Praise be to Farmaholic

[Blaithin]

Many grain farms , including ours , continuously are trying small acre projects to try and improve rotations and profitability. Yes the very large farms most likely don’t waste time with small acre plots .

Yes, improve profitability, but have you tried more regenerative style stuff? Multi crops, inter crops, cover crops, compost tea, run a herd of cows over it for two days, etc.

Usually it’s projects to test out new and improved sprays or new to them varieties or a new crop they haven’t grown before that could be added into rotation. Sometimes it’s a test of different inputs based on a soil test... a new blend of macro and micro nutrients to go on sort of idea. This is becoming more and more common.

These are all great and I do nerd out when people bring their trial books to the elevator and I get to see how the trial areas equate on a grade level as well... but I can’t say that testing out multi species crops is a common one. Except in silages, I do know a number of people who experiment with those. Sadly most do it one year... it doesn’t work amazingly, and they call it quits for the hassle, so no tweaking is done to see if hassle can be reduced and no long term benefits are able to be seen that might make hassle worth it.

I think equipment is the greatest limiting factor. It costs a bundle and is very specialized. Hard to adjust what is already owned to small trial plots of randomness and small plots can’t justify the purchase of its own type of expensive equipment. Poly crops also tend to require cleaning which is a pita. Inter row crops... again new equipment is generally needed. It’d be ideal if it was slightly more common so people could access demos or loaners or something on those lines but that doesn’t even seem very feasible. Livestock are actually usually the cheapest and most easily accessible thing to find to work with that you can actually get paid for allowing to have access to your land. But they come with their own issues.

Definitely not an easy path to try and follow. Needs energy and passion and some dedication. Can’t fault most people for not wanting to try. (I just fault the extra crusty ones that constantly preach it’s impossible 😅😅😇)

[furrowtickler]

That’s why we bought a planter , gives us the option to try alternative rows . Small , quick and effective. Many others are looking the options you describe.
But it takes time and effort like you say .
But to transition like this article suggests on the massive amount of acres in western Canada in the perceived timeline will not happen .
Regenerative Ag will work for those interested, but should not be a forced role model for all . JMO . And that’s the idea behind that article . There are other ways to improve soil health and reduce inputs .

We don’t run cattle , no fencing , corals, zero infrastructure. Just looking at multicrop combos and soil amendments.
More than one way to skin a cat so to speak .