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One of the White Stag Farms’ cows eating naturally grown food. Image: White Stag Farms
By Caroline Miller
Pennsylvania could move to sustainable farming by creating a practice that is based on working with the natural world.
Regenerative agriculture is farming and ranching that restores soil biodiversity and rebuilds organic matter. Regeneration International, an international non-profit organization, says it reduces carbon, which is a greenhouse gas that causes global warming, as well as improves water quality.
“That synergy between agriculture and nature yields the best results,” Su Fanok, the director of the Freshwater Conservation program of the Nature Conservancy’s Pennsylvania chapter, said recently.
Fanok stated that the Nature Conservancy uses regenerative agriculture to manage nutrients, improve soil, increase crop yields, and improve economic sustainability of farms.
The practice involves using cover crops – which are plants that slow erosion and improve soil health – and practicing a no-till grazing technique that grows crops without disturbing the soil. She also said that it involves intense rotational and non-use of pesticides or fertilizers.
“The benefits of regenerative agriculture, really, is the opportunity for us to look holistically at our agricultural systems, and to be able to identify where we can do better, so that we’re still supporting our local farmers who are absolutely essential for all of us,” Fanok said.
She explained that the practice differs from farm to farm.
White Stag Farms is one farm that employs this method. It is a small family farm located in Tyler Hill. The family wanted healthier food and made a business of it.
“We just wanted a different way to live a cleaner way to grow our own food and we just really got into it,” said Curt Hogancamp, owner of the farm.
Hogancamp explained that the farm uses regenerative agriculture to raise livestock on organic, antibiotic-free, and not genetically modified grain.
“There are a lot of definitions out there,” Hogancamp said. “I would say the best is trying to work with nature as opposed to against it and try to leave the land in a better condition than it was when we first started.”
He also said that the farm uses the no-till method and rotational grassing, as well as as as little machinery.
Hogancamp claimed that he has noticed an increase in organic matter which has increased soil biodiversity and water retention capacity.
“I could tell from the areas where we’ve rolled out the hay bales and where we felt we’ve built up the organic matter, it’s made a drastic improvement when we have times of drought,” Hogancamp said.
He said that the regenerative agriculture has made the grass more lush, greener, and moister.
“You could just put your hand in the soil and pull up a ton of earthworms,” Hogancamp said. “It’s making a difference.”
There are also drawbacks such as the high cost of raising livestock naturally on a small amount of land, the time required to educate them and the lack thereof.
Fanok said that regenerative farming is still a work-in-progress and that scientists are still studying the effects of this practice and how it can help farmers.
“I think it’s a really exciting opportunity,” Fanok said. “You know, with a lot of energy behind it right now, there’s still a lot of unknowns, we don’t have all the answers.”
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