Farming – Susan Feathers

Accelerate Regenerative Farming

The adoption of regenerative agricultural practices is a low-cost, ready-to-deploy approach to combat the climate crisis on a meaningful scale. But numerous challenges remain that hinder widespread adoption. ~ American Farmlands Trust

This video is from the podcast, No-Till Growers.

I have drafted a fiction story based in Kentucky about a young woman farmer who sets out to regenerate the land of her family’s legacy farm. Readers learn the challenges that stand in the way of family farmers and young people trying to do the right thing on their land.

In part, I based the novel on the experiences of the No-Till Growers whom I came to know when I lived in Bowling Green, KY. I was part of a Community Supported Farmer network who grew my food.

These young farmers are the true dreamers of America. And I think you’ll agree with me that this is a time for dreams that are based in reality.

Afternoon Glow Just Before Hay Harvest at Dream Acres Farm

Chellie Pingree, Maine Congresswoman, has introduced the Agriculture Resilience Act — a critical plan that will insure America’s agriculture sector will be resilient and strong even in climate change.

The six areas addressed in the Agriculture Resilience Act are:

Improve Soil Health
Protect existing farmland
Support pasture-based farmland (grass-fed, grazing)
Reduce food waste (30% currently wasted)
Boost initiatives for our farms to utilize renewable energy
Convert to regenerative farming and phase out industrial farming scale operations (put carbon back in soil and reduce carbon dioxide emissions).

See where this bill is in Congressional process. This is important to know about as the U.S. Farm Bill will be up for approval in 2023. Go here for an interview with AG Secretary Tom Vilsack with American Farmland Trust.

Last week, the USDA announced its “Agriculture Innovation Agenda” which aims to cut American agricultural emissions in half by 2050. Pingree’s bill would help USDA reach this goal more expeditiously by expanding the agency’s authority and increasing funding for key USDA programs.

What is “regenerative farming”?