Download - FACT FILE - Harvesting The Potentialharvestingthepotential.org/wp-content/uploads/24380-11-ADMIN-SUSTN-FJ... · FACT FILE One wOuld think that after placing in the National Corn Growers

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

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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

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