Farminar Series Highlights Farmer-led Research

“Soil Health, Silvopasture, and Other Grazing Adaptations” Farminar on June 9

The Ohio Organic Farmer Researcher Network is inviting people to get acquainted with on-farm research this summer through their Farminar series. One of the first farms on the schedule was Constant Springs Farm in Orrville (Wayne County). Our host farmer Matt Falb discussed his various research collaborations on soil health and pasture management, including a current study on establishing a silvopasture system on his farm.

Silvopasture involves the careful integration of trees, forage, and livestock. When done right, the trees provide shade and additional forage for the cattle. The system can also provide additional farm income depending on the tree species used. Falb first learned about the project when he was interviewed for a graduate student project about pasture management, but he had been thinking about silvopasture before then. After listening to a podcast on the topic, he thought this practice might provide heat stress protection for the beef cattle he raises and sells locally.

“I grew up with the mindset of trees being a nuisance,” said Falb. “When I first heard about silvopasture on a podcast, it was a complete paradigm shift.”

After additional reading on the topic, he began to envision other benefits to planting trees in his pastures, but the long-term investment of trees gave him pause. The opportunity to be part of a grant-funded research project provided a way to decrease his level of investment and risk.

Falb selected honey locust trees that will eventually extend his grazing season by providing seedpods for the cattle to eat. He’s thought about adding other tree species that might diversify his farm’s biology and income sources. Other participants had a chance to talk about the different trees they have used and noted differences for cattle compared to sheep and goats, and the need to invest in tree production while the plantings are getting established.

Importance of Farmer Participation 

Falb is one of three farmers participating in a study to track new silvopasture systems over time. Funded by a grant from Organic Valley and a Warner Grant for Sustainable Agriculture from The Ohio State University, researchers will collect and analyze data on forage and soil health. Several project collaborators were at the June 9 field day to participate in the discussion.

“I’m delighted that we’re not only doing research with Matt, but that he’s opening up his farm for this field day,” says project co-leader Emma Matcham, OSU State Specialist in Forage Agronomy. “Farmers enjoy hearing from other farmers. This is how folks make big decisions.”

She feels the project is especially timely since the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has changed their Silvopasture policies in the last two years, making it easier for landowners who participate in other NRCS programs to add silvopasture areas to their farm. Others present, including NRCS state grazing specialist Megan Burgess, discussed available programs to assist with silvopasture costs, such as Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) or the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

Matcham is excited to see how silvopasture could help keep livestock healthier by protecting them from heat stress. But her primary goal for the research project is to track when and how the increasing shade impacts forage production, and how that will impact stocking rate decisions for farmers.

Falb has questions too on the trade-offs between shade benefits and a possible decrease in forage quality. But he’s also very interested in improving soil health by incorporating trees.

Soil Health Questions & Answers

Falb has participated in other soil health projects which were also discussed at the event with help from Ohio State ATI instructor Ryan Haden, who has worked with Matt Falb on multiple research projects over the year. Together they shared take-away lessons from two recent projects that measured soil health with different management practices. Falb was able to learn, through the testing provided by a previous Ohio State Warner grant, that his feedstock to support microbial life was too low. He is now considering changes to his forage and cover crop mixes to bring his Carbon to Nitrogen ratio closer to the recommended balance. (See Resources at the end of the article).

Participants chimed in with questions and experience about the different soil tests available and how those may or may not relate to actual changes in productivity and soil health. Falb called out a recent soil health webinar planned by Ohio State soil fertility specialist Manbir Rakkar that helped him think more about the soil biome.

Rakkar, who was also at the event, noted that we are only beginning to understand the biome and that exciting new tests and tools are emerging to help us understand how these concepts can better be incorporated into production. Audience conversation focused on reexamining old practices with these new tools.