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Growing Regeneratively in Chihuahua, Mexico’s Arid Climate
Written by Ron NicholsPhotos by Ernie Friessen During a Soil Health Academy School in Chihuahua, Mexico, Gabe Brown handed Ernie Friessen a copy of his book, “Dirt to Soil.” The 29-year-old farmer took it home where he and his wife, Aracely, began reading it. They were engrossed by the book’s storyline of crop failures from […]
Adaptive Stewardship – What does it Really Mean?
Within Understanding Ag, we teach what we term Adaptive Stewardship. We believe this to be an integral part of regenerative agriculture because without a good understanding of stewardship, we cannot be good practitioners of regenerative principles. The dictionary defines stewardship as “the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving” or […]
The 2021 Food Scene:
In my last article, I wrapped up 2020 with a synopsis of major events that affected both farmers and consumers. This month, I want to focus on what the 2021 food scene will look like and how it may impact pastured protein producers and regenerative farmers. 2021 Food TrendsIn December 2020, Food & Wine magazine […]
Replacing ‘Prescriptions with ‘Observing and Absorbing’ Key to Couple’s Regenerative Success
August Horstmann began his farming career following the scholarly prescriptions he was taught by his animal science professors at the University of Missouri (Mizzou). Following those prescriptions nearly ended his full-time farming dream. On his family’s 1,000-acre farm in Owensville, Missouri, the then 19-year-old Horstmann used registered bulls for breeding, fed his herd grain, included […]
Artificial Animals – Part 2: The Hidden Dangers of Processed Plant Proteins
The Hidden Dangers of Processed Plant Proteins Sara Keough MS, CNS, LDN- Integrative Eco-Nutritionist Understanding Ag, LLC Technical Advisor While animal products have been routinely vilified and branded as promoting heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases, it turns out there is no solid evidence to support these claims. Yet, mainstream restaurants and supermarkets continue […]
Soil Health Principles with CONTEXT
What would a world without context be like? Navigating a world without context is like trying to find your way out of a dark room. It’s disorienting, confusing and problematic. Information is important, but knowledge is “information in context,” giving us a way to accurately and effectively “connect all of the dots” in any given […]
Artificial Animals – Part 1
Plant-based meats.
It’s a phrase likely to evoke controversy and contention among a wide array of consumers depending on their dietary preferences, environmental concerns, ethical issues with meat consumption and knowledge of the food industry. Enthusiastic proponents of plant-based meats insist that they’re a more nutritious option than meat and reduce the environmental impacts driven by animal agriculture. Some consumers are on the fence, feeling conflicted about the ostensible health benefits of meat substitutes, yet accepting them as an eco-friendlier alternative.
‘God, I could really use a little help here.’
For Brandon Bock, it was a crisis of conscience.
“I saw all of those grasshoppers at the edge of my spring wheat field. I knew I shouldn’t apply an insecticide, but it ran counter to everything I had done before,” the 37-year-old farmer from Foxholm, North Dakota, says. “The spring wheat was starting to flower and normally would get sprayed with a fungicide and insecticide in one pass around this stage.”
Confounding Economics: The Farm Income Mirage and How to Prepare for the Future
Confounding Economics: The Farm Income Mirage and How to Prepare for the Future Allen Williams, Ph.D., Understanding Ag, LLC Recent articles have left me scratching my head about the state of U.S. farm economics, especially looking at conflicting titles like, “Farm Income to Hit 7-Year High, Thanks to Record-Setting Aid” and “Farm Cash Receipts Forecasted […]
Kiss the Ground
“Kiss the Ground.” Understanding Ag’s Ray Archuleta, Gabe Brown and Kris Nichols, Ph.D. Upcoming ‘Kiss the Ground’ Movie Features Three Understanding Ag Experts Questions and Answers with Our ‘In-House’ Stars By Ron Nichols, Understanding Ag Kiss the Ground is a new, feature-length movie that explores key soil health and regenerative agricultural principles, and features interviews […]
The ‘Unintended’ Consequences of Taxpayer-Subsidized Crop Insurance
By Doug Peterson There are many things that influence what a person does and how well they take care of the land they own or operate. Several studies show that any kind of absentee or non-operating landowner (investors, heirs, retirees) generally do not invest in conservation on the land as much as owner-operators. There are […]
Where Human Health Begins: One Farmer’s Story of Regeneration
By Ron Nichols Sometimes, adversity is a blessing, though rarely does it seem so in the moment. Just ask Roy Thompson, a 33-year-old farmer from Akaska, South Dakota. At age 20, Roy was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel condition that the Mayo Clinic’s website describes as “both painful and debilitating, and sometimes may […]