Few people might consider their food’s origin or production while shopping for groceries. Agriculture’s environmental impact is often the last thing that comes to mind. Yet, conventional farming is just as detrimental to the planet as it is to humans.
Current agricultural practices are highly unsustainable, driving biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, water and soil pollution and reduced air quality. The agriculture sector is also a primary producer of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. An increasing reliance on large-scale, monoculture food production has degenerated the natural resources necessary for survival and hindered crop yields.
In moving away from this type of production, regenerative agriculture offers a more sustainable alternative for bolstering our food system. Although not a new farming method, regenerative agriculture could help to restore soil fertility using greener management practices.
Farm life is a pipe dream for some and an actual goal for others. One Gallup poll found 27% of Americans would live in a rural area over a city or suburb. For the most eco-conscious individuals, owning a small farm holds plenty of potential for environmentally-sound operations and social and economic vitality. If you’ve ever thought about running a small farm with regenerative agriculture, this article will offer tips to help you get started.
Agriculture Has a Serious Soil Problem
Conventional agriculture accounts for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Some agriculture emissions include the following sources:
- 1.4% from poor crop management emitting carbon dioxide
- 5.8% from livestock farming’s methane emissions
- 4.1% from nitrous oxide after applying synthetic nitrogen-based fertilizers to soils
The widespread application of chemical pesticides and fertilizers has significantly impacted climate change and compromised soil fertility. Combined with monocropping and tillage, soil-derived carbon emissions have increased by 40% since 1750.
Traditional agriculture methods cause substantial damage to soils. For instance, farmers use tilling to turn the ground to prevent weeds and pests and prepare farms for seeding. Unfortunately, this practice increases soil erosion and agricultural runoff, contaminating nearby freshwater ecosystems.
Additionally, monoculture farms produce one crop year-round in the same land area — yet, the lack of crop diversity results in fewer crop yields due to poor soil health. Today, the U.S. cultivates 440 million acres of land for monoculture agriculture.
Studies have long shown the negative implications of monoculture, such as reduced soil fertility and more frequent pest infestations. Naturally, the prevalence of pests increases the use of synthetic pesticides — a dangerous cycle of unsustainable farming that affects food security.
Soil degradation is perhaps one of the greatest threats to crop productivity. Studies have estimated topsoil loss from ground nutrient depletion has reached 56.7 billion metric tons worldwide. At this rate, scientists warn around 16% of all topsoil has less than 100 years left for farming and 90% is already thinning.
What Is Regenerative Farming?
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to more sustainable farming, implementing land stewardship principles to increase crop productivity and biodiversity. To do this, farmers concentrate on building organic matter for optimal soil health — the most critical component for successful yields. When farmers enhance their soils’ organic matter, they can ease some more destructive farming techniques that cause erosion and nutrient depletion.
Likewise, regenerative farming stabilizes the land, promoting better water absorption and retention and enabling crop resilience during droughts. Healthy soil also helps sequester carbon to reduce agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable farming encourages the restoration of land and natural resources, enabling greater support for various animals and insects vital to the area.
The Costs of Starting a Small Farm
There’s a lot to look forward to once you’ve decided to start a small farm — fresh air, sunshine and the satisfaction of growing your own food come to mind. For those seriously considering it, you’ll need to determine if you can afford it.
The initial cost for small-scale, non-commercial farms usually runs between $600 and $10,000, depending on the location, acreage and livestock. Individuals who hope to operate a commercial farm instead will find costs increase significantly.
Of course, regenerative farmers need to purchase land first. A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report found the average farm real estate value was $3,160 per acre in 2019, a 1.9% increase from 2018. However, buyers could pay as little as $570 per acre in New Mexico or $11,100 per acre in Massachusetts.
Additional startup costs come from equipment and tools, livestock — such as farm animals for grazing — seed, water and soil. Fortunately, the USDA offers a Microloan Program for beginner small-scale farmers, providing $35,000 in loans to start their operations. The USDA has issued 70% of 8,400 microloans to U.S. growers just starting out.
9 Tips to Launch a Small Farm With Regenerative Agriculture
A small regenerative farm can benefit the environment, people and local economy. However, it can also be a daunting endeavor for beginners. Here are nine helpful tips for starting a small farm with regenerative agriculture.
1. Gain Farming Experience
Many people have a glorified view of owning and working on a farm. However, their perception is often farthest from the reality of what it entails.
Farming experience is necessary to succeed or you could find yourself quickly overwhelmed. It’s best to gain hands-on expertise by working on farms before setting out independently. Additionally, working on farms in different climates is critical to understand how crops respond to various environmental conditions.
Climate change has altered rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts and induced extreme heat waves that hinder crop viability — nowadays, these severe weather fluctuations occur in the same area. The frequency and intensity of precipitation and droughts will become more prevalent in the coming years and farmers must remain vigilant.
Scientists have predicted high greenhouse gas emissions and advancing climate change conditions will decrease maize production by 24% by 2030. Therefore, gaining farming experience will better prepare you to meet the moment when weather affects crop productivity.
2. Learn From Other Farmers
There’s much to learn from other farmers who practice regenerative agriculture. Ultimately, their experiences and teachings could make or break a successful startup. Dive into books, classes, online forums, podcasts, documentaries and other resources to learn everything you can ahead of time.
You should also reach out to regenerative agriculture organizations and connect with established farmers. Networking allows you to foster relationships with potential mentors and farming experts that can deliver one-to-one guidance to help you get started.
3. Save Up Beforehand
It takes time and patience to reap the rewards of operating a small farm — you might struggle to get your footing and crops could take a while to grow. Because a regenerative farm is a substantial financial investment, you should save as much money as possible before pursuing farming.
Look over your expenses and determine whether you have enough money to cover the financial input — it might help to set aside a year’s worth of savings. Additionally, beginner farmers should expect to work another job on the side until their farm begins making them livable earnings.
4. Generate a Buyer Network
Looking for buyers before you have yields to offer might seem counterintuitive. However, imagine spending your life’s savings on growing crops for them to sit and rot because you had no one to sell them to.
The Community Support Agriculture (CSA) model is a consumer pledge of support for farm operations and food production within a community. For instance, you might sign contracts with local restaurants or non-profit organizations to supply fresh produce. The USDA maintains resources and a CSA directory for nearby wholesale food buyers and consumers to find your farm.
Additionally, you may decide to participate in local farmers markets. While you’ll need to pay for a vendor slot and may risk not selling all the food, markets help foster relationships with community members and are an excellent way to advertise your regenerative farm.
Building a buyer network is critical to the success of your farm, but you may feel stressed about how long the process takes. It might help ease your worries to know small-scale farmers earning below $100,000 in annual sales typically have less financial burden than massive commercial farms.
5. Buy the Essential Tools and Equipment
When starting a small farm with regenerative agriculture, it’s essential to have your ducks in a row — meaning you need to come prepared with the necessary tools and equipment from the get-go. Consider what you need for running a regenerative farm, such as the following:
- An irrigation system
- Fencing to keep unwanted grazing animals away from crops
- Washing station
- Refrigeration and storage bins
- Seeding equipment
- Electricity and water
- Wheelbarrows
- Shovels, sowers and pitchforks
- Hoses and other miscellaneous materials
Without the basics, getting your farm successfully off the ground will prove to be a difficult task.
6. Introduce Regenerative Techniques Gradually
If you were hoping to use regenerative farming techniques immediately, you might feel disappointed when you have to work your way up to it over time. Regenerative agriculture demands comprehensive planning to avoid potential risks. Perhaps you’ll discover some tilling or light pesticide and fertilizer use is necessary for the beginning stages.
However, there are ways to introduce regenerative techniques as you start your small farm. Remember that the primary goal of regenerative agriculture is to enhance the environment and improve soil health. Use manure or compost to boost soil composition for bountiful harvests. You should also develop an integrated pest management plan early in preparation for insects or crop diseases.
7. Diversify Crops
Clearly, monoculture isn’t conducive to soil fertility, so you’ll want to ensure crop diversification on your regenerative farm. Studies have shown diverse cropping systems produce 10% higher yields of corn and wheat — in some areas, they increased by over 20%.
You might not produce numerous crop species on a smaller farm, but alternating a couple of crops throughout the seasons will improve soil quality. Also, avoid planting the same crops next to each other from row to row. Companion planting provides a better chance of reducing pest infestations.
8. Partner With Others
The best way to achieve small-farm success is by partnering with your community — non-profits, businesses and consumers can help ensure your farm makes the most significant local impact. Hone your marketing efforts to locals and find team members as committed to sustainability and regenerative agriculture as you are.
If budgets are tight and you lack the funds for an entire payroll of farmhands, connect with local universities or community colleges. Schools with agricultural and environmental science programs will undoubtedly have students looking for hands-on farming experience to complete projects and other coursework. Although some might not have sufficient skills, their expertise in eco-friendly techniques and the latest green technologies could make up for it and help your farm progress.
9. Aim for Profit
You wouldn’t go to great lengths to start a small farm with sustainable practices if you didn’t care about the environment and the local community. However, it’s important to remember you’re running a business first and foremost.
Beginner farmers soon find out farming isn’t as straightforward as it appears. If you’re unable to make a profit, your goal of saving the planet with regenerative agriculture will be impossible. You may need to make difficult decisions regarding your methods, adopt broader views of your holistic approach and consider what’ll be financially beneficial in the long term.
For example, saving money by reducing workers’ wages might seem necessary now, but frequent turnover could raise red flags when you try to hire more team members. Failing to invest in optimal soil health immediately could also hinder future crop yields.
Garnering profits from regenerative agriculture allows you to save money when the budget gets tight and help you avoid significant financial burdens. With money available, you’ll also be more likely to keep up with investing in your land to achieve enhanced sustainability.
A Resilient Farmer Cultivates Greater Yields
There may be times when you regret starting your small farm or feel hopeless in your efforts to run it sustainably. Regenerative agriculture comes with setbacks and failures before your farm is thriving. However, farmers must be resilient — their hard work will eventually pay off, benefitting the planet and people alike.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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