Spotlight Series
Shared Learnings Drive Sustainable Outcomes on a West Texas Farm
When fifth-generation farmer Kelly Kettner stood up his own operation in Muleshoe, West Texas, his biggest opponent was wind. “The main reason I got started with cover crops was to combat wind erosion,” says Kelly. “During planting time here, we get a lot of wind—and a big wind will come up with sand that kills your seedlings.” To combat these winds and improve the health of his soil, Kelly gradually began turning to conservation practices like cover crops and no-till systems on his 4,000 acre operation, where he grows corn, cotton and wheat.
“Cover crops provide that critical protection from the wind, and the further I got along into using these practices, I started realizing some of the moisture conservation benefits that cover crop/no-tillage provide," explains Kelly. “The microbes in our soils are becoming way more active, so they’re helping us to cycle nutrients faster. That means I’ve been able to decrease my chemical and fertilizer usage, which saves money. But the biggest thing is water savings—I’m able to grow crops on less water than I ever could fifteen years ago.”
One of Kelly’s key partners in improving the sustainability of his operation is Texas A&M Agrilife Research, where Kelly has worked with trusted advisers to dive deeper into conservation practices and data analysis. “I’ve had the opportunity to sit with staff from Texas A&M and walk through an analysis of my farm in the Fieldprint Platform—and the process really gets you thinking” says Kelly, who has used the Platform for two years to explore how his management decisions impact sustainability outcomes on his farm and identify areas for continuous improvement. The Platform provides an analysis tool for farmers to learn from their management decisions and identify areas for continuous improvement.
Learning from your management decisions—and often from your management mistakes—is key for Kelly. “There’s no manual for farmers, so it’s not like we have a handbook that says “do this and not that,” says Kelly. “ A lot of the things we learn come from making mistakes, or by having friends you can call who are doing the same thing and can share their experiences. A sustainable farming system can throw curveballs, and may take a different style of management than a conventional system. You have to be able to learn from your mistakes and change your strategy.”
Kelly Kettner
5th Generation Farmer
Muleshoe, Texas
"There’s no manual for farmers. A sustainable farming system can throw curveballs, and may take a different style of management than a conventional system. You have to be able to learn from your mistakes and change your strategy.”
Kelly Kettner
5th Generation Farmer
Muleshoe, TX
