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Diversifying ag production can improve farmer profitability

As America’s farmers and ranchers face tighter margins, an Ohio farmer says prioritizing diversification in crop production could help strengthen producer profitability.  Fred Yoder says it is a win-win for agriculture. “We have better soil health, we have new markets for other commodities,” he says.  “It’s going to cost less to run the agricultural system in the United States.”

More than 750 farmers from across the country recently sent a letter to Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins asking the administration to focus on promoting crop diversification.

Yoder tells Brownfield the move creates an opportunity for additional market development: “Now there’s even the possibility of even harvesting your cover crops before you plant your main crop.”

He says pennycress is a perfect example. “There’s new technology that we can actually harvest that pennycress in the spring, and still plant our corn and soybeans by the middle of May,” he says.  “That’s a lot better than planting double-crop soybeans because the window of opportunity is much greater.”

The letter outlines how increasing crop diversification can potentially strengthen the entire sector by improving rural communities and increasing domestic production.

Yoder says diversifying crop production can range from adding new crops to rotations, utilizing cover crops, or building agroforestry systems.  Examples of diversification for livestock producers and ranchers include intensive rotation grazing or multi-species grazing programs.  He says crop-livestock integration programs can support soil health, water quality, and biodiversity.

AUDIO: Fred Yoder, Ohio farmer