In the world of farming, tradition often dictates practice. 

But for Erik Fisher, a Delaware County farmer, breaking away from convention to embrace conservation practices was the key to unlocking the full potential of his land. Through trial, error, and persistence, Erik discovered the transformative power of cover crops, turning a simple experiment into a long-term commitment that is improving soil health, reducing erosion, and changing the way he farms.

A rainy beginning

About ten years ago, a particularly wet spring prevented many Indiana farmers from planting their cash crops before the insurable deadline. Typically, farmers in this situation are left with two bad options—plant late and take your risks with an uninsured crop and what would likely be reduced yields or leave the field bare and take the insurance payout.

But Erik and his father had a third option, thanks to an opportunity from Ball Brothers Foundation, which granted the Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District funding to provide farmers cost-share for planting cover crops.

Erik was worried about leaving his fields exposed and vulnerable. Furthermore, he was interested in preventing erosion and improving soil health. So, with help from the foundation, he decided to experiment with planting oats and radishes as his first cover crop mix.

Oats and radishes cover the ground, absorb water and reduce runoff. And radishes have the added benefit of breaking up compacted soils, making fields more productive during the next growing season. 

The oats provided winter-kill benefits, but the radishes were another story. 

“That's a love-hate thing,” he said. “You like what they're doing, but come February and March, you better hope your neighbors like you because they're not going to be happy with you with how that smells.”

Lessons learned 

Despite the challenges, the initial experience planted a seed for further experimentation.

However, Erik didn’t immediately continue with cover crops, as he took time to analyze the results. Eventually, he and his father invested in a Great Plains 30-foot planter and shifted from oats and radishes to cereal rye instead, which they hoped would be a better fit for their soil conditions.

The shift to cereal rye was significant, as it offered better erosion control compared to oats, which disappeared come spring due to winter-kill.

“We planted about 250 acres of cereal rye in 2017,” Erik explained. “Our biggest issue is erosion. So with the oats gone, it didn’t do anything for erosion control for us.”

Discovering what works: The benefits of green planting

Through continued experimentation, Erik learned an important lesson about the timing of terminating cover crops. Initially, they sprayed and terminated the cereal rye early, before cash crop planting. But heavy spring rains turned those now-barren fields into mud, killing the planted seeds for the cash crops.

“The stuff that we sprayed and terminated early, we actually had to replant those acres,” he said. "The first rains hit, it just turned into mud. It killed the seeds. So I learned a lesson there.”

From then on, Erik and his father adjusted their approach, planting directly into green, living cover crops and terminating those cover crops later. The results were promising, leading them to expand their acreage and further refine their system.

Scaling up

By 2019, Erik had taken his cover crop commitment to the next level, enrolling in the NRCS EQIP program, which provided cost-share assistance to implement conservation practices on a larger scale.

“We were able to put a lot of acres into the EQIP program, and that's when we really stepped up our commitment,” Erik shared. “This is our first year outside of all the cost-share programs, and we're still here and we're still doing it.”

Now, all of Erik's acres are in cover crops, an achievement that reflects his dedication to soil health and long-term sustainability. 

Furthermore,  Erik invested in a twin-row planter and switched to planting cover crops in twin rows so that his corn has more room and sunlight for emergence. This planter also can cover more acres per hour as well as acres per fill, enhancing fall planting efficiency in an already hectic harvest timeframe.

Beyond erosion control

Initially, erosion control was Erik's primary motivation for trying cover crops, but over time, he has discovered a range of additional benefits. 

The increased organic matter in his fields has improved soil structure and water infiltration, while the residue from cover crops has helped suppress weeds.

“I usually have to go out and find the gullies, try to smooth them out so we can at least cross them with the planter,” he explained. “There were no gullies in those traditional spots. The residue, the additional residue and the additional root structure from the previous year's covers were enough to sustain and hold that soil where we wanted it.”

Advice for other farmers: Start small, stay committed

Erik’s story is one of perseverance and adaptation. His advice to other farmers considering cover crops is to start small and be patient with the learning curve.

“Sometimes we get lucky, and sometimes we don’t. But you kind of have to stay committed to doing it,” he said.

By embracing innovation and being willing to adjust practices based on real-world results, Erik Fisher has built a system that not only works for his operation but also benefits the environment. 

His journey serves as an inspiration for farmers looking to make conservation practices a lasting part of their farm management.

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For more information on how cover crops can benefit your farm, reach out to the Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District. Their team can provide guidance, resources, and support to help you implement conservation practices that work for your land and your bottom line.