1.
Rick
Kootstra
Clinton, Ontario

2.
About Kootstra Farms Ltd.
 We farm near Clinton, Ontario in Huron County
 Our operation includes cash cropping as well as livestock with broilers & layers
 We try to stick to a 4 year rotation
 All fields receive manure at least once every three years
 Have been rotational no-till for many years
 Went full strip-till in 2012
 We have been cover cropping for many years, but really ramped it up after 2012

3.
Soil Health

4.
NO Does it blow or flow away? YES
YES Does it allow water to soak in quickly? NO
YES Does it drain? NO
NO Does it crust? YES
YES Does your crop recover most of the
nutrients you apply?
NO
NO Are there areas where plants die or
grow poorly
YES
Is your soil healthy?
Probably
healthy
Probably not
healthy
Source: Andrew McGuire (WSU) & Carley Gasch (NDSU)

5.
COVER CROPS
Every cover crop will provide 3 things
1. Erosion protection
2. Nutrient retention
3. Biological weed control

6.
Cover Crop Biological Benefits
CEREAL RYE FLEABANE SUPPRESSION & CONTROL
RADISH CONTROLS SOYBEAN CYST NEMATODE
OATS ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI
FABA BEANS NITROGEN
BLACK RAPE SEED COMPACTION
AUSTRIAN PEAS NITROGEN & WEED SUPPRESSION
RED CLOVER NITROGEN & WEED SUPPRESSION
WHITE CLOVER NITROGEN & WEED SUPPRESSION

7.
0.00%
1.00%
2.00%
3.00%
4.00%
5.00%
6.00%
7.00%
Field 1 Field 2 Field 3 Field 4
3.80% 3.80% 3.80%
4.90%4.80%
4.40% 4.30%
6.30%
OM % Increase Over Time
2012 2018

8.
Rule #1: Never lose soil
Rule #2: Never forget Rule #1

9.
Cover Crops

10.
Who is your go to guy?
Find your peer group

11.
“
”
“Just as our skin does not like to
be poked, scratched, cut, gouged,
squashed, burned, left cold and
naked, beat up (even with
raindrops) then left to
sunburn…..NEITHER DO OUR SOILS
-Bieber Faerber

12.
Twin Row Wheat Relay

13.
Relay Beans

14.
Strip Till

15.
60 inch corn
Opportunity?

16.
60 inch Corn
 Less input cost
 Cover crop installed and growing
 Can be a companion crop using red & white clover
providing late season nitrogen supply
 L.A.I. – LEAF AREA INDEX

17.
-Loran Steinlage

18.
Drainage & Water
Quality

19.
Wetlands & Swamps

20.
Drainage Innovations
A Huron County Soil & Crop Project

21.
Drainage outlets

22.
“
”
Don’t Wait.
The time will
never be just
right.
-Mark Twain

23.
Thank you!
Rick Kootstra
Clinton, Ontario
@RicksZone