Often referred to as the Book of Wisdom, the Old Testament book of Proverbs provides a Biblical guide to living a life of abundance and virtue. Proverbs tells us to seek out wise advisors, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” Proverbs 19:20 (EVC).
Recently, two of EEN’s wise farm advisors were asked about the benefits of growing cover crops on their farms during this past spring’s wet weather. Agriculture leader, Ray Gaesser, who farms 5,000 acres with his son near Corning, IA said that because growing cover crops nurtures resilience in the soil he was able to plant soybeans when his conventional tillage neighbors could not. To understand the wisdom of growing cover crops to diminish the impact of too much rain he suggests reviewing the Annual Report of the 2019-2020 National Cover Crop Survey. It surveyed 1,172 farmers nationwide following the wet year of 2019.
Farming 7,000 acres near Luverne, MN, Shawn Feikema, who farms with his wife Becky, says that managing cropland with cover crops and conservation tillage provides several benefits. For example, he says that cover crops limit soil erosion during heavy rains and flooding. He goes on to say that the cover crop of winter rye enhances soil drying for spring planting by pulling water out of the soil. This cover crop’s fibrous root system supports heavy farm equipment that reduces the impact of soil compaction. Soil compaction decreases crop yields. Shawn and Becky Feikema are featured in the award-winning documentary, From the Heartland.
God’s gift of wise advisors like Ray Gaesser and Shawn and Becky Feikema, can guide the development of a resilient agriculture system that cares for creation, sustains national food security, feeds a hungry world, increases farm & ranch profitability, and revitalizes rural communities during a future of more intense and frequent extreme weather.
Ray, Shawn, and Becky represent hundreds of Christian men and women who are inspired by faith to listen to wise advice as they move toward the adoption of best practices for improving soil health, reducing soil and water erosion, and enhancing biodiversity. Financial incentives and long-term dedicated technical advice will provide the support needed for more farmers and ranchers to gain the confidence to use conservation tillage and grow cover crops.
