Minnesota pig farmer Randy Spronk knows consumers have questions and doubts when it comes to modern pork production practices. He can quickly put those fears at ease when a consumer visits his farm for a tour and learns more about what they are doing on the farm.
“Many consumers just don’t know what we do,” Spronk says. “Anytime we explain what we’re doing here on the farm, it adds a comfort level, especially when they see what we’re doing with manure application and the science and technology we’re using.”
He has collected data for 30 years core sampling manure pits. Before he goes into a field and begins spreading manure, he knows exactly what the manure’s nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and percent solids are. Then, he programs the appropriate manure application rate in and the flow meter adjusts to apply that accurate amount on the field.
“It’s amazing how technology and third-party providers have given us the accuracy we need to grow crops better,” Spronk says.
Opportunity to Benchmark
Data is the proof, he explains. It’s the proof that farmers are continually improving upon how they produce food.
Capturing data allows producers to benchmark against each other, to figure out what areas need improvement and learn from the experiences of their peers, he adds. He uses MyJohnDeere for recordkeeping and data management.
“All my data, whether it’s from the planting tractor to the sprayer to the combine to the tillage practice to the manure application, it’s all wirelessly uploaded to the cloud,” he says.
That’s one reason why he quickly agreed to gather his data together to test out the National Pork Board’s On-Farm Sustainability Report in 2020 and is wrapping up his 2021 information now.
“To me, those measurements in the National Pork Board’s On-Farm Sustainability Reports will help us see where we can improve. The benefit lies in not only measuring it, but then evaluating the reports collectively and individually to say, ‘This is where you can improve,’” he adds. “The more we have exposure to that data, the better. Once somebody sees somebody doing it better, they’re going to want to do it better on their farm, too.”
From improving tillage practices to using cover crops to sequester more carbon, he says it’s about measuring progress.
“If we don’t measure it, you can’t improve it. I am looking forward to seeing how changes we’ve made in the past year impact our report in 2021,” he says. “We’ve improved our data collection to make sure it is as verifiable as possible and as easy as possible for us to obtain so we’re not spending days collecting the data.”
Numbers Don’t Lie
When it comes to sustainable pork production, Spronk says there are two hotspots that require farmers’ continuous attention: manure and feed.
“How are you storing manure and handling it? How are you producing your crops?” he asks. “Research proves we’ve got a model here in the Upper Midwest, where we can grow corn and be very cognizant of our tillage practices and then use animal manure to grow that crop. We can actually be a carbon sink that’s positive for society.”
Some of the changes he’s made recently include using vertical tillage tools that leave residue on top and result in less soil loss. They have also changed how they incorporate manure into the soil – using technology to improve the accuracy and accountability of where manure is applied.
He also planted a new cereal grain crop that provides some advantages from a soil erosion standpoint.
“We actually have planted some of the hybrid rye, KLM, that comes out of Denmark. The reason we’re looking at it here is because it has 90% of the values of corn when it comes to energy and protein. It is a cereal grain crop, so it also has some advantages from a soil erosion and disease standpoint,” he says. “A third crop rotation offers an allelopathic effect of literally using no herbicides.”
Despite farming on the Buffalo Ridge in Southwestern Minnesota at 1,700 feet and with a short growing season, Spronk says he is considering cover crops to improve his farm’s sustainability and always have “something living and growing.”
Sustainability is Inherent
Spronk argues sustainability is just what farmers do.
“We are always trying to improve what we do. We have a very positive story, but we need to share it better,” he says.
Compiling data to show the aggregate changes over time allow farmers like Spronk to show the farm’s sustainability – not only from a soil loss and carbon footprint standpoint – but also to reinforce they are producing a safe, affordable product that is environmentally friendly.
“It really comes down to being transparent, measuring what we’re doing and showing a constant state of improvement,” Spronk says.
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