Regenerative agriculture is the past, present — and most importantly, the future.
Duncan Morrison, executive director of the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA), believes that — and more.
“I think regenerative ag has the potential to be bigger than it is already,” he said. “Right now, those that are participating in programs and using regenerative ag practices are definitely seeing benefits to their farms, families, and quality of life too.”
Regenerative agriculture is a set of farming techniques based on biological designs that benefit the soil, ecosystem and the Earth as a whole. The practices have been around for a long time, but Morrison said what’s new is the “dedication of farmers who want to work with the land and not against it.”
A few regenerative practices include cover cropping, rotational grazing, crop rotation, no-till farming, water management, carbon sequestration and more. Cover crops slow erosion and runoff, protecting the soil surface and enhancing soil structure. Rotational grazing allows manure to be distributed evenly across pastures, improving soil health, and gives plants time to regrow between grazings and establish deeper roots. Crop rotation helps diversify crop applications and pests, while improving soil health and nutrient availability. No-till farming reduces soil erosion and improves soil quality. Water management helps the soil retain nutrients, boosting overall soil and crop health. Sequestering carbon enhances the ability of soil and plants to absorb and retain carbon, reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
It’s important to note there is no silver bullet with regenerative ag — there are many practices to try, and when one doesn’t work, Morrison said regenerative farmers are good at adapting and trying something new. It can be as simple as leaving a wetland or grassland intact, working with natural infrastructure, or planting forages that resist runoff.
“It’s a different mindset than other farming,” he said. “There’s a real strong sense of community that intertwines regenerative ag. Families and couples come to our conference and learn about it and get connected to others using regenerative ag. They stay in touch and help each other out.”
Mike and Scott Duguid have been implementing regenerative ag practices on their farm near Arnes for 10 years. They currently have a herd of 250 beef cows, 1,000 acres of grain, and 600 acres of various forages — many of them regenerative species.
Mike said they started down the path of regenerative ag because land prices were so high that they had to learn to maximize every acre. They started with one small field and have since expanded to use regenerative practices on every field and in their cattle operation.
The Duguids use their hay and grain acres and add another process or enterprise — that can mean grazing, planting multiple shorter-season crops, or harvesting feed. Scott said they have a couple of fields they use for grazing, feed or grain, and with regenerative practices, they get two to three crops from them.
“All of a sudden you start running two to three enterprises, not just one,” said Mike.
They typically direct seed the grain crop — usually oats or peas — with a cover crop underneath, which is used for grazing in the fall. In addition to cover cropping, they rotationally graze their cows, have reduced tillage from traditional practices to nearly none, switched from an air seeder to a disc drill to limit soil disturbance, significantly cut their fuel use, leave longer stubble, and are constantly testing new practices.
“The way that we’re doing it, we have options,” said Scott. “You’re not limited to thinking that piece of land is a grain farm anymore or that’s a pasture — you start integrating them all. It’s helped, not so much being more profitable across the board; you see more opportunities.”
Profits in regenerative agriculture often come from what farmers aren’t spending. With fewer inputs and less equipment, regenerative farmers have lower costs.
Mike said the biggest change was their mindset — realizing that some traditional practices, like deep tillage, aren’t necessary and may do more harm than good. Regenerative practices are also more resistant to climate change, with stubble catching snow to reduce erosion and improve soil structure.
“When you go through your five soil health principles, a lot of farms in Western Canada are down the path — they just don’t call themselves a regenerative farmer,” said Scott.
Those principles are:
• Maximize soil cover: Leaving soil cover like stubble prevents erosion, regulates temperature, builds structure, increases organic matter and better manages water.
• Minimize soil disturbance: Less tillage helps nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium remain in the soil.
• Promote plant diversity: A diverse mix of plants maximizes carbon input and diversifies soil biology.
• Have continuous live plants: Crops that leave high-carbon material on the surface help prevent erosion.
• Integrate livestock: Livestock convert high-carbon matter to low-carbon matter, and their manure benefits both insects and the soil.
Scott said they work to achieve these principles every year, though the methods vary. Regenerative ag also benefits animals in the ecosystem, such as native birds, when their habitat and food sources remain. Crop rotation allows for a diversity of insects and birds, as different crops offer different nutrition.
Morrison said regenerative agriculture stands the test of time, but there needs to be recognition of its value in the marketplace.
“Whether it’s honey from bees on a regenerative farm, grass-fed or rotationally grazed livestock, a grain farm with soil enhanced by cover crops — there needs to be recognition so it feeds back into the value chain,” he said. “Consumers have to know ecological goods and services need to be valued more by society.”
The Duguids are looking at leaving longer stubble on their fields and adding more remote watering stations and smaller paddocks in their pasture. Ten years in, they’re still looking for ways to adopt more regenerative practices.
