A Missouri Livestock Farmers’ Bet on a Stronger Future for Small Farms Through Farmer-led Research 

In the rolling hills of west-central Missouri, livestock farmer Jan Van Niekerk is betting on something bigger than just a good grazing season. He’s betting on a future where small farmers reclaim their place at the center of America’s food system, and where science and experience work hand in hand to get them there. 

Van Niekerk who manages a modest but ambitious five-acre operation in Harrisonville, Missouri, and another 86 acres on the other side of town, is part of a From The Ground Up (FTGUp) research project in the area that’s brought together eight livestock farmers to test practical ways to improve soil health, forage production, and long-term farm resilience. Passionate about improving pasture and soil health, he rears goats and cattle and is planning on bringing in sheep. “I appreciate the thought behind this project in the sense of improving the soil, improving the pasture, by using different types of plants, to see if you can improve both without artificial chemicals.”  

FTGUp is a farmer-led project in Ohio and Missouri, working to improve the real-world, on-farm performance of conservation practices across the Midwest. Backed by researchers from The Ohio State University, University of Missouri, Central State University, Lincoln University, and non-profit partner Solutions from the Land, farmers are designing their own research projects with scientists supporting them. Yield stability, protection from extreme weather, and profitability are key outcomes that the farmer-led research is investigating. 

The research in this farmer node on field sizes ranging from half an acre to six acres, is comparing different methods of pretreating seeds for broadcasting annual cover crop species into pastures grazed by small ruminants. On each of the eight participating farms, pastures are divided into three different test plots. On the first field, a diverse mix of cover crops (BMR forage sorghum, hybrid pearl millet, forage soybeans, sunflower, and forage collards) is broadcast after being pre-treated with worm casting tea, a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer derived from worm poop. The second field has the same cover crops seed mix pre-treated with Green Lightning liquid fertilizer, a product created by mimicking the natural nitrogen-fixing effects of lightning. A third plot serves as a control, with untreated seed. Small ruminants move through the plots in carefully managed rotations, mirroring real farm conditions. Throughout the season, data is collected on forage yield, nutrient quality, plant diversity, soil health, and economic return. 

Van Niekerk praises the model of the research for putting farmers in the driving seat while university researchers provide the necessary support. “I’ve got a lifetime of experience. On the research side, university side, you’ve got information and knowledge which I may not have. And that combination can be valuable in making this project a success.” 

Van Niekerk emphasizes how direct farmer involvement in the research makes its benefits more meaningful and impactful. “As a farmer, if I feel that I’m part of that research. It’s going to help me improve, it’s going to be a positive impact all the way through.” 

He sees the project as a pathway to something larger that will help revitalize small farms across the country. “There’s a lot of small farmers around here that would like to see improvement on their properties… Historically, small farmers were the backbone of the food chain all over the world. We’ve lost that. I think more importantly, I would like to see this as a step forward for a whole bunch of small farmers to be reestablished again.” 

With land resources fixed and pressure on food systems increasing, Van Niekerk believes improving efficiency on small farms is essential and the FTGUp research could help open the door to achieving it. “There is no more land than what we have today. Every acre we’ve got available needs to be used as efficiently as possible.” 

Van Niekerk remains confident that efficiency can be achieved by empowering small farmers with better tools, better data, and a stronger voice, through farmer-led research.  

By Joseph Opoku Gakpo