When it comes to Conservation Agriculture and row crops in Washtenaw County, there are few operations, if any, that successfully practice conservation as well as Lee Maulbetsch. Going back to 1978, the Maulbetsch family has consistently farmed corn, soy beans, and wheat, in Northfield Township. These days, Lee and the rest of the Maulbetsch family farm roughly 1,400 acres, and conservation is the guiding principle for all aspects of the operation.
Conservation is at the center of the operation for the Maulbetsch Family. Starting with Soil sampling on a three year rotation, every field always has up to date soil tests. In doing so, Lee is fully equipped to making the best decision he can for what fields need what nutrient applications, and just as important, what fields do not need nutrient application. Additionally, almost no field goes without cover crop during non production periods of the year. For years Lee has applied Cereal Rye, and a mix of Cereal Rye and Radishes, to almost every field on his farm, regardless of the prior crop. Lee has seen the potential risks of erosion and soil loss when these practices are not employed, and Lee makes it a point to make sure the soil on every field is protected from wind and water erosion. Seldom will a farm cover every field at the end of the season, however the value that Lee places on the health of his ground is immeasurable. These practices, as well as practicing no till when possible, have made conservation both easy, and profitable, for Lee and the rest of his family.
Conservation is not always an easy sell. It requires patience, curiosity, and data analysis regarding yields. It takes time for practices to turn a profit, and sometimes it is not easy for the business of a farmer to make changes to their operation. Fortunately, agriculture in the state of Michigan sets the bar high when it comes to technical assistance and conservation, and Lee has been a pioneer on both of those fronts. Having worked with the Ann Arbor Natural Resource Conservation Service office through the EQIP program for several years, Lee has been a participant in several Farm Bill programs, which have given him an opportunity to take conservation to the next level across all of his farmed acres. Lee’s farmed acres in Clinton are all under the EQIP program, which provides financial assistance for the cover crops flown on following corn each October, and 360 acres in Northfield township are now enrolled CSP, the Conservation Stewardship Program.
Conservation takes time to see through and a passion to protect natural resources. Fortunately, patience and a genuine care of conservation are the guiding principles for all aspects of the Maulbetsch Families operation. While conservation continues to flourish across all types of agriculture in Washtenaw County, having the operation of Lee Maulbetsch as an example of how far conservation can take an operation is a great asset to Washtenaw County.