Jacob Faugstad: Strip-Till & Cover Crops Halve Erosion in MN
By Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF)
TL;DR: Jacob Faugstad successfully integrated strip-tillage and cover crops on his Minnesota farm, improving soil health and water infiltration with institutional support.
- Strip-till and cover crops enhance soil structure.
- Improved soil aggregates boost water infiltration.
- Regenerative practices increase climate resilience.
- Institutional support accelerates adoption.
- Family farms can scale soil-health practices.
Why it matters: Adopting regenerative practices like strip-tillage and cover cropping can significantly improve soil health, making farms more resilient to extreme weather and reducing environmental impact.
Do this next: Research local incentives or programs similar to the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund that support regenerative agriculture practices.
Recommended for: Farmers and agricultural policymakers interested in practical, scalable regenerative farming techniques for improved soil health and climate resilience.
This farmer spotlight documents Jacob Faugstad's implementation of strip-till and cover crop practices on his farm near Fisher, Minnesota, supported by the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF). The case demonstrates practical scaling of regenerative practices on a family farm operation. Faugstad observed measurable improvements in soil structure following strip-till adoption, noting increased soil aggregates and better water infiltration. A specific field test validated the effectiveness: after implementing strip-tilling on several fields, a six-inch rainfall event occurred in spring over just a couple hours. The improved soil structure from strip-till and cover crop practices enabled superior water infiltration compared to conventionally managed fields, demonstrating real-world resilience to intense precipitation events. The SWOF program provided support for successfully scaling these practices across multiple fields, indicating that institutional incentive programs can facilitate adoption of soil-health-focused regenerative agriculture. The documented improvements in soil aggregation and water infiltration represent foundational soil health gains that enhance farm resilience to climate variability while reducing erosion and runoff risks. This case exemplifies how family farm operations can implement field-tested regenerative practices with institutional support to achieve measurable soil health and hydrological improvements.