Fred Abels

Fred and Vicki Abels farm about 400 acres just outside Holland, Iowa. Fred started farming in 1981 on his family’s farm in Grundy County. It was a traditional soybean and corn rotation with a cow herd. He became interested in conservation practices after attending Practical Farmers of Iowa field days and switched to no-till soybeans in 1994. In the mid-2000s he started strip-till before corn and immediately sold all tillage equipment. In 2009, he started using cover crops, and in the early days, Fred had them custom flown on but then bought a grain drill as he had better germination rates. He no longer has a cattle herd but used to harvest about 20 acres of cover crops to use as cattle feed.

Fred enjoys the challenges of finding new ways to do things and stresses that you don’t need to buy new equipment to start farming with conservation practices. There are resources and funding opportunities out there. Fred has many plans for the future and hopefully new challenges to troubleshoot. He recently started growing twin-row rye with corn in the gap on some acres and wants to build a bioreactor to help reduce nitrate. Fred encourages farmers and landowners learn more about conservation practices and to start making changes.

Building a Culture of Conservation: 

“It is easier to till the soil like your dad used to because no-till, strip-till, and cover crops require more management, but it’s worth it. I have less compacted soil, excellent weed control, and I’ve been able to cut fertilizer rates.”

Contact Information

Fred Abels
20902 J Ave
Holland, IA 50642
319-824-6428
farmerfred1981@hotmail.com