Indiana Farmers Use Conservation Practices on Rented Cropland

Farmers grow the crops that clothe, feed and fuel a growing world on more than 396 million acres of land across the U.S., making them among our greatest allies in conservation. Since more than 40 percent of that farmland is rented land, it’s increasingly important for farmers and landowners to work together to adopt land management practices that are good for their bottom line and good for nature. 

“In our farming, we try to keep all our landlords’ needs in mind,” says Jessica, a fifth-generation farmer. “We try to meet those needs while also doing what we feel is the best for the land.”

About 20 landowners provide a patchwork of rental acreage to the Strasburgers, including retired farmers; farmers’ children and grandchildren who inherited farmland and live in distant cities; businesses and nonprofit institutions; and foreign investors.

“All of the landowners have different styles, different needs and different views on how to manage their land,” says Michael. But for all their differences, he adds, they all want a good return on their land investment.

Bob Strasburger, Michael’s grandfather, is no different. 

All in the Family

Bob rents 270 acres to Strasburger Farms, a practice that is common within farming families. In fact, research shows that nearly 80 percent of U.S. farmers rent land from family members or friends.

Three years ago, Michael approached his grandfather about trying cover crops—crops grown in the off season to protect and enrich the soil—and no-till—not plowing or turning over the soil—on his farmland. But Bob was skeptical. “I had to bite my tongue about three years ago when they planted a 200-acre field in cereal rye cover,” he says with a laugh. “But it turned out that the soybean crop afterward brought in 70-plus bushels an acre, which was terrific. I was sold.”

Bob notes another positive from the cover cropping on his farm. “It’s nice not to see the roadside ditches filled with black farm soil—from erosion,” he says. “We need to keep the soil where it belongs—on the farm.”

Practices like cover crops and no-till can make a tremendous difference in reducing erosion, improving water quality in nearby streams and building resilience to extreme weather like droughts or floods, in addition to the economic benefits these practices offer.

Reaping the Benefits of Conservation

Michael, who studied agricultural economics at Purdue University, introduced conservation agriculture practices to Strasburger Farms in 2014.

No-till initially appealed to the Strasburgers for financial reasons. “Economically, it makes a ton of sense to do conservation practices,” says Michael. “We don’t need as much hired manpower, not as much fuel. It shows when we run the numbers. And as we focus on our soil health, we can become much more resilient.”

Nurturing Trust for Conservation

As with any relationship, the Strasburgers have found that nurturing trust is key to collaborating with the landowners on conservation practices for the long term.

“One of our landlords, we’ve been with him for more than 30 years,” says Michael. “Things are good with him, and we have been able to renegotiate our lease every year. We are doing no-till and cover cropping on his land because he gets it, and we want to be there for the long term.”

The Strasburgers are committed to demonstrating that consistent use of conservation practices yields a stronger farm operation, healthier soils, improved resilience and increased investment security.

“We’re working on changing the narrative about our farm so we can sell our environmental stewardship to landlords as an added benefit,” says Jessica. “I know I want my family to have quality farm ground for the next generations here. I want us to leave it better than when we got it. We want to be the best stewards possible to encourage a healthy environment around us. We want that for everyone.”