TRASCRIZIONE 🔗
1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,880
Welcome to Regenerative Reflections, a podcast produced in partnership with the University
2
00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:15,440
of Missouri Extension.
3
00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:20,800
I'm Mikayla Voris, your host from the MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture.
4
00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:25,480
Our mission is to provide farmers with the research, resources, and connections to implement
5
00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:29,760
practices that improve soil health, crop yield, and livestock systems.
6
00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,920
Today we'll hear from Garrett Ryckoff, a farmer involved with our Cover Crop Incentive
7
00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:35,280
Payment Program.
8
00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:39,580
We have four cover crop programs part of the Missouri Climate Resilient Crops and Livestock
9
00:00:39,580 --> 00:00:42,160
Project, or CIRCL for short.
10
00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:46,840
The CIRCL project seeks to empower farmers and producers to add or maintain regenerative
11
00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,160
practices on their operations.
12
00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:53,480
Garrett believes the biological diversity that comes from some regenerative agricultural
13
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:55,600
practices creates better soils.
14
00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:03,720
Let's hear from him now.
15
00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,880
I am at GR Farms, LLC right now with Garrett Ryckoff.
16
00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,200
Thank you so much, Garrett, for being on the podcast.
17
00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:12,200
You're welcome.
18
00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,840
It's good to be here and have a chat about the CIRCL project.
19
00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:19,120
So to start off, I just wanted to ask you, how did you first come in contact with the
20
00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:21,400
Center for Regenerative Agriculture?
21
00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:29,480
So I think my first touch was probably just a generic USDA email that they kind of send,
22
00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,440
I think, monthly updates.
23
00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:37,520
And I was perusing some of the headlines, and the CIRCL project was one that came to
24
00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,520
mind or popped up, I guess.
25
00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:45,080
And so I dove in and read more, and I'm familiar with working with the University of Extension.
26
00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:48,520
And so I decided, well, if they can help me with a cover crop program, I need to learn
27
00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:49,520
a little more.
28
00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,520
And so it just really through that USDA email blitz.
29
00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:57,280
Can I ask about the regenerative agricultural practices that you do on your farm?
30
00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:01,960
I know that you do the cover crop program with the Missouri CIRCL project.
31
00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,600
Do you do any other regenerative practices, or is that the only one?
32
00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,720
So we've been exclusively no-till for a generation now.
33
00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:16,920
I would say my dad incorporated no-till into his operation in the mid-80s, and just really
34
00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:22,640
only tilling areas on the farm where we've done either earthwork or there's some erosion
35
00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:24,620
that we need to remedy.
36
00:02:24,620 --> 00:02:28,420
So by far, we're exclusively no-till.
37
00:02:28,420 --> 00:02:33,980
And then in the last seven years, we've really started to work on intensely soil sampling
38
00:02:33,980 --> 00:02:37,860
and managing our fields fertility-wise by zone.
39
00:02:37,860 --> 00:02:44,320
And that's allowed me then to learn to split apply nitrogen, really reduce phosphorus and
40
00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:52,280
potash use through intensively managing and then subsidizing things with manure.
41
00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:58,560
And then lately we've added a lot of just-in-time, right rate, right time type fertility on our
42
00:02:58,560 --> 00:02:59,560
planter.
43
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:06,080
And then I've had several landlords who incorporate livestock on their operations, have had cover
44
00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,600
crops of various species over the years.
45
00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:13,400
And I've worked with them farming their land and things have worked really well as far
46
00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,520
as the agronomic side, which is my, that's my gig.
47
00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,040
But on our farm, we're exclusively row crop.
48
00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:25,360
I really don't have any livestock to be able to mix into our row crop fields.
49
00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:31,720
And so a lot of my cover crop, I guess, previous notions have been through those landlords.
50
00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:38,200
And so this year I incorporated cereal rye broadcast after fall plant or fall harvest
51
00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,760
on quite a few of my acres.
52
00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:42,660
And it's been a good experience.
53
00:03:42,660 --> 00:03:46,520
What are the benefits that you're seeing of having multiple regenerative agricultural
54
00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,680
practices on your farm?
55
00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:56,000
So I'd say, you know, in the short run here, the overarching benefit is just reduced erosion.
56
00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:00,680
All our fields mostly are all terraced and so erosion has not been a major problem.
57
00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,800
But with a lot of these rains that we've been getting, seems like in the last five years
58
00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:09,320
when it does rain, it rains larger amounts and quicker.
59
00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,440
And that just lends itself perfectly to, you know, something to shield the ground from
60
00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,080
erosion.
61
00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,960
And so erosion is probably the number one thing.
62
00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:25,040
Secondly, I definitely see an advantage in weed control where we have cover crops, the
63
00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:29,600
weeds, especially the winter annuals, and some of
Load full transcript
the early generating summer annuals
64
00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,200
are reduced.
65
00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:37,860
I haven't gotten to the point where I'm literally reducing my herbicide rates or herbicide usage
66
00:04:37,860 --> 00:04:39,240
really yet.
67
00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:44,320
But I can totally see that coming as I learn more and we can incorporate this more on a
68
00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:49,680
wide scale basis, I can see the reduction of herbicide usage for sure.
69
00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:56,880
So really, you know, soil erosion, weed control, and just hopefully we see some general soil
70
00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:57,880
tilth.
71
00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,040
Those are the main benefits I think I'm seeing right away.
72
00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,520
What exactly does regenerative agriculture mean to you?
73
00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:05,660
We've kind of been tossing this term around a lot.
74
00:05:05,660 --> 00:05:09,500
It doesn't really have a solid definition, so it means something different to everybody.
75
00:05:09,500 --> 00:05:11,500
Is there a definition that you like to work with?
76
00:05:11,500 --> 00:05:14,120
It's a really good question.
77
00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:21,100
You know, it's regenerative and sustainable and, you know, a lot of these are emotional
78
00:05:21,100 --> 00:05:23,940
words, frankly.
79
00:05:23,940 --> 00:05:29,980
When we say the word regenerative, it does mean something different to me than sustainable.
80
00:05:29,980 --> 00:05:34,040
Because I would like to think that we're all sustainable because if we're not, then we're
81
00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:41,300
not sustainable and I don't think any of us deserve to be here if we're not on a number
82
00:05:41,300 --> 00:05:42,300
of fronts.
83
00:05:42,300 --> 00:05:48,840
But regenerative does hit home to me in that we are using the things that we're putting
84
00:05:48,840 --> 00:05:51,700
on our soil to create something else.
85
00:05:51,700 --> 00:05:53,740
You know, we're regenerating something.
86
00:05:53,740 --> 00:06:00,180
And so when we plant a seed, that seed generates roots and we terminate that root either through
87
00:06:00,180 --> 00:06:05,460
chemical means or mechanical or just natural maturing.
88
00:06:05,460 --> 00:06:07,300
What does that root then do for us?
89
00:06:07,300 --> 00:06:08,620
Does it bring up fertility?
90
00:06:08,620 --> 00:06:10,020
Does it create organic matter?
91
00:06:10,020 --> 00:06:14,300
Does it create a root pathway for the next crop?
92
00:06:14,300 --> 00:06:18,540
Does it create biological diversity where we're increasing our microbes?
93
00:06:18,540 --> 00:06:23,480
I think the answer to most cover crops, the answer is yes to all those.
94
00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:31,920
And so what are we doing to our fields today to substantiate what we're going to do next?
95
00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:38,920
And I think if we farmers have that idea in everything we put down, we then fall under
96
00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:45,720
the definition of regenerative because we're trying to use one domino to fall to hit the
97
00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:51,400
next domino to then just create that vicious cycle of great crop production.
98
00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:58,280
And unfortunately, I think for a while, years ago, maybe generations ago, we got into a
99
00:06:58,280 --> 00:07:01,160
rut of monoculture.
100
00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:06,840
And now I think society and the ag production community is getting to the point where we
101
00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:11,120
need to mix that up a little bit, whether that be from manure application or grazing
102
00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:12,920
of livestock.
103
00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:18,740
We need to mix that biological diversity up a bit to keep that soil churning and burning
104
00:07:18,740 --> 00:07:22,280
from a microbe and a micro-organic standpoint.
105
00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:29,020
So to kind of wrap this up, let's say that there was a farmer who has heard of regenerative
106
00:07:29,020 --> 00:07:33,720
practices but has never done them before and is maybe on the fence.
107
00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:35,120
What would you say to that person?
108
00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,860
Well, I would say start small.
109
00:07:38,860 --> 00:07:43,600
Find a field that's, I think every farmer kind of has a pet field, whether it be the
110
00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:48,560
field behind the house or one that's been in the family a long time, or you might operate
111
00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:53,880
a field that is owned by a landlord who likes to do new and different and wild things.
112
00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:59,680
Maybe pick that pet field, if you will, and just give it a shot.
113
00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:04,720
You'll really never know how any of these programs work for you until you do them yourself.
114
00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:09,720
Your soils, your farming practices, your management style is unique to you.
115
00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:15,980
And there's no one program that's going to work exactly like it says until you try it
116
00:08:15,980 --> 00:08:16,980
on your farm.
117
00:08:16,980 --> 00:08:18,360
You're never really going to know.
118
00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:23,440
But I think what you're able to gain by learning, it will help you for the future.
119
00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:29,040
Because part of these regenerative ag processes, in my mind, I'm getting my feet wet for what's
120
00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:31,120
coming in the future.
121
00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:37,600
You can't pick up an ag publication these days without seeing the newest, latest, greatest
122
00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:42,000
carbon trading program, sequestering carbon.
123
00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:48,640
Every co-op and every grain elevator, it seems at this point, and even some individual companies
124
00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:54,440
have programs available for growers to sequester carbon or carbon trading.
125
00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:59,640
And I do believe that no matter what your environmental aspect is, climate change or
126
00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:04,040
not, these programs are here to stay in some form or fashion.
127
00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:08,540
And I truly believe that cover crops and any type of regenerative practice, whether it
128
00:09:08,540 --> 00:09:17,220
be split applying fertilizer, grazing, different cover crops are going to be a piece, a heavy
129
00:09:17,220 --> 00:09:19,040
piece to that puzzle.
130
00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:23,760
So the greater we have experiences with these, the better you're going to be able to play
131
00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:28,240
in that circle, maybe 10 years from now, five years from now.
132
00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:36,260
Because I do believe those programs will be an economic gain for our farms and our farmers.
133
00:09:36,260 --> 00:09:40,760
And so understanding how it works before they're mainstream should give you a leg up when the
134
00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:41,760
time comes.
135
00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,500
So it's, it's really a dip your toe in the water.
136
00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:48,220
So when it's time to swim, you kind of have an idea of what you're getting into.
137
00:09:48,220 --> 00:09:51,820
A big thank you to Garrett for letting me come out to his farm and chat again.
138
00:09:51,820 --> 00:09:57,280
I'm Mikayla Voris, your host from the University of Missouri's Center for Regenerative Agriculture.
139
00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:01,600
If you have questions, comments, or any thoughts on this podcast, let us know by visiting our
140
00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:06,360
website at cra.missouri.edu and go to the podcast page.
141
00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:10,660
You can also find us on social media at MU Regen Act.
142
00:10:10,660 --> 00:10:14,600
The music you're hearing is called Back to the Woods by Jason Shaw, and we snagged it
143
00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,540
from the Free Music Archive.
144
00:10:16,540 --> 00:10:20,160
This podcast is created in partnership with MU Extension.
145
00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,320
Watch out for another regenerative reflection, and we'll see you next time.
146
00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:23,820
Music.
147
00:10:23,820 --> 00:10:33,820
Music.