Farmer Spotlight: Chris Grebner

Knowledge Hub » Farmer Spotlight: Chris Grebner

Name

Chris Grebner

Operation

MBS Family Farms

Location

Plainfield, Iowa

Carbon Sequestration Practices

Improved Tillage & Cover Cropping

Chris has worked with MBS Family Farms for 6 years. The operation is a 5th generation business started 1976. Chris helps grow corn and soy, as well as some peas, sweet corn, and cereal rye for their cover crop seed. While Chris’s official title is Agronomy Operations Specialist, he wears many hats. He is responsible for operating equipment, handling the farm’s data, coordinating the farm’s multiple programs, and land realty.

Back in 2018 Chris began to get curious about the carbon market. He brought this curiosity to MBS Family Farms and after researching a few carbon programs in February 2022 they joined the Agoro Carbon program. Improved tillage and cover cropping were regenerative practices that made sense for the land. MBS Family Farms has been involved in programs for many years – such as under the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service – including the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) which helps farmers build on their existing conservation efforts while strengthening their operation.

There’s been unexpected weather setbacks: a wet year that demands more tillage and can you believe a very late frost first over Memorial Day (the unofficial start to summer). There have been major regenerative wins too; The practices helped to reduce erosion during heavy Iowa rainfalls, build healthier, higher organic matter containing soils, and suppress weeds.

It’s been a steady pattern of growth, just not always linear. Overall, you know, we’re looking at continued growth in all aspects”

Chris Grebner, Farmer & Agronomist at MBS Family Farms

Learn more about MBS Family Farms on their Facebook page.

April 29, 2025

Steve Hasselman

Agronomist, Support

Based in Stephenson County, Illinois, Steve joined Agoro Carbon Alliance after spending nearly seven years working with leading crop management companies throughout Illinois. Steve has garnered extensive knowledge in carbon cropping, plant tissue sampling and soil sampling by working with top agronomists. He earned a bachelor's degree in Agronomy and Crop Science, and Agribusiness from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Steve is a Certified Crop Advisor whose passion for agriculture and farming began during life on his family’s farm in Northern Illinois. This made working in agronomy an easy choice. He attended UW-Platteville, earning an A.S. in Agriculture and a B.S. in Soil and Crop Science/Ag Business. Steve’s expertise includes cover crop selection and management, reduced and no tillage management, and nitrogen management. He has worked full time in crop production since 2016, with prior experience at Ag Tech Crops (later purchased by Nutrien Ag Solutions). During that time, he worked alongside growers to help plan and advise them on their crops. This introduced him to many conservation-minded growers, which spurred a deep interest in conservation ag and soil health.

More about Steve Hasselman