Farmers across Champaign County are continuing to explore alternative farming methods aimed at improving soil health, reducing chemical use, and creating additional value from existing farmland as input costs and environmental concerns continue to impact agriculture.
One local producer testing the concept is Todd Woodruff, who recently spoke about an experimental strip field planted on his farm and the role Monoammonium phosphate fertilizer — commonly known as MAP — plays in the project.
Woodruff said the farm will continue monitoring the field throughout the growing season to evaluate how the system performs compared to more traditional farming methods.
He discussed the experiment, the role MAP fertilizer plays in the process, and what the farm hopes to learn in the following audio interview.
More information can also be found via a video on Woodruff’s Facebook page HERE.
Monoammonium phosphate is a widely used fertilizer that supplies nitrogen and phosphorus, two nutrients critical for early crop growth, root development, and plant establishment. Farmers commonly apply MAP at planting because it helps young crops develop stronger root systems and improve nutrient uptake early in the growing season.
Woodruff’s project combines strips of corn with a diverse mix of forage species including clovers, grasses, brassicas, and turnips. The concept is designed to create a regenerative system where different plant species work together naturally while also providing additional grazing opportunities for dairy cattle later in the year after traditional pasture growth slows down.
Unlike conventional row crop production, the field has not been sprayed with herbicides. Instead, the farm is relying on crop diversity, livestock integration, and natural nutrient cycling to support plant growth and soil fertility. Some of the species used in the mix can help reduce soil compaction, improve organic matter, and naturally contribute nutrients back into the soil.
The project is also intended to help the farm become more efficient by producing both a cash crop and additional livestock feed from the same acreage. Extending grazing opportunities into the fall and winter months could potentially lower feed and bedding costs while reducing reliance on purchased inputs.
