Jacob Bolson
When Jacob Bolson was given the opportunity to rent 240 acres in Fall 2020, he and his wife jumped at the chance. In addition to 139 tillable acres, this piece of land has a 30-acre pasture, two wetlands, and Beaver Creek running through it. Knowing his newly acquired ground had been under continuous corn for 10 years and the pasture overgrazed, Jacob immediately implemented conservation management practices to help build up the land.
With his interest in conservation starting at Iowa State University around 2004, Jacob now utilizes a variety of practices that benefit his operation and those living downstream. These practices range from simply not grazing his pasture, to installing two woodchip bioreactors. Even with the changes he has implemented on his farm, Jacob continues to see the opportunity for improvement. Beginning this fall, he hopes to plant a 30 ft strip of pollinator habitat around part of his field.
Growing up near Decorah showed Jacob the potential impacts of conventional management practices. Understanding his impact on the land is one reason Jacob enjoys farming. Whether good or bad, he takes responsibility for his actions and how they affect the system as a whole. This connection with the land is what pushes Jacob to continue utilizing and expanding conservation across his operation.
Building a Culture of Conservation:
“We, in the agricultural community, like to jump to the latest and the cool and the flashy, but there is opportunity across the countryside to do the most basic grass waterways, reduction in tillage, and split nutrient application.”