Aligning Sustainability with Profitability
Since 1881, Dirk Rice's family has cultivated their farm in Philo, Illinois, roughly 100 miles northeast from the state's capital. Continuing the conservation legacy of his forefathers, Dirk manages the farm with his son Matt, the sixth generation to steward the land. Today Rice Farms manages 2,000 acres of corn, soybeans, and wheat with a focus on maximizing production with both profitability and conservation in mind.
"My goal every day is to make my land better than it was the year before, so it can be the heart of a healthy, profitable business for generations to come," states Dirk.
Rice Farms began their journey of continuous improvement in the 1960's when Dirk's dad used contour farming. When Dirk returned to the farm in 1985 his dad and he took up the mantle of conservation when they began working with no-till. In 2018, all corn fields will be planted using strip till and every soybean field will be preceded by cover crop. He also uses real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS to control traffic patterns to minimize soil compaction and yield loss.
"When I hear the word sustainability, I think of profitability," related Dirk. "My land is the most important input, and I try to make every trip across the field, every dollar spent on inputs, give back more than it costs me."
Dirk Rice
5th Generation Farmer
Philo, Illinois
Dirk's focus on closely evaluating cost is not strictly limited to economics as he looks to manage his farm's number one fixed asset: the health of his soils. He is building soil structure to improve the water and nutrient use efficiency. Dirk also uses minimal tillage practices combined with cover crops and seeks to minimize trips across the field to improve soil health and limit compaction. The next step in Rice Farms' sustainability journey is to further improve soil health with the incorporation of livestock. Matt uses the cover crop as a feed source for his cow-calf operation.
"As I worked with the Fieldprint Calculator, it became obvious that my goals for how I want to farm align very closely with the parameters used by Field to Market to reach their definition of sustainability," stated Dirk.
Dirk is currently participating in his second Fieldprint Project through the Precision Conservation Management program (PCM), led by the Illinois Corn Growers Association. Field to Market is a key sustainability partner in PCM. The purpose of PCM is three-fold:
"I would hope that others would see the Fieldprint® Calculator as a tool to show them how some simple, easy to implement changes in the way they are farming can make their farm not only more sustainable but more profitable."
Dirk Rice
5th Generation Farmer
Philo, Illinois
Dirk emphasizes the importance of farmers working alongside the supply chain to demonstrate to consumers that their food is grown in a sustainable, responsible manner. He explains that farmers are an important part of the message because they are both consumers and producers. Each farmer is trying to continue a way of life that, for many, has sustained their families for generations.
"Knowing that our food is safe is every bit as important to farmers and their families as it is to any food consumer," relates Dirk.
By incorporating sustainable farming practices and management decisions into everyday farm operations, he is working to ensure that his family farm will continue to be productive.
"We will have the chance to continue doing what we love for another generation, hopefully for many generations to come," he shares.
Dirk seized the opportunity last year to attend a conference for grain buyers throughout southeast Asia. During this visit, he recognized the importance of sustainability globally. This experience allowed him to understand why the companies that use grain to manufacture products that circumnavigate the world see it as an important issue because buyers across the globe are asking if U.S. grains are raised in a sustainable manner.
"These buyers and brands are my customers, my consumers," conveys Dirk. "It would be foolish to ignore the concerns of my customers, no matter how far downstream they seem to be from me."
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