By applying perennial agriculture to conventional systems through the development of specialized grains discussed below, they have found notable increases in soil health, water retention and carbon sequestered, among other ecosystem services.
| | | | | | | | | Advancing System-Wide Regenerative Agriculture | | | Spring means planting! As we watch time-honored traditions continue with #Plant21, I am so encouraged by the many ways that farmers and growers are blending new ideas into their existing operations. This week’s newsletter highlights just a few arenas where new thinking is leading to improved outcomes for producers and our air, water and soils. Scientific advancements in animal nutrition and soil health point to no-regrets actions that can be put to work now. And we are starting to see farmers imagine a future in which regenerative agriculture’s principles around living roots and covered soil becomes a natural byproduct of perennial cropping systems. Why does this all matter? Because every spring, our farmers renew their commitment to provide food, fiber and fuel to make Americans’ lives better. The knowledge and tools exist for agriculture to continue to honor this commitment, but it takes a willingness to take a leap into the unknown. As Will Rogers famously observed, “The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.” During this year’s planting season, we honor all those optimistic and future-oriented growers who make every aspect of our lives possible.
Yours In Regenerative Ag,
Amy Skoczlas Cole
Executive Vice President
Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative
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| | | | | | | | Answers To 5 Perennial Ag Questions From The Land Institute | | | Shared by Ethan White, Manager of Farmer Outreach and Engagement, Trust In Food: On the surface, perennial crops don’t appear to be too nuanced: perennial essentially means plants grow back after they are harvested. But what about perennial agriculture as an alternative production system? How is it different than conventional agriculture? And is it a system that could replace agriculture as we know it–or will it complement what farmers are already doing? There were some of the questions that I had in mind as I sat down to listen to Rachel Stroer, president of The Land Institute, and Tim Crews, director of research, at the 2021 Top Producer Summit during a session sponsored by Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative. Here are five key questions and answers about perennial agriculture based on their presentation. | | | | | | |
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| | | | | | | | Farming For The Future: Fostering Resiliency | | | In Nebraska's Bazile Groundwater Management Area, the America's Conservation Ag Movement partnership recently convened an event for farmers spotlighting the importance of soil health in resilient production systems. Capture insights that can help in your work with producers as Dr. Charles Shapiro, emeritus professor of agronomy and horticulture at the University of Nebraska, explains how improved soil health can support producers' bottom lines.
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| | | | | | Red Seaweed (Asparagopsis Taxiformis) Supplementation Reduces Enteric Methane By Over 80 Percent In Beef Steers (via PLOS ONE) | | Shared by Kinsie Rayburn, Conservation Knowledge Officer, Trust In Food: "A new study shows that feeding a small amount of seaweed can reduce cattle methane emissions by almost 82%. Perhaps even more importantly for ranchers, the researchers note, 'This study also demonstrated a potential to reduce the cost of production per kg of weight gain.'"
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| | Exploring The Social Side Of Sustainable Agriculture (via Midwest Row Crop Collaborative) | | Shared by Drew Slattery, Human Dimensions of Change Lead, Trust In Food: "This article provides an excellent overview of the many ways social science can benefit those seeking to drive change in agriculture. It serves as an ideal entry point for those less familiar with social science's role in the change process and lays out a road map for how practitioners can improve their work."
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| | Carbon Labeling Of Food Shifts People’s Behavior—Even Among Those Actively Trying To Avoid Information (via Anthropocene) | | Shared by Rebecca Bartels, Director of Business Development, Trust In Food: "A European study involving an online questionnaire with hypothetical questions about meat-purchasing found even buyers who declined to view carbon information reduced the carbon footprint of their pretend purchases by 12%. That suggests carbon labeling could potentially have a profound impact on behavior change in the grocery aisle."
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