ROSE HILL, Iowa — The warm sun and bright blue sky were a nice backdrop as spring field work got underway on the Jackson Farms, near Rose Hill.

Mark Jackson farms with his son Michael near Highway 92, east of Oskaloosa. Day one of tilling was a gentle moving of soil around the cereal rye cover crop. The rye works to prevent wind and water erosion over winter, until corn can be planted in the spring.

“So, this cereal rye will be the number one cover in the state of Iowa,” said Michael. “This stuff you could plant it on a gravel road, and it would still grow and germinate that’s why it’s number one in the state.”

The younger Jackson works to market cover-crop seed as another income source for his farm operation. He was towing an implement with wheels and spikes to lightly till the soil.

“We’re going out and we’re kind of scratching the ground just a little bit and this machine throws all the residue up in the air,” said Michael. “Then it allows us just very minimal amount of soil disturbance.”

Mark Jackson has just concluded his 50th season farming the land his dad also farmed. He said the past two years have been some of the best yield-wise he’s had in his farming career.

“It’s a wonderful time to be in agriculture, and I’ll just use some of President Trump’s that this is the golden age of technology and agriculture,” said Mark. “I’ve watched my father go from using mold-board plows to where I started using minimum till, to my son and I using and total no-till, and we’re putting in fewer inputs having bigger yield outcomes, and at the end of the day, we’re actually making a stronger environment, and clear water.” 

The Jacksons worked the soil on Wednesday, with a plan for some rainfall on Thursday, to help make the rye crop stronger. They can’t begin planting until at least April 10th, due to crop insurance guidelines. They also have to check the weather forecast before they plant. They must avoid cold snaps after the seeds are in the ground.