The MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture launched in 2021. As director, Rob Myers brings his expertise in soil health, conservation and crop diversification to help farmers, landowners and ag retailers understand integrated approaches to creating a more resilient agriculture industry.
How do you define “regenerative agriculture,” and why has the term become so mainstream in the past few years?
Right now, there’s not a single definition. It’s an evolving concept and is a combination of certain practices and out-comes. Some practices include cover crops, no-till, crop diversity or integrating livestock. Some key outcomes include how these practices contribute to soil health and resiliency — that’s where the idea of regenerating soil productivity comes in.
Why do we see so many major companies making sustainability goals?
We’re seeing companies develop goals for achieving carbon neutrality. Everything a company produces has carbon costs to manufacture, so they are looking to offset that. About a dozen major food and beverage, agricultural and clothing companies have some program directed at farmers where they provide per-acre payments for certain practices. Probably the most common practice is cover crops. The second most common is reducing tillage. Some companies are paying for pollinator habitats or improved nutrient management in relation to fertilizer.
How would you describe the current carbon marketplace?
The carbon market is in its infancy, and it’s a little chaotic. It is a challenge for farmers because there are so many programs. Each company is doing it a little bit differently — not just the dollars they pay but what they expect in re-turn.
You work with USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. What should farmers know about the program?
SARE is the only USDA grant program that will directly provide a grant to farmers to try a new practice or idea on their farm. Each year, 150 to 200 farmers get funded by SARE to do projects. Those projects can be something simple such as a farmer trying two different grazing systems or a farmer evaluating a new way to integrate pollinators in their system — any practice that can contribute to sustainability. Grants in the Midwest are up to $15,000 for an individual farmer.
What trends are you watching in regenerative agriculture?
I’m interested to see how farmers start integrating conservation practices. We see farmers try one new practice, but those focused on conservation efforts look at the overall farm landscape so they can create synergy between these practices. Traditionally, farmers might have a sloping field and decide to put in terraces. That’s OK, let’s put some perennial native plants on top of that terrace for pollinator habitat. In between the terraces, let’s try no-till and cover corps. When you put all those together you see dramatic results.
