Farming Outside the Box

Farming Outside the Box: A Fresh Approach to Diversification on a Nebraska Farm

Thursday, June 27 | 10 a.m.-Noon

Junior PfanstielLocation

868th Road between 550th Avenue and 551st Avenue

McLean, NE 68747

Hosts

Junior & Katelyn Pfanstiel, Gene & Julie Pfanstiel

RSVP

Junior Pfanstiel and his family farm near McLean, Nebraska, raising corn, soybeans, small grains, grain sorghum, buckwheat, forage peas and pinto beans on 270 acres that they are transitioning to a regenerative organic system. Junior started down the regenerative path when nitrogen costs were over a dollar per pound, and he decided to grow his own nitrogen by planting legume cover crops.

As he reduced his chemical inputs, Junior decided he should be striving for the organic premium and started transitioning acres to organic. At this field day, Junior will showcase his trial testing the performance of corn hybrids after roller-crimping a legume cover crop mix. He’ll also highlight his food-grade white grain sorghum and discuss his journey transitioning to organic, reducing inputs and growing his own nitrogen.

Meal

Lunch will follow the field day, and will be held at 215 Main St., Magnet, Nebraska, at the Magnet Community Center.

See & Discuss

  • A corn hybrid plot testing hybrid performance in a roller-crimped cover crop system with zero synthetic inputs
  • Food-grade white grain sorghum planted green
  • Transitioning to a regenerative organic system
  • A nitrogen-fixing cover crop mix of ND Gardner, a variety of winter rye, along with balansa clover and hairy vetch for roller-crimping

Location Notes

This field day is eight minutes northwest of McLean, Nebraska, on 868th Road between 550th Avenue and 551st Avenue.

If coming from the east: From the junction of U.S. 81 and U.S. 20, continue 4 miles west on U.S. 20 and turn right (north) onto 551st Avenue. Continue north for 3 miles to the intersection with 868th Road. Follow signs for parking.

If coming from Osmond on U.S. 20: Go 5 miles east of Osmond and turn left (north) onto 551st Avenue. Continue north for 3 miles to the intersection with 868th Road. Follow signs for parking.

Farm Info

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Sponsor

  • Albert Lea Seed House
  • Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District
  • Mad Capital
  • Walmart Foundation