Part Two: Perception Is Not Reality: The 20 ‘Cons’ (that aren’t) of Regenerative Ag

Kent Solberg, UA Consultant

In my first post on this subject, I listed 10 perceived “cons” conventional agricultural producers may anticipate as they make the transition from conventional to regenerative agriculture. As I wrap up this two-part series, my hope is that what many perceive as potential “cons” will be reevaluated and seen as what they truly can be: “pros.” Here are 10 more perceived “cons” to round out my list of 20…

1. You may have to say goodbye to familiar faces: When you understand that “cash flow” is not the same as “net profit,” you may no longer need that loan officer you’ve come to know.  When you move to a profit mindset and realize that higher yields often require much higher input costs, you will begin to capitalize on the “free” production inputs nature provides. By using the Six Principles of Soil Health and the Three Rules of Adaptive Stewardship you can maximize the Four Ecosystem Processes in a way that significantly reduces input costs and maximizes profits.

• Yield isn’t success. Yield is not the only metric of “success.” This is hard news for many because they’ve been conditioned through decades of marketing (and awards programs) by industrial agriculturalists that increasing yields will result in better outcomes for your business enterprise. While larger yields may seem great, they often come at higher costs that net lower profits. Understanding Ag helps its clients implement a broader set of metrics.

• The shovel doesn’t lie.  The soil one sees in most fields is not normal or natural, yet we have come to believe that it is because it is what we have known.  When you dig a little, you’ll learn a LOT about the health and function of your soil. For example, nothing is more revealing than comparing a shovel full of soil in your fields to the soil that’s in your fence rows. This simple comparison says so much more about how our soils should look, feel and smell, than any sophisticated soil analysis. And this test will only cost you a few minutes of your time.

• Your current livestock inventory may not handle the change. Take advantage of these historically high livestock markets to build a more resilient herd by culling those animals and their progeny that require most of your resources (supplementation and pharmaceuticals) to avoid having the change being a big financial hit. You will thank yourself 10 years from now.

• You may say goodbye to some of your equipment. You probably have too much machinery and “brick and mortar” infrastructure you feel that you “have to” use. We can’t change past decisions, but UA can help your operation reduce input costs and costly capital purchase mistakes.

• Old dogs and new tricks. Along with a new mindset, you will need to learn new skills. As we age, experts advise us to constantly learn new things to keep our minds nimble and healthy, so learning new skills will not only help your business, but it’ll also help you stay sharp.

• You will need to change. In the first part of this series, I noted that change is hard. Putting aside previous ways of viewing agriculture and the traditions we were taught, is even harder.  However, change is the only constant in life, and to be successful on your regenerative journey, you’ll need to embrace it.  Better to be the driver of change than trying to figure out how to survive when you’re only hanging on for the ride.

• No more “prescriptions.” If you’ve been in agriculture for any period, chances are someone has tried to sell you a prescription or recipe to “fix” something or to increase yields or to increase animal performance. In regenerative agriculture, you will be less dependent upon prescriptions from agronomists, animal nutritionists, product representatives, extension, and other ag service providers. As a regenerative farmer or rancher, you will do more of your own thinking and assessments. Learning to work within the Four Ecosystem Processes, how they are impacted by our management, and applying the skills of observation can liberate you from the bonds of dependence from those wanting us to be lifetime consumers of the products they peddle.

• Trading the seat for a shovel. As a regenerative farmer, you will need to get off the seat of your machinery to use that shovel.  For some, this is a big ask, because we’ve been conditioned to believe that machinery time is productive time, when optimizing our observational skills and nature’s ecosystem processes may be more effective, and less far expensive.

1. More profits equal more taxes. Businesses operating in the black have to dole out more green to Uncle Sam (fact of life). Lower-input regenerative agriculture leads to higher profit margins, so some may need to begin paying income tax off their Form 1040, Schedule F. Sorry about that.

No doubt some of you may be scratching your heads wondering how any of these top 20 “cons” are actually “cons” at all. I agree, because when we dig a little deeper, the “cons” clearly aren’t.

However, even the perception of a “con” can be an excuse for many to stick with the familiar, even if the status quo isn’t sustainable over the long haul. As I mentioned in the introduction of part one, I know this list isn’t exhaustive, but I hope this examination has provided you with some “food for regenerative thought” as we travel our respective roads to regeneration. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.