Years of on-farm experimentation have paid off for Russell Hedrick, a first-generation farmer in Hickory, N.C. Thanks to his systematic soil testing and willingness to experiment, he saved himself more than $100,000 on inputs in 2021. 

“Every year, we try new things on our farm,” Hedrick says. “We want to farm regeneratively, cut back on inputs and build the ground, but at the same time, we also need it to yield to the point where we’re making a decent income.” 

Hedrick, who’s become known for his innovative approach to no-till, first took the plunge into row crops in 2012 with 30 acres. From there, he began challenging conventional farming practices in a quest to improve his soils and his farmland. 

“A lot of people tell me about how their granddad or dad farmed, and sometimes there’s social pressure within a family not to change,” Hedrick says. “I’ve never had anything to reference. That’s one thing I’ve enjoyed about farming.”