Harris said conventional farmers are \u201cgood people\u201d who \u201cfarm the way their father and grandfather did, the way they were taught in college, and the way they are told by pesticide companies.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/farmers-react-to-usda-allocating-700-million-for-regenerative-agriculture-5957555?welcomeuser=1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n By Jeff Louderback<\/p>\n\n\n\n For three generations, the Harris family farmed south Georgia-based White Oak Pastures<\/a> the conventional way, relying heavily on chemicals, pesticides and antibiotics. In the mid-1990s, fourth generation farmer Will Harris started the transition to regenerative methods, which prioritize building and preserving healthy soils, avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and minimal or no tilling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like many regenerative farmers and proponents, Harris intently listened to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins\u2019 Dec. 10 introduction<\/a> of a Regenerative Pilot Program<\/a> that will allocate $700 million to support regenerative agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor the first time in my lifetime, the USDA is publicly showing an interest in this kind of production, and that is encouraging,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Harris told The Epoch Times that White Oak started transitioning to regenerative farming in 1995.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1976, he graduated from the University of Georgia with an animal science degree, returned to the farm, and ran it as an \u201cindustrial, conventional, monocultural cattle guy just as my father was.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe were heavily invested in all the tools, pesticides, chemical fertilizer, and antibiotics. We didn\u2019t make a lot of money, but we were profitable,\u201d said Harris, who is also the founder of the Center for Agricultural Resilience<\/a>, an organization centered on education about the benefits of regenerative farming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll of those ways have negative unintended consequences\u2014like degradation of the soil and water, and poor animal welfare. It\u2019s hard on the land, the water, the environment, and all of the animal species,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regenerative farming, Harris said, \u201crespects the cycles of nature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rollins made the announcement at a press conference Dec. 10, alongside Secretary of Heath and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, and regenerative farmers from California, Indiana, and Missouri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cProtecting and improving the health of our soil is critical, not only for the future viability of farmland, but to the future success of American farmers,\u201d Rollins said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn order to continue to be the most productive and most efficient growers in the world, we must protect our topsoil from unnecessary erosion and boost the microbiome of the soil,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The program will take funding from existing USDA conservation programs, including $400 million from the USDA\u2019s Environmental Quality Incentives Program and $300 million from its Conservation Stewardship Program, according to a USDA press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It will be managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kennedy said the program will give farmers who are dependent on chemical and fertilizer inputs \u201can off-ramp\u201d to help them transition to a model that emphasizes soil health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith soil health comes nutrient density,\u201d Kennedy added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The program aligns with the MAHA Commission<\/a>\u2019s focus<\/a> on addressing the nation\u2019s chronic disease epidemic by strengthening the nutrient density in food and decreasing reliance on chemicals, Kennedy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A regenerative farmer based in Mississippi, Allen Williams<\/a> is cofounder of the Soil Health Academy<\/a> and Understanding Ag,<\/a> which help farmers, ranchers, and growers implement regenerative principles and practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Williams holds a doctorate<\/a> in livestock genetics from Louisiana State University and pioneered many early regenerative grazing protocols and forage finishing techniques. He now teaches those principles to farmers globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve never had this kind of funding allocation earmarked for regenerative farming. This opens the door for future funding, and for shaping future agriculture policies on Capitol Hill because more legislators will be familiar with the benefits of regenerative farming methods,\u201d Williams told The Epoch Times, adding that he is \u201ccautiously optimistic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201dIt\u2019s still government, still bureaucracy, but it\u2019s absolutely a major step forward. It heightens public awareness and interest in what regenerative farming is all about, which is as important as the $700 million itself,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Williams defines regenerative agriculture as \u201cfarming and ranching in synchrony with nature to repair, rebuild, revitalize and restore ecosystem function.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe key part is the last sentence of that definition\u2014starting with life within the soil, and then expanding the life above. That clearly distinguishes it from conventional farming because the conventional way is all about the chemistry of the soil, not the life in the soil,\u201d Williams added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n American farming was decimated by the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. In response, Congress created the NRCS<\/a> with the intention of improving the land and conserving America\u2019s soil and water resources. Between 1948 and 2021, total U.S. farm production increased<\/a> 190 percent, while total farm inputs\u2014including land, labor, and water\u2014decreased about 2 percent in the same period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a Dec. 10 press release<\/a>, NRCS acknowledged that \u201ccurrent conservation programs at USDA have become overly burdensome and farmers are bogged down with red tape whenever they try to adopt soil health and regenerative agriculture practices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n USDA data shows that farmers recently reported 25 percent of their acreage having water-driven erosion concerns and 16 percent of acreage having wind-driven erosion issues, according to the press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pilot program addresses these challenges by reducing administrative burdens for producers, expanding access to new and beginning farmers, and boosting yields and long-term soil resilience across operations, the NRCS said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Describing the program on its website, the NRCS added that \u201cfor too long\u201d funding has \u201cunintentionally encouraged isolated, practice-by-practice conservation, rather than holistic management.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the pilot program, farmers can bundle multiple regenerative practices into one application, \u201cstreamlining the process and increasing flexibility for operations,\u201d the NRCS press release said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The program is designed for farmers who are \u201cready to take the next step in regenerative agriculture,\u201d the NRCS added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NRCS will also establish an advisory council composed of farmers, consumers, and private partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The council will include 15 members\u2014nine regenerative farmers representing production systems, three corporate supply-chain or consumer packaged goods representatives, and three consumer or MAHA representatives, the NRCS reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rick Clark,<\/a> an Indiana-based regenerative farmer and co-founder <\/a>of American Regeneration,<\/a> an organization committed to advancing regenerative agriculture initiatives, called the pilot program \u201ca victory for regeneration\u201d and said it is \u201cexactly what the farmer needs to start making changes on their farm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the Dec. 10 announcement, Clark participated in a roundtable representing producers who are showing the viability of regenerative agriculture at scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo see regenerative agriculture recognized at the highest levels of government is incredibly encouraging,\u201d Clark said. \u201cBeing asked to represent farmers in this conversation shows that the USDA is finally listening to producers who have proven that regenerative systems work at scale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Angela Huffman<\/a> is president of Farm Action, a regenerative farming organization. She said in a statement that \u201cdone right, this investment will help farmers lower their input costs, break free from the export-driven commodity overproduction treadmill, and move toward healthier, more resilient, and more profitable farming systems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Huffman urged the USDA to take steps to ensure that small, independent farms receive assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf the Trump administration wants this initiative to succeed, USDA must make sure the Natural Resources Conservation Service\u2014after significant funding cuts\u2014has enough staff to get these dollars out quickly and fairly, reaching farmers across America, not just the largest operations by default,\u201d she said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two regenerative farmers, who spoke to The Epoch Times on the condition of anonymity, said that they are skeptical of the pilot program, citing their belief that NRCS practices are ecologically unfavorable and their doubts about the efficacy of government grants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some MAHA advocates have expressed their disapproval of EPA policies. Aubrey Bettencourt<\/a>, Chief of the NRCS, on Dec. 10 said that her organization is in discussions with EPA Director Lee Zeldin and his staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re very, very confident of his [Zeldin\u2019s] commitment to make sure to reduce toxic exposures to the American people,\u201d Bettencourt said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Small Business Administration (SBA) also indicated its backing of regenerative farming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SBA Director of Rural Affairs Richard Kingan<\/a> described the pilot program as \u201can initiative that reflects a forward-thinking commitment to healthier communities and a resilient food supply.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFamily farmers are the original small business owners\u2014and by cutting red tape for them, this administration is making it easier to continue producing nutritious and affordable foods that local communities rely on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John Klar is an attorney turned regenerative cattle farmer in Vermont. He works with the nonprofit MAHA Action and is the author of \u201cSmall Farm Republic<\/a>\u201d and an upcoming book, \u201cThe War on Farmers: How Corporations, Activists, and Climate Alarmists Are Fueling a Global Food Crisis<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Klar<\/a> told The Epoch Times that he is encouraged by Bettencourt\u2019s comments about Zeldin and by Kingan\u2019s remarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe MAHA movement needs multi-agency alliances to overcome the systemic problems plaguing Americans\u2019 food supply,\u201d Klar said. \u201cThe pilot program is an important first step in the right direction. Support from the SBA and the EPA is a welcome second.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of the \u201cMake Our Children Healthy Again<\/a>\u201c strategy, released in September<\/a>, HHS is also investing in research<\/a> on the connection between regenerative agriculture and public health, developing public health messaging explaining this connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Williams told The Epoch Times he would like to see the government change its policies, subsidies, incentive programs, and crop insurance programs to encourage regenerative farming over conventional methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regenerative farming methods can be more profitable than conventional methods because they require fewer subsidies, incur less debt, and generate crops that are not as susceptible to damage from fungal diseases and pests, Williams said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s important we educate our lenders, too, because a regenerative farmer is a significantly lower risk to the lender than a conventional farmer, but the vast majority of lenders do not recognize that yet,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regenerative farmers are lower risks for lenders, Williams believes, because they have \u201cmore highly aggregated soil, therefore the soil is able to infiltrate water a lot better and retain that water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFlooding and droughts are the two biggest weather-related events that cause crop failure, and that impacts crop insurance payments. Better soil aggregation and water infiltration and retention helps mitigate floods and droughts. Regenerative farming also has fewer issues with pests and focal pathogens,\u201d Williams said. Focal pathogens are micro-organisms that can spread bacteria and toxins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Harris said conventional farmers are \u201cgood people\u201d who \u201cfarm the way their father and grandfather did, the way they were taught in college, and the way they are told by pesticide companies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like Williams, Harris would like to see an investment from the USDA into education about the benefits of regenerative farming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think a lot of that change will be made as the older conventional farmers retire and new farmers with a different perspective take over those pieces of land, and recognize that regenerative methods are [respectful of] the environment, and are more profitable and resilient,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that more awareness be brought about our way of farming. The pilot program is a positive start.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This one statement below caught my eye, as it’s a summary of how you capture an industry for your own gain by controlling college and what is taught, requiring them to use your products. And it’s always a terrible corruption of what should be. Harris said conventional farmers are \u201cgood people\u201d who \u201cfarm the way […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","category-world"],"blocksy_meta":[],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Jason","author_link":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/author\/jturning\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14836"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14836\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14837,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14836\/revisions\/14837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Proponents of regenerative methods are hopeful farming that \u2019respects the cycles of nature’ will get more attention and funding over time.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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