Join us as Luke Bergler of Ridgeway, Minnesota, explains how and why he’s growing cover crops with his field corn to extend his grazing season well into the fall. Last year he gained over a month of extra grazing by allowing his herd to graze a lush mix of grasses, clovers, brassicas along with the corn stalks.
The pastures of Luke’s farm have been rotationally grazed for over 10 years and Luke is currently using adaptive grazing management techniques that offer flexibility and create greater pasture diversity. This includes strategically adjusting his grazing densities as well as leaving more forage and residue behind.
Luke is joined by Lance Klessig who works for the Winona County Soil & Water Conservation District as a Resource Specialist. Together they discuss and personally showcase the results of inter-seeding a diverse cover crop mix into 30 and 60 inch corn.
See for yourself, how inter-seeding cover crops can be profitable, dramatically extend the grazing season, while simultaneously improving the health of your soil. By using cover crops and implementing the six soil health principles, Luke’s soils are improving in several measurable ways.
His soils are much better able to infiltrate heavy rains and he has exponentially increased his soils biological activity as measured by the Haney Soil Health test. He’s also noticed improving soil structure and many more earthworms, insects, birds, and other wildlife which are all great indicators of healthier soils. Finally Luke provides an up close look at the seeding equipment of a Gandy Air box and rotary hoe, that he’s successfully using for inter-seeding.
Luke has worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on several projects over the years. The NRCS provided Luke with financial assistance for installing a grazing system including fence and livestock watering components, a grassed waterway and grade stabilization structure. He used the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
The Bergler family are farming regeneratively and building topsoil by following the soil health principles and farming within their context. Luke prioritizes armoring the soil, minimizing disturbance, incorporating livestock grazing, increasing diversity and having live roots 24/7. They have multiple farm enterprises including cattle, hogs, bees, goats, laying hens, corn, soybeans, hay, and cover crops. Luke's daughters also enjoy helping out with raising the laying hens and moving the cattle by horseback.
Luke has also had the privilege of becoming good friends with Gabe Brown, who farms outside of Bismarck, North Dakota. Luke, Lance and a handful of friends spent a June day in 2019 on the Brown’s family ranch that spans 5,000 acres. Networking and attending educational field days along with workshops are critical for those wanting to further journey into soil health. Luke was also attended a Soil Health Academy three day workshop with Lance and good friend, Mike Steinfeldt at Ray Archuleta’s farm in Missouri. Luke definitely values learning, networking with like minded farmers and being willing to think outside the box.
For additional videos on Luke’s journey into soil health and cover cropping check out the following videos:
• Using 60-inch Row Spac...
• WHY 60" Corn? 🌽🌽🌽
• Successful V3 Corn inn...
• Improving Soil Health ...
• Our Soil Health Journe...
#Grazing
#Interseeding
#Covercrops
#Grazingcovercrops
Videography by Dan Balluff.
For more information about the NRCS in Minnesota please visit our KZitem channel at: Minnesota NRCS - KZitem
And website at: www.nrcs.usda.....
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