Safeguarding the Family Farm Through Soil Health
SWOF Farmer Spotlight: Kenneth Mason, Missouri
Meet Kenneth Mason, a third-generation farmer from Daviess County in northwest Missouri. Alongside his son and son-in-law, he runs a diverse operation focused on cattle and row crops, including corn, soybeans, and a little wheat. Always seeking ways to innovate, Kenneth was one of the early adopters of no-till farming in his area. This month, the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF) is proud to highlight Kenneth, who partnered with SWOF to implement cover crops across his acres as he continues to set a strong example for sustainable agriculture in the region.
A Century of Innovation
Kenneth’s grandfather began farming their land in 1924, and over the years, it has been their willingness to evolve and innovate that brought continued opportunity to the operation. “There's a lot of opportunities in ag, always has been. When you're familiar with it, it's really an opportunistic field. Every year is a different year. There are different ways to do things and it's exciting to try to implement those on your farm,” Kenneth says. “When I first started, we had a lot of hogs. Now we have cattle and row crops. But that has progressed through the years too as we use more and more ground for row crops.”
One of the biggest shifts in Kenneth’s farming practices was the transition to no-till. “When I first started, we were terracing a lot of things because we worked the ground. As equipment and products improved, we started doing no-till and that brought us some nice benefits,” he explains. Northern Missouri has a clay-based soil with a thin layer of topsoil. Doing what you can to keep your topsoil where it belongs is crucial.
A wheat cover crop blankets this SWOF-enrolled field on the Mason farm
Prioritizing Soil Health
The Masons initially began using a few cover crops for cattle forage, but they wanted to expand this practice to their row crop acres to improve soil health. By partnering with SWOF, Kenneth was able to expand the use of cover crops to nearly all his fields. “We utilize mostly wheat but have also tried triticale, rye, and turnips,” he says. “It has helped us stabilize our soil so that we can hold moisture and don’t lose our nutrients as readily when we have a rain. It seems like we are getting bigger rains now than we were at one time, and the more you can stick with this stuff, the better off you are.”
Kenneth first learned about SWOF through a seed supplier who recommended the program. “He thought it would be a good opportunity for us, so I contacted Amanda [Shetler, SWOF Field Program Representative for SW Iowa and NW Missouri], and we got started,” he recalls. “She walked us through the process, showed us what we needed to do, and helped us get our maps in order. It’s been very easy to work together, and we haven’t had any problems.”
The results of these new practices are clear in Kenneth’s fields. “Our yields have improved, and over the long-haul it’s going to improve our yields tremendously,” he says. “We haven’t seen any of the yield drag that some people worry about with cover crops.” By building healthier soil, the Masons are tackling several long-standing challenges, including water retention and compaction. “Our clay-based soil doesn’t have a lot of organic matter,” Kenneth explains. “Soils with more organic matter hold more moisture and nutrients, and the cover crops are helping us build that up.” Kenneth knows improving soil structure is more important than ever. “The bigger equipment gets, the harder it is to farm some of these terraced fields. If we can keep our soil and soil moisture where it needs to be with these practices, we’re far better ahead over the long haul.”
The Mason’s utilize no-till and cover crops to improve their soil health and overall farm ROI.
Sharing the Knowledge
One of the most rewarding aspects for Kenneth has been seeing the impact of his work on his local community. “This area has been very tillage prone,” he explains. “But by being one of the first to implement no-till and now cover crops, I’ve been able to share my experiences with my neighbors. People ask me how I got started, and I tell them to talk to Amanda at the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund. Helping others see the benefits is probably the biggest reward.”
Looking to the future, Kenneth shared that he was most proud of continuing his family’s legacy. “I’m honored to carry on what my grandfather and father started,” he says. “They tried to implement conservation practices that they were familiar with at the time. I’m proud to have built on that. You learn from past experiences, from both failures and successes to adapt for the challenges of the day.”
With his son and son-in-law already involved in the operation, Kenneth is confident the farm is in good hands for the future. “My advice to them is the same advice I got from my dad—work hard and always be true to who you’re dealing with. If they can do that and be profitable, that’s all I can ask.”
As for what keeps him farming after all these years? It’s simple: “Watching things grow. Seeing the crops come up, mature, and knowing you did something right—that’s the most rewarding part of it all.”
Want to begin or expand a conservation practice, such as reduced tillage, implementing a cover crop, or adding a crop rotation? By enrolling in the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, you’ll receive agronomic support and earn financial incentives for your on-farm conservation efforts. Contact our team today at contactus@theoutcomesfund.com or request a free estimate to join our waitlist. Our next enrollment season begins June 2, 2025.