Q: What are some of the ways you’ve been proactively practicing conservation? 

EO: Some proactive measures we take are no-till farming, strip tilling when necessary, utilizing cover crops wherever we can. And then even some less-noticed things like adding more waterways and being more aware of field-tiling, knowing when water should be out in the field. And, of course, doing water and soil testing, to know when we can reduce the amount of nutrients we put out there.

Q: How has the role of technology in your conservation efforts and farming operations evolved in recent years?

JO: I’ve had technology on the farm in the form of a yield monitor since the mid-90s. I was one of the very first adopters and one of the first adopters of guidance systems. I haven’t been much into the data and creating a lot of variable rate applications. However, this is the year that I’m changing how I use my data.

Primarily in the past it’s been used to create a yield map of the harvest to see the low and high spots. Through funding with the NRCS, I’m unlocking the capabilities of the technology I have in the equipment because I firmly believe that, moving forward, there will be more opportunities to use my data and be more efficient with my inputs. This is the year.

I have always pushed myself to learn beyond my comfort zone, but I really got to the point where I felt if I want to remain relevant and advocate for agriculture and its possibilities, I needed to take this step. Drones and robots in the field and autonomous equipment operations are the way of the future.

Q: Do you feel a responsibility to share what you’ve learned with other farmers? 

JO: It’s all about being relevant and being a voice for doing better, though not necessarily a voice for change. I can only ever really change my own efforts and ask, “How can I do better?” And if me doing better helps others find ways to do better, well, I’m also here to talk.

Q: In recent years, have you noticed more farmers adopting conservation practices like cover crops?

EO: Initially, farmers in our area weren’t adopting cover crops because they look different and they’re new to them. But there are so many benefits to them. There’s really no reason not to do them. Once more people start adopting them, they become easy to implement.

JO: Using cover crops is an easy one. I mean, I’ve been playing around with it, and I consider it “playing around” because I’m not successful doing it on every single farm, and people can see the mistakes. But I now have a lot of neighbors doing it. It’s like the rings of a growing tree; the diameter of the neighborhood using cover crops has grown.

If we can build those communities that continue to at least try, cover crops can do so many things. But they do look different, and you may get questions from neighbors like, “Hey, what are you doing?” But using cover crops can work, and I’ve got a great community, and I even find myself following the lead of those doing it much more consistently.

Q: Why do you think some farmers have been more hesitant to use cover crops and other practices? What would you say to them?

JO: You will hear often, “What’s the cost of it?” But costs can be minimized, and there’s cost sharing so you can really minimize it. Another false reason not to do it is, “You know, you’re not spending as much time in the field.” Because farmers like driving their tractors and doing their work. We like turning the dirt and driving the equipment we worked hard to acquire.

t’s also about the adoption of an entirely different management style. You have to plan ahead, differently, and it can be very challenging with lack of good practical know-how to get it implemented with success. And we often just look at that success based on the appearance. But the truth is not in the appearance; it’s when you stick a shovel in the soil and see what’s happening below the surface. I also now have less water run off my fields, and I have more days to work in the fields in a year. Those are differences you can realize!

Q: What challenges and opportunities do you see on the horizon for the next generation of farmers?

EO: There’s a ton of opportunities with technologies and cost-share programs. There’s going to be a lot of change happening quickly, so it’ll be interesting to see where all of that goes. But with new technology there will always be friction there and some challenges. We’re seeing fewer and fewer farmers as time progresses. It’s a stressful job. Everything’s up in the air every year.

Q: How can government programs help ensure there’s a future in farming?

EO: Financial programs go a long way for a lot of farmers. They can mitigate a lot of the burden.

JO: The federal CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) was one of the first programs we used to temporarily retire marginally used lands, and it drastically changed how we view the environment. Because you start to see the landscape isn’t just here for us to earn a living. There are other components to it as well.

I see Federal programs as primarily movers for new practices. The programs allow me to adopt those next-level conservation programs sooner. And if I can get there quicker, I can advocate for them quicker.

State programs are great for other individuals; the state puts money into programs for people to try things for the first time, for example. Good for one- or two-year programs to dip your toe in the water. Federal programs are better for longer-term learning curves. State programs are helpful for those looking for easy entry into the conservation world.

Q: What’s something that elected officials may not fully understand about the realities of farming in Illinois?

JO: Illinois is very diverse. The central part of the state can farm for centuries and probably not see a change in productivity. Southern Illinois is more challenging. Where we live, in the Kankakee area, we go from very good soil to more marginalized soils. So, I take the more marginalized soils and work on resiliency.

Because we have such soil quality diversity in the state, any state-wide focus will be less relevant to parts of the middle of the state where the soil is already so fertile. That’s why I’d personally like to see more regional-based offers, with better financial incentives.

The last thing I’d add is, any piece of legislation can be made to seem black and white, but nothing on the farm is ever black and white. There are always nuances. For example, Illinois Congresswoman Robin Kelly stood with me in my yard and I was able to explain how where she was standing, just ten feet away, was actually a different watershed than where I was standing. And so, to be able to break down the nuances of how to manage even the water that’s in your own yard, that can be revealing.

Q: You mentioned being an advocate of conservation and for other conservation-minded farmers. How has that advocacy changed over time?

JO: I didn’t want to interact with politicians or elected officials for a long time, because of the prevailing feeling that one voice doesn’t make a difference. That’s changed over time. U.S. Representative Robin Kelly has been here and it feels a little more like family now. Not long ago, President Biden was actually on the farm, and Secretary Vilsack. We’ve gotten past the cordial “I’m a constituent,” and now I feel there’s an actual relationship. There’s great value in that and I openly embrace it.

When you’re standing in your story, it’s easy to share and make an impact. But I’ve realized that, with our elected officials, I also need to go there and stand in their story as well, to better understand some of their barriers to effective legislation and discussion. I’ve become a firm believer that there’s value in collaborating with elected officials.