doi:10.2489/jswc.69.1.22A CONSERVATION Profitable prairie restoration: The EcoSun Prairie IN PRACTICE Farm experiment Cody Zilverberg, W. Carter Johnson, David Archer, Scott Kronberg, Thomas Schumacher, Arvid Boe, and Craig Novotny

ngoing conversion of grassland to Dakota. Guaranteeing five years was impor- harvested, the only income was from switch- cropland in the northern Great Plains, tant for EcoSun because of the investment grass seed. The next year, a small quantity of O declining wildlife populations, and required to restore prairie and the low yields summer hay and native wetland plant seed worsening soil and water quality prompted a obtained from perennial plants in the estab- was added. By year five, the farm was gen- South Dakota group to search for agricultural lishment year. Restoration efforts began in erating revenue from many different sources: practices that would balance environmental 2008 with establishment of 24 ha (60 ac) of seed harvested from three grass species concerns with farm economics. Thus was switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) monocultures planted in monocultures (switchgrass: 3,435 born the EcoSun Prairie Farm (http://www. planted for seed production and 41 ha (100 kg [7,573 lb]; prairie cordgrass [Spartina ecosunprairiefarms.org), an experimental ac) of cropland and former Conservation pectinata]: 73 kg [161 lb]; and wedgegrass working farm based on the land ethic and phi- Reserve Program land that was renovated by [Sphenopholis obtusata]: 25 kg [55 lb]) and a losophy of Aldo Leopold. EcoSun’s primary establishing mixtures dominated by warm- variety of wetland forbs and grasslike spe- objective was to see if converting cropland season grasses (figure 1). Each year, more land cies in smaller quantities; summer hay (47 to native tallgrass prairie could simultane- was restored, including a field of 45 ha (110 t [52 tn]) and autumn hay (291 t [321 tn]); Copyright © 2014 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.

ously improve the environment—especially ac) planted to a mixture of 23 warm- and contract grazing (75 yearling heifers for 5.5 Journal of Soil and Water Conservation soil and water quality; prairie wetlands; and cool-season grasses and forbs. In 2011, the months); and beef (2,085 kg [4,600 lb]). The biodiversity, including wildlife—and provide last large-scale restoration occurred when a variety of products helps the farm to manage sufficient income to support a farm family 22 ha (55 ac) field was snow-seeded with economic risk—if one crop fails or the mar- through the sale of grassland products. Six seed harvested from a nearby prairie rem- ket price of one product falls, income from years later, EcoSun continues to sell native nant owned by The Nature Conservancy. other products can soften the blow. plant seed, hay, and beef, and to share lessons Seed harvested from seasonal and tem- learned. As the restoration has progressed, DIVERSITY CRUCIAL TO FARM SUCCESS porary wetlands has been an important many amphibians, game birds, and neotropi- Maintaining diversity of plant species is source of income for the farm. Whereas cal migrant birds have already returned to the essential to EcoSun’s conservation goals, but current row crop farming in the western farm, but an important measure of the proj- the organization has also been intentional Corn Belt encourages the draining of wet-

ect’s long term success will be the number about cultivating a variety of income streams. lands and shallow ground water to expand 69(1):22A-25A of producers that adopt the farming approach In 2009, the first year that products were corn (Zea mays) acreage, EcoSun’s goal is advocated and demonstrated by EcoSun. EcoSun was founded as a nonprofit orga- Figure 1 nization by three faculty members at South Farm manager Craig Novotny and EcoSun board member Arvid Boe evaluate a field of www.swcs.org Dakota State University and one research sci- grasses and forbs. Previously in a corn–soybean rotation, the field was planted to a entist from the USDA Agricultural Research 13-species mixture in 2008. Service in Mandan, North Dakota. These

four serve on the board of directors and pro- vide a core of scientific knowledge in areas of soil science (Thomas Schumacher), forage breeding and production (Arvid Boe), wet- land ecology (Carter Johnson), and animal science (Scott Kronberg). Initially, EcoSun signed a five-year lease on a section (~259 ha [~640 ac]) of land near Colman, South

Cody Zilverberg is postdoctoral associate in Natural Resource Management at South Dakota State University (SDSU), Brookings, South Da- kota. W. Carter Johnson is professor in Natu- ral Resource Management at SDSU. Thomas Schumacher is professor emeritus and Arvid Boe is professor in Plant Science at SDSU. Scott Kronberg is research scientist and David Archer is agricultural economist at the Agricultural Re- search Service (ARS) in Mandan, North Dakota. Craig Novotny is farm manager and restoration- ist at EcoSun Prairie Farms.

22A JAN/FEB 2014—VOL. 69, NO. 1 JOURNAL OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION to restore shallow wetlands and groundwa- BLENDING RESEARCH AND Figure 2 ter to maintain water supplies for wetland DEMONSTRATION Carter Johnson, EcoSun chairman, stands plants with wildlife and commercial value. Most of EcoSun’s efforts are dedicated to in front of prairie cordgrass in a restored For instance, monocultures of prairie cord- testing and demonstrating restoration and wetland on the farm. grass and prairie wedgegrass were planted management at the field scale, but research into some of the formerly drained wetlands has also been part of the farm from the begin- on the farm, and their seed is harvested ning. Some of the research has been formal, annually (figure 2). Other wetlands were such as a replicated design to determine the planted to a larger variety of native species optimal seeding rate for switchgrass, whereas or allowed to naturally revegetate. other research has been less formal, such as Restoring a wetland in the middle of an burning patches of grass at different times of otherwise homogeneous field is an example the year and observing plant response. of applying one of EcoSun’s guiding prin- Data collected at large and small scales ciples: put the right plant in the right place. complement each other by providing two Unlike the typical Corn Belt farm that perspectives on the same question. For plants a single crop over large acreage—ide- instance, yield data from entire fields are col- ally in rectangular fields—EcoSun strives lected two ways: by hand-sampling small Copyright © 2014 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.

to enhance diversity by matching plants areas and by weighing the bales made from Journal of Soil and Water Conservation to the contours in the land. For instance, the field at the end of the year. The hand- one 16 ha (40 ac) field planted to a mix- collected data give estimates of biomass ture of prairie species contains four small production from an ecosystem perspective, wetlands within its borders. Each of these whereas the bale data inform a farmer about wetlands was restored and planted with how much yield, and therefore revenue, he to a mixture of 13 species at three differ- species adapted to wetland soils. Thus, plant might expect from each type of field. These ent landscape positions. Results from these diversity of the entire field increased, and data provide benchmarks to evaluate the experiments have generally agreed with the restored wetlands produce high-value farm’s future performance, including trends the data collected at the field scale: bio- seed and abundant biodiversity. in yield, and its performance relative to pub- mass yields of the mixtures are good, but Ecosystem services are difficult to mon- lished research and other commercial farms. switchgrass monoculture yields are better etize, but EcoSun captures some additional Among the replicated research con- (Zilverberg et al. with editor). This illus- 69(1):22A-25A value by marketing “prairie-raised” beef ducted on the farm has been the comparison trates the tradeoff between productivity and produced on the farm. Yearling heifers graze of the yield of switchgrass monocultures conservation that a commercial enterprise EcoSun’s pastures from May to October as part of a contract grazing arrangement with Figure 3 www.swcs.org a rancher who retains ownership in the cat- Yearling stocker cattle graze parts of the farm each year. Temporary electric fencing is tle (figure 3). In the autumn, EcoSun selects used for rotational grazing. the best cattle and has them slaughtered,

butchered, and packaged. The meat is locally marketed to conservation- and health- minded customers at restaurants, grocery stores, and directly through EcoSun’s web- site; meat is marketed nationally through a new startup company, NuAgra. Although the meat is perhaps the most highly-visible and “exciting” of the products offered by EcoSun, grass seed has been the economic mainstay. Income from seed has increased each year of EcoSun’s operation. The farm has also increased its hay sales each of the past three years, as more land comes into production and the farm’s managers improve their marketing skills. Most of the hay produced on the farm is not cut until autumn for several reasons: to produce high yields, to conserve nutrients, and to provide wildlife cover throughout the growing season.

JOURNAL OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION JAN/FEB 2014—VOL. 69, NO. 1 23A like EcoSun faces. EcoSun continues to dairy, or pastured poultry. “Considerably accept a lower income in exchange for a experiment with strategies that will simul- more profit could be generated from the lifestyle that promotes conservation of soil, taneously optimize yield and diversity. grassland by adding pastured chicken pro- water, and wildlife while performing ani- duction—both egg and broiler,” he said. mal husbandry. This style of farm may also LESSONS LEARNED These lessons reflect the specific man- appeal to landowners who have off-farm The farm leaders have made many man- agement knowledge gained from the income or live elsewhere, but who wish to agement changes over the first six years of experiment, but the biggest question be good stewards of their ancestral land and operation and have gained useful insights answered was about the viability of the maintain a place to hunt and recreate. from ongoing evaluation of their project. farm. “The most important thing we’ve From a conservation perspective, success With respect to establishment strategies, learned, and the thing that we were the on the farm is clear. Many native plant and EcoSun’s farm manager and restoration most uncertain about when we started, animal species have increased in abundance ecologist, Craig Novotny, has taken several is that the farm is profitable and hence on the farm, including at-risk grassland birds approaches. For instance, prairie cordgrass has potential to be adopted as an alter- such as bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) and has been planted by installing plugs by hand, native farming method in the western grasshopper sparrows (Ammodramus savan- using a tree planter, and using a no-till drill. Corn Belt,” said Carter Johnson, but “this narum), and other grassland obligates such as Using a drill requires the least amount of approach is not a get-rich-quick scheme.” upland sandpipers (Bartramia longicauda). In labor, but seed placed in the bottom of a It may take two years before perennial restored wetlands, there have also been major Copyright © 2014 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.

wetland may wash away and seedlings may plants are harvested and provide economic increases in amphibians, primarily spring Journal of Soil and Water Conservation be drowned before becoming established. return. In addition, even after perennials peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) and western cho- Using a tree planter reduces establishment are well established, it is difficult to com- rus frogs (Pseudacris triseriata). Improvements risk and requires less seed than drilling, but pete with high commodity crop prices, in wildlife habitat and soil erosion occurred requires starting plants in a greenhouse. For like those experienced from 2010 to 2012. rapidly during the first few years. During high future large-scale plantings, Novotny stated, intensity spring rainfall events, researchers “I would prefer to use a drill if enough seed MEASURING SUCCESS have observed severe rill erosion occurring was available. When we first started out, we Success at EcoSun depends on maintain- on adjacent corn and soybean fields, but didn’t have enough seed from the popula- ing the delicate balance between the dual not on the restored grassland. Reduced soil tion of prairie cordgrass we wanted. So, we goals of conservation and profitability. For erosion also translates into improvements in had to grow our own plants started from instance, although monocultures of switch- water quality. In contrast to the short time

plugs. Now, we produce enough seed for grass reduce soil erosion and build organic frame required for improvements in wildlife 69(1):22A-25A our own use and for sale to others.” matter relative to a corn–soybean (Glycine habitat and soil erosion, other improvements For someone interested in harvesting max) rotation, they lack biological diversity. in soil quality, such as the organic matter their own seed, Novotny recommends On the other hand, diverse fields of prairie content, will require more than a few years investing in a small, used combine that has plants have proven to be lower yielding than to make significant gains. www.swcs.org a good reputation and for which parts are switchgrass monocultures, are more difficult Hundreds of people have visited the farm readily available. “The 12-foot head on to manage because they contain ecologically since its inception, ranging from local farm- our combine works well for harvesting important broad-leaved plants that are sensi- ers, to conservation agency personnel, to a

our prairie cordgrass because it’s planted tive to herbicides needed to control invasive group of Kazakh farmers on a tour of the in relatively small patches,” he said, “but a weeds, and produce mixed-species seed with United States. Classes of young students at 20-foot wide head would be better for our lower market value than single species lots. South Dakota State University have toured larger switchgrass fields.” So, through six years of operation, has the farm, as have classes of retired persons Tillage and planting machinery have EcoSun been successful? Farm revenue participating in the Osher Lifelong Learning been used for establishing fields, in addition increased every year as more land came Institute. “We’re definitely getting the word to herbicides, fire, and most recently, cattle. into production and marketing skills out there,” said Johnson. “We’re approaching “We use the cattle as ecosystem engineers,” improved (figure 4). Gross revenue reached agriculture from a different perspective, and said Novotny. “We sometimes let them graze US$138,000 on 221 ha (546 ac) in 2012 we can show people what it looks like in areas targeted for restoration rather than despite severe summer drought. A land- practice. We’re hoping that it helps people to mowing the areas with large machinery.” owner who provided his own labor would think in a new way, consider new alternatives Although valued for their ecosys- have had a net income of US$60,000. to the way we typically farm.” tem engineering, EcoSun’s cattle are also Although this was less than what could have expected to turn a profit. Scott Kronberg, been earned at the historically high corn TAKING THE NEXT STEP EcoSun’s livestock production special- prices of recent years, it was more than the When EcoSun’s five-year lease ended after ist, believes that a long-term land-tenure median household income (US$49,415; the 2012 harvest, board members were faced arrangement would allow development US Census Bureau 2013) in South Dakota. with a difficult decision. The price of corn of additional livestock enterprises, such Many farm families choose to farm because and soybeans had risen dramatically in the as a cow-calf beef herd, a grass-based of the lifestyle, and some may be willing to years since the project was initiated, and land

24A JAN/FEB 2014—VOL. 69, NO. 1 JOURNAL OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION Figure 4 ure, the board considered discontinuing the Sources of revenue (blue, red, and green bars) and operating costs (purple bar) on EcoSun project. However, urged by supporters who since establishment in 2008. Costs do not include labor or land rental (Archer et al. 2013). viewed the farm as an important example of native grassland farming, the board decided 160,000 to continue the project with annual lease 140,000 renewals. The farm received favorable rainfall in 2013, so EcoSun is optimistic about yields, 120,000 Legend although final numbers are not yet available. 100,000 Livestock The decline in the price of corn from 2012 to 2013 may also lead to some relief in land Hay 80,000 rental cost and makes farming hay and grass Grass seed 60,000 seed economically competitive (figure 5). Cost EcoSun is now looking beyond the bor- 40,000 ders of the flagship farm and working to Revenue or cost (US$) 20,000 find ways to provide information and land management recommendations to others 0 interested in replicating grassland farming.

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Copyright © 2014 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.

“We’ve had a lot of people tell us they’re Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Year interested in our work, and they’d like to do something similar on their land, but Figure 5 they don’t have the knowledge, equipment, or time to do it themselves,” Johnson said. Raising hay and seed produces the same net revenue as corn at US$4.52 bu–1 (red line) when hay is valued at US$75 tn–1, switchgrass seed is US$2.65 lb–1, and switchgrass “Right now we’re looking for sources of seed is produced on 22% of a 600 ac farm. If no switchgrass seed is produced, the hay funding to provide arrangements that will farm would produce the same net profit as corn at US$3.89 bu–1 (blue line). The distance reduce the cost of establishing commer- between the red line and the horizontal black line indicates the net revenue that would be cial prairie vegetation on other farms.” For gained or lost by raising hay and seed rather than corn at a wide range of corn prices. instance, cost-share programs could replace the revenue lost during the first two years

when establishment is taking place or might 69(1):22A-25A 150 cover the cost of seed and initial planting. While some producers make farming deci- 100 sions based primarily on profitability, there are many others, especially on smaller farms, 50 www.swcs.org that would prefer grassland to row crops if it 0 is profitable. Reducing establishment costs might be enough encouragement for those –50

farmers to make the transition. If EcoSun –100 succeeds at spreading its farming style to more acres, it will be a victory for the –150 region’s soils, lakes, wetlands, conservation- –200 minded farmers, and wildlife as well.

–250 REFERENCES Archer, D.W., W.C. Johnson, C.J. Zilverberg, C. Novotny, –300 T. Schumacher, A. Boe, and S. Kronberg. 2013. Economic Performance of a Corn Belt Grass Farm. –350 Poster presented at the 68th International Annual Conference of the Soil and Water Conservation Benefit to EcoSun Prairie Farm (thousands of US$) of Prairie Farm (thousands EcoSun Benefit to –400 Society, Reno, Nevada, July 21-24, 2013. 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 US Census Bureau. 2013. Median household income –1 by state – single-year estimates. http://www.cen- Corn price (US$ bu ) sus.gov/hhes/www/income/data/statemedian/. Zilverberg, C.J., W.C. Johnson, V. Owens, A. Boe, T. prices and rent had followed suit. Should on? Unlike corn or soybeans, EcoSun’s Schumacher, K. Reitsma, C.O. Hong, C. Novotny, EcoSun renew their lease at the new, higher products don’t enjoy generous safety net M. Volke, and B. Werner. With editor. Biomass yield from planted mixtures and monocultures of native land rental rates? Or should they take the les- insurance programs. Due to increased land prairie vegetation across a heterogeneous farm land- sons learned, publish their findings, and move rent and the risk associated with crop fail- scape. Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment.

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