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