Why the term is opening doors for our industry to bring soil health to the mainstream
I dare say it: soil health is going mainstream.
We are in a rare moment. Outside of the dramatic changes to our national thinking about environmental protections between 1966 and 1972 — which included the publishing of Silent Spring, the first issue of Acres U.S.A. magazine, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency — this current environmental moment is almost unprecedented. Today we are witnessing a rapidly progressing acknowledgement of how soil health is connected to human health and how conventional farming practices are interrupting those connections. It is no longer a fringe idea.
We know from experience that vocabulary matters, and so the conversation within the larger conventional farming organizations and consumers is a bit different than soil health, eco-agriculture or organic farming. The term “crop protection” is more popular. To some, it’s the only goal they have — it’s self-explanatory. To others, “crop protection” can be a term rendered meaningless by the pesticide industry and unnecessarily sold to farmers as an expensive tool in their toolkit.
Where do we at Acres U.S.A. stand? Crop protection is a vital concept and a way to engage all farmers across the soil health spectrum. Crop protection, in our world, is the management systems that create balanced soil, which grows a more resilient plant; a resilient plant then returns the favor and helps protect and build soil and an entire ecosystem. It’s circular — or spiral, at least. The concept can create, and is creating, real common ground. And this issue of the magazine, hopefully, starts to reflect that.
I know … is all this jibber-jabber about words necessary? It’s a good question. As the industry moguls try to water down and corrupt terms like “organic,” “regenerative” and even “soil health,” some level of defense is necessary. Crop protection in a soil health context is wholly different than in a pesticide-heavy and reactive environment. But the end goal is the same, and we firmly believe that we can help farmers feel more comfortable changing by attaching soil health concepts to their goals, and not asking for them to wholesale move away from the goals as written. Frankly, most aren’t going to do that anyway. In other words, we want to keep crop protection as the goal but change how we achieve those results … more prevention, less reaction.
Our approach in helping use the term “crop protection” to bridge the gap in conventional farming and eco-agriculture started last year as we authored white papers for a wider audience of farmers and ranchers. They are getting massive amounts of interest. Recently, they helped us get named the official soil health educator for the State of Colorado’s Department of Agriculture, which is adopting a voluntary program for farmers and ranchers. Our role puts Acres U.S.A. at the intersection of a rapidly changing industry, where both policymakers and practitioners are scrambling for trustworthy information about what soil health really means and what true economic benefits soil health management can lead to … and how best to support farmers moving that direction.
As you might expect, soil health’s entry into mainstream farming also means the conversation is going to get crowded and complicated, and we will need all of your help as more states, organizations and parts of the industry come on board. We want to connect your expertise with farmers and ranchers who are new to these concepts, so they feel comfortable, welcomed and trusted. While our partners at the state level have been absolutely wonderful, the nervousness about the presentation of the information is palpable and important to work through. Will we scare off farmers with terms that make them uncomfortable? What is the best way to explain soil health to a large-scale pasture manager in the arid West?
These are questions we will answer — and what a learning lesson it will be for us, and for our eco-ag industry. We will start with common ground: a shared goal to ensure crop quality is not threatened in the long term by bad management practices. In the long run, it is about building local food sovereignty and resilient farmers. Crop protection, soil health … whatever you call it … it’s all the same goal in the end.
So whatever words we use, let it not distract us from the larger point: an awakening to farming with nature is under way. But we must remember that as people awaken, the first sensations they experience are usually discombobulation and worry. Those feelings generally pass once we get our bearings and we see the light. And in that awkward moment — just exposed to first light — is where most of agriculture is today. Luckily, since most of you have already passed through those wobbly-legged stages, you know exactly what I am talking about here.
On that note, thank you for wearing out a path for others to follow. I think we know today that the timeless movement our community helped build is now turning into a truth, and that truth will soon become policy. Conventional farmers, under the banner of how to protect their crops with soil health, are going to be joining the eco-agriculture movement by the state-load.
In other words, the work you are doing will soon become the standard. I truly believe this for one simple reason: I see it happening. The challenge I want to pose to all of you: Let’s make sure we are ready.
Ryan Slabaugh is the GM and Publisher of Acres U.S.A. You can reach him at gm@acresusa.com.
