Name: Andy Linder

Location: Easton, MN

Crops: Corn, Soybeans, Oats, Canning Crops

Livestock: Custom grazed cattle

Acres: 875

Practices: No-till, Vertical-till, Cover Crops, Grazing Cover Crops, Three Crop Rotation

 

Why: Andy started focusing on soil health after seeing what’s happening in the soil at field days on other farms.  He decided that he wanted to try something different rather than investing time and money into tillage and tillage equipment. Now, he sees this way of farming as being more fun, thought provoking, and exciting.
 

Social: Andy farms with his dad, and they partner with a neighbor on equipment They each have their own land, so they can vary management if they disagree. Reducing labor needs and spreading out the workload with a diverse rotation allows Andy more time with his family.
 

Economic: Andy views his profitability on a cropping system basis rather than individual crops. Having the diversity in his rotation helps him out financially by giving him new opportunities. Focusing on soil health has allowed Andy to save on chemical and machinery costs. He also has less labor with reduced tillage. He got rid of the 4x4 tractor and sold heavy tillage equipment. Improved soils have better trafficability which means less time spent pulling equipment out and repairing ruts. He grows a productive crop while spending less on inputs like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, fuel, fungicide, and seed treatment.
 

Environmental: Andy values the way that reduced tillage and cover crops protect against wind and water erosion. Having a living plant in the soil as much as possible helps him to hold on to nutrients that might otherwise be lost to streams and wetlands.