Depending on the type of farmer or foodie or agricultural innovator you are talking to, you will hear different answers defining practices and farming systems that regenerative agriculture can encompass. It is almost always a nuanced conversation.
Read More40% of all of the U.S. corn crop goes to ethanol production. Earlier this year General Motors (GM) made a commitment to exclusively offer electric vehicles by 2035. Why and how these statements are related and what it means for the future of the grain industry.
Read MoreA couple of weeks ago I had a conversation with a colleague in the agriculture technology space about where its worth focusing time and resources to make an impact and improve our agricultural supply chain. My thoughts on this question
Read MoreI look at the state of American agriculture and see a system that is built on serving large commodity agribusinesses and behemoth processors and consumer product goods companies (CPGs). I see a system that is held up by agriculture subsidies that are primarily designed to support a handful of commodity crops in any given area. Why is this?
Read MoreOne of the easiest ways to work through a problem is to break it down into smaller pieces. If the individual pieces of the puzzle can be solved, then when put together, in theory, it should work. Yet, often, when we solve for those individual piece we lose critical information.
Read MoreNow, sitting on the front porch of our family’s cabin in rural Missouri, just a couple miles down the road from my family’s original homestead, I have been doing a lot of thinking. I’ve been mulling over what was gained and what was lost by the great migration from rural to urban and from farms to desk jobs.
Read MoreFirst published on Pure Advantage as a part of “Our Regenerative Future” series. Learn more about my journey discovering New Zealand agriculture by talking to farmers, getting my hands dirty and traveling across Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Read MoreI recently had the opportunity to work with the TFF team on their recently launched WTF: Where’s The Farmer Lab on TFF Digital Labs. Learn more by reading this short interview.
Read MoreThe USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Prospective Plantings Report was recently released. U.S. farmers are expected to plant 97 million acres of corn in the 2020 season. This number is up from last year despite abysmally low commodity prices and decreased demand for biofuels. Why do farmers continue to plant these commodity crops with little return?
Read MoreAs my time in New Zealand has drawn to a close, I took some time to reflect on the moments and experiences that have helped me learn and grow over the past several months. When I look back over all of the different people that I met and farms I worked on I am filled with gratitude for the wide range of experiences I’ve had.
Read MoreCompanion planting with multiple crops interplanted, organic matter on top of the soil, multiple compost beds, plants going to seed for seed saving, heritage varieties of tomatoes planted throughout the garden that are growing in every which way… the mad gardener’s garden.
Read MoreThe plant-based meat proponents and the conventional meat proponents rarely are in the same room. But with the rise of more mainstream plant-based meat companies and a growing field of research in the potential for grazing systems to sequester carbon, this conversation is finally being had in terms of an AND instead of an OR.
Read MoreI would be flying to Australia to attend an agri-food tech conference and my wardrobe consisted of four shirts, worn continuously over the last five months and washed only when the mud was sufficiently thick to offend my sensibilities. Hardly the “smart casual” stated in the event description…
Read MoreThis past week I had the opportunity to attend Evoke Ag, an Asia Pacific agri-food tech conference held in Melbourne, Australia. Read on to hear about some of my main learnings and takeaways.
Read MoreSustainable, holistic, bio-dynamic, regenerative… there is an ever-evolving list of buzzwords to describe farming that employs environmentally friendly practices and methodologies that are more in-line with nature.
Read MoreAs a former vegetarian for environmental reasons and someone that has done extensive work with farmers in the U.S. to diversify their crop mix to include yellow field peas, I am fascinated by the plant-based burger versus meat patty impact on the environment. Working on a regeneratively managed livestock operation is the perfect time to dive into this question.
Read MoreThoughts and opinions on factors that shape our global agri-food system.
Read MoreSpending the past month living in an eco-community and permaculture farm has taught me a lot about small scale agriculture.
Read MoreI just completed my one-month mark on the road and have spoken with many farmers, agri-food businesses and consumers that have a wide range of opinions on what our food and agriculture system should look like.
Read MoreIt has been eye opening to get a peek into dairy in New Zealand and meet two amazing dairy farmers that are passionate about the work that they do. Despite many urban consumers' beliefs, the majority of farmers care deeply about land management and operating their farm in the best way possible.
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