Climate change, soil degradation, and declining biodiversity are prompting more and more prairie farmers to switch to regenerative farming.
However the switch remains challenging, time-consuming and often confusing, according to many participants in an online forum on regenerative agriculture held in early April.
Lack of standardized language and benchmarks are deterrents for people wanting to explore more sustainable farming practices, said Laura Telford, an organic specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, who moderated the forum.
“There have been literally endless debates about what regenerative agriculture is and what it isn’t,” Telford said. “The number one challenge to widespread adoption is really lack of universal definitions and standards for regenerative agriculture.”
Kris Nichols, a Calgary soil microbiologist and expert on soil health, agrees.
“There are a lot of issues with being able to define what regenerative agriculture is,” Nichols said in an interview with AlbertaFarmer Express.
There’s no one practice or set of practices that make agriculture regenerative. Still, the term generally refers to using “biologically-based principles,” Nichols said.
The Way of the Wrays
Wray Ranch sits in the grassland northeast of Calgary. In 1998, the Wray family decided to experiment with how they farmed.
“We used to put the cows out on the pasture, and they would graze all summer,” Tim Wray told Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC). “But now, for the most part, our native grasses are grazed only once a year. They’re very diverse stands, and they have a good thatch layer throughout the year.”
Through this grazing system, they were able to double the amount of organic matter in the soil. Plants were able to grow deeper roots. The soil wasn’t compacted from animal hooves or farming tools, so it remained porous and able to support life. The grazing animals left trails of uneaten forage, that in turn became compost for the soils.
The ranch’s native grasslands flourished. Birds returned in huge numbers and diversity. Now more than 75 different species visit the ranch each year. The ground produced more nutrient-dense feed for the animals.
In 2023, the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) awarded Wray Ranch with The Envirlonmental Stewardship Award in recognition of their decades-long effort to adjust land management practices to improve soil health and reduce erosion.
“The Wrays fully embrace what it means to be stewards of the land and set a strong example of the care that cattle producers from across Canada take to ensure that the land is left in better condition for the next generation,” said Mike Duguid, of the CCA.
In a typical year, regenerative methods improve Wray Ranch’s yields. The soil has become more productive and therefore more profitable.
However, with farming, nothing is a given. In drought years, crop productivity goes down.
“We have to live within the conditions that we’re operating,” Wray told NCC. “That’s a big challenge, just dealing with nature and trying to be ready when she gives again.”
Farms and ranches are businesses. They need to earn profit.
Still, the family is committed to regenerative farming. Despite difficult years, managing the soil’s health helps maintain its long-term profitability.
What is Regenerative?
Regenerative agriculture doesn’t just focus on soil health. It also considers biodiversity, soil resilience, and long-term sustainability. Regenerative farmers may use a wide variety of techniques, including cover cropping, crop rotation, minimizing soil disturbance and integrating livestock into their farm plan.
Regenerative techniques must also be adapted to a farmer’s unique location – what works to regenerate the soil on a rainy farm in the Fraser Valley will almost certainly not work in southern Alberta’s dry climate.
That’s attractive to some farmers who cherish the freedom to choose their one path. But it’s also daunting for others who might not know where or how to start and how to measure progress.
Still, with support, more farmers will be able to experiment with techniques that improve the health of their soil. “Recently, there’s been huge interest from governments, from foundations, industry organizations, food buyers … as well as from some farmers in either considering regenerative approaches or diving right in and doing regenerative practices on farm,” Laura Telford told Alberta Farmer Express.
