Woodham farmer protects fields from soil compaction with new tire inflation system
With each pass over his fields, Gerard Steenbeek increases the risk of soil compaction. The Woodham, ON farmer is concerned about the impact it will have on his crop yields and soil as time goes on, and has resolved to protect his land for the future.
“We have visually seen tracks in the fields that are already showing signs compaction caused by a dump trailer,” says Steenbeek, who, along with his family operate Stonecreek Farms where they milk 900 cows, raise pigs and grow 2,000 acres of crops. “By reducing soil compaction, we can establish a better crop and apply manure to fields where it can actually soak into the ground instead of running off, like it would in a compacted field.”
Completing the Farmland Health Check-Up to assess on-farm environmental risks helped Steenbeek recognize his soil compaction concerns and look for a solution. Delivered by the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association, Check-ups are conducted by Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) and Professional Agrologists (P.Ags) and offered to farmers in the Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair watersheds.
Working with his agronomist to address the results of the assessment, they found an answer to the compaction challenge – a Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS). By investing in the system and installing it on key pieces of field equipment, Steenbeek could reduce the impact of heavy tractors and implements on his fields, preventing and reducing soil compaction overall.
“The Farmland Health Check-Up program was a good way for us to connect again with our agronomist to identify some of the problems that we expect to see on our farm, like soil compaction, that might potentially cause us to lose yields or have adverse impacts on the environment,” says Steenbeek, noting the evaluation process also enabled him to address his concerns in ways he may not have previously considered.
When a CTIS was recommended, Steenbeek was eager to work with Lake Erie Agriculture Demonstrating Sustainability (LEADS) to see how it could benefit the farm. The cost-share funding program helps farmers, like Steenbeek, improve soil health, protect water resources and manage nutrients.
“The tire inflation system allows us to run an air compressor to inflate the tires as needed and deflate the tires when they’re not,” explains Steenbeek. “We’ve installed this on a tractor and dump trailers, enabling us to adjust the tire pressure from the tractor cab when operating in the field or travelling roadways.” The Central Tire Inflation System lowers tire pressure to maximize the tire’s footprint and spread out the weight of the field equipment, allowing the machines to float over the ground to reduce compaction. Steenbeek says that, by accessing LEADS he’s been able to invest in the CTIS to reduce the amount of compaction in his fields, allowing him to implement more no-till and possibly strip-till options in the future.
Participating in the Farmland Health Check-Up and LEADS has provided Steenbeek and his family with a new solutions-based approach to improving soil health. Steenbeek believes that tire inflation is another tool for farmers to add to their sustainability toolbox and can play a key role in supporting water quality in the Lake Erie watershed.
“On our farm, water quality is very important, and we want to make sure that we leave it in the best possible way for the future,” says Steenbeek. “So, by reducing tillage, improving our soil infiltration and managing our manure applications responsibly, we feel we can make a positive difference for the environment in the future.”
The Farmland Health Check-Up and LEADS are funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year investment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments to encourage innovation, competitiveness and sustainability in Canada’s agriculture industry.
Visit farmlandhealthcheckup.net for a list of CCAs and P.Ags who are eligible to conduct the Farmland Health Check-Up.
Click on the image for a video showcasing Stonecreek Farms.