2018 Farm Outlook

2018 Logan County Farm Outlook Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS Oct. 25, 2018 Page 33 crop rotation began. Crop rotation is the intentional planting of growing different types of crops in the same area in sequenced seasons. It also requires not planting anything at all in a given season to allow the land to rejuvenate. Logan County farmers have returned to a program of crop rotation. Keith Jones reports that on the acreage the Vernon Klockenga family farms they usually rotate two years of corn and one year of beans to bring production up and disease down. Jones said, “It seems to be what works best.” Crop rotation is not just for farmers. Home gardeners practicing crop rotation tend to find benefits of rotating crops including higher yield of vegetables and fewer complications from insect pests and diseases. This is occasionally difficult because of the limitations of backyard space, so some gardeners choose container gardening changing the soil at the end of each growing season. There are risks with crop rotation: improper execution of a crop can cause more harm than good by taking time and money to repair the damage of nutrient build up. Also rotating crops does not allow a farmer to become an expert on a single type of crop. However, practice of crop rotation is can improve yields, increase soil nutrients, reduce soil erosion, limit pests and diseases, and maintain weed control. Crop rotation is positive for farmers and home gardeners, alike! References Diversity study conducted in Iowa from 2003 – 2011: Increasing cropping system diversity balances productivity, profitability, and environmental health”