Demonstration of low impact tractor cultivation in a regenerative farm model to increase production using equipment sharing on multiple farms

View the project final report

Commodities

• Agronomic: potatoes
• Vegetables: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucurbits, garlic, greens (leafy), greens (lettuces), onions, peas (culinary), peppers, radishes (culinary), rutabagas, sweet corn, tomatoes

Practices

• Education and Training: demonstration, networking
• Sustainable Communities: analysis of personal/family life, food access and security, local and regional food systems, partnerships, quality of life

Problem Addressed:

Our little community is rooted in the small, family farm. There is great demand for the produce small farms grow in our area. However, our season is short and our winters are long with 300+ inches of snowfall on average. Farming vegetables here is hard, with only a handful of farmers to meet the demand. Our area is surrounded by water in three directions on the Keweenaw Peninusula with no major freeways or ports. After the pandemic, the demand has only increased, and given rise to many programs to feed those in need and to support local farms. The biggest issue is our ability to produce enough. All of the farms in the area have been working tirelessly to grow their production, but we are meeting the threshold of physical ability. Hiring farm labor is expensive and very difficult to keep folks for more than a few months. To make our farms work, we are moving towards mechanization. Our extension has very limited equipment to use and it is a 2.5 hour drive to retrieve it. We want to demonstrate to the community, the children, and the region that small-scale farming can meet these needs with a shared equipment model. 

Our Approach:

The solution to more production in our small community is either a lot more labor (hard to come by and very expensive), more farmers (we encourage any that want to start), or we can mechanize in an environmentally responsible way with farmers we already have, using the land we already own. We purchased and shared expensive tools with the other farmers in our area. We do not need to compete. There are plenty of customers and opportunities for us all. We want to see our farm community grow into the shoes of our market share. Gina Kerr facilitated the equipment schedule and Josh trailered the needed implement to other farms with our flatbed trailer for their use with their tractors. We educated the next generation by hosting farm tours and demonstrating sustainable, low-impact farming using machinery. Presenting the equipment sharing model as outreach to regional farms encouraged the same and similar practices and encouraged our extension to make bigger purchases of equipment to lend. 

Research Conclusions:

The funds to purchase tractor implements and the Rohands have enabled us to continue farming and expanding without pain and injury.  We increased our knowledge of implements and how to attach and detach the implements in a timely manner. We learned how easy it is to cooperate to get the implements and equipment to each farm. We also got another grant, knowing we could expand the farm by using these implements.  

Farmer Adoption:

After 2 seasons using our NCR-SARE grant funded implements and equipment, we successfully expanded our production, doubled our revenue, hired new employees, and healed our bodies. The cohort farms report similar progress.

The solution to more production in our small community is either a lot more labor (hard to come by and very expensive), more farmers (we encourage any that want to start), or we can mechanize in an environmentally responsible way with farmers we already have, using the land we already own. Tractor  implementation will allow us to plant large plots of crops such as potatoes, sweet corn, winter squash, onions, and garlic quickly and easily without sacrificing our health and safety. We'll be able to spread compost and amendments without breaking our backs, and plant, weed, and harvest without creating repetitive use injuries. We plan to open up a large fallow field of about 1.5 acres to increase the production of the crops above. This will free up existing garden space for more intensive crops such as lettuce, peas, beans, carrots, greens etc. that will be cultivated using some of the equipment purchased with the grant, but more focused on hand tools and walk-behind equipment as the plots are smaller.

We plan to share these expensive tools with the other farmers in our area. We do not need to compete. There are plenty of customers and opportunities for us all. We want to see our farm community grow into the shoes of our market share. Gina Kerr will facilitate the equipment schedule and Josh will trailer the needed implement to other farms with our flatbed trailer for their use with their tractors. Or, if needed we'll trailer our tractor with the implement for their use. We plan to educate the next generation by hosting farm tours and demonstrating sustainable, low-impact farming using machinery. Presenting the equipment sharing model as outreach to regional farms will encourage the same and similar practices and encourage our extension to make bigger purchases of equipment to lend. 

In using this equipment, we intend to demonstrate the effectiveness of small-scale, sustainable farming when hand tools are combined with mechanical equipment. These demonstrations will be offered to the public through farm tours, presentations, social media, and YouTube. 

Objectives:

1. Purchase tractor implements and equipment.
2. Plant 1.5 acres of vegetables.
3. Document soil changes/improvement through observation and soil tests.
4. Share this equipment with other farmers.
5. Meet the needs of our local market share with improved profitability, productivity, and time flexibility while reducing injury, fatigue, and burnout and maintaining a low impact on the land. 
6. Host farm tours with children from local schools (CAPE program farm tours and the Farm-to-School program). 
7. Host farm tours to the public through Keweenaw Food Co-op.
8. Present the equipment-sharing model to regional farms and extension through a regional food systems conference and in classrooms to children via Farm to School.