FACT FILE - Harvesting The...
1
FACT FILE ONE WOULD THINK THAT AFTER PLACING in the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) yield contest 14 times in 30 years, a farmer might sit back and rest on his laurels. That is not the case with Bob Little. “I like to try new things,” says Bob, who farms 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans near Hebron, Ind. That is just as much the case today as it was when he began farming with his dad Verle and older brother Joe in 1980. No-till was the new tool the Littles looked at to help resolve the soil erosion issues on their family farm. “We suffered from blowing soil on our lighter grounds, and the heavy soils on our rolling hills would just erode away because of the water,” Bob explains. “We had nothing to lose by trying no-till, because we were already losing our topsoil.” The first couple of years of no-till were difficult, but patience paid off. “By the third year, we really gained ground. The water drained much better, and we started to get better soil texture,” he says. That is also when the crop yields started to take off and the awards began to roll in. In last year’s NCGA yield contest, Bob claimed first place in his state with a yield of 290.6 bu/ac in the no-till/strip-till/ non-irrigated category. He is quick to admit that the farm’s success is shared equally with his wife Kathy, also a multiple-time yield contest winner. Beyond his yield contest wins, Bob recognizes no-till benefits his bottom line in other ways. He has lowered his fuel costs by at least one-third. “We also have fewer hours using the equipment, which helps reduce wear and tear and maintenance costs,” Bob says. Using a conservation agriculture system like no-till has given Bob more time to do new things over the years such as become a certified crop consultant, run a crop insurance business and sell seed. Bob also takes time to read up on the latest conservation agri- culture advancements. Still, Bob somehow finds time to share his knowledge with area farmers looking to learn more about no-till. “Neighbor farmers are the best resources for information,” he says. Bob continues to explore new things like experi- menting with different cover crops to help build up his soils. “We have tried rye and wheat in the past and had some annual ryegrass and radishes last year,” he says. “This year we are looking at wheat again and trying some sunflowers to help establish a deep root path for next year’s crop.” Bob admits that he still has to do a little tillage on his river bottom lands, but he is looking at switch- ing those over to a strip-till system. He says the new precision technologies now available can help save money on the number of trips across the field and on input costs. “GPS and RTK could really push more farmers into trying conservation agriculture, particularly the younger generation who are more open to it,” says Bob. And that means something coming from a farmer like Bob Little who knows a thing or two about trying new things. For more on implementing conservation-based production practices such as those used by Bob Little, farmers can con- tact their nearby university Extension office to speak with an expert. Additional resources can be accessed through www.HarvestingThePotential.org. PHOTO: JESSE JOSLEYN NAME Bob Little NAME OF OPERATION Little Farms LOCATION Lake County and Porter County (IN) CROPS Corn and soybeans ACRES 1,000 SOIL TYPES Sandy loam, gumbo, muck FARM ORGANIZATIONS National Corn Growers Association, Indiana Corn Growers Association 24379 11 ADMIN SUSTN FJ_Testmonial_Summer_Issue_July_August_R02 06-28-2011 9:18 AM mz R2 Job Client Product Division Element Live Trim Bleed Pages Folded Size Compliance Copy 24379 HGBF SUSTN ADMIN Testimonial 7 in x 10 in 7.875 in x 10.5 in 8.125 in x 10.75 in 1 pgs N/A N/A Job info AC AAE AE AS MS AD CW CD Prod Mgr Art Buyer Art Mod Rlse Test Rlse Proof Legal Client Approvals Date Time 100% by Printed At Production Info Ad Production Info Prod Mgr Due to Prod Vendor Ad Title Prod # Job Title Shipped By Insertion In Farm Journal Matt Weber 07-08-11 Classic Color Reaping Rewards 24379-1 11 ADMIN SUSTN FJ Testimonial Sum- mer Issue July- August R+K Studio FINAL MECHANICAL 24379 11 ADMIN SUSTN FJ_Testmonial_Summer_Issue_July_August_R02 06-28-2011 9:18 AM mz R2 Job Client Product Division Element Live Trim Bleed Pages Folded Size Compliance Copy 24379 HGBF SUSTN ADMIN Testimonial 7 in x 10 in 7.875 in x 10.5 in 8.125 in x 10.75 in 1 pgs N/A N/A Job info AC AAE AE AS MS AD CW CD Prod Mgr Art Buyer Art Mod Rlse Test Rlse Proof Legal Client Approvals Date Time 100% by Printed At Production Info Ad Production Info Prod Mgr Due to Prod Vendor Ad Title Prod # Job Title Shipped By Insertion In Farm Journal Matt Weber 07-08-11 Classic Color Reaping Rewards 24379-1 11 ADMIN SUSTN FJ Testimonial Sum- mer Issue July- August R+K Studio FINAL MECHANICAL 24379 11 ADMIN SUSTN FJ_Testmonial_Summer_Issue_July_August_R02 06-28-2011 9:18 AM mz R2 Job Client Product Division Element Live Trim Bleed Pages Folded Size Compliance Copy 24379 HGBF SUSTN ADMIN Testimonial 7 in x 10 in 7.875 in x 10.5 in 8.125 in x 10.75 in 1 pgs N/A N/A Job info AC AAE AE AS MS AD CW CD Prod Mgr Art Buyer Art Mod Rlse Test Rlse Proof Legal Client Approvals Date Time 100% by Printed At Production Info Ad Production Info Prod Mgr Due to Prod Vendor Ad Title Prod # Job Title Shipped By Insertion In Farm Journal Matt Weber 07-08-11 Classic Color Reaping Rewards 24379-1 11 ADMIN SUSTN FJ Testimonial Sum- mer Issue July- August R+K Studio FINAL MECHANICAL 24380 11 ADMIN SUSTN FJ Testimonial September Issue 08-11-2011 9:18 AM mz R1 Job Client Product Division Element Live Trim Bleed Pages Folded Size Compliance Copy 24380 HGBF SUSTN ADMIN Testimonial 7 in x 10 in 7.875 in x 10.5 in 8.125 in x 10.75 in 1 pgs N/A N/A Job info AC AAE AE AS MS AD CW CD Prod Mgr Art Buyer Art Mod Rlse Test Rlse Proof Legal Client Approvals Date Time 100% by Printed At Production Info Ad Production Info Prod Mgr Due to Prod Vendor Ad Title Prod # Job Title Shipped By Insertion In Farm Journal Matt Weber TBD Classic Color Bob Little 24380-1 11 ADMIN SUSTN FJ Testimonial Summer Issue September R+K Studio 400 E Diehl Rd, Naperville, IL 60563-1342 P > 630 505 1100 F > 630 505 1109 FINAL MECHANICAL
Transcript of FACT FILE - Harvesting The...
FACT FILE
One wOuld think that after placing in the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) yield contest 14 times in 30 years, a farmer might sit back and rest on his laurels. That is not the case with Bob Little.
“I like to try new things,” says Bob, who farms 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans near Hebron, Ind. That is just as much the case today as it was when he began farming with his dad Verle and older brother Joe in 1980.
No-till was the new tool the Littles looked at to help resolve the soil erosion issues on their family farm. “We suffered from blowing soil on our lighter grounds, and the heavy soils on our rolling hills would just erode away because of the water,” Bob explains. “We had nothing to lose by trying no-till, because we were already losing our topsoil.”
The first couple of years of no-till were difficult, but patience paid off. “By the third year, we really gained ground. The water drained much better, and we started to get better soil texture,” he says.
That is also when the crop yields started to take off and the awards began to roll in. In last year’s NCGA yield contest, Bob claimed first place in his state with a yield of 290.6 bu/ac in the no-till/strip-till/non-irrigated category. He is quick to admit that the farm’s success is shared equally with his wife Kathy, also a multiple-time yield contest winner.
Beyond his yield contest wins, Bob recognizes no-till benefits his bottom line in other ways. He has lowered his fuel costs by at least one-third. “We also have fewer hours using the equipment, which helps reduce wear and tear and maintenance costs,” Bob says.
Using a conservation agriculture system like no-till has given Bob more time to do new things over
the years such as become a certified crop consultant, run a crop insurance business and sell seed. Bob also takes time to read up on the latest conservation agri-culture advancements. Still, Bob somehow finds time to share his knowledge with area farmers looking to learn more about no-till. “Neighbor farmers are the best resources for information,” he says.
Bob continues to explore new things like experi-menting with different cover crops to help build up his soils. “We have tried rye and wheat in the past and had some annual ryegrass and radishes last year,” he says. “This year we are looking at wheat again and trying some sunflowers to help establish a deep root path for next year’s crop.”
Bob admits that he still has to do a little tillage on his river bottom lands, but he is looking at switch-ing those over to a strip-till system. He says the new precision technologies now available can help save money on the number of trips across the field and on input costs.
“GPS and RTK could really push more farmers into trying conservation agriculture, particularly the younger generation who are more open to it,” says Bob.
And that means something coming from a farmer like Bob Little who knows a thing or two about trying new things.
For more on implementing conservation-based production practices such as those used by Bob Little, farmers can con-tact their nearby university Extension office to speak with an expert. Additional resources can be accessed through www.HarvestingThePotential.org.Ph
oto
: Jes
se J
osl
eyn
NAmE Bob little
NAmE oF opErATIoN little Farms
LoCATIoN lake County and Porter County (In)
Crops Corn and soybeans
ACrEs 1,000
soIL TypEs sandy loam, gumbo, muck
FArm orgANIzATIoNs national Corn Growers Association, Indiana Corn Growers Association
24379 11 ADMIN SUSTN FJ_Testmonial_Summer_Issue_July_August_R02
06-28-2011 9:18 AM mz
R2
JobClientProduct Division Element
LiveTrimBleed
PagesFolded Size
Compliance Copy
24379 HGBFSUSTNADMINTestimonial
7 in x 10 in7.875 in x 10.5 in8.125 in x 10.75 in
1 pgsN/A
N/A
Job info
AC AAE AE AS MS ADCWCDProd Mgr Art BuyerArtMod RlseTest Rlse ProofLegalClient
Approvals
Date Time 100%by Printed At
Production Info
Ad Production Info
Prod MgrDue to Prod Vendor
Ad TitleProd # Job Title
Shipped By Insertion In Farm Journal
Matt Weber07-08-11Classic Color
Reaping Rewards24379-111 ADMIN SUSTN FJTestimonial Sum-mer Issue July-AugustR+K Studio
40
0 E
Die
hl R
d, N
ap
erv
ille, IL
60
56
3-1
34
2
P >
63
0 5
05
110
0
F >
63
0 5
05
110
9
FINAL MECHANICAL24379 11 ADMIN SUSTN FJ_Testmonial_Summer_Issue_July_August_R02
06-28-2011 9:18 AM mz
R2
JobClientProduct Division Element
LiveTrimBleed
PagesFolded Size
Compliance Copy
24379 HGBFSUSTNADMINTestimonial
7 in x 10 in7.875 in x 10.5 in8.125 in x 10.75 in
1 pgsN/A
N/A
Job info
AC AAE AE AS MS ADCWCDProd Mgr Art BuyerArtMod RlseTest Rlse ProofLegalClient
Approvals
Date Time 100%by Printed At
Production Info
Ad Production Info
Prod MgrDue to Prod Vendor
Ad TitleProd # Job Title
Shipped By Insertion In Farm Journal
Matt Weber07-08-11Classic Color
Reaping Rewards24379-111 ADMIN SUSTN FJTestimonial Sum-mer Issue July-AugustR+K Studio
40
0 E
Die
hl R
d, N
ap
erv
ille, IL
60
56
3-1
34
2
P >
63
0 5
05
110
0
F >
63
0 5
05
110
9
FINAL MECHANICAL24379 11 ADMIN SUSTN FJ_Testmonial_Summer_Issue_July_August_R02
06-28-2011 9:18 AM mz
R2
JobClientProduct Division Element
LiveTrimBleed
PagesFolded Size
Compliance Copy
24379 HGBFSUSTNADMINTestimonial
7 in x 10 in7.875 in x 10.5 in8.125 in x 10.75 in
1 pgsN/A
N/A
Job info
AC AAE AE AS MS ADCWCDProd Mgr Art BuyerArtMod RlseTest Rlse ProofLegalClient
Approvals
Date Time 100%by Printed At
Production Info
Ad Production Info
Prod MgrDue to Prod Vendor
Ad TitleProd # Job Title
Shipped By Insertion In Farm Journal
Matt Weber07-08-11Classic Color
Reaping Rewards24379-111 ADMIN SUSTN FJTestimonial Sum-mer Issue July-AugustR+K Studio
40
0 E
Die
hl R
d, N
ap
erv
ille, IL
60
56
3-1
34
2
P >
63
0 5
05
110
0
F >
63
0 5
05
110
9
FINAL MECHANICAL24380 11 ADMIN SUSTN FJ Testimonial September Issue
08-11-2011 9:18 AM mz
R1
JobClientProduct Division Element
LiveTrimBleed
PagesFolded Size
Compliance Copy
24380 HGBFSUSTNADMINTestimonial
7 in x 10 in7.875 in x 10.5 in8.125 in x 10.75 in
1 pgsN/A
N/A
Job info
AC AAE AE AS MS ADCWCDProd Mgr Art BuyerArtMod RlseTest Rlse ProofLegalClient
Approvals
Date Time 100%by Printed At
Production Info
Ad Production Info
Prod MgrDue to Prod Vendor
Ad TitleProd # Job Title
Shipped By Insertion In Farm Journal
Matt WeberTBDClassic Color
Bob Little24380-111 ADMIN SUSTN FJTestimonial Summer Issue SeptemberR+K Studio
40
0 E
Die
hl R
d, N
ap
erv
ille, IL
60
56
3-1
34
2
P >
63
0 5
05
110
0
F >
63
0 5
05
110
9
FINAL MECHANICAL
