WESTERN PRODUCER — Regenerative agriculture is gaining momentum across the Prairies, but it’s far from a one-size-fits-all approach.
Still, the diverse practices share a common thread — a commitment to leaving the land, and the world, healthier for future generations.
Regenerative agriculture has become somewhat of a buzzword but can be broken down to mean farming practices that prioritize soil health, biodiversity and long-term sustainability while balancing the needs of both the environment and agricultural production.
The Dogs Run Farm is a first-generation operation near Clearwater, Man. Colin and Katie McInnes began farming in 2013 after relocating from Winnipeg.
Spanning nearly 12 acres with an unnamed creek running through it — its shape resembling a dog’s head when viewed from above — the farm takes its name from this natural feature. An additional 37 acres of rented pasture support their livestock.
The McInneses focus on producing high-quality food for themselves, their community and their customers. Their operation includes cattle, Dorper sheep, pigs, chickens, turkeys, laying hens, a horse, cats and farm dogs. They produce and sell free-range pork, lamb, beef, poultry and eggs.
Committed to regenerative agriculture, they use rotational grazing to rejuvenate their pastures and maintain ecological balance. Feed for their livestock, including hay and grain, is sourced locally from neighbouring farms practising sustainable methods such as no-till farming, poly-cropping and minimal inputs, helping to support the local economy.
“We’ve had those principles of ecological stewardship sort of baked in from day one,” Katie McInnes said.
“The challenge for us has been as we’ve … grown, being able to figure out where we’re able and willing to make compromises.”
It’s important to the McInneses to avoid “greenwashing” their operations, so they’ve focused on transparency with their customers.
“We farmers make some tough decisions to get food to people,” McInnes said.
That’s why it’s important to realize that regenerative practices may look different from farm to farm, or even field to field. Motivation will also vary from producer to producer, though they all share a desire to keep their soil healthy and their farms productive, McInnes said.
“It’s complex. It depends on your context. Everything requires a bit more thought, and more information, too.”
However, she said many opportunities exist within the world of regenerative agriculture, or the “regen-sphere,” including farm tours.
“It’s the other farmers that have been so, so generous with what they know, what has worked for them, what’s really helped to push things along the natural way,” she said.
At Clearview Farms Inc., a certified organic grain farm owned by Robert Galarneau near Radville, Sask., regenerative agriculture is practised through minimal tillage, soil cover through cover crops, biodiversity via intercropping, organic inputs such as compost tea and biostimulants and rainwater harvesting for water management.
Galarneau, who has been organic farming since the early 1980s, has had to adapt and become resilient over the years. Early in his career, tillage was a cornerstone of organic farming, cover crops were rarely used due to cost and crop rotations were limited.
“Back then, that was the mainstay. That was how we got by … and then as time went on, you kind of saw the soil start to degrade,” Galaneau said.
As the years progressed, Galarneau and other farmers began facing mounting challenges. Yields were declining, crop quality was suffering and persistent weeds were threatening profitability. The future of organic farming seemed increasingly uncertain.
The turning point for Galarneau came at an organic farming conference, where a soil scientist presented findings from a 15-year experiment.
The study, which highlighted the consequences of extensive tillage, limited rotations and minimal cover cropping, mirrored the very issues Galarneau had been experiencing on his own farm.
At 50, Galarneau made the decision to embrace a systems approach, incorporating regenerative agriculture techniques. While the transition wasn’t easy, it marked a significant shift in his farming philosophy — a move toward practices aimed at restoring soil health and ensuring the long-term sustainability of organic farming.
“When you know better, you do better,” he said.
“As we learn about … (how) it’s more of an ecosystem in the soil … we’re trying to re-establish that ecosystem.”
The most helpful practices on Galarneau’s farm have been minimal tillage to reduce soil disturbance so as not to upset the balance of the fungi and bacteria that live in the soil.
Cover crops are also essential for nutrient cycling, he said.
“We need to get different crops in there.”
The compost tea that Galarneau applies to his soil and sells through his ag input business, Top Horizon Ag Inputs, has become one of his secret weapons in soil enrichment, he said.
“It’s a really broad-spectrum of biology,” he said.
“It’s all beneficial for plant growth.”
Called EcoTea, it contains a range of microbial sources that are combined into a product with tens of thousands of biological species to help plants grow, according to the product’s website.
Galarneau hopes the practices he uses on his farm will help preserve and enrich its health for future generations of farmers and consumers.
“We’ve been farming the soil for such a long time,” he said.
“We’re stewards of the land … and once we know better, we have no excuse.”
Nestled within more than 3,000 acres of aspen forest, First Nature Farms is a haven for wildlife and livestock alike. The property, located near Goodfare, Alta., features three creeks, several beaver ponds and a landscape that supports both biodiversity and sustainable farming practices.
Jerry Kitt, who runs the farm with his son under the banner of Homestead Farm, has been an organic farmer for 25 years. He raises cattle, bison, chickens, turkeys, and Berkshire pigs.
Known for their robust health and resilience, the pigs live outdoors year-round, thriving on pasture. Beyond producing high-quality pork, the pigs play a vital role in the farm’s organic soil fertility program, contributing to a 15-year regenerative cycle.
Realizing the relationship between the farm and the environment has been Kitt’s motivation for making regenerative agriculture a priority on his farm.
“Deep respect for nature is kind of a core perspective,” he said.
“You kind of realize how connected you are and how much influence you have over the life that surrounds you.”
How regenerative agriculture looks on Kitt’s farm can be glimpsed from the cows that are out in the field, even in December.
“They’re bale grazing.… We rotationally graze them in the summertime or in the grazing season,” he said.
The pigs are also out on the pasture and have recently enjoyed playing in the snow, Kitt said.
On another part of his farm, 11 breeder turkeys wander in a 4,600 sq. foot enclosure. The farm also uses solar panels for some of its energy needs.
All of the regenerative practices that Kitt employs are about boosting soil health, he said.
“I want to do the best I can to have a farm full of biodiversity and grow the best food that we can grow. That’s what I really want to achieve.”
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