FRANKTON — Conservation efforts are increasing among American farmers, and one of Madison County’s own is being nationally recognized for his efforts for more sustainable production.
Mike Shuter of Frankton’s Shuter Sunset Farms was the 2015 honoree for the National Corn Growers Association’s Good Steward Recognition Program for his leadership in sustainable corn production.
Shuter Sunset Farms, 7400 N. 400W, Frankton, was recognized for its strip-tilling and no-tilling operation.
“It’s something we never really strived to achieve, but it’s an honor that’s come to us in our efforts for conservation tillage,” Shuter said.
No-till farming eliminates plowing by seeding a crop directly under the mulch layer from the previous crop. It helps with soil erosion, conserve moisture and it builds soil structure and health. Strip-tilling injects nutrients and is well suited for poorly drained soils.
Conventional plowing and tillage increases erosion, and it can release significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, making the earth warmer.
Shuter Sunset Farms started no-till farming corn in 1983, before the practice started growing in popularity. Back then, they started because of fuel costs, but they realized it improved the soil health and increased organic matter.
The farm has continued its conservation efforts ever since.
More farmers across the country are starting to adapt, too.
About 35.5 percent of U.S. cropland — about 88 million acres — planted to eight major crops had no tillage operations in 2009, according to a 2010 study by the United States Department of Agriculture.
And according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, 173.1 million acres were farmed with conservation tillage or no-till practices.
Shuter said he’s noticed attitudes about conservation are slowly improving within the agriculture community, but a lot of producers still feel like they’re better off with the older practices.
Some farmers prefer low- and no-till because it reduces soil erosion, improves water quality, increases organic matter and cuts on labor and fuel costs. But the conservation effort also means a higher dependency on chemical herbicides to kill weeds.
The transition to no-till often means more costs upfront for specialized equipment and management adjustments. Conventional tilling can also allow farmers to plant earlier in the year after heavy rain because plowing helps dry out soil.
Some producers see putting in a grass waterway as a negative because it temporarily takes a piece of ground out of production, but Shuter argues it pays off in the long haul.
“If we don’t put those practices in, we’re going to lose even bigger areas of the field due to erosion,” he said.
Shuter Sunset Farms utilizes its 3,000 acreage in a corn-corn-soybean rotation that starts with cover crops seeded on all acres in standing crops before harvest.
The production includes a cattle operation, which is located on less productive and erodible ground to help preserve those resources. Manure from the farm’s cattle and swine facilities is used to replace as much commercial fertilizer as possible, too.
Shuter said his two sons are involved in the farm’s operations, and he has four grandchildren who will likely be involved later on. Improving soil conditions will be vital for the next generation of producers.
“I’ve always had the attitude (of) if we deplete the soil in this country, we’re probably going to lose this country,” he said. “I think that’s a mainstay of what holds this country together, is the agriculture community.
“And maintaining the soil and soil health is a big part of that.”