Regenerative Agriculture 101

Regenerative Agriculture 101

The term “Regenerative Agriculture” has been gaining traction for some time now, but what is it exactly? Origins of the term can be traced back to the founder and pioneer of the Rodale Institute, Robert Rodale. Rodale was looking to create a system that would go beyond standard “sustainable” practices to aid in restoring farm and pastureland from decades of degradation brought on by the Green Revolution and Industrial Agricultural practices. As various governing bodies and regenerative farming organizations, including the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) and the Regenerative Organic Alliance, meet to agree upon an official definition, a simplified way to describe regenerative agriculture would be a return to traditional farming practices and customs to promote a harmonious balance between the land steward and nature, while simultaneously promoting the standards of animal and worker welfare. As the current industrial agriculture model is predominantly focused on maximizing yields and profits, the long-term health of the land, its stewards, and the consumers of the end products comes into question. Specifically, pointing to the means at which these yields and profits are attempted to be acquired with industrial farming practices. The potential solution to reverse these damaging effects is in the incorporation of regenerative agriculture.

Regenerative agricultural practices embody five distinct tenets:

1) Permanent soil coverage

2) Promotion of biodiversity of one’s farming/ranch operation with the surrounding ecosystem 3) Reduction (and ideally complete removal) of harmful/degrading agricultural inputs and practices

4) Incorporation of animals into farming operations

5) Increased social welfare for workers and the surrounding community.

 To the untrained agronomist, farmer, and/or rancher these tenants may seem very foreign, intimidating, and even costly at first glance, so let’s delve a bit further into what they mean.

Tenet One- Establishment of permanent soil coverage and ending unnecessary tilling/topsoil disturbance practices.

 In layman's terms, this means leaving no topsoil bare, keeping it permanently covered with cover crops, mulches, established perennials, grasses, etc. in the non-planting areas aka “the mid-rows”, and/or under-vine/tree regions for vineyards and orchards. Permanent coverage creates a better environment for soil microbial life, by decreasing the risk of erosion and extreme temperatures in the winter and summer months. By increasing the soil aggregate stability and organic matter over time as decomposition is occurring, the process will promote greater efficiency for nutrient fixation, water infiltration and storage, and carbon cycling/sequestration, which is important as a building block for the foundation of environmental biodiversity.

Tenet Two- Promotion of biodiversity, aims to end the practice of monoculture farming by establishing more diverse cropping species, via the use of permaculture tactics.

 By creating a more varied agricultural ecosystem through the implementation of permaculture methods, while correctly choosing specific species for one’s unique environmental factors (microclimate, degree days, soil profile, annual average rain, etc.), the farmer is focused on promoting environmental resiliency of one’s crop and livestock by building up a foundationally strengthened immune system where all of the species are working in mutualistic benefit to each other to stave off pests, pathogens, and harmful environmental factors. In turn, these permaculture practices, when implemented correctly, will also promote beneficial fungal and bacterial communal growth in the soil/root rhizosphere area. Opposed to the modern, standard farming procedure of monocropping where a single crop is grown on the same land year after year with little to no biodiversity, leaving the crops and land more susceptible to nutrient deficiencies, pathogens and pests, which in turn forces the farmer to rely on extensive interventions (intensive mechanization, synthetic inputs- fertilizers, pesticides) to protect the yields and plants during the growing season.

Tenet Three- The reduction of harmful inputs with the intention to be the eventual complete removal from the farming operation.

 This tenet is primarily focused on harmful synthetic fertilizer and pesticide inputs utilized by conventional agriculture operations to control with the aim to eradicate all pest/pathogen presence while attempting to maximize plant tissue growth and harvest yields. Additional emphasis is focused on minimizing the overuse of tractor/heavy farm implement operational passes, if possible. By reducing the use of synthetic inputs, along with excessive tractor passes, and encouraging correct regenerative practices, the farmer/rancher will begin to see a reduction in input costs to his operation, improved soil structure and health (Tenets One and Two), and overall improved plant and environmental health. One concern that may arise from the shift away from regularly scheduled nutrient supplementation is if the soil/plants will become deficient in the macro- and micronutrients necessary for growth and overall healthy function. A return to a traditional practice of including animals into the farming system will help to answer this concern as well as aid in other necessary stewardship functions too.

Tenet Four- The incorporation of animals back into farming operations.

 One very common example of this is the use of ruminant animals to aid in rotational grazing of cover crops, grasses, invasive weeds, and pest/pathogen habitats while transforming grazing material into bioavailable natural fertilizers for the soil and plants via manure and urine. Animal incorporation can also have a low impact on compaction to the topsoil profile, unlike that of the overuse of tractor and other pieces of heavy farm equipment, especially during wet winter months. An additional benefit of the incorporation of animals into the farming operation is the secondary income opportunities available- meat, dairy, wool, etc.

 Tenet Five- The promotion of better overall social welfare.

 An emphasis on improving the working environment of individuals involved in the farming/ranching operations alongside overall community uplift. Raising the standards of the working conditions by minimizing/removing harmful inputs that can have damaging effects on the workers, environment, and the surrounding community, uplifting wage standards, and giving all workers of the operation a say in decisions and strategies to better improve the farm operations. Regenerative farm operations also encourage healthy investment in the surrounding communities through employment opportunities, agrotourism/education opportunities, and utilizing local businesses for contract labor projects. The focus is to create a thriving and resilient interworking localized community system, like that of the soil food web being created on one’s farm or ranch.

To accomplish these tenets, a farm/ranch operation will look at regenerative practices- no till, composting, permanent soil coverage, rotational grazing, biodiversity- as a toolbox of options rather than as a one-size-fits all recipe guide. Some of these practices will work ideally for one’s unique environment while others may not. The goal is to ultimately better synchronize with the eternal rhythm of the natural cycles of nature within one’s agricultural operation and minimize the excessive use of destructive, and costly, inputs by putting into practice the appropriate regenerative agricultural methods.

"The first farmer was the first man, and all historic nobility rests on possession and use of land." -Ralph Waldon Emerson