We not only work but also live on our farm, we consume our products, and we take the health of our families, our neighbors and our customers very seriously. It is for these reasons that we strive to be environmentally responsible while keeping our farmland fully productive and economically viable.

We feel that we are able to balance our environmental responsibility and productivity through a focused approach to growing that includes management of our soil, fertility and pest levels with a sound understanding of the crops we grow and their individual needs. It is understandable that community members have different opinions and comfort levels with some of these tools and for that reason we welcome the opportunity to discuss the specifics of our growing practices with you. It is our hope that you will have the comfort level you need to be as confident in our products as we are.

 
Soil Management

Erosion and compaction are two major concerns for farmers. Our soil management program implements the following methods to address these issues:

• Use of cover crops to increase organic matter and to reduce erosion;
• Adjustment of our tilling practices to preserve good soil structure (e.g., using a no-till grain drill, deep tilling); and
• Adapting our farm equipment to minimize compaction (e.g., wider tires on our tractors and using wider implements).

Fertility/Nutrient Management

We manage our fertility with the goal of minimizing our fertilizer use while sustaining healthy, high quality crops. This process starts with soil testing each of our fields, prior to planting, to determine nutrient levels already present. We use this information to tailor fit a fertility plan for each field/crop and select from the following tools, those fertility practices that best meet the needs of the crop:

• Composted bio solids for slow release nitrogen, micronutrients and organic matter;
• “Spoon-feeding” granulized fertilizer (small doses of fertilizer allow the plant time to take up nutrients before they leach out of the soil);
• Cover crops to recapture nutrients that remain after harvest;
• Application of other mineral nutrients (e.g., lime, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur) the plants need for growth; and
• Rotation of our crops for healthier soil.

Examples of how fertility affects crop quality and sustainability:

Every plant has nutrient needs that must be met and by using the following methods we can balance the plant’s uptake of specific nutrients with what we apply:

• Grains
  When seeding our wheat we apply minimal fertilization, using bio solids and balanced fertilizer (19-19-19), to moderate vegetative growth. Further along in the development of the wheat plant we increase the fertility to maximize the protein content. 
  
  Our approach to growing barley is very different; the plant only requires one fertilization and excessive fertility will result in a protein level that is too high, rendering the barley undesirable for malting. We use granulized fertilizers on our grain crops, instead of manure, as manure is not consistent enough to provide specific nutrient levels at particular plant life stages which is necessary for producing a consistent and reliable product.
• Turf
  We fertilize for maximum root growth and moderate shoot growth through regular (e.g., monthly), light fertilizer applications. This is important as it helps the sod to hold together when harvested and reduces some disease pressure. An example: pythium and brown patch thrive with too high a fertility, while dollar spot and red thread indicate inadequate fertility.

Pest Management

We use a holistic approach to pest management, which means that in addition to maintaining optimal soil quality and fertility we select cultivars that are resistant to our specific pests and disease problems (e.g. America is resistant to rust and helps crowd out Poa, Midnight is resistant to leaf spot, P105 is resistant to leaf spot and it is very aggressive in crowding out weeds), we rotate crops to prevent pest population build up (e.g., planting grain after turf minimizes the weeds in the grain and subsequent crops), and maintain our crops so that they are less habitable for pests (e.g., watering less frequently and limiting compaction for managing poa anua, mowing shorter, and keeping a thick stand help to crowd out weeds). 

If pest activity rises above a practical threshold (determined by economic impact) after using cultural controls, we use chemical controls.  When choosing chemicals we try to balance the following criteria: minimize hazard to both the human applicator and the environment; use of chemical agents that will not be active when the customer gets the end product; and not applying chemicals after the seed head forms. Some of our chemical strategies include: timing our applications for maximum control using the smallest dose of chemical as possible; using pre-emergent herbicides; and using burn down herbicides instead of systemic ones where possible.

Our employees tasked with applying chemicals are licensed as private pesticide applicators by the State of Massachusetts, Department of Agricultural Resources. They undergo continuous training and education not only to maintain this level of credentialing but also ensure appropriate and effective application measures.

Community

Every business relies on the support of the community in which they are established. We strive to engage our community by: growing high quality local products that people are willing to seek out, building trusting relationships with our consumers by being transparent in our growing practices and encouraging visits to our farm, energy conservation, educational outreach, volunteerism, and political participation.  

• Growing Quality: Keeping our soil rich and our products consistent through soil and forage lab testing; maintaining a high level of quality control for our products (we are able to do everything from growing through processing and marketing directly on our farm).
• Building Trust and Transparency: visibility in the community through participation in events where we can have open discussions about our products and growing practices (e.g., farmers markets, local festivals, meetings), hosting community events at our farm to demonstrate our growing and processing practices, being accessible (e.g., our website, face-to-face, telephone, email), and through membership in the local Chamber of Commerce.
• Energy Conservation: A 65kW solar energy system, up and running since December 30, 2008. Our solar array includes over 300 panels and generates approximately 80% of the electricity the farm consumes. To view the farm’s solar output click here. We also have a full-time mechanic to maintain equipment for optimal fuel use.
• Educational Outreach: Hosting and providing instruction for Ag in the Classroom events, hosting seminars on hops production in conjunction with UVM and UMass Extension Programs, participating in educational programming hosted by Communities Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA). We also actively participate in educational programming provided by these organizations, as consumers, to expand our knowledge base and further our business.
• Volunteerism: Donation of our products to community events and programs, family participation on many Town Boards.
• Political Participation: Working with our local legislators to educate them about the challenges of farming and emerging agricultural issues; through membership in or engagement with the following agencies: Massachusetts Nursery and Landscaping Association (MNLA), Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF), Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), and CISA; and through holding positions and participating in local government (since arriving in Northfield various family members have held positions within: the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, Conservation Committee, Agriculture Commission, Schools, and multiple subcommittees).