Combining a passion for technology and sustainability to preserve the land for generations to come

Like many young farmers, Lukas Fricke is excited to try new technology. He also has a lifelong interest in sustainability, like most farmers, growing more with less. When Lukas returned to his family's farm in southeastern Nebraska after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2016, he was eager to combine these two passions. 
 
Today, Lukas operates Union Farms, Inc., with his older brother, Brenden Fricke – producing pork, seed corn and row crops. Their late father, Jan, emphasized sustainability throughout his years of farming by implementing new practices. 
 
“On our farm, we try to be prescriptive and adopt the best practice for each piece of land,” said Lukas, “We try to be smart about what we're doing on each acre to make it as productive and profitable as possible.” 
 

Truterra early adopter  

As a sixth-generation farmer concerned about preserving the land for future generations, it’s only natural that Lukas became an early adopter of the Truterra^® carbon program.  
 
Brenden and Lukas used the Truterra^® sustainability tool to create a stewardship baseline. From there, they built a customized conservation plan for each field with a combination of sustainable practices including low-till, cover crops, nitrogen stabilizers, buffer strips and advanced drip irrigation. They also use the Truterra® sustainability tool to track progress over time – helping to evaluate the impact of practice changes that sequester carbon and/or minimize greenhouse gas emissions. 

A bright future 

As a Truterra Farmer Ambassador, Lukas recognizes the importance of “being part of the conversation” and leading by example to help preserve the land and feed the world.  
 
Looking to the future, Brenden and Lukas and their wives, Jeana and Katie, are committed to continuing his family’s farming legacy and positively impacting the community and environment for generations to come. 
 
“As farmers and ranchers, we have to continue to find ways to remain open to new methods and share our story,” said Lukas.