Grazing Livestock Clark.jpg
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Grazing Livestock Clark.jpg

Clark Land & Cattle


Clark Land & Cattle

Williamsport, Indiana

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Clark Land & Cattle


Clark Land & Cattle

Williamsport, Indiana

Rick-Clark.jpg

“Having already improved my soil health & learned weed control through no till, my first 2,300 acre transition to organic was a breeze—and I maintained yields from day one.”

Rick Clark, Clark Land & Cattle

Pollinator strips planted around Rick’s land.

Pollinator strips planted around Rick’s land.

Background

  • 5th generation farmer

  • Purdue Ag graduate

  • Farms with his dad and nephew

Overview

  • Farms 7,000 acres

  • 1/3 of farm is on a three crop rotation

  • 1/3 of farm is on a four crop rotation for dairy

  • 1/3 of farm on transition to certified organic

  • All acreage no-till, diverse cover crops, livestock integration

  • 100% Non-GMO

  • No starter fertilizer, fungicide, insecticide, seed treatment

What’s important to know—Financial results!

  • Saves over $600,000 on input costs alone every year

  • Net profitability totals approximately $100/acre over Purdue Farmer Expectations model (without including saved labor costs)

  • Documented greater weather protection—less weather impact; improves risk management

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Adam Chappell


Adam chappell

Cotton plant, AR

Adam Chappell


Adam chappell

Cotton plant, AR

Adam Chappell

Background

  • 4th generation farmer

  • Arkansas State University, B.S. Botany

  • University of Arkansas, M.S. Entomology

  • Farms with his brother, Seth Chappell

  • Weed management costs almost drove the family out of business; shifted focus on soil health to save time and money.

Adam’s “COW CHOW” – delicious, nutritious, diverse cover crops that his cows are happy to remove for him (no chemicals necessary).

Adam’s “COW CHOW” – delicious, nutritious, diverse cover crops that his cows are happy to remove for him (no chemicals necessary).



Overview

  • Farms 8,000 acres

  • Expanded into additional high-margin businesses:

    • cattle

    • cover crop seed sales

    • rice mill (gluten free premiums)

  • 90% Non-GMO

  • All no till, diverse cover crops, livestock integration

  • Crops in rotation: corn, soybeans, cotton, rice

Improved Soil Health = profitability

  • Costs reduced from $4.5 million to $2.3 per year

  • Time required for farming also reduced

  • Cost and time savings allowed investment in other businesses with significant
    increase in revenues

Lessons learned: Going “all-in” on soil health

“We built greater profitability through cost reductions and additional revenue streams by:

Adam shows off his “soil armor”

Adam shows off his “soil armor”

  • Cutting our costs in half (chemicals, fertilizers, fuel)

  • Eliminating the weed pressure that almost did us in

  • Reducing nitrogen by just over half and maintained yields

  • Reducing pesticides & herbicides by 85%

  • Spending less on fuel, repairs, equipment purchases

  • Gaining weather protection

  • Increased water infiltration from 0.5 – 1 inches to 6 – 8 inches per hour; protecting us from both floods and drought.

  • Converting to non-GMO while maintaining yields, and doubling our profitability due to decreased seed costs & the
    non-GMO premium

  • Farming more acres with less equipment & fewer employees

  • Having more time and money to invest in value-added businesses – creating more jobs and opportunities in our community”