Stories of Innovation at Ferme Houle Farm

Andre and his family are third and fourth generation farmers on this land, and transitioned it to organic in 2021, after many years of more conventional farming. Within a few years of this transition, they went from a corn/soybean rotation and plowing every inch of soil, to growing wheat, rye, barley, peas, hairy vetch, red clover, buckwheat, oats, and fava beans along with corn and soybeans.  They intercrop many of these crops in an effort to feed the soil biology, and use cover crops to keep the soil covered as much as we can. They are using roller-crimping techniques, no-till, minimal tillage and plowing only when necessary.

This year, in an effort to continue to experiment and innovate, Andre and his team have embarked on some soil health trials on the farm. Join us at this field day for a field tour and discussion of the Ferme Houle Farm story, a look at their cover cropping methods and processes, a drone demonstration and an exploration and discussion of some on-farm trials.