Acres USA

2023 Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show: A Success!

CaleighP — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 20:13:31 +0000

The 48th annual Eco-Ag Conference and Trade-Show was held, December 4-7, in Covington, KY. The conference was a success, with over 550 attendees from across the globe.

“This was the best event I’ve ever been to.”

“This was my first time attending and I have no suggestions, except how will Acres top the 2023 conference?”

The week kicked-off with our Eco-Ag University Workshops. For two days, attendees learned from expert instructors and connected with others traveling down similar paths. Attendees were able to hear from and talk one-on-one with instructors Don Huber, John Kempf, Greg Pennyroyal, Rick Clark, Mark Shepard, and Jesse Frost. These smaller group discussions and networking times were so insightful to new and experienced farmers alike.

The conference began with a keynote address by John Kempf, a leading expert on regenerative agriculture. Kempf shared his insights on the latest trends in sustainable agriculture and how we can all make a difference. He emphasized the importance of uniting together for the common goal of moving regenerative agriculture forward.

The next morning, we enjoyed a keynote from Macauley Kincaid, who shared his journey into regenerative agriculture at-scale, including no-till, livestock, and how he utilizes cover crops on every acre of his farm. Attendees then moved into breakout sessions and consulting halls to learn the science and practices of regenerative agriculture to take back to their own farms, gardens, customers, and neighbors. There were sessions on composting, water conservation, the soil microbiome, cover cropping and relay cropping, biodiversity integration, and more. These sessions were packed and generated a lot of interactive discussion. Attendees had the opportunity to learn from experts in the field and share their own experiences. Gary Zimmer’s keynote rounded out the conference perfectly, taking us through the last 50 years of biological farming — attendees got a look at where it started, key influencers, how far we’ve come, and where and how we can continue to grow regenerative agriculture together. The final session was a panel of producers, moderated by Will Harris, discussing how we can bring our family and fellow friends and farmers into the conversation about soil health-related practices to widen the acceptance of these practices and increase the regeneration of our land.

Our bookstore offered a wide selection of books from new and existing authors. Authors including Will Harris, Mark Shepard, Dr. Nasha Winters, Jesse Frost, Gary Zimmer, Andre Leu, and Megan Neubauer, were on hand to sign books and chat with attendees. Check out our online bookstore here!

The trade show was another highlight of the conference. Over 70 exhibitors showcased their latest products and services related to sustainable agriculture. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about cutting edge innovations in agriculture and connect with potential partners, win door prizes, listen to exhibitor presentations, and enjoy networking receptions.

None of this would have been possible without our sponsors and their support of the Eco-Ag Conference and Trade-Show. See below for a full list of sponsors.

Eco-Ag is the highlight of our year, for all those that attended – we sincerely hope you enjoyed yourselves. Seeing the conversations, networking, and community come together just reconfirms our mission to bring the community of regenerative agriculture together. Thank you so much for being a part of it.

The conference was a great success and we are already looking forward to next year’s event. The 49th annual Eco-Ag Conference and Trade-Show will be held December 9-12, 2024 in St. Louis, MO. We hope you will join us!

2023 Eco-Ag Speakers:

John Kempf
Gary Zimmer
Macauley Kincaid
Keith Berns
Greg Pennyroyal
Dr. Don Huber
Rick Clark
Mark Shepard
Jesse Frost
Will Harris
Jason Mauck
Dr. Laura Kavanaugh
Lydia Dresbach
Dr. David Johnson & Hui-Chun Su Johnson
Dr. James White
Dr. Nasha Winters
Megan Neubauer
Dr. Andre Leu
Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin
Dr. Beth Fisher
John Duke
Ruben Parrilla
John Wong
Stephen Lapp

Transitioning to Regenerative

Cary Bergeron — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 08:00:00 +0000

This month, we’re thinking a lot about the process of transitioning from conventional to regenerative agriculture and improving regenerative practices. We all know it’s not an easy flip of the switch, but a years-long process of effort, dedication and learning.

Here is a list of resources for learning about that transition to regenerative agriculture, no matter if you’re just beginning to shift your operation, are already in the process, or looking to optimize your soil health even further.

Read Free Articles

Our EcoFarmingDaily.com website is a free resource for all kinds of in-depth articles, interviews and how-to’s on regenerative agriculture. Here are a few transition-specific articles to get started:

Transitioning to Organic, Biological Farming by Gary Zimmer
The Transitional Strategy – an excerpt from Restoration Agriculture by Mark Shepard
Transitioning to Organic? You Don’t Have to Do it Alone – a column by Kristine Lang The Rodale Institute

Best Books on Transitioning Tactics

You can’t go wrong with any book on soil health, but here are a few choice titles from the Acres U.S.A. Bookstore to get you into the regenerative agriculture mindset:

Advancing Biological Farming by Gary Zimmer – our Book of the Month and 20% off for the month of April
Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown
Restoration Agriculture by Mark Shepard
For the Love of Soil by Nicole Masters
Eco-Farm by Charles Walters

Find even more inspiration among the Acres U.S.A. Published titles and our Soil Health Collection. Sign up for the Book of the Week email newsletter to get free chapter excerpts and weekly deals delivered straight to your inbox.

Read the December 2023 Issue

Our December 2023 Issue focuses on the theme of transitioning to Eco-Ag. It has already arrived in subscriber mailboxes, and is also available for individual purchase at our bookstore in both physical and digital formats.

Faring the Dry Spring of 2023 by Gary Zimmer
From Remedy to Problem by Dani Kusner & Dr. Nasha Winters
The Climate Beneath Our Feet by Rob Lewis
And More!

Online Learning

Advance at your own pace with an expert farmers as your instructor. Our courses at Eco-Ag U Online are curated for farmers, growers and ranchers interested in improving their yields and soil health. Check out the full roster of courses here, or get started with one of these:

Biological Farming Short Course: Develop a Soil Testing System by Gary Zimmer
Practical Permaculture and Agroforestry for Farmers by Mark Shepard
A Grower’s Guide to Regenerative Hemp by Doug Fine

The December Issue of Acres U.S.A. is Now Available

Cary Bergeron — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 23:35:15 +0000

It’s a new month, which means a new issue of Acres U.S.A. magazine! Acres U.S.A. is one of the best kept secrets in farming, with educational articles and in-depth interviews that teach practical, applicable methods.

Physical Issue | Digital Copy

Check out our December 2023 table of contents – and subscribe here to get Acres U.S.A. magazine delivered to you monthly!

This month’s cover

FEATURES

Faring the Dry Spring of 2023
BY GARY ZIMMER
Farming was difficult in 2023, but we’ve learned to roll with change and to keep our expectations in line.

From Remedy to Problem
BY DANI KUSNER & DR. NASHA WINTERS
Neither weeds in the field nor bodily ailments are as much problems as they are indicators and teacher.

The Climate Beneath Our Feet
BY ROB LEWIS
Land use and the small water cycle are vital for understanding how the climate changes.

Holding the Lines
BY MAUREEN ASH
Wisconsin farmer Maureen Ash reminisces on the joys and challenges or work, family and animals.

The Flexible CSA
BY NINA GALLE
Exploring different recurring revenue models for today’s farmers.

DEPARTMENTS

VIEW FROM THE COUNTRY
Monthly musings from Acres U.S.A.’s editor.

OPINION

Re-Leveling the Field- American farmers can gain global market share by implementing cutting-edge practices with ethical production principles.
BY DAVID KNAUS

Transformation, Renewal and Regeneration- An AcresUSA update.
BY LYDIA LAZAR, ACRES USA MANAGING DIRECTOR

ECO-UPDATE News in brief on developments in agronomic science.

REGEN AGRONOMY
More Than Just a Valley- Properly managing silicon can promote high quality and yield. BY WENDY ZELLNER

REGEN ECONOMICS
The Joys (and Perils) of Community Ownership/Investment- A possible strand in the farmer’s safety net is getting customers to invest in you. BY KIRSTEN SIMMONS

INTERVIEW
Relay Switch- Indiana farmer Jason Mauck explains his system of relay cropping, which maximizes what plants need: sunlight, water and CO₂.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

REVIEWS

BOOKSTORE

MARKETPLACE

CLASSIFIEDS

ECO-MEETINGS

ECO-GRAPHIC

Learn Monthly with Acres U.S.A.

Subscribe to Acres U.S.A. magazine to get monthly articles, interviews and more delivered right to your door. Learn the latest in soil health management techniques, regenerative agriculture and farming both economically and ecologically. Subscribe today!

Dr. Beth Fisher

CaleighP — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 16:05:58 +0000

Dr. Beth Fisher is a soil scientist and Assistant Professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She brings her understanding of soil organic carbon cycling on landscapes to her research in regenerative agriculture with the goals of improving soil health and water quality, understanding the climate impacts of agricultural processes, and solidifying food security. A large component of her service and teaching at MSU-Mankato is concentrated on environmental justice, and Beth considers this a major motivation in her choice to focus on regenerative agriculture. She considers the improvement of social and economic conditions for workers in the agricultural industry a critical outcome of regenerative agriculture, and such improvements include increasing land ownership and participation of BIPOC farmers. In addition to her research lab, Beth employs field methods and open-source monitoring methods to answer questions about soil, water, and the interaction between the two.

The November Issue of AcresUSA is Now Available

Cary Bergeron — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 02:36:57 +0000

It’s a new month, which means a new issue of AcresUSA magazine! AcresUSA is one of the best kept secrets in farming, with educational articles and in-depth interviews that teach practical, applicable methods.

Our November 2023 Issue focuses on the theme of tools and equipment. It has already arrived in subscriber mailboxes, and is also available for individual purchase at our bookstore in both physical and digital formats.

Physical Issue | Digital Copy

Check out our November 2023 table of contents – and subscribe here to get AcresUSA magazine delivered to you monthly!

This month’s cover

FEATURES

Groundbreaking Ways to Break Less Ground
BY LORAN STEINLAGE
Many innovative technologies for sustainable weed control are now available to farmers.

Technologies We’re Watching
BY ACRESA U.S.A. STAFF
From planting to water treatment, weeding, and plant and soil monitoring, here are five new technologies we’re following.

On-Farm DNA Testing
BY LAURA KAVANAUGH
Third-generation sequencers will soon enable growers to gain a much deeper understanding of their farm’s microbial health.

DEPARTMENTS

VIEW FROM THE COUNTRY
Monthly musings from Acres U.S.A.’s editor.

OPINION

Breaking Down the Biologicals- With so many new biological amendments on the market, how should a grower choose what to use?
BY CHRISTIE APPLE

ECO-UPDATE News in brief on developments in agronomic science.

REGEN AGRONOMY
Do We Understand the Consequences?- Genetically modified crops affect root exudates and the soil microbial community. BY ROBERT J. KREMER

REGEN ECONOMICS
Diversifying Customers- Making a living with crop specialization: strategies for farmer resilience. BY KIRSTEN SIMMONS

INTERVIEW
Measuring Microbes- AdriánFerrero, co-founder of Biome Makers, discusses how DNA analysis of soil microbes can help growers better understand what’s happening underground.

REVIEWS

BOOKSTORE

MARKETPLACE

CLASSIFIEDS

ECO-MEETINGS

ECO-GRAPHIC

Learn Monthly with AcresUSA!

Subscribe to AcresUSA magazine to get monthly articles, interviews and more delivered right to your door. Learn the latest in soil health management techniques, regenerative agriculture and farming both economically and ecologically. Subscribe today!

Dr. David Johnson & Hui-Chun Su Johnson

CaleighP — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 22:47:16 +0000

David C Johnson, PhD, and his wife, Hui-Chun Su Johnson, are the co-creators of the Johnson/Su Compost BioReactor.

Dr. David C. Johnson is a molecular biologist. He retired from New Mexico State University in 2023. He had collaborated with: Arizona State University, Texas A&M, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. He is continuing his research working with private foundations and growers exploring paths to improve food security, reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, and increase productivity and profitability through the development of beneficial soil microbial communities in farm and rangeland soils. David’s current research, in soil microbial community structure and function, has opened a window for viewing the interdependence between plants and soil microbes towards improving plant growth and soil fertility. Optimization of these plant-microbe associations promotes: improved soil fertility, faster growth of crops, improved plant water use efficiencies, and greater soil carbon storage capabilities. These benefits provide a path to significantly increase crop productivity and reduce greenhouse gases within a regenerative agricultural system.

Lydia Dresbach

CaleighP — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 21:34:05 +0000

Lydia Dresbach is a young farmer at Dresbach Farms, a multigenerational regenerative farm located in southern Ohio, focused on providing quality food to her community through stacking enterprises, stewarding well, and direct marketing. She currently manages all direct marketing for Dresbach Farms, has her own herd of cattle, has a large role in the agritourism events hosted on the farm, dabbles in vegetable production, is a part of a local heritage grain hub, and assists with the managing of the whole farm operation.

Stephen Lapp

CaleighP — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 17:10:12 +0000

Stephen Lapp is a farmer from West Central Ohio. After 26 years of dairying, he began to concentrate on rotational grazing and organic crops. Stephen’s interest in regenerative agriculture increased with knowledge about tillage practices, cover crops and soil health. Stephen completed Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web course of study. Stephen continues to develop a regenerative approach to agriculture particularly focused on biology and microbes. This past summer, Stephen partnered with John Wong to test TLC products in the field. Results and learnings will be shared with attendees.

John Wong

CaleighP — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:16:05 +0000

John attended Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University, with degrees in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, and received an MBA.

John is the founder and CEO of TLC Products, in Cleveland, OH. TLC Products, Inc was visited by Karen Mills, member of President Obama’s cabinet, and presented with the US Small Business Administration 2013 District “Exporter of the Year” award. During Mills’ visit, she praised TLC Inc. for job growth and export success by a small USA business.

TLC Products was recognized by Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management as one of the regions 100 fastest growing companies, on a 5-year moving average basis.

TLC Products, Inc:

Manufacturer and marketer of live bacterial products for use in commercial agriculture and water purification,

Primary Inventor of these US Patents:

United States Patent US 2022/0071200 A1, “Methods of Pest Control”, Granted in USA and over 25 other countries, non-toxic biopesticide for commercial agriculture, fungicidal and nematicidal efficacy.

• United States Patent 4,673,505. Wong, et al. June 16, 1987. Wastewater treatment bacterial additive

• United States Patent 5,284,587. Wong, et al. February 8, 1994. Bacteria-containing polymer gel for waste water treatment

• United States Patent 4,882,059. Wong, et al. November 21, 1989. Solubilization of organic materials in wastewater treatment

Greg Pennyroyal

CaleighP — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 15:28:44 +0000

Greg Pennyroyal’s focus is on the relationship between healthy ecosystems, and healthy communities. He is following a family tradition of medicinal plant farming from his mother, an herbalist in Norway who was trained by Helga the Witch, to his current position as Vineyard Manager of Wilson Creek Winery and Professor of Viticulture in Southern California. He is the founder of the Small Winegrowers Association and is the lead developer of the regenerative curriculum and campus at Mt San Jacinto College. Previous experience as manager of Trout Lake Farm, medicinal herb farm, Director of Botanical Research at Leiner Health, a researcher with the National Institutes of Health, 10 years on the United States Pharmacopeial Convention developing medicinal plant standards. and work with the Global Institute for Tibetan Medicine has reinforced an evolving respect for the power of science coupled with the wisdom of nature in allowing a positive future that wants to emerge.