Conservation Practices

Forestry Improvement and Establishment

In the early 90’s, Curt noticed that the grove around his farmstead was not providing sufficient protection from the wind and blowing snow. To address this, he decided to install a farmstead shelterbelt with assistance from the Area Service Center for approval, design and funding.  Once approved Curt worked with local contractors to clear parts of the existing degraded grove, creating space for new trees.  He then partnered with a local nursery to plant over 250 trees and shrubs, including pine, ash, hackberry, oak and honeysuckle, to shield against the predominant northwest winds.  Although these trees have since matured, Curt continues to maintain them.  Due to a disease affecting the pine trees, Curt is currently monitoring the situation by removing diseased pines and planting new trees.

Curt’s tree planting efforts extended beyond his grove. In the mid-90’s, he decided to implement a wildlife tree planting on a non-crop area with gradual slopes leading to a stream system. With the help of district staff, Curt designed and planted trees to provide food and shelter for local wildlife, dogwood, and honeysuckle. Curt prepared the area by cultivating the soil and removing old fencing. Cost-share funds were used to offset the expenses of the wildlife tree planting project.

Wind Erosion Practices

Wind erosion is a significant force in Redwood County.  Curt is aware of this and employs various methods to combat it. Over the winter months, he notices soil blowing off fields and depositing in road ditches, creating unsightly black snow. He has also occasionally noticed drifting soils and dust clouds after spring planting, when soils are vulnerable to high winds.

To address wind-driven erosion, Curt uses several practices. He rotates corn and soybean, incorporating cover crops and no-till methods for both cash crops, which have effectively eliminated wind erosion on his farm. The only tillage pass in his rotation is a vertical tillage toolbar used to incorporate broadcasted cover crop seed. This high residue and cover crop system which keeps his soil protected from the elements has been more than enough to make wind erosion not an issue for him. To implement and better understand these soil health practices, he relies on staff knowledge and programs such as CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program), EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Programs), and various forms of local district cost-share.

Cropland Management

Curt’s farming operation consists of a corn and soybean rotation. For nutrient management, he utilizes Centrol Crop Consulting for soil testing and fertilizer recommendations across his entire operation. Centrol provides 2.5 acre grid sampling, where nutrients are variably applied following the University of Minnesota’s recommendations. Stabilizers are also used for his nitrogen inputs to prevent nutrient losses due to environmental factors before corn is planted. In the past, Curt has quickly realized the benefits of proper nutrient planning. Curt now utilizes the CSP program to help offset the costs of introducing variable rate applications to his operation and to work on advanced nutrient management practices on new acres.

Curt uses minimal tillage on his farm, and the tillage he does perform is to promote seed-to-soil contact for cover crop establishment. Following soybean harvest, a fall anhydrous pass is completed with a low disturbance bar on 30” spacing. After this pass, the local coop broadcasts phosphorus, potassium, and cover crop seed. This seed is then worked in with a vertical tillage tool to a shallow depth, which not only incorporates the P & K but also increases seed-to-soil contact for the cover crops and smooths out the ridges left by the anhydrous bar. Corn is then planted directly into the standing cover crop that has been terminated with spray a day prior. Cereal rye is Curt’s go-to-cover crop due to its ability to smother weeds, as it is the first plant growing in the spring, giving weeds no chance to establish. Curt is also open to adding other species to the mix and trying different cover crops.

Following the corn harvest, Curt uses a similar method of cover crop establishment where the coop spreads the cover crop seed, and he lightly incorporates the seed using his vertical tillage tool. In the spring, soybeans are no-till planted into established rye that has been burned down a day or two before planting.

Over the years, Curt has utilized various forms of financial assistance to implement cover crops across his entire operation. He began using cover crops based on the advice of district staff, who promoted aerial establishment. While Curt experienced many successes with aerial seeding, he found that his method was highly weather-dependent, leading to poor establishment if conditions were not favorable. After experimenting with several methods, Curt now uses his vertical tillage tool, which provides better establishment and is less dependent on moisture and seed reaching the soil surface.

Integrated Pest Management

Pest management on the Trost operation is also handled by the experts at Centrol Crop Consulting. Curt understands that pest control in a corn and soybean rotation is always evolving. Chemicals and premixes change every year, as do the rates and timing of application. The staff at Centrol stay current with these changes, utilizing their vast experience to optimize Curt’s pest management activities.

While Centrol manages pest control, Curt has more time to focus on other aspects of his farming operation. However, Curt remains actively involved in pest management. When he encounters weed issues, Curt quickly establishes cereal rye as a weed mitigation tool due to its ability to smother weeds before they become a problem in the spring. Sometimes, rye works so well that he can eliminate a spray pass, saving him money. Curt utilized staff in our office to help establish proper pest management program by using the CSP program funding.

Buffer Practices

Buffer areas have always been important to Curt’s farming operation. When the Minnesota buffer law went into effect, Curt was already compliant and often exceeded its requirements. He utilized the CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) Program to install nearly 70 acres of CRP, buffering sensitive features throughout his farm. Curt collaborated with FSA (Farm Service Agency) staff to establish these practices, receiving incentive payments to set up and maintain them under contract. Some CRP practices function as filter strips, protecting watercourses from sheet and rill erosion and providing a barrier against cropland activities like spraying and fertilizer application. Other practices serve as buffers, protecting hillsides and degraded knobs from water erosion. Curt currently works with district and NRCS staff to control tree and weed pressures that could degrade the grassland practices. Mitigation techniques include spot spraying, prescribed burning, and haying or mowing.

Wildlife Practices

Over the years, Curt has implemented many practices to promote healthy habitats and forage for local wildlife. He has enrolled marginal lands within his farming operation in set-aside programs. With the help of programs like CRP, Curt has restored some of his land to native prairie, benefiting local wildlife. In 2020, Curt used CSP to establish 2 acres of monarch butterfly habitat. This habitat, placed adjacent to a native grassland practice, provides food source for monarch butterflies that exclusively feed on milkweed during parts of their lifecycle. It also supports pollinator plant species that feed bees. Curt’s cover crop and no-till practices not only directly promote soil health on his farm but also indirectly provide refuge and a food source for wildlife during the long winter months.

Other Soil, Water and Forest Conservation Practices

In 2016, shortly after the program’s pilot phase, Curt signed the application to pursue the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). This program is a whole farm assessment to determine if current management meets Minnesota’s water quality standards. Curt was interested to see how his operation fit the parameters of this program.

Soon after, local district certifying staff connected with Curt to assess all the acres within his operation. The result of the assessment of his current management allowed him to become water quality certified a few months later. He found that by eliminating open tile inlets, he was able to score enough points to certify all the acres within his minimal tillage system. While Curt was able to close many intakes within his operation, he did not sit back and relax once this was completed. Through working with the MAWQCP, he realized there were many more avenues he could purse to make his farm more conductive to water quality.

Leadership in the Community

Curt is active in many different economic, agricultural, and educational organizations in the city of Wabasso and Redwood County.

He is a board member at Ag County Farm Credit Service, setting policy and having oversight over western Minnesota, parts of Wisconsin, and the Dakotas. As a board member, Curt provides leadership and insight for this member-owned, locally governed lending institution providing credit and financial services to more than 25,000 farmers and ranchers.

He is also a founding board member at Serenity Suites, a non-profit organization operating a senior-living facility in Wabasso. Curt and other board members worked with the city to secure a USDA grant to build the facility, which is now operating at capacity, due to the need for quality living facilities in the area. As Vice President of the board of directors, Curt was instrumental in bringing Serenity Suites from an idea, to reality, providing assisted living and memory care to seniors in the Wabasso community.

Curt and his wife are involved in organizing the Rabbit Pride Gala-an annual fund-raising dinner raising money for Wabasso schools. Curt also volunteered as an elementary school basketball coach for over 20 years. Curt’s family has continued to show its support for local education by hosting 6 exchange students over the years. They welcome these young people into their family, calling them ‘exchange-daughters’, building bridges between Wabasso and Redwood County and the world.

Curt is also a member of the local Lions club, putting the needs of neighbors and community first. He is also a member of the Sportsmen’s club, a non-profit organization helping members enjoy the outdoors and supporting MN DNR Hunter Education program, 4H Shooting Sports, Wabasso and Redwood Valley High Schools and FFA trap shooting teams, MN Deer Hunters, and Pheasants Forever.

2024 Conservationist of the Year

Curt’s dedication to conservation over the past 42 years is truly commendable. His leadership in soil health and his willingness to collaborate with local staff have made a significant impact on the community. From planting trees for wildlife and protection to using cover crops to prevent erosion, Curt has consistently demonstrated his commitment to sustainable farming practices.

His perseverance through early challenges to develop a functioning soil health system is inspiring. It’s clear that Curt’s efforts have not only benefited his own farming operation but also served as a valuable resource for others in Redwood County. His proactive approach and positive attitude makes him a joy to work with and a deserving nominee for the Outstanding Conservationist Award.