Kroeker Farms

About our Farm

Growing Niche Potato Production with an Always Better Approach

As potato producers invest in sustainable farming practices, transitioning from buzzword to broadscale benefits is the key to recurring environmental and economical return.

For Kroeker Farms, it started with the German expression “Immer Besser” which translates to “Always Better.” Since 1955, the drive for continuous improvement has shaped the company’s long-term vision and commitment to stewardship practices.

Whether it’s strategic investment in organic acres or smart water management, the philosophy keeps the Manitoba-based operation on the forefront of sustainable potato production.

“We’ve always been about taking the long view with our operational decisions, vs. finding the next, most profitable practice,” says Harwin Bouwman, Chief Operating Officer. “One of our core values is that we should be making decisions not for the next quarter or the next year, but for the next generation.”

Organic Niche

Kroeker Farms grows more than 25 varieties of table (fresh) market potatoes on 4,000 acres, with another 1,500 acres dedicated to seed potatoes.

The farm has 1,300 acres of organic potatoes, which are strategically rotated with hemp, onions, alfalfa and green manure crops – legumes seeded as cover crops that help naturally replenish and retain soil health. As plants decompose and are tilled into the soil ahead of potato planting, the residue acts as green manure.

“Our rotation is designed to ensure enough nutrients in the soil to sustain potatoes throughout the growing season,” Bouwman says. “A lot of the nitrogen is fixed by the plants we grow as green manure, and when we work them into the soil, it becomes available for the following year’s potato crop.”

After more than 20 years of organic potato experimentation, those fields have become more resilient to erosion and drought, benefits Bouwman attributes to long-term practices that are incrementally increasing soil organic matter.

“We can see the difference in soil texture and structure,” he says. “And we’ve seen soil health improve more rapidly in organic fields than on our conventional acres.”

The trial and error of organic production provides valuable sustainability lessons applicable to the farm’s conventionally grown potato fields. “We’ve been able to reduce the amount of chemicals applied to our conventional crops because we’ve learned to test some boundaries with organics,” Bouwman says.

“Organic is a big investment and can be high risk. It starts as a 3-year investment that doesn’t initially generate much of an economic return.”

But chasing short-term profit runs contrary to the farm’s identity and long-term sustainability goals. While conventionally grown potatoes are more economically reliable, Kroeker Farms has grown to be one of the largest organic potato producers in North America.

However, only a third of the farm is in organic potato production, a ratio that diversifies financial return with environmental gains.

“Organic is just a piece of our stewardship puzzle, but it provides a cultural value in who we are and keeps that intact for the next generation,” Bouwman says. “We want to be the leaders in figuring out practices like organic production, improving soil health and reducing carbon emissions – practices that are going to be better for the environment in the long-run.”

Moisture Managers

Water management is another area where the farm has been progressively proactive. Strategic installation of drain tile for nearly 40 years has increased water infiltration and reduced runoff.

“We’ve invested nearly $1,000 per acre over time and today, almost 90% of every acre we farm has drain tile,” Bouwman says. “It’s part of our long-term water stewardship plan that started decades ago. In the context of soil health, it is also reducing waterlogging, compaction and anaerobic soil conditions that lead to nitrate loss.

While drain tile helps retain and route water beneath the soil surface, irrigation ensures potatoes have enough to thrive throughout the growing season. With more than 75% of potato fields under irrigation, Bouwman says they’ve been able to see 20-30% yield gains, while also reducing annual water usage costs.

The farm also built more than 20 irrigation reservoirs to catch and draw water from, minimizing its need to pump from local wells. And the operation annually saves about $100,000 by recycling and reapplying water it uses to wash potatoes.

Bouwman notes that every aspect of their land and water stewardship efforts are connected. As Kroeker Farms continues investing in sustainable practices, “Immer Besser” will influence decisions that provide environmental or economic return.

“We’ve aimed to be producers who target niche areas of the market because part of our culture is to do the hard things,” Bouwman says. “If we grow a white or a red potato that goes into a Kroeker bag, it will be better than the average.”