Protecting the Land with Kernza®
Anne and Pete Schwagerl are farmers who grow annual crops including wheat, corn, beans, barley and oats in Big Stone County, near Browns Valley, Minnesota.
In 2020, Anne and Pete started planting Kernza® on 40 acres of their land. As you read on page 6, Kernza® is a perennial crop that can be harvested for its grain.
Anne and Pete Schwagerl
Browns Valley, MN
The Schwagerl’s planted Kernza® and kept it growing in their 40-acre field for 3 years to protect the soil from erosion and also improve the soil health. They plowed up the Kernza® and planted soybeans in the same 40-acre field. When the soybeans were harvested, the yield was higher than usual because of the soil benefits of the Kernza®.
Cover Crops as Problem Solvers
The Schwagerls also use cover crops to protect the soil from erosion and lower the amount of plowing they needed to do on their fields. Winter camelina is a very special cover crop because it is planted in the fall after harvesting wheat, oats or soybeans. The roots of winter camelina keep the soil from blowing away in the winter and prevents the soil from washing away during the early spring rain. When winter camelina is harvested, oil from the seed is used in cooking oil and sustainable aviation fuel. Winter camelina is also used in feed for pets and livestock.
