Living on the river means we have an additional responsibility to be proactive in protecting our most valuable resources…our soil and our primary source of water!

One of the challenges we face is soil erosion. That occurs when the ground is bare through the heavy fall and spring rains. Water is very powerful and will always follow the path of least resistance carving out the fields as it makes its way to the river. It also takes with it the nutrients that are needed to produce our delicious sweet corn.

Over the years we started planting cover crops including Tillage Radish, Clover, and Wheat to do the work of holding our soils and nutrients so they are available in the coming seasons.

Tillage Radish has the ability to grow quickly forming a tap root like a carrot that goes as deep as the leaves on top and in some varieties, MUCH larger as in the photo! The plant holds the nutrients and the soil through the winter months and then dies off and rots leaving very little residue to inhibit spring planting but enough to prevent erosion! When you walk the fields that have radishes, you will notice holes where the roots were, allowing water to filter easily into the soil profile when needed in the spring!

A clover mix for one season followed by a winter wheat cover allows us to rotate our heavier clay fields to give the soil a rest every other season and restore the soil profile.

Now when someone asks “What’s that growing in the Snyder’s fields?” after the sweet corn season is over, you’ll be able to tell them!