Eric Fuchs lives in Southeast Missouri on a diversified livestock operation where he raises hair sheep and contract grazes all classes of cattle. He has been using Holistic Planned Grazing for over eight years and has had a managed grazing system on his operation for more than 20 years.
Eric also worked in the water and wastewater industry as a source water protection technician, assisting small and large communities, and agricultural producers, to help ensure community water protection. His efforts helped save millions of dollars in costly water treatment system upgrades while also negating the need for long-term regulations. He has seen firsthand the problems with agriculture land use and its effect on drinking water.
Eric’s journey into regenerative ag began on his own operation when he discovered how soil health focused practices could benefit water resources. He also realized that more regulation is never the answer but that the solutions for clean water are easily attainable by changing how we operate.
Graduating from the University of Missouri in 1994 with a degree in agronomy, Eric served in the U.S. Air Force for five years, during which time he received a master’s degree in human resource development.
In his own words
I began my farming career as a conventional grazing and livestock owner, which I quickly realized was not profitable or sustainable in our environment. When I started my career in source water protection, I also recognized the problems created by conventional agriculture were rampant. Most of the problems I saw with poor drinking water quality could be attributed to agriculture.
After implementing regenerative principles and practices on my own operation for several years, I saw how these could also help save our waterways, provide clean safe reliable drinking water, and increase profitability. It became a passion of mine to let others know there were practical solutions to these problems, and that the same techniques used to make my own operation sustainable and profitable, could be used on a large scale to clean up our drinking water. My passion now is to share these solutions with others.
Through my experience as a regenerative farmer and source water specialist, I bring an informed perspective on the current and future scene of regulations to communities, businesses, and individuals—while offering solutions to that improve drinking water quality and mitigate the need for additional burdensome regulations, all while saving money.
My consulting expertise includes row crop and livestock operations, with a specialization in small ruminant management. I enjoy working closely with farmers and ranchers with grazing management, nutrient reduction, cover crop design and, other practices to help increase profitability and bring the “fun” back to farming. It’s especially rewarding to know that while I’m helping individual farm families, I’m also positively changing the entire face of agriculture around the globe.
