Is It Possible? Can We Have Organic Sustainable Agriculture with Minimal Tillage while Soil Building and Producing High Quality Forage for Grass-Fed Beef

Project Overview

FNC07-667
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2007: $5,920.47
Projected End Date: 12/31/2010
Region: North Central
State: North Dakota
Project Coordinator:
Anne Ongstad
Email
Whitman Ranch

Commodities

  • Agronomic: grass (misc. perennial), hay
  • Animals: bovine

Practices

  • Animal Production: grazing management, livestock breeding, grazing - rotational, feed/forage
  • Crop Production: cover crops, irrigation, strip tillage, conservation tillage
  • Education and Training: farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research
  • Farm Business Management: feasibility study
  • Production Systems: integrated crop and livestock systems
  • Soil Management: organic matter, soil quality/health
  • Sustainable Communities: leadership development, social networks, sustainability measures

    Proposal summary:

    Cover crops will be utilized to enhance soil health by increasing bacterial activity, the amount of nutrients in the soil, nutrient cycling, and in return, soil organic matter, water holding capacity and infiltration. They will also be used for weed control on our organic cropping system.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.