Our farming operation is primarily corn and beans, but the real focus is on our soil livestock; specifically managing and promoting our soil life herd of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes. Through our conservation practices (reduced tillage) and implementation of a cover crop program, we have observed a significant increase in the health of our soils including reduced weed pressure (fewer pesticides) and erosion (nutrient leaching) coupled with better soil tilth and water holding capacity all of which are a direct result of soil life. Managing our soil life keeps our production economically and environmentally sound and ultimately has led to better than average profit margins.

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Claybrook Acres will continue this journey with soil health as our focal point but also taking the next logical step to increase the “Quality” of our crops. We feel crop quality (nutrient density) is the next major hurdle in cropping systems today, the health of our nation depends on it (from both the farmer and consumer perspective).  Cover crops and conservation practices were step one; step two involves balanced nutritional uptake by our crops to build nutrient-dense food (less susceptible to insect and disease pests) and reducing practices (and products) that compromise the soil livestock herd. We have partnered with Crop Services International out of Michigan to guide us on this path. CSI is recognized for 40 years of “Balancing Minerals and Bioactivating Microbes” to improve soil health and crop quality. What does this mean to our farm- it means utilizing the system we have built and adjusting some of our practices to further promote soil and plant health leading to better crop quality.