After travelling the world and gaining experience in farming and farm consultancy on various continents, Amy and Tyler Bruch returned to Nebraska in 2012 to continue the farm that Amy was raised on. Located in York, East Central Nebraska, Cyclone Farms is a 6th generation farm that covers over 1,200 irrigated hectares of land. The farm started transitioning to organic in 2017 and is now one of the premier food-grade organic growers in the Midwest of the United States.
With the help of four full-time employees and additional summer help, Amy and Tyler manage the farm, which grows a variety of crops including maize, peas, soybeans, barley, milo, sunflower, and HRWW (Hard Red Winter Wheat). They strive to produce food-grade crops wherever possible, with their soybeans even being exported to Japan. To maintain the organic integrity of their crops, the Bruchs plant their crops three weeks later than their conventional farming neighbors to prevent pollination from conventional neighboring crops.
The weather in the Midwest can be extreme, with the region experiencing both droughts and heavy rainfall. Despite these challenges, Cyclone Farms aims to outperform their non-organic neighbors in terms of crop yields. While they are not there yet, their yield quantities are already very comparable, and they benefit from prices that are double the price for conventional crops.
Soil health is a top priority for the Bruchs, as they believe that balanced soils lead to higher-quality crops. They use the Veris iScan soil sensor to map their soils and manage each zone differently to build soil fertility. By focusing on soil health, they aim to grow higher-value, more nutrient-dense crops. While cover crops can be beneficial for organic farmers, they also require soil moisture, which can be a trade-off in the Midwest’s unpredictable weather conditions.
Nebraska is known for its agricultural industry, with 92% of the land devoted to farming. The state is a major producer of cattle and calves, maize, and soybeans. The beef industry drives agricultural production, and Nebraska is a significant producer of yellow and white maize, as well as popcorn maize. The state is also home to pivot irrigation, with four of the world’s largest manufacturers of center pivot systems located there.
At Cyclone Farms, the Bruchs prefer German-made machinery for its accuracy, reliability, and robustness. They use equipment such as a Kuhn Axis 50.2 H-EMC-W twin disc weigh-cell fertilizer spreader, a Tebbe muck spreader, and a Treffler tine harrow. The farm relies on chicken manure from contracted chicken barns as the main source of soil fertility.
Weed management is a crucial aspect of organic farming, and Cyclone Farms has a customized equipment setup to combat weeds. They use a combination of tine weeding, rotary weeding, flaming, and electrocuting machines to control weed pressure. Additionally, grain storage conditions are closely monitored to ensure long-term storage quality.
Labor is a key factor in organic farming, and Cyclone Farms operates on a 36, 3, 365 framework. This means that they need to respond to their crops within 36 hours, require three times the equipment compared to conventional farms, and offer their employees a full-time job, 365 days per year. The transition to organic farming has attracted young farmers and labor to the farm, and the Bruchs strive to create an ownership environment with competitive wages, benefits, and training opportunities.
Cyclone Farms is a shining example of successful organic farming in the Midwest. Amy and Tyler Bruch’s dedication to soil health, crop quality, and labor management have allowed them to thrive in an industry dominated by conventional farming practices. Their commitment to organic agriculture not only benefits their farm but also contributes to the overall growth of organic farming in Nebraska and the United States.