Leaving a Lasting Legacy of Stewardship by Protecting Soil and Water
Continuing the agricultural legacy that has been passed down in his family for four generations, Tim Smith grows corn and soybeans on his 853-acre family farm in Eagle Grove, Iowa. Tim is committed to protecting this farming legacy by focusing on preserving what he calls his farm’s greatest resources—its soil and water—for generations to come.
“I live on the farm I grew up on, which my great-great uncle bought in 1881. This land has been in my family for more than 135 years. When reflecting on this history, I can’t help but think about what the farm is going to be like in another 100+ years,” shared Tim. “In Iowa, the soil is the legacy, it is what we all depend on. So, preserving and building healthy soil is what my goals have been.”
Tim’s focus on protecting his farm’s soil and water resources led him to employ innovative conservation practices. Before implementing these conservation practices, Tim established a baseline to which he could compare the results against additional practices.
Through his participation in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Mississippi River Basin Initiative and the Boone River Fieldprint® Project, he discovered the benefits of reduced tillage practices and fall cover crops, which helped reduce his impact on the soil, improve water quality, and create wildlife habitat. His no-till system also allowed him to reduce energy consumption and field time. Tim uses the Fieldprint® Platform to better understand the impact of his farm management decisions.
“The Fieldprint® Platform relates that the energy use is not just the diesel I used to put in my crop. It also relates to the energy footprint of the herbicides, fertilizers and other inputs that I use,” explained Tim.
Tim Smith
4th Generation Farmer
Eagle Grove, Iowa
“It allows you to visualize impacts, compare “what if” scenarios, and measure your farm’s conservation efforts in comparison to others,” shared Tim. “The beauty of the Fieldprint® Platform is how it shows us how you can quantify the management changes you are considering.”
For instance, Tim was able to quantify the benefits of using cover crops in combination with other soil conservation practices to create more resilient soil conditions and mitigate soil loss by studying their impact in the Fieldprint Platform. Through his continued use of cover crops over the past seven years, the benefits are becoming apparent: improved soil health, weed suppression, and reduced soil temperatures.
“The economy of Iowa is built upon the health of its soil. We need to ensure that farmers and landowners have the resources and tools necessary to continue to maintain and enhance their soil quality,” emphasized Tim. “The land is pretty flat here in north central Iowa, and we have had years when we have had excessive amounts of rainfall in short amounts of time, which takes a huge toll on soil. Coupling cover crops with other practices, like strip tillage and no-till, multiplies the benefits of these practices, helping mitigate soil loss.”
Nutrient management is critical for Iowa farmers as they work alongside their peers throughout the Mississippi River Basin to reduce the size, severity and duration of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. Through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Mississippi River Basin Initiative, Tim received technical and financial assistance to install a wood chip bioreactor, which allows him to monitor the nitrate levels of the tile water coming out of his field and filter out the nitrates.
“Since incorporating cover crops my nitrate levels have gone down significantly,” noted Tim.
In addition to cover crops, Tim also developed a nutrient management plan for his fields and utilizes grid sampling to determine where nutrient application is needed most. Utilizing the results from this sampling, he reduced his nitrogen application rates by employing a side-dress application system to apply the critical nutrients to the plants using the right fertilizer source, at the right rate, at the right time, with the right placement.
To control runoff and prevent soil erosion into nearby streams, Tim strategically placed prairie strips in areas across the contour of the field. In these prairie strips, he seeded a multitude of native grasses and forbs creating upland game bird habitat. Graduate students from Iowa State University are monitoring the nesting habitats of these prairie strips, studying the diversity of bird species and other wildlife. These studies show a positive correlation between plant and bird diversity, particularly for the ring neck pheasant—a species which is on its way to recovery due to increased forage and habitat.
Tim has found an important connection with supply chain companies and consumers through his involvement in the Boone River Fieldprint® Project. Finding the opportunity to share his sustainability story through the project, he hosted a field day on his farm, welcoming representatives from Cargill, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa State University Extension, The Coca-Cola Company, The Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Walmart, and Wright Soil and Water Conservation District.
“Consumers want a connection with the land. That direct connection has disappeared and farmers need to reestablish it,” shared Tim. “With nearly all food companies making sustainability commitments and consumers asking more questions about sustainability, we have to realize that the sustainability train has left the station, and farmers better be on board.”
“With nearly all food companies making sustainability commitments and consumers asking more questions about sustainability, we have to realize that the sustainability train has left the station, and farmers better be on board.”
Tim Smith
4th Generation Farmer
Eagle Grove, Iowa
Read Other Farmer Spotlights: