Sustainable Farming
No-Till
SWFF practices no-till and strip till for many reasons. When we no-till, the only operations that go across the field are spraying, planting, harvesting. We strive to apply seed and fertilizer at the same time to be more efficient with our equipment and labor. Reducing tillage practices has cut our fuel consumption considerably while improving yield and soil health.
Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF)
We strive to reduce compaction and increase yields by controlling and limiting the passes through a field. All of our equipment is 40' or multiples of 40'. This allows all of our planting, spraying and harvesting to occur on a 40' traffic pattern. This reduces the amount of compaction throughout the field which results in more even emergence and higher yields. Learn more in our 2013 Newsletter.
Precision Farming Becomes Prescription Farming
Many farmers think 'Precision Farming' is considered using auto steer. We take a step further and implement 'Prescription Farming' Another sustainable farming practice that we implemented is Variable Rate Technology (VRT). We began using a Veris EC Cart to map our soils in the early 2000s. VRT has allowed us to maximize our land's potential by placing fertilizer, seeds, and chemicals where they are needed. Not all soil is created equal-so why treat it equal?
We have the technology to variable our seed and fertilizer rates, but we have to have the equipment capable of completing the task. Blending multiple fertilizers together and broadcasting it across a field is an inefficient use of a valualble resource. We can simultaneously vary the rate of multiple fertilizer sources to achieve precise application rates close to the root zone which results in greater nutrient uptake and higher yields.