Farmer Perspectives on Cover Crops: Video Series

Cecil Harness Jr. has been farming with his father, Cecil Sr., since 1987. He now also farms with his son, Dustin, on 3500 acres in Pike and Montgomery counties. In the early 80’s, they began experimenting with regenerative practices, including no-till. In 2012, they sold all tillage equipment and switched their entire operation to cover crops and no-till practices. They also integrate their 150-head cow and cow/calf operation into row crop production.

Johnny Hunter II is a third-generation rice and soybean farmer from Southeast Missouri. Johnny began his regenerative farming journey in 2012 and continues to innovate his practices today. Beyond production agriculture, Johnny and his family own and operate their own rice mill, where they mill, package, and distribute to thousands of retail locations nationwide.

Liz Graznak is a Columbia, MO native and owner of Happy Hollow Farms, which produces organic vegetables, fruit, eggs, and flowers for CSA, farmers markets, and wholesale accounts in Moniteau County, Missouri. She is the 2021 Midwest Organic Farmer of the Year.

Kate Lambert and her husband Matt run Uptown Farms in Linn County, MO. They are the 2017 winner of the Missouri Leopold Conservation Award, which honors farmers’ achievement in stewardship and natural resource management. Uptown Farms produces row crops and hay and graze Red Angus cattle and Dorper sheep.