Leading with land stewardship
Implementing soil health solutions on the Minnesota-Iowa border
March 1, 2026
In honor of Women’s History Month and the United Nation's International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, CFANS is proud to spotlight alumnae who are driving innovation and resilience across our local and global agrifood systems. These women exemplify the essential, yet often unrecognized, roles that farmers play in nourishing our communities and securing a sustainable future for all.
Nancy Bohl Bormann earned a PhD in land and atmospheric science in 2024 from the University of Minnesota.
Describe your farm:
My husband Matt and I — along with our three children — grow corn, seed corn, soybeans, and seed soybeans on the Des Moines Lobe near the Minnesota-Iowa border. We farm with an emphasis on soil conservation, soil health, and good land stewardship. We have implemented various conservation practices including strip-till, grass waterways, and cover crops, and we regularly host on-farm field days to showcase conservation practices.
How did you get your start farming?
I grew up on a small hobby farm about 45 miles east of St. Paul. We had animals for 4-H, and we lived around dairy and grain farms. I was interested in agriculture and the environment, and I went to Iowa State University, double majoring in agricultural education and environmental science. I then attended UW-Madison and got my master's in soil science.
Our first acreage we bought had an older hog barn and the opportunity to rent some land with it. Matt also had helped out an older bachelor farmer nearby over the years, which allowed us to eventually 50/50 rent some fields and share equipment. We raised hogs and cattle for several years while getting our start grain farming, and we have focused on grain farming for the past ten years.
What does a day in your life look like?
I am a manure and nutrient management researcher for the University of Minnesota for my day job, so I seasonally assist with farm-related work on evenings and weekends. I advise on fertilizer, marketing, and economic decisions, where it is exciting to apply my soil fertility background to our own farm. Having a pulse on current farming issues definitely helps my perspective as a CFANS researcher.
What is the most rewarding part of being a farmer?
I enjoy seeing all the changes throughout the seasons and satisfaction of growing and harvesting crops every year. Trying new things and being a good farming example. I also really enjoy rural life.
What challenges do you experience as a farmer?
Weather! Too much or not enough rain. Unpredictable first and last freeze dates. Wind! Pests, such as weeds, insects, and disease. Financial challenges, including input and grain prices, land rents, and equipment prices.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in agriculture in 2026?
There are more female agronomists now than when I graduated from college twenty years ago, although it is still a male-dominated profession. All professions and industries — including those in agriculture — can benefit from multiple perspectives.
What advice would you give current CFANS students aspiring to farm?
Try out different jobs during internships to see what areas you enjoy. Keep being curious and learning no matter what field you enter. Attend in-person and virtual meetings and reach out to people you would like to learn more from. Many people are very willing to visit about their work! Travel to conferences — state, national, even international if possible. You will continue to cross paths with people in your field over the years. I have many wonderful connections from the Midwest and beyond.
