b'REGEN AG VOICES| SUPPORTED BY: Fighting Sandy Soils with Regen AgBy using regenerative agricultural programs, sandy soils can produce quality crops with high yields.BY: REBECCA CARMELI-PESLAKSANDY SOILS ARE being conquered using regenerative agriculture. Not only is it stopping erosion, but its also improving soil health and crop quality.Its all sand, says Daniel Corey, CEO of Daniel J. Corey Farms. The soil is essentially sand with low organic matter, low biological carbon capture. Daniel J. Corey Farms consists of 1,200 acres of seed potatoes located in Monticello, Maine. In addition to Daniel J. Corey Farms, Corey also operates Seed Pro Inc. in Island Falls, Maine, which includes farming operations as well as a laboratory and greenhouses for foundation seed potatoes. He also has DeLee Produce LLC in Elkton, Fla., where he grows 300 acres of tablestock potatoes, among other cropsand battles sandy soils.Its a different way of farming. You have a lot of wind and soil erosion, he adds. Because of problems with wind and soil erosion, Corey says its harder to produce high quality and yielding crops. He has worked to combat the erosion problems by bringing some of his regenerative agriculture methods from Maine to Floridathe soils in Maine are much less sandy, as theyre Daniel Corey checks his crop at his operations that utilize regenerative agriculture practices. more of a silt loom. While some of thePHOTO: SARA COREY PARKER OF DANIEL J. COREY FARMSMaine soils arent conducive to row crops, they can be used for hay. Instead of just leaving the organic matteradds. By using the mulch, Corey was able tofootprint. We are doing more production on on the soil or in the ground, we take thedecrease both water usage and soil erosion.less acres which makes me a more efficient hay put it through our mulch machine. We In June, when it gets hot, it keeps thefarmer. spread it on our farms to stabilize the soil,potatoes cooler. Mulching is really working Corey notes no matter what youre he explains. well for our regenerative agricultureproducing, regen ag practices are important This practice was originally used onlyprogram, he explains. to use if you want to continue your for their Maine operations. Even thoughCorey uses many different regen agoperations for years to come. the soils in Maine are vastly different frompractices at all his growing operations. CropThe biggest thing is you have to put more those in Florida, Corey was able to reap therotation, cover cropping and mulching arein than youre taking out, adds Corey. In benefits on sandy soils as well.just a few hes utilizing. Florida, Maine or Canada, (in) all these I was a little bit apprehensive on what itThe idea of regenerative agriculture is toplaces we need to put back more than what would do with the tablestock quality, but lobuild the soils back up with organic matter,we take out. And I think growers are starting and behold, its improved, says Corey.says Corey. By having more organicto realize that these things are beneficial Not only did potato quality improve, butmatter in the soil, I am making my soilin the long-term health of our soil and the so did the soils capacity to hold moisture, hemore productive and reducing my carbonlongevity of agriculture.56SPUDSMART.COMSummer 2023'