airying was Daniel Janski’s thing on the family farm near St. Cloud, Minnesota, but after a few years of no-till farming, regenerative agriculture is his new passion.

The Janski farm was recently honored as Minnesota’s Outstanding Conservationist. Daniel Janski spoke about the farm’s conservation journey during the University of Minnesota’s Soil Management Summit in Waite Park on Dec. 15-16.

As a youngster on the farm “when I’d walk fields, you know, nothing mattered but the crops that you were growing in the field,” Janski said. “When something went bad, you’d always blame nature. You didn’t blame yourself.”

But now there is a realization that some of the farm practices were not the best for the long term health of the land. By reducing tillage and using cover crops and beef cattle grazing, some of the rocky land that only used to yield 50 to 70 bushel corn a few years later is yielding 150 bushel corn.

Janski has developed a greater appreciation for earthworms and pollinators.

“You’re hearing these bees buzz around, it sort of feels rewarding that you know they’re there because you changed your practices,” Janski said.

Janski said it was really his brother Thomas who was the instigator in giving no-till farming a try about six years ago.

“I don’t think we would be no-tilling today if it wasn’t for him,” Janski said. “He wanted to step outside the norm and try something new.”

Dennis Fuchs, administrator of the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District, said one of the reasons why the Janskis were nominated for the statewide award is because of their willingness to share what they have learned — successes and failures.

“They’re not afraid to let folks know that it’s not any easier and that mistakes can happen,” Fuchs said.