crop roots.
Yields have increased steadily over time and are now equal to his conventional colleagues and neighbours.
Weed pressure, pests and diseases are decreasing.
A good crop rotation can manage weeds.
Boettcher Family Farm Soil Health cont.
Year Crop/Operation Comments
Year 1 Legume/grass mix (3 legumes, 3 grasses) One cutting for hay, one
grazing with flock
Building up fertility and humus
Diversity in root species Forage tops converted by
ruminants into fertilizer No tillage
Year 2 Legume/grass mix One cutting, one grazing 5 tonnes/acre winter
compost worked in Disk and rip up forage
stand Spelt seeding
Root mass to feed soil life Maximum build-up of soil
fertility
Year 3 Spelt for harvest Red clover underseeding Grazing in
September/October 1-2 offset diskings
Spelt (mediocre root system) heavy user of fertility
Red clover builds fertility back up
Year Crop/Operation CommentsYear 4 Oats for harvest
After harvest: oats broadcasted and disked in
Green oats (or seed cocktail) for grazing in November/December
Oats – medium fertility user with superb root system
Superior soil tilth (calcium, phosphorus and micronutrient accumulator
No fall tillage
Year 5 Broadcast and harrowed in oats ahead of
Soybeans for harvest Broadcast and light disk
rye after soy harvest
Oats easy to undercut for soy seeding
Superb tilth High brix soybeans => aphid
managementYear 6 Rye for harvest
Legume/grass mix underseeding
Light grazing in October
Rye uses up remnant fertility Good weed suppression Legume/grass mix provides
diversity again No tillage
Changes in Soil Fertility Over the Last 16 Years on our Farm
Organic Matter .02% to .1% increase per year
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)
No change or 10-15% increase in 20 years
PH Moving towards neutral
Acid soluble test • Magnesium – down• Calcium – up• Potassium – slightly down (H to M
range)• Phosphorus – slightly down (VH to H
range)
Water soluble test • Calcium – up by up to 50%• Potassium – slightly down• Phosphorus – slightly down• Magnesium – slightly up• Sulphur – up• Sodium – down• Micronutrients – improving