How to Find Tenants Who Will Take Care of Your Soil
Shared goals and long-term mindsets make the best partnerships for regenerative management of leased land.
Shared goals and long-term mindsets make the best partnerships for regenerative management of leased land.
Cover crops have skyrocketed in popularity over the last several years — and for good reason. But are they always the only answer? Steve Swaffar, ag consultant at Noble Research Institute, says, “it depends.”
An essential tool in the regenerative playbook is the Haney soil health test, which measures soil biological health by looking at nutrient availability and microbial activity. It reflects the complex ecosystem of the soil instead of relying only on the narrow measurement of “N, P and K.”
There’s no silver bullet, definite answer or formulaic ‘how to’ in regenerative ranching.
Optimizing your ranch’s soil health can help reduce inputs, increase available forage and improve your bottom line.
Get to know three organizations whose financial contributions will have a lasting impact on soil health and rancher well-being.
Noble Research Institute consultant Mike Porter shares four ways ranchers can address management needs and improve soil health by decreasing unnatural soil disturbance.
The 2019 annual report offers a glimpse into the journey of ranchers on the road of regenerative agriculture, the process of rebuilding degraded soils using practices based on ecological principles.
Roads rarely remain straight and smooth forever. Traffic beats wear into the pavement. Rains wash gravel away. Dead ends leave us backtracking, and crossroads beg timely decisions. In agriculture, some practices feel tried and true — until they don’t. Plateaued yields, failing forage stands and economic uncertainty compound the already challenging task of making ends meet during times of drought, floods, diseases and pests.
With a guide at their side, travelers are able to plan their best route before they set out. They can evaluate where they want to go and how to get there. They can mark places to avoid and the routes that lead to the best outcomes. Then, once the journey has begun, they must build in moments along the way to stop, recalibrate and refuel for the next part of the road.