Josh Betcher

You don’t have to pilot a boat to understand the importance of maintaining an even keel, especially when dealing with variables you cannot control. For Josh Betcher, owner and president of JB Farms LLC, managing risk is a continuous process and critical part of keeping his operation steady, productive and sustainable.

For over 20 years, Josh has managed 470 acres of farmland in Mazeppa, Minnesota, the fifth generation in a family legacy that dates back to 1883. JB Farms is a diverse operation, consisting mainly of row crops, and also 50 acres of forage and pasture, a 40-head calf-to-finish beef operation, and a breeding program with 250 goats. The farm includes 20 acres that are dedicated to conservation efforts – and participates in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program.

Maintaining a successful and sustainable farm doesn’t come without exploring new approaches to improve the business model. When his father’s health declined, Josh looked for ways to reduce his labor requirements and incorporated reduced tillage into the farm operations. He also took a closer look at other regenerative practices, and has adopted strip till, cover crops, forage rotation and conservation reserve.

“We call these century farms for a reason,” he notes. “I wanted to preserve the farm for my kids to become the sixth generation in our family’s legacy, should they choose to do so.”

As part of his interest in regenerative farming, Josh was one of the early adopters of carbon sequestration, in a program that later evolved into the Bayer Carbon Program. ForGround by Bayer.

“We were among the first to participate in the pilot program and have continued with it ever since,” he says. “Not only do we receive compensation for our efforts, but we’ve also adopted new digital platforms and received the agronomic support we needed to make it a success.”

Participating in programs, like ForGround,the Bayer Carbon Program that emphasize regenerative practices doesn’t mean you can put your operations on autopilot and step away. Because of the inherent variability that comes with farming, Josh sees risk management as an essential skill set, one that requires constant oversight, flexibility and quick action.

“We have a pretty narrow window in southern Minnesota to get things right and the weather is always one of our biggest challenges,” says Josh. “We’ve tried both flying on seed and strip tilling for cover crops, depending on weather and soil moisture. Sometimes it works perfectly and sometimes we end up with waist-high rye, but we always try find ways to get a protective mat of vegetation to keep our soil healthy and productive.”

“One of the ways to protect against constantly changing weather conditions is to ensure your soil is in the best shape it can be,” notes Josh. “One of the key benefits we’ve seen with regenerative management has been a significant improvement in our soil structure. Not only do we have less runoff and erosion compared to conventional tillage, but we’ve also lowered our downside risk from extreme weather fluctuations. Last year was one of the driest on record and yet we were still able to come within 2% of our record yields.”

Apparently, keeping things steady as she goes can apply to farming just as much as it does to nautical navigation.