Kansas Ag Connection - Kansas Farmers Union Tour 'Thinking Outside the Box'

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Kansas Farmers Union Tour 'Thinking Outside the Box'
Kansas Ag Connection - 07/16/2018

The 'Thinking Outside the Box' farm tour series by Kansas Farmers Union is spotlighting farms doing things differently during its two-day tour that begins today. Whether it's reducing inputs and focusing on soil health in row crops; bringing diversification back to the farm; or exploring marketing opportunities that add value and allow the farmer to enhance market returns on their investment, people are being inspired to see new options.

Participants are visiting arms with decades of experience leading the way in innovative production and marketing strategies. The three farms are:

- Farm Sweet Farm -- Ron Rosmann's 700-acre farm is known for its diversification, direct marketing, and research & experimentation. Certified organic since 1994, they raise corn, soy, small grains, popcorn, hay, pasture, cover crops; cattle and hogs and run an on-farm store marketing directly to consumers.

Ron, Maria, and two of their three sons and their families farm 700 acres in western Iowa near Harlan. The farm has been certified organic since 1994. They stopped the use of all pesticides in 1983. The Rosmanns have a diverse farming operation growing many different crops including corn, soy, small grains, popcorn, hay, pasture and diverse species of cover crops. They have 100 Red Angus mother cows, 50 sows and all of their beef and pork is certified organic.

Ron shares that the family farm is providing a relatively successful economic livelihood for three families and is doing so in a way that chooses and strives to protect and enhance the environment and ecology and also their neighborhood and communities through sharing and treating people with respect. Maria markets the meat and other products through her Farm Sweet Farm store located on the farm. Some is also marketed through Organic Prairie. Family members also own and operate both a local foods restaurant in Harlan called Milk and Honey and a Farm Table procurement and delivery business.

For 35 years now, the Rosmanns have been farming without the usual inputs of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. "We value diversity both in crops and livestock but also in providing habitat for the many beneficial birds, insects, and mammals that live amidst the farm. We also strive to develop soil health, good yields, and acceptable looking fields for weed control."

Ron is a founding board member of the Practical Farmers of Iowa having served as both vice-president and president. He is a past president and board member of the Organic Farming Research Foundation in Santa Cruz, California. They have conducted over 40 on-farm research projects through Practical Farmers of Iowa since 1987.

This year they are conducting a replicated trial testing two varieties of corn that use nitrogen more efficiently and even produce some of their own nitrogen through the bacteria on their roots. These two varieties are being compared to a conventional organic hybrid. The other research involves the growing of hybrid rye which looks very promising as a hog feed for its fiber and nutrient content and its ability to control Salmonella.

- Nees Farm -- David Nees' family farms 950 crop acres of row crops and alfalfa which have been certified organic for 34 years. Ron is known for his great weed control, his ability to creatively use modern equipment efficiently in an organic operation, and for his decades long focus on developing healthy soils.

- Rolling Acres Farm -- Denise O'Brien and Larry Harris have been involved with organic production and cultivating local food since 1976. They raise every vegetable from Asia greens to zucchini, as well fruits, herbs, flowers, and poultry marketed through their CSA. In 2014, they added a moveable high tunnel.

Denise O'Brien and Larry Harris have been involved with organic production and cultivating local food for over 36 years and maintain seventeen acres of the original Harris farm, which has been in the family for multiple generations. Five acres are in certified organic fruit and vegetable production. They raise vegetables-from Asian greens to zucchini, as well as a wide variety of fruits, herbs and flowers. They also specialize in the production of naturally-raised turkeys and chickens that move freely about the farm

They milked a small dairy herd for 20 years of their marriage and decided in 1995 when milk prices were low that Larry would take an off farm job. He is a crane operator for a local bridge building company. Larry and Denise have been married for 42 years and raised three children and now have six grandchildren. Denise ran for Secretary of Agriculture of Iowa in 2006 and is currently running for the Iowa House of Representatives for her district.

Rolling Acres Farm is a Community Supported Agriculture Farm (CSA); members pay a fee to have fresh produce delivered for twenty weeks during the growing season.

Larry and Denise will share information on organic certification; why they think it's important; as well as how they use of cover crops and various methods of weed control to keep their soils health and productive.

In 2014, Rolling Acres added a moveable high tunnel to the farm. A moveable high tunnel offers all of the climatic benefits of a permanent high tunnel with the addition of managing soils for pests, diseases, and nutrients. Moving high tunnels has been practiced for over one hundred years, but modern designs, management practices, and research have made moving high tunnels a rather new component to season extension. Movable high tunnels require more management than permanent high tunnels but they offer a short payback in costs while providing long-term soil fertility and disease control.

FARMALL-Land USA -- A 26,500 square foot museum featuring 150 IH full-size, pedal, and toy tractors, artist's prints, and other memorabilia.

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