Steve Reimer - Millborn Seeds

SOUTH
DAKOTA
PROFILES IN
soil health
Steve Reimer
Chamberlain, SD
Crops: corn soybeans wheat and
forage oats in their cash crop rotation
with turnips, radishes and lentils
Planting: no-till and adding cover crop mix
Photo by Stacy Turgeon, NRCS, Chamberlain, South Dakota
Reimer Sees Long-term
Value in Growing Soil
Micro-organisms
Steve and Elaine Reimer operate R&R Cattle Company,
a third generation diversified farming and ranching
operation, south of Chamberlain, SD. The Reimers
run a nationally-recognized herd of both purebred
Simmental and SimAngus cattle. As a member of
the Brule-Buffalo Conservation District, Reimer
has witnessed the challenges and successes many
producers face with soil fertility and crop production.
Reimer’s district board involvement and personal
interest in caring for his land has shaped his practical
approach to conservation.
“We started no-tilling 20 years ago because I knew
we had to retain whatever moisture possible in our
fields,” Reimer said. “We had put in grass waterways
and terraces, but erosion was still a concern. When it
rained, all you could do was watch the muddy water
run out of the fields and head to the dug-outs. We
don’t have those same problems now.”
United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
When Reimer started focusing on the maximizing soil
biological activity, one of his management techniques has
been keeping the soil covered throughout the season and
with each crop rotation.
Reimer soon saw major differences by eliminating
tillage. The moisture infiltration in his fields
changed dramatically over the years. In fact, now
even after the substantial rainfalls in 2013, a trip
around the ranch reveals empty dug-outs.
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profiles in soil health
Steve Reimer, South Dakota
“To me, those dry dug-outs are the biggest indicators
of improvement around here,” Reimer said. That
is a direct reflection of the soil’s capabilities to
capture moisture and eliminate run-off. “It’s a visual
confirmation.”
However large or small they might be, validating
improvements is important. Especially since the
first year of no-tilling appeared to start out shaky
comments Reimer. “When our first field of no-till corn
started coming up, I’m sure people wondered what
we’d done wrong,” Reimer recalled. “The black dirt
(in conventional tilled fields) had a higher soil temp,
so the corn popped up early and green. Our no-till
corn was coming out of the ground yellow, slow and
weak. Then, that year it didn’t rain but the no-till corn
kept growing. At harvest time, we chopped corn in
the conventional-tilled fields for silage and harvested
the no-till fields.”
With no further convincing necessary, Reimer made
a concerted effort to be knowledgeable about
farming technology. Today, a trip to the ranch reveals
the focus Steve and his wife, Elaine, have on ensuring
their operation’s long-term viability and health.
In addition to corn, soybeans, wheat and forage oats,
Reimer utilizes turnips, radishes and lentils in his crop
rotations. The crop aftermath and cover crops are
great for late season grazing which Reimer says gets
the manure back out on the fields where it belongs.
“About five years ago, we decided to invest in cover
crops,” Reimer said. “The cover crops were strictly
intended for soil health. So, at first, we wondered
what we were getting out of it. It’s not like you can
harvest it or cut hay. The only way for us was to
pasture it and we could get about half the value of
planting back in grazing.”
Reimer continued, “The real long-term value, though,
is in what cover crops actually do for the soil fertility
in regard to micro-organisms, replenishing nitrogen
and moisture utilization.”
Soil tests conducted on each field every three years
confirm increased organic matter and nitrogen
levels. With the volatility of uncontrollable factors,
like rain and temperature, attributing hard numbers
Reimer stands in a stock dam that once held run-off water.
After implementing no-till practices and adding cover crops,
the dam went dry.
directly to no-till and cover crops is a challenge.
Experience, however, proves to the Chamberlainnative the value of his investments in soil health.
Reimer says it’s been a learning journey. “Stacy
Turgeon, our local District Conservationist with the
Natural Resources Conservation Service has been
a positive partner,” Reimer said. “She’s provided
valuable help with conservation technical assistance
and through programs like the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).” The couple has
three children and four grandchildren. “We want to
make sure our family’s land stays healthy to produce
quality crops and grasses for generations to come.
I think we’re on the right path,” says Reimer.
“I have a long-term focus on agriculture and believe
taking care of the land is important. I know the
things we’re doing to take care of the soil will pay
dividends over time, and I’ve seen a difference the
practices like no-till, cover crops and rotational
grazing have made for me,” Reimer said.
Want to unlock the secrets in YOUR soil?
Go to: www.nrcs.usda.gov
United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service