|
Jim Bender, Weeping Water, Nebraska
When it comes
to meeting the challenges of operating a large farm without chemical pesticides,
Nebraska farmer Jim Bender wrote the book—literally. He has worked 650
acres of mixed grains and legumes, and about 100 head of cattle, in the
eastern part of the state since 1975. After eliminating his use of chemicals
almost 15 years ago, he published a 160-page book on the subject.
Future Harvest:
Pesticide-free Farming is part cautionary tale, detailing Bender’s
early, nearly disastrous attempt to shift from chemical dependence. The
bulk of the book, however, focuses on how to do the job right.
Today, Bender
is a thorough practitioner of intensive crop rotation, cover cropping,
soil building, and topsoil retention. He aims to return his soil and waterways
to prime condition and make natural weed and pest control an easier prospect
with each year.
“The objectives
are to alternate sod-based crops with row crops, weed- suppressing crops
with those without that characteristic, crops susceptible to specific
insects with those that are not, and soil enhancing crops with those that
do not enhance soils,” says Bender, who grows milo, wheat, soybeans, turnips,
alfalfa and clover hay, and corn and sorghum for feed.
A typical rotation
begins with a soil-building crop such as a clover or alfalfa. He follows
with either corn or sorghum, and then with soybeans. (He also might precede
the corn with soybeans depending on soil test results). The beans are
followed by wheat or oats, then he plants a cover of turnips, clover hay,
or more alfalfa.
He also allows
his cattle to forage after harvest, knowing they will help in at least
two respects: The manure they leave behind adds to soil fertility, and
their consumption of seeded stalks missed during harvest means fewer opportunities
for this year’s crop to germinate as next year’s weeds.
The various aspects
of Bender’s organic regimen appear to work together seamlessly. One crop
that helps the soil gives way to another that will help suppress weeds
in the following crop. The rotations help disrupt the life cycles of pests
and weeds, making it difficult for them to establish. Cattle cycle through
his fields, further displacing potential weed infestations. Finally, his
cover crops, along with his discontinued use of pesticides, help attract
beneficial insects that further reduce the risk of pest outbreaks.
The farm does
not run on autopilot, however. Bender’s cattle follow a rotational grazing
pattern that calls for intensive management as well as good strong fences,
and lots of them. Fences require maintenance, but the work pays off.
“Livestock is
the linchpin that makes everything else fall into place on my farm,” he
says. “I can’t imagine a large organic operation without animals.”
In addition to
their foraging though harvested fields, his cattle reduce the need to
mow his grassed waterways. They also serve as an economic buffer. In lean
times, Bender can sell more beef than normal. If a cash crop is ruined
by infestation, he can always replant with a forage crop that not only
gets used for feed, but also acts to repel the pest.
Labor remains
a big part of the operation. Even with the suppressive qualities frequent
rotations bring, Bender is on a tractor often, dragging a spring tine
harrow, a rotary hoe, or running a shovel cultivator to keep weeds in
check.
It’s an intricate
and maybe even intimidating system in the sheer number of factors and
options Bender considers. But he doesn’t apologize for the level of detail.
Instead, Bender hopes his book will convince others that it’s possible
to operate a large Midwestern grain and cattle farm without using chemical
inputs.
“You have to really
want to do it; that’s what ultimately makes it successful.” Bender says.
“And I hope more and more farmers will reach that point, because the way
they’re farming now just isn’t working.”
Next profile
 Top
|
