ILF Cooperator Tom Vaske
Producer: Tom Vaske
Location: Masonville, Delaware County
Soil Region: 3, Northeast Iowa Surface
ILF Demonstration: Strip-tillage compared to conventional tillage
Bio: Tom began farming in 2001 after college graduation, working with his father. In 2006 he struck out on his own and currently farms 960 acres of row crops. He also finishes hogs and has a cow/calf operation with his father. He and his wife have three boys to keep them on the run.
Tom has been an innovator on his farm, conducting test plots on his own. And when a landlord stipulated that there needed to be some conservation practices on his land, he started researching the best approach. Strip-tilling seemed to be the way to go, so instead of purchasing expensive equipment, he modified an old planter into a strip-tiller, which was featured in Farm Journal.
"There is a lot of knowledge a person can gain from being involved with different groups. The information is out there.”
Tom is also involved with Farm Bureau, Iowa Corn Growers Association and his local church.
Building a Culture of Conservation:
“My father mumbles about some of my conservations practices. He wishes I would plow more. But he has come around that strip till produces equal yields. But he still really likes his plow.”
“I love adopting conservation practices. It is fun, interesting and engaging. They cost less money and requires less labor. Now technology is catching up so there aren’t any good reasons not to do it.”
Contact Information:
Tom Vaske ~ Delaware County
2567 110th Avenue
Masonville, IA 50654
563/932-2132
tjvaske@yousq.net
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