Many cattle farmers are abandoning the conventional method, and embracing the new way forward: regenerative farming. These farmers choose to feed their cows only grass, which is what cows are biologically designed to consume, rather than grains. Feeding the cows grass significantly increases the nutrients in the meat. One can determine the diet of a cow for example, by testing its milk or meat, for specific nutrients.
Regenerative farming restores the pastures and reverses desertification, increasing organic matter and water infiltration, which ultimately ends flooding and decreases the climate temperature locally. You can learn more about this by exploring the resources below.
It is critical that we support these farmers by buying meat from them directly. This allows many farmers who are in transition to meet their financial needs until they stabilize their operations.
Find Farmers Near You
Many farmers make weekly or bi-weekly deliveries to various locations through the Twin Cities metro and surrounding areas. Find one that works for you.
- Farmers who have graduated from the Soil Health Academy and are using the most cutting edge adaptive practices, and have the most nutrient density foods
- Find a farmer near you through Farm Match
- your local Weston A. Price chapter
- MN Grown directory https://minnesotagrown.com/
- Farm Direct Minnesota Facebook group – where you can connect with farmers for food sourcing
- you local farmer’s market. SNAP benefit cards can be used at farmers markets.
Resources for Regenerative Farming
Farmers who have graduated from the Soil Health Academy and are using the most cutting edge adaptive practices, and have the most nutrient density foods. Many of these farmers happen to be in Minnesota!
Minnesota Soil Health Coalition – a group of Minnesota farmers teaching other farmers how to implement regenerative principles on their ranches.
Organic beef scorecard – The Cornucopia Institute
www.CarbonCowboys.org – videos explaining how regenerative cattle operations reverse climate change (or more accurately, the destruction of the water cycle).
Worried about climate change? Stop worrying about carbon, and start worrying about water and trees. “…of the heat dynamics on earth, only ~4-10% re regulated by carbon, 70-95% are regulated by water.” – Zach Weiss. Video: Healing Ecosystems and Communities with Water Restoration: Webinar with Zach Weiss
You can find more great videos about hydrology and regenerative farming by watching videos with Mark Shephard of New Forest Farm in Viola, WI.
Holistic Planned Grazing – holistic planned grazing is not rotational grazing. Holistic planned grazing involves reducing paddock size, increasing ‘mob’ size, or herd size per the area grazed upon, and moving the animals quickly. Both of these aspects result in longer recovery times for each area of vegetation.
You will find innovation in the most unexpected places — even at the USDA. Ray Archuleta, Soil Health Spokesperson for the NRCS is a dynamic and amazing advocate for truly healthy soil.
Stefan Sobkowiak is one of the leading innovators in growing orchards and fruit-focused food forests.
Sepp Holzer’s techniques, including but not limited to connected ponds, hugelkultur beds, unique planting methods, creating microclimates, underground animal housing, and the use of terraces and perennial wheat, are widely loved, copied and adapted throughout the world.
HUGE 9,000-acre farm in Dakota adopts regenerative agriculture: