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A LIVING LEGACY IN ORGANIC FARMING

At Binkley & Hurst, we’re great admirers of Klaas Martens of Lakeview Organic Grain for the organic farming legacy he and his family have created, in particular, the valuable farming wisdom they generously share with today’s and future farmers.

Klaas is a third-generation grain and livestock farmer who, along with his wife Mary-Howell Martens and son Peter, is a thought leader, frequent public speaker and author about the organic farming movement. They were among the first in America to farm organically, starting back in the early 1990s. They currently farm 1,600 acres of certified organic crops in New York State producing corn, soybeans, speltz, wheat, emmer, einkorn, rye, triticale, buckwheat, oats, barley, cabbage, dry beans, hay, and a wide range of cover crops.

Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones.

DEFINING ORGANIC FARMING

The defining feature of organic farming is that no synthetic substances are used in the growing of plants or in the raising of animals for food. However, the philosophy is much broader. Organic farming is a comprehensive system that takes into consideration every element of nature. It seeks health and harmony amongst not only the plants and animals being raised, but also the soil and organisms within. Succeful organic farmers produce not only healthy plants and livestock, but a sustainable system that works in harmony with the natural environment as it was created.

A VETERAN ORGANIC NO-TILL CRUSADER

The Martens family’s motto is “We all do better when we all do better.” As a farm equipment supplier and seller of used farm equipment in VA, MD, DE, and PA, our team at Binkley & Hurst see this every day. We see it through the practices of our Customers who reflect the universal truth in Martens family’s observation that “When people within a community help each other, their succees are linked.”

That’s why we’re so pleased to bring you the following recording of Klaas Martens’ lecture “Crop Production as a Veteran Organic No-Till Crusader”, as presented at Binkley & Hurst in February.

TIPS FOR ORGANIC FARMING EVERYONE CAN BENEFIT FROM

From the lecture, you’ll receive Klaas’ personal accounting of the inspiration and foresight that convicted him to change his farming practices. As a result, our farming system as we know it today, continues to evolve and improve. 

He provides his recommendations for crop rotations, “Every crop should be planted after its most suitable predeceor” as well as clearly demonstrating the long-term value of making planting decisions based on the soil’s readine to produce, versus based on crop demand or economic preures.

You’ll also receive Klaas’ wisdom on diagnosing soil health through the appearance of vegetation growing thereon. As he cautions: “Don’t short circuit the system” by band-aiding rather than fixing the core problem.

Of significant emphasis are his concerns about the damaging impact of over-tilling farm soil. Is your soil addicted to tilling? After this video, you may take a new approach.

YOUR SOURCE FOR NEW AND USED FARM EQUIPMENT & PARTS 

At Binkley & Hurst, we’ve been your agriculture equipment and technology source since 1939. It’s meaningful to us to serve the farming industry by bringing you and your teams viewpoints from industry thought leaders like Mr. Martens. If there are other voices you’d like to see added to our online articles and videos, please let us know.

And of course, when you’re in need of farm equipment dealers in VA, MD, DE, or PA, it’s our honor to serve you. We offer both new and used farm equipment for sale and our team of experts are always available to support you in your purchase

It’s meaningful to us to serve the farming industry by bringing you and your team viewpoints from industry thought leaders like Mr. Martens. If there are other voices you’d like to see added to our online articles and videos, please let us know in the comment section below.