MENOKEN, N.D. – Farmers, ranchers, and other visitors to the annual “Crops, Covers & Cows” field day in August at Menoken Farm, the 150-acre conservation demonstration farm east of Bismarck, N.D., were amazed by the bountiful fields of corn, soybeans interseeded into winter rye, recently-headed sunflower and diverse blends of cover crops, along with many other annuals and perennials.
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Lots of diversity popping up at Menoken Farm
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This field of buckwheat helps to unlock phosphorus
Blaine Schmaltz, a farmer near Rugby, N.D., said he has noticed over the years that buckwheat unlocks phosphorus.
“Buckwheat not only is a phosphorous recycling plant that makes it available, but it also is calcium in plant cells. When someone said wild oats were showing up in one of the fields, oats are also a phosphorus-releasing plant in a cyclical system,” Schmalz said.
Visitors to the farm listen to speakers talk about soil health and crops integrated with cattle.
Jay Furher holds shovel of soil with good soil organic matter and earthworms with Seth Boechler in back.
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