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Better Farming
January 2017
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Doing their part to protect soil and water
T
he Huber family farm opera-
tion in Harrow, Essex County
exemplifies that when it comes
to using new technologies in the farm
field, the size of your farm doesn’t
matter.
Neal, his father, Don, and their
wives Tracy and Trudy, respectively,
farm 250 acres of corn, soybeans,
wheat and seed corn across three
family-owned farms – Neal and
Tracy’s, Don and Trudy’s, and Neal’s
grandmother’s – and also custom
plant about 600 acres. In past years
they have rented acres; last year they
opted not to because of the high price
of field rentals.
In recent years, the family added
data mapping as well as variable rate
fertilization and grid soil sampling.
They are among a handful of farmers
across the province to try helicopter
seeding to plant cover crops into
soybean stands. Last year, they began
using an air seeder to set fertilizer
directly in the ground instead of
surface applying and working it in
afterwards.
“I like technology but I wouldn’t be
doing it on my own,” says Don. The
combined efforts of two generations
makes new approaches possible, he
says.
The family harnesses community
effort to implement many of the
practices used on larger operations.
For instance, the custom service they
use to complete the harvest also
collects yield data. The operation
by MARY BAXTER
This Essex County family has made conservation a top priority in their farming
operation. They adopt new technology to achieve their conservation goals.
Neal Huber and his father, Don, were the recipients of the 2015 Essex County conservation award. The
award, issued by the Essex Region Conservation Authority and Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association,
recognized the farm family’s innovative approach to conservation.
NEAL & DON
HUBER