Spotlight Series
A Trusted Adviser Uses Farm Case Studies to Advance Soil Health Management in New York
“What I find working with soil health is every farm and each individual field has their own needs and resources available,” reflects Aaron Ristow. “It’s a little bit of an art and a science to address those concerns.”
With a background in soil health and nearly 20 years in the field, Aaron Ristow joined American Farmland Trust (AFT) in 2018 with a goal to continue his career’s work of identifying solutions for farmers facing unique problems on their operations. Ristow leads the Genesee River Watershed Demo Farm Network, established by AFT in collaboration with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), and the New York Farm Viability Institute, partnering with 11 farm operations to support the adoption of regenerative farming practices in New York’s Genesee River Watershed.
Through the Demo Farm Network, Ristow works with farmers to increase knowledge about on-farm conservation systems that build soil health and benefit water quality. Identifying farms with a history of incorporating soil conservation practices, Ristow takes a scientific and historical approach to evaluating the impact of no-tillage methods, cover crops, adaptive nutrient management and other soil management methods on a farm’s viability.
He then works to build relationships with participating farmers while collecting field and cost data on their soil health management systems to quantify the economic and environmental impacts of these practices.
“Aaron has not only been invaluable in showcasing the conservation practices that we are using in the Genesee Watershed – he has helped us really put into perspective how these practices help us environmentally and financially,” says Jay Swede of Gary Swede Farms LLC, a participating farm in the Network.
To demonstrate the economic benefits of on-farm conservation practices that build soil health, support a farm’s economic viability and sustain the surrounding environment, Ristow has published four economic case studies on farms within the Network. “Every single one of them has shown a profit,” explains Ristow. “Every single one of them has either maintained or improved yields.”
Ristow uses the promising results of these case studies to facilitate farmer-to-farmer discussions and provide learning opportunities for farmers and agricultural service providers to understand the benefits of incorporating soil conservation practices on their fields. “We are showing that you can get economic benefits right away,” says Ristow. In partnership with USDA NRCS and soil and water conservation districts, he organizes local and regional outreach events to share the case study data, answer questions and receive feedback from farmers in the surrounding area.
“We know how these practices are affecting our operations, but he has really helped put a number to it. With his work, myself and many others truly have a greater understanding of different ways to improve on what we do as producers,” expands farmer Jay Swede.
Aaron Ristow
Ag Stewardship Program Manager
Ithaca, New York
"Aaron has not only been invaluable in showcasing the conservation practices that we are using in the Genesee Watershed – he has helped us really put into perspective how these practices help us environmentally and financially."
Jay Swede
Gary Swede Farms LLC
Pavilion, New York
With Ristow’s facilitation, farmers in the Network are sharing their sustainability journeys with growers who may be more hesitant to adopting new, soil regenerative practices on their operation. “They are willing to speak, often publicly, to their peers about their successes and failures,” shares Ristow. “I do encourage them to really communicate their experience, and they are all very good at that.”
By developing strong relationships with farmers and providing financial evidence that sustainable changes may not necessarily hurt a farmer’s bottom line, AFT advisers like Ristow are working to expand opportunities for more farmers to begin incorporating healthy soil management practices on their fields.
“As a person in my position, you really do need to be a good listener – a farmer will tell you what is going to work for them,” says Ristow.
Ristow’s influence doesn’t stop with farmers. In 2018, he led AFT’s launch of the Practical Soil Health Specialist Program, a multi-year professional development program for soil health advisers across New York. By establishing a network of 17 agricultural service professionals, the program supported and educated farmers to improve soil health on their land, collectively reaching 354 farmers operating on over 87,000 acres of farmland.
“It does take a support network – for the farmers, for us, for everyone involved – to really lift farmers up and to support them. It is a team effort,” shares Ristow. “We do need to rely on other people to make this patchwork of support work for people.”
By working with peers and partners, Ristow continues to support sustainability leaders and encourage the adoption of soil health management systems on farms throughout New York’s Genesee River Watershed with the goal of building soil organic matter, reducing nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, and optimizing the cascading positive effects on a range of soil properties, including enhancing adaptation to extreme weather events.
"“It does take a support network – for the farmers, for us, for everyone involved – to really lift farmers up and to support them. It is a team effort."
Aaron Ristow
Ag. Stewardship Program Manager
Ithaca, New York
