PFI Field Day Farming Outside the Box: A Fresh Approach to Diversification on a Nebraska Farm

Junior Pfanstiel and his family farm near McLean, Nebraska, raising corn, soybeans, small grains, grain sorghum, buckwheat, forage peas and pinto beans on 270 acres that they are transitioning to a regenerative organic system. Junior started down the regenerative path when nitrogen costs were over a dollar per pound, and he decided to grow his own nitrogen by planting legume cover crops.

As he reduced his chemical inputs, Junior decided he should be striving for the organic premium and started transitioning acres to organic. At this field day, Junior will showcase his trial testing the performance of corn hybrids after roller-crimping a legume cover crop mix. He’ll also highlight his food-grade white grain sorghum and discuss his journey transitioning to organic, reducing inputs and growing his own nitrogen.