Acres U.S.A. really does need to define itself. Instead of the practical, science-based platform for ecological farming and economic fairness that it once was, it has become a mouthpiece for a creationist worldview, faith-driven principles, Christian Nationalism, and Heritage Foundation policies that are anti-science, research, education, conservation, and equity.
While Acres once focused on soil science, organic agriculture and appropriate technology, now it is about “regenerative” ideology including the convenient fiction that bison “created” the productive soil of the plains, as promoted by the Carbon Cowboys franchise, financed by Big Meat and Big Food. I think Charles Walters and William Albrecht would be horrified.
I’m giving Acres one last chance to return to practical articles based on science, about sustainable and organic farming and food systems, by researchers, farmers and economists. The article by Laura Paine and Jason Cavadini was excellent. 2026 is off to a good start.
Emily Macdonald
Buchanan, Michigan
Your last two editions of the “View from the Country” are spot on.
The question about halfway through the December View was “What in the world does all this have to do with farming?” The answer is everything. Many farmers today leave God out of their decisions — society at large today, more so. I wonder how many farmers, growers, gardeners, and nurserymen ask for God’s guidance in what they plant, the chemicals they use, and the life they live.
President Trump just gave 12 billion dollars to the agriculture industry. Why? Because we as growers are not relying on God’s input on how to farm, what to plant, how much debt NOT to take on. Our industry doesn’t need more money; it needs more of God’s input. I’ve always been amazed that growers go for the Big Ag mindset and then ask God after the fact for healing with the cancer, Parkinson’s, and so on.
Our lives go better on all levels with our Creator’s input. Thank you for bringing up the most important part of agriculture.
Eric Hart
Eldersburg, Maryland
| Elaine Ingham, 1952-2026 Elaine Ingham, a pioneer in soil microbiology and the soil food web, died on February 17. Elaine was a huge advocate and popularizer of the importance of life in the soil. She helped bring a focus on soil microbiology to the Acres U.S.A. community in the late 1990s, notably at her talk at the 1997 Acres U.S.A. Eco-Ag conference. Leading voices in the Acres U.S.A. community at the time did care about soil biology — William Albrecht, for example, began his career examining different biological inoculants for legumes — but, on the whole, ecological farmers were more focused on nutrient balancing at the time. Elaine was one of the first to help usher us into what Steve Diver refers to as the biological age of ecological agriculture, and for that, we owe her a huge debt of gratitude. |
