Rain, roots and results: Conservation delivers outcomes for Hodgen Farms 

By Amie Simpson 

When heavy rains swept across parts of Indiana this spring, the fields at Hodgen Farms in Putnam County remained firm – a testament to years of conservation-minded decisions. Paul Hodgen describes how a combination of grassed waterways, filter strips and no- or minimum-till helped keep everything in place after a rain event. 

“We have filter strips designed to capture sediment and keep the nutrients on the farm before it enters nearby streams. The field next to the filter strip has minimum tillage where we worked the very top inch of the soil,” he said. “A recent heavy rain event washed away some corn stalks, but it took very little soil. Even though there was a channel flowing in that area because of excess rainfall, there was very little soil loss or scarring because of the conservation tillage practice we deployed here.” 

Hodgen Farms is a diversified grain and livestock operation in west central Indiana. The family raises corn, soybeans, wheat, commercial cattle and some 4-H animals. Surface water quality is important to the operation because Big Raccoon Creek flows through most of their acres and feeds into one of the largest recreational lakes in the state. 

“We try to do our part to ensure that there’s clean water for people to enjoy during the summer,” he says. “If we can keep the soil on the field through a combination of these conservation practices, then we can reduce downstream problems in surface water quality.” 

Hodgen has seen the benefits of conservation practices on his farm firsthand. Cover crops, for example, have led to reduced erosion and improved soil health. 

“All the agronomic benefits of using a cover crop are evident on our farm,” he said. “We had minimal erosion after recent rainfall. It has also increased earthworm populations by enhancing root development and improving overall soil health.” 

Grazing cover crops for profit 

Cover crops have also led to a return on investment. Hodgen grows wheat as a cover crop and a feed source for cattle. 

“In addition to the agronomic benefits, we still need to make money. One of the ways we save money is by allowing our cattle to graze the cover crop. Reducing the cost of hay was a driving force behind us adopting cover crops,” he said. “Grazing forage crops is one of the cheapest ways to increase calf weight. We’ve really tried to diversify our operation and bring more acres into production where we have both a grain crop and then also a beef crop.” 

Wheat is a highly nutritious forage that promotes healthy growth and development. 

“Cows love grazing green grass, and the wheat is highly digestible for them and very palatable in this stage,” he said. “We’ve seen higher weights on the calves that have grazed cover crops in the spring.” 

Growing knowledge, growing conservation 

Hodgen’s journey to adopting cover crops on the farm began about seven years ago. He encourages farmers interested in cover crops to try something, start small and give it time. 

“Don’t be afraid to contact another farmer, ask questions and learn from their experience,” he said. “One of the biggest challenges we’ve had with success is aerial seeding. It has been hit or miss for us, so we decided our best chance of success was getting it in the ground and getting it done as early as possible. My overall advice is to remember it’s a long-term program, and it takes a couple of years to see the difference.” 

As for other conservation practices, he notes that filter strips require some maintenance. They typically wait to mow until late July to support butterfly and bird habitat. 

“There are some regulations around when we can and can’t mow,” he said. “We also mow to keep the noxious weeds down. We want good, clean grass here. We don’t need a source of weed seed to get into our fields. Deer, turkey and other wildlife really benefit from having these green spaces.” 

Family, wildlife and future generations 

Paul farms alongside his wife, Jennie, and his parents, Abe and Shirley Hodgen. After starting their careers and family in St Louis, they felt called to move back to his family farm in Roachdale, Ind., in 2012. 

“We’ve not looked back since returning to farming full time and raising our kids here,” he said. “Katie Jo, Sidney, Carlee and Ryan are into raising llamas, chickens and ducks. Our livestock portfolio is diversifying by species because of 4-H. Both my wife and I can see the benefits of raising them in this environment.” 

Hodgen has a long-term view on sustainability that has kept him on a conservation-minded path with the next generation in mind. 

“Sustainability is very important to us here at Hodgen Farms. This ground is ours to use, but we must keep future generations in mind and keep it in good repair, so they have a high-quality asset that is generating food, fiber, fuel, a livelihood and a way of life,” he said. “If we don’t take care of the land, it won’t take care of us. I know that sounds very cliche, but that’s the heart of it, because one of the fastest ways to limit our success is not taking care of the land. We will continue to maintain soil fertility and conservation practices and keep the land in good standing order.” 

Research and conservation go hand-in-hand on the operation. Hodgen worked in the research field in academia and the private industry before returning to the farm. Research remains important to him still today. 

“We do quite a bit of research here between seeding rate, evaluating new hybrids and considering biologicals that either promote root growth or reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed,” he said. “It’s part of our management practices to evaluate new techniques and products each year.” 

For Hodgen, conservation is more than just a set of practices — it’s a commitment to the future. That commitment is reflected in every decision, and it’s a mindset that’s helping them stay resilient, season after season. 

Looking for more resources? Farm Advisors is here to help. The farmer-led mentor program, supported by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance, helps farmers implement conservation practices. Visit farmadvisors.ag for more information.