Iowans live in a leading agriculture state but do many of us truly understand the science of farming? Do we know what no-till is or why it’s important? Do we know why soil quality is eroding? Jayson Ryner, founder ReEnvision Ag, and Iowan farmer, explains soil degradation and what his company invented to fix the problem.
Ryner just won the 1st place $100,000 prize from The Innoventure Challenge. A local fund designed to support new tech companies in Iowa and encourage economic growth.
What is no-till?
Farmers want biomass sitting on their fields, it adds nutrients to the soil and contributes to better yield, but there’s a problem. No-till farming is the practice of leaving biomass on the field when crops are planted. But there’s a problem, no-till isn’t efficient. Because farmers need to be profitable, many opt to till their soil to widen their already narrow margins.
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Why tillage hurts soil.
Tillage is typically performed by two discs that cut into the soil. Seeds are planted, then two more discs close the dirt back over the seeds. This is tough on the soil, leading to soil compaction and lower yield. It also may be lowering the Nutrional density of our food. Today, Americans are getting less Magnesium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Selenium, Iron because of soil health.
It’s a delicate balance of producing now, but making long-term sustainable choices for future yields. Tillage is more efficient but erodes soil. No-till is less efficient but improves soil.
Ryner’s tech solves these issues with what he calls SpeedSpikes. His tech allows farmers to scale no-till operations and widen planting windows, without tilling the land. It’s a huge breakthrough because it preserves the valuable biomass that decays into the soil, and it converts all Iowa farmland into a natural carbon capture tool.
How do SpeedSpikes Work?
ReEnvision Ag’s SpeedSpike tech essentially “inject” seeds into the soil without disturbing top soil or biomass. This approach increases the planting window by allowing farmers to plant in wet or dry conditions. It also reduces soil compaction, increase soil health, and allow for more efficient water utilization.
Farmland is a natural carbon capture tool
Ryner explains farmland, like much of Iowa, is an effective carbon capture tool, but we rarely speak about it. Longer growing seasons and maintaining biomass on the land means farmland can capture more carbon from the atmosphere. So, Ryner says as temperatures rise, farmland may be one of our best tools to keep the earth cool and counteract rising temperatures.