For Ricky and Mark Judice, father and son sugarcane producers, farming seems to come naturally. The apparent ease they have farming, hasn’t kept them from seeking ways to improve their operation, though. The Judice’s farm includes about 1200 acres of sugarcane in Iberia Parish. Although Ricky has officially passed the operation to his son, he and Mark recently met with us to share their experience in adopting a more sustainable approach to farming over the last decade or so. When asked what prompted the change, Ricky recalls finding inspiration in an article by Gabe Brown and Mark encouraged his dad to take a chance on trying a “less is more” approach. So began their path to adopting cover crops and reduced tillage on their operation.

Currently, they are using fall and summer multi-species cover crops on practically all their production. They didn’t get there overnight, though. Mark admits that making such a drastic change is scary and advises farmers, “Start small before you go big.” That’s how he and his dad managed the risk associated with their new practices. He adds that trying cover crops on fallow ground with a mix that doesn’t include any grass is a good way to get started while limiting competition between the cover crop and the sugarcane. He says, “It basically pays for itself.”

Speaking of payment… Their efforts and the changes to their operation have paid off with improved soil quality, reduced need for fertilizer, increased water absorption and water quality leaving the farm, and greater flexibility during planting and harvesting. The more they support the land with regenerative practices, the more the Judices see the benefits. Our visit to the farm was about a day and half after heavy rain in the area and it offered the opportunity to see these improvements in action. The soil, rich with organic matter, had absorbed most of the rain allowing us to walk along the rows without sinking in the mud. When we dug into the soil, we could see beneficial fungal growth and a couple of worms wriggling around. We even witnessed a bald eagle soaring over the fields.

Along their journey of creating a more sustainable operation, Ricky and Mark have taken advantage of the technical and financial assistance programs offered by NRCS. They credit NRCS for the introduction to Green Cover, the company that develops and supplies their cover crop seed mix. They also appreciate the financial assistance they’ve received for residue and tillage management and cover crops as helping further reduce the risk associated with implementing these practices. Based on their results over the last decade, Ricky and Mark are convinced they’re doing the right thing for their operation and look forward to continued benefits from their conservation efforts.

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