Camelina cover

Camelina

cover

PHOTOS BY JULIA MULLENBACH Seth (left) and Matt Tentis stand in their camelina and soybean fi eld June 13 near their farm in Kellogg. This fi eld is part of the camelina pilot program by the University of Minnesota.

This White Gambrel barn that sits atop a hill inspired the farm name ‘White Barn Acres, LLC.’. The brothers, Matt and Seth Tentis, wanted to make the barn a landmark of their farm.

Tentis brothers experiment with regenerative farming, new crop

BY GRACE JEURISSEN STAFF WRITER

KELLOGG– In the rolling landscape of Wabasha County nestled in a beautiful valley is a big white gambrel barn that marks the homestead of what is now White Barn Acres, LLC. While the farm was established in the 1930s, the brothers leading it are third generation farmers and focused on new practices most recently in collaboration with the University of Minnesota. Matt and Seth Tentis own and operate White Barn Acres, LLC., a 300-acre crop and beef operation that uses regenerative farming practices, selling farm fresh beef to customers and growing a variety of crops. The brothers raise 50 cow/calf pairs on their farm on top of both having full time jobs and young families.

This year, they’re experimenting with planting a newer oil seed plant called camelina. It is part of the camelina pilot program led by the university’s Forever Green Initiative. The brothers describe new farming practices as integral to the farm’s existence. “We knew that we didn’t have the time to farm like our parents did, so something had to give,” Matt said.

The Forever Green Initiative project is one of many practices implemented at White Barn Acres. They have been using cover crops in rotation since 2016. About 75 acres of tillable land was transitioned to grazing pasture over the years. Nearly all of their tillable acres are fenced to allow for grazing. All grazing is purposefully managed for effi ciency and soil health improvement.

This year the brothers, through the initiative, are participating in a camelina pilot program through the University. The program, and the new crop, allow them to get two cash crops off one fi eld in the same year while maintaining living roots in the soil year-round, which benefi ts the soil and the bottom line.

The camelina can be planted and harvested with only minor adjustments to common farm equipment. When drilling the seed into the ground last September, the Tentises skipped a row every 30 inches. Then in May, they planted rows of soybeans into the gaps.

To harvest, they will work with their usual custom harvester and adjust his combine to a slightly smaller seed size. The traditional bean

head can be used to harvest camelina, but they will need to raise the head in order to avoid clipping and killing the beans.

“Camelina was attractive to us, because we weren’t fl ying blind,” Matt said. “The University is providing us with guidance during the trial.”

Planting camelina came with a slight risk to the Tentises because it is a new market. Camelina is used in a few different ways, like cooking oil and for cover crop seed. Fortunately, the University will be buying the camelina from them this year as part of the pilot program.

Next year they plan to try the 30-inch skipped row with rye and beans. Matt says there are trials showing farmers can be more profi table double cropping winter rye and soybeans than wih either crop by itself. It decreases inputs, diversifi es the production, and has water and soil benefi ts.

The farm has been a great place for the brothers to experiment with different cropping methods. Last year, they planted soybeans directly into a living rye cover crop and then roller crimped to terminate the rye. Unfortunately, this did not work out, but the lessons learned were very valuable. “We think the skipped row approach might get similar benefi ts”, said Matt. The Tentises are researching ways they can continue to invest in their land and then business, so the farm is available for their children when the time comes. The goal is to leave it even better than when we took over.

“I would like to see the farm business as a viable option for our kids; so they have a real choice when the time comes,” Matt said.

In 2016 Matt, Seth and their parents, Tony and Kathy, offi cially formed a partnership and incorporated as White Barn Acres, LLC.

“We wanted the name of our business to represent the entirety of the farm,” Matt said.

PHOTOS BY JULIA MULLENBACH These camelina pods house the small oil seed. The pods will be harvested with a combine with a soybean head. Adjustments will need to be made to the soybean head to accommodate the smaller seed size.

(right) When planting camelina last September, the Tentises skipped a row every 30 inches to plant their soybeans into the same fi eld. This practice is something they plan to use next year with winter rye and soybean fi eld. Tentis page 9

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