Javascript is required to use this website.

New South Dakota-based business connects farmers with funding for conservation practices

By Lura Roti, for SustainAg Network
Apr 17, 2024
Apr 17, 2024

AgSpire’s Ryan Eichler, right, meets with a farmer in western Minnesota to discuss AgSpire programs and how they can benefit his land and business.
Submitted photo

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

By Lura Roti, for SustainAg Network

Fields of bright green rye stand out among the mostly brown early spring fieldscape on Luke Hiebert’s crop and livestock farm northeast of Huron, South Dakota.

kAm“%C25:E:@?2==J[ 2E E9:D A@:?E :? E96 D62D@?[ ?@E9:?8 H@F=5 36 8C@H:?8 @FE :? E9@D6 7:6=5D] %9:D :D E96 C62D@? x 564:565 E@ A=2?E CJ6[” D2:5 w:636CE[ 5FC:?8 2? 62C=J pAC:= 4@?G6CD2E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96 CJ6 92D 366? 8C@H:?8 D:?46 =2DE 72==[ 2?5 96 =:<6D 92G:?8 2 =:G:?8 C@@E :? E96 D@:= 2D =@?8 2D A@DD:3=6] xE 96=AD H:E9 4@>A24E:@?[ C65F46D 6C@D:@?[ :?4C62D6D H2E6C :?7:=EC2E:@?[ 3F:=5D @C82?:4 >2EE6C 2?5 @G6C2==[ :>AC@G6D D@:= 962=E9]k^Am

Luke Hiebert.jpg — Luke Hiebert examines growth in a field of rye on his Huron, S.D., farm. After he harvests this cereal grain late summer he will plant cover crops for his livestock to graze late fall. Cover crops are just one of several sustainable practices he implements to increase access to forage for his cow-calf herd.
Submitted photo

kAm%96C6 2C6 255:E:@?2= 36?67:ED E@ E9:D DFDE2:?23=6 AC24E:46] q642FD6 w:636CE :D 6?C@==65 :? E96 r@G6C:?8 p>6C:42 !C@8C2> E9C@F89 p8$A:C6’D $FDE2:?p8 }6EH@C<[ 96 H:== C646:G6 2 AC6>:F> 7@C E96 CJ6 D665 H96? 96 92CG6DED :E =2E6 DF>>6C]k^Am

kAm%96 AC@8C2> H:== 2=D@ 4@G6C E96 4@DED 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E96 =2E6 D62D@?[ >F=E:\DA64:6D 4@G6C 4C@A 96 A=2?D E@ A=2?E @? E96 D2>6 24C6D 7@C 9:D 42EE=6 2?5 D966A E@ 8C2K6 =2E6 72==] p8$A:C6’D E649?:42= 25G:D@CD AC@G:565 6IA6CE :?D:89ED E9C@F89@FE E96 AC@46DD]k^Am

kAm“x 2?5 >J H:76[ qC:2?2[ 2C6 E96 E9:C5 72>:=J ECJ:?8 E@ 62C? 2? :?4@>6 7C@> E9:D 72C>[ D@ x ?665 E@ =@@< 2E G2=F6 25565 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 3642FD6 E9:D 72C> :D ?@E =2C86 6?@F89 E@ DFAA@CE 2== @7 FD[” D2:5 E96 E9:C5\86?6C2E:@? 72C>6C H9@ 92D 366? 72C>:?8 7F== E:>6 H:E9 9:D 525 2?5 F?4=6 D:?46 96 H2D `g]k^Am

kAmu@C ?62C=J 2 564256[ w:636CE 92D 366? 6IA2?5:?8 9:D 4@H\42=7 96C5 3J :?4C62D:?8 @?\72C> 2446DD E@ 7@C286 3J :>A=6>6?E:?8 2? :?E6?D:G6[ 52:=J 8C2K:?8 C@E2E:@?] tIE6?5:?8 E96 8C2K:?8 D62D@? H:E9 2 =2E6 D62D@? 4@G6C 4C@A :D J6E 2?@E96C H2J 7@C 9:> E@ >2I:>:K6 E96 72C>’D 7@C286 AC@5F4E:@?]k^Am

kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 C646?E=J C6=62D65 $FDE2:?p8 x?D:89ED BF2CE6C=J C6A@CE[ w:636CE :D 2>@?8 afg AC@5F46CD 7C@> 24C@DD E96 &]$] H9@ >2<6 FA p8$A:C6’D ?6H=J 7@C>65 $FDE2:?p8 }6EH@C< @7 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD :?E6C6DE65 :? 25@AE:?8 DFDE2:?23=6 =2?5 2?5 =:G6DE@4< >2?286>6?E AC24E:46D E9C@F89 AC@8C2>D =:<6 r@G6C:?8 p>6C:42]k^Am

cattle grazing cover crops.jpg — Cattle graze cover crops.
Submitted photo

kAm$:?46 7F==J =2F?49:?8 E96 }6EH@C< :? y2?F2CJ[ p8$A:C6 4@?E:?F6D E@ 6IA2?5 :ED AC@8C2> @776C:?8D E@ 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD] xE 4FCC6?E=J @776CD 7:G6 AC@8C2>D[ :?4=F5:?8 2 3667 AC@8C2> :? A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 |4s@?2=5’D]k^Am

kAm“p8$A:C6 :D 7@4FD65 @? :>AC@G:?8 C6D:=:6?4J 2?5 DFDE2:?23:=:EJ 24C@DD E96 6?E:C6 28C:4F=EFC2= DFAA=J 492:?[” D2:5 #J2? t:49=6C[ 5:C64E@C @7 AC@5F46C AC@8C2>D 2?5 2 {2<6 !C6DE@?[ $@FE9 s2<@E2[ 42EE=6 AC@5F46C] “%9C@F89 %96 $FDE2:?p8 }6EH@C<[ H6 4@??64E AC@5F46CD H:E9 7F?5:?8 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2D H6== 2D C6D@FC46D E@ :>A=6>6?E C686?6C2E:G6 @C DFDE2:?23=6 AC24E:46D]”k^Am

kAm$@FE9 s2<@E2 4C@A 2?5 =:G6DE@4< AC@5F46C y2C65 z?@4< 42>6 FA H:E9 E96 :562 7@C p8$A:C6 27E6C 96 D2H 2 49C@?:4 5:D4@??64E 36EH66? 4@?D6CG2E:@?\>:?565 28C:4F=EFC6 AC@5F46CD 42C:?8 7@C =2?5 2?5 =:G6DE@4< 2?5 7F?5D 2==@42E65 7@C C686?6C2E:G6 28C:4F=EFC6 AC24E:46D 3J 4@CA@C2E:@?D 2?5 8@G6C?>6?E 6?E:E:6D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Missouri cowgirl bakes to fund her trick-riding ambitions
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Wildfires: Yearning to help, prompted to plan
Finding her niche on family farm: Newman Grove farm wife builds pork business
Fast-Dohrmann-Strommen 55th Annual Production Sale
Effertz Key Ranch 48th Annual Bull Sale
Morrell, Stockyards made a mark on Sioux Falls history
Highmore cattleman elected to American Simmental board
Leland Red Angus & Koester Red Angus
Researchers experiment with agrivoltaics
First South Dakotan named chairman of U.S. Soybean Export Council
Helping wildfire victims, the Nebraska way
Commitment core of Ralston FFA Chapter
Berwald Red Angus 4th Annual Bull & Female Sale
Eichacker Simmentals & JK Angus

Jared Knock.jpg — Jared Knock discusses regenerative agricultural practices with farmers in South Dakota, sharing how programs like Covering America can help them invest in their land and natural resources.
Submitted photo

kAm“pD 2 72C>6C H9@ @H?D 2? 28 C6E2:= 3FD:?6DD[ x 2> 4=@D6=J 4@??64E65 E@ >2?J 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD ECJ:?8 E@ >2<6 492?86D @? E96:C =2?5 E@ :?4C62D6 D@:= 962=E9 @C =:G6DE@4< 677:4:6?4J] pE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ x H2D =:DE6?:?8 E@ H92E 4@>A2?:6D H6C6 D2J:?8 23@FE E96:C 56D:C6 E@ :?G6DE :? 72C>D 2?5 C2?496D :? CFC2= p>6C:42 7@C 2 A@D:E:G6 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :>A24E] qFE E96C6 H2D ?@E 2 8C62E H2J 7@C E96 EH@ 8C@FAD E@ 4@??64E[” D2:5 z?@4<[ H9@ 96=A65 =2F?49 p8$A:C6 :? a_a`]k^Am

kAm“~FC E62> 92D 3F:=E 2? @C82?:K2E:@? E92E 4@??64ED DFDE2:?23:=:EJ\>:?565 AC@5F46CD H:E9 E9@D6 4@>A2?:6D[ 56G6=@A:?8 2?5 :>A=6>6?E:?8 AC@8C2>D 2C@F?5 C686?6C2E:G6 28C:4F=EFC2= AC24E:46D E92E 36?67:E AC@5F46CD 2?5 :>AC@G6 @FC 6?G:C@?>6?E 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[” z?@4< D2:5]k^Am

kAm#686?6C2E:G6 28C:4F=EFC2= AC24E:46D :?4=F56 A=2?E:?8 =2E6\D62D@? 4@G6C 4C@AD[ =:<6 w:636CE :D A=2??:?8 E@ 5@ 27E6C CJ6 92CG6DE] w6 D2:5 <?@H:?8 E92E E96C6 :D 7:?2?4:2= 2?5 E649?:42= 96=A >@E:G2E65 9:> E@ ;@:? E96 $FDE2:?p8 }6EH@C< 2?5 6?C@== :? E96 r@G6C:?8 p>6C:42 !C@8C2>]k^Am

kAm“x 925 366? E9:?<:?8 23@FE A=2?E:?8 2 =2E6 D62D@? 4@G6C 4C@A[ 3FE x <?6H :E H@F=5 36 >@C6 5:77:4F=E E@ 86E :E 8@:?8 2?5 x H2D ?@E C625J E@ :?G6DE :? E96 C:D<[” w:636CE D2:5] “(:E9 $FDE2:?p8 }6EH@C<[ x 92G6 7:?2?4:2= 2DD:DE2?46[ 2?5 3642FD6 x 5@?’E 92G6 2 =@E @7 6IA6C:6?46 A=2?E:?8 4@G6C 4C@AD[ x 2AAC64:2E6 E96 724E x 2=D@ 92G6 2446DD E@ 2 E649?:42= 25G:D@C]”k^Am

kAm%96 $FDE2:?p8 }6EH@C< @776CD G@=F?E2CJ[ :?46?E:G6\32D65 8C2?E 2?5 AC:G2E6\>2C<6E DFDE2:?23:=:EJ AC@8C2>D[ =:<6 E96 r@G6C:?8 p>6C:42 !C@8C2>[ E92E 2C6 56D:8?65 H:E9 AC@5F46CD =:<6 w:636CE :? >:?5[ D2:5 t:49=6C]k^Am

kAm“(6 <66A E96 28C:4F=EFC6 AC@5F46C 2E E96 7@C67C@?E @7 6G6CJE9:?8 H6 5@ 3642FD6 BF:E6 7C2?<=J[ H:E9@FE AC@5F46CD[ ?@?6 @7 E9:D 42? 92AA6?[” t:49=6C D2:5] “(6 FD6 2 9:89=J 4FDE@>:K23=6 2AAC@249 3642FD6 6249 72C> 2?5 C2?49 :D G6CJ 5:776C6?E] %96 =2DE E9:?8 E92E H6 H2?E E@ 5@ :D 5:4E2E6 AC24E:46D @C 6?G:C@?>6?E2= AC@8C2>D :7 E96J 5@?’E 7:E E96 AC@5F46C’D =2?5 @C =:G6DE@4< 677:4:6?4J 8@2=D]”k^Am

kAmt:49=6C D2:5 %96 $FDE2:?p8 }6EH@C<’D E62> @7 25G:D@CD 2C6 6DD6?E:2= E@ E96 AC@46DD] xE’D H92E D6ED E96> 2A2CE[ 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“%9:D E62> E2<6D E96 E:>6 E@ >66E H:E9 AC@5F46CD E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96:C @G6C2== @A6C2E:@? 8@2=D[ 2?5 E96? E96J AC@G:56 E96 DFAA@CE ?66565 7@C 2 AC24E:46 492?86 E@ DF44665[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm~?46 2 AC@5F46C D6=64ED 2?5 6?C@==D :? 2 AC@8C2>[ E96J 4@??64E H:E9 2? 25G:D@C H9@ 96=AD E96> 7:8FC6 @FE E96 56E2:=D 2?5 36DE AC24E:46D 7@C DF446DD :? E96:C 8C@H:?8 4@?5:E:@?D] p5G:D@CD 2=D@ G6C:7J E96 AC24E:46 2?5 DEC62>=:?6 :?46?E:G6 @C AC6>:F> A2J>6?ED]k^Am

kAm“(6 2C6 H@C<:?8 @? 3692=7 @7 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD E@ 96=A E96> :?4C62D6 C6G6?F6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2?5 @G6C2== C6D:=:6?4J[” t:49=6C D2:5]k^Am

kAm!C@5F46CD 42? G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96DFDE2:?28?6EH@C<]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%96$FDE2:?p8}6EH@C<]4@>k^2m E@ G:6H 2== AC@8C2> @776C:?8D 2?5 =62C? >@C6]k^Am

kAmk:7C2>6 DC4lQ9EEADi^^A=2J6C]G:>6@]4@>^G:56@^haffe```an9lcde4f3h633Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q H:5E9lQec_Q 96:89ElQbe_Qmk^:7C2>6mk^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^G:>6@]4@>^haffe```aQm#J2? p8$A:C6k^2m 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^G:>6@]4@>^FD6C`_achafabQm`gfhk^2m @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^G:>6@]4@>Qm':>6@k^2m]k^Am