Becoming the Benchmarkers
Conservation practices take center stage as the Isley family continually learns how to better their operation and set an example for others at the same time.
It’s been said that actions speak louder than words. For the Isley family, stepping forward to make conservation practices a priority on their Michigan farm is far more than happenstance.
“We want to be a good example to other producers in the area,” Jim Isley explains.
And being that good example is all about bending the curve for the veteran farm family. From preventing soil erosion and careful use of cover crops to protecting water quality, the Isley operation focuses efforts on one end goal: farm sustainability and profitability, while encouraging others to use conservation practices.
Eye on Water Quality
Situated in southeast Michigan near the town of Palmyra, the Isley family’s farming heritage spans more than 150 years and six generations. While the operation was once a diversified crop and livestock farm, today its focus is solely on growing corn and soybeans. Patriarch Jim Isley has worked his family’s land for more than 40 years and currently runs the operation with his wife, Laurie. Their son, Jake, and his wife, LeeAnn, represent the next generation to be actively involved in managing the farm enterprise.
Nestled in Lenawee County about 30 miles west of Lake Erie, the farm is primarily sandy-loam soil with gravel subsoil. Reduced water-holding capacity calls for the need to conserve as much moisture as possible throughout the growing season, Jim says.
“Our conservation practices of strip-till, no-till and cover crops allow us to build soil structure, soil organic matter and conserve water throughout the growing season,” he explains. “All of our acres are
located in the River Raisin Watershed, which is part of the Western Lake Erie Basin.”
Lake Erie was identified as an impaired watershed after an algal bloom led to a temporary shutdown of the water supply in Toledo, Ohio, in the summer of 2014. The algae problem is complex, but is caused in part by increased levels of dissolved phosphorus from agricultural runoff.
“This issue shined a spotlight on farming practices, both positive and negative, being used by farmers in the Western Lake Erie Basin and how those practices may impact water quality,” Jake says. “This gave us a platform to tell our story and show how we can reduce the negative impact on water quality through the use of conservation practices.”
With tile drainage in place on all of their acreage, Jake affirms the farm’s focus on water quality. “I’m farming differently knowing that I want to put a nutrient right where the crop is going to need it and where it has the smallest chance of getting away.”
In cooperation with Michigan State University and state conservation agencies, the Isleys are working on a water management project that hopes to identify whether or not controlled drainage helps reduce the amount of nutrients that leave through tile lines.
In addition to the potential to reduce nutrient runoff, the Isleys see a possible yield gain from drainage water management.
“Weather is a huge driver in our crop yields. It’s outside of our control,” Jake explains. “Almost every summer, we’re going to experience significant drought stress. We are hopeful that drainage water management can help reduce that.”
For the Sake of Soil
Through the exclusive use of no-till and strip-till practices, nutrients are appliedsubsurface; deep-banded with strip-till in the fall, with the planter in the spring, and side-dressed in-season. And with the majority of their acreage especially flat, they are able to farm without the need for contours or terraces.
The Isley’s conservation mindset begins with soil sampling and precision fertility management.
“We sample half of our acres every year,” Jake explains. “This ensures that we apply only what fertilizer is needed for the upcoming crop seasons. These frequent samples allow us to stay diligent in maintaining and optimizing the pH and fertility of our soil.”
While fertilizer applications happen more frequently, Jim says rates have been reduced for multiple inputs for any single application. This practice further maximizes nutrient availability for all crops and reduces some fertility costs while increasing yields, he adds.
Jake says that before switching to strip-till, they used a three-pass tillage system. Now, the same task is completed in one pass across the field.
“We use less fuel, we’re much more efficient, and we have seen yield increases in that scenario,” he explains, adding that in challenging weather years the yield is often increased substantially more. “We
see better water infiltration and better water retention because we’ve improved the soil structure in our system.”
Recently completed construction of a dedicated fertilizer and chemical storage facility allows the Isleys to properly store all liquid fertilizer and pesticides on the farm.
“The facility has allowed us to switch from using anhydrous ammonia to a liquid 28% nitrogen product that is much less harmful to soil health,” Jake explains.
Their use of cover crops is in what Jim calls a “learning curve,” as they strive to determine what cover works best. Currently, annual rye serves as the foundation, due to its tremendous root growth and ease of establishment.
Using aerial application to seed cover crops prior to harvest, the family has seen a significant reduction in soil loss due to wind and surface water erosion and an increase in water infiltration through the practice. Cover crops also help reduce sand blasting in the spring on newly emerged plants as the Isleys work to make their use a continuous sustainable practice on all of their acreage.
“The things we’ve done around soil sampling and fertility management are not just conservation,” Jake says. “They’re also what’s best for us from a production standpoint. We grow better crops because of these practices.”
Leading by Example
Focused on setting a standard for farming in their area, the Isleys’ conservation mission is about sustaining an industry that has built their family legacy.
“I’m excited about what we’re doing today,” Jake Isley says. “I’m excited about what’s ahead. I don’t know what that looks like, but I want to continue to improve on our system.”
The young farmer finds satisfaction, too, in sharing the farm mission with others while continuing to progress the operation’s own efforts. “We want to get better,” he says. “I don’t need to keep it to
myself. I want to say, ‘Hey, here’s a path that I think would work. Let’s try it.’”
Rooted in long-term conservation sustainability and profitability, the Isleys’ focus on building soil health and protecting water quality truly bears their commitment to leading by example.
Through a collaboration with like-minded farmers, the Isleys hope to improve farm efficiency and conservation impact for all parties. They host a number of local events to help maintain positive relationships with their neighbors, highlighting the operation’s transition to strip-till and other stewardship efforts.
“We have had many conversations with neighboring farms about our conservation efforts and are excited to see those practices then be adopted by others,” Jake adds. “Many neighbors get a new understanding of our conservation practices after riding in a tractor or combine asking questions.”
Their service-to-the-industry mindset is further seen in Laurie Isley’s recent appointment to the United Soybean Board. Through her travels, Laurie works to continue spreading the conservation message.
“We care about the environment; we care about the water quality; we care about the soil, and we’re here for the long haul,” she explains. “We’re here to build something that will go beyond us.”
As she continues to set an example for others, Laurie says sharing their message with the media can further amplify the importance of conservation and sustainability in the industry.
For a family legacy bound by six generations, setting an example of effective conservation stewardship thrives amid an era of bigger and better at any cost.
“We’re excited about the synergy of agriculture and conservation,” Jake says. “We think it can provide solutions and we want to find those solutions.”
