Paul Swanson retired in 2002 after 35 years at the University of Nebraska Extension. But Swanson’s involvement in agriculture and devotion to conservation and stewardship is still going strong today.

Early in their marriage, Swanson and his wife, Mary Jo, who reside near Hastings, purchased 160 acres near Minden. After a career working with farmers and ranchers through Extension (primarily in Adams County), the Swansons have made farming their second career. Their land was certified organic in 2008, and they’ve focused on growing organic popcorn, which is sold via contract to a Grand Island-based company.

In his farming activities, Swanson is committed to enhancing soil health. He notes that organic production requires crop rotation since chemicals and synthetic fertilizers cannot be used. To help meet these requirements, he plants cover crops to increase soil organic matter and carbon. Annually, he plants about half of his acres to cover crops. Swanson has used various mixtures of sweet clover, mammoth clover, turnips, radishes, rye, vetch, buckwheat and sterile sorghum. The following year, Swanson plants popcorn where the cover crop was, and cover crops on acres previously in popcorn. Looking ahead, he plans to try organic no-till to further enhance soil health in the future.

In addition to his cropping ventures, Swanson remains active in agricultural circles. His affiliations include roles as a board member for the Center for Rural Affairs, certification as a holistic management educator, and a board member for the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition, an organization he has been involved in since the late 1990s. Swanson, whose background was in animal science and reproductive physiology, notes he continues to be involved in groups committed to ecology and natural resources.

“Progressive grazing systems and biological farming systems are leading the efforts toward responsible stewardship and enhanced soil for future generations," he says. "This represents what is now called ‘regenerative agriculture.’”

Learn more about the conservation efforts of other landowners across Nebraska at nebraskagrazinglands.org.

Source: Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition