“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

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

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.

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

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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!

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. 

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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!

This month, we’re focusing on the topic of Cover Crops. Learn more about the intricacies and benefits of cover cropping with these resources – from free podcasts to educational book titles and more!

Best Books on Cover Crops

• Book of the Month: Crop Rotation & Cover Cropping by Seth Kroeck – Addressed are many of the possible variables in forming the rotation as well as where to find room for compromise between the “perfect horticulture” model and day-to-day logistics. 
• Growing Life: Regenerating Farming and Ranching by André Leu – This book explores the fundamentals of regenerative agriculture, including specific, proven steps designed to grow healthy food, while protecting our natural resources like clean water, soil and air.
• Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown – When North Dakota farmer and rancher Gabe Brown switched to no-till planting, started planting diverse cover crops mixes, and changed his grazing practices, he transformed a degraded farm ecosystem into one full of life―starting with the soil and working his way up, one plant and one animal at a time.
• Roller/Crimper No-Till: Advancing No-Till Agriculture by Jeff Moyer – Combining the best aspects of no-till with recent innovations in equipment design and in-field research, the system laid out in this book “provides great potential for agricultural change,” Moyer writes, “through the use of cover crops and reduction of synthetic herbicides, while giving organic farmers what they need in terms of weed management and soil building practices.”
• Advancing Biological Farming by Gary Zimmer – This book offers invaluable scientific support for committed organic farmers as well as conventional farmers who’d like to reduce chemical inputs and use natural processes to their advantage.

Learn in Person

“A cover crop, as any other good practice, must be a part of a total system and not just an unrelated single-shot input,” writes Schriefer in Eco-Farm. The 2023 Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show this Dec. 5-8 in Covington, KY, will bring together hundreds of farmers, ranchers and industry professionals to learn from the experts.

Every year, we set a new standard for innovative and practical learning in modern agriculture. Learn from top-notch speakers about tactics that build soil biology, balance chemistry, improve structure and integrate biodiversity like livestock, companion crops and cover crops. 

You can learn from:

• John Kempf
• Dr. Don Huber
• Rick Clark
• Jesse Frost
• And more!

Take the next step in your soil health education and join us for the 2023 Eco-Ag Conference this year! See speakers, the full agenda and more at EcoAg.AcresUSA.com.

Best Free Articles on Cover Cropping

Our free website, www.EcoFarmingDaily.com, is a great resource for in-depth articles on all kinds of topics related to organic, eco-agriculture. Some of our popular articles specifically about cover cropping include:

• Cover Crops Don’t Deplete Moisture – SSARE study
• Cover Crop Grazing on a Vegetable Farm by Lauren Krizansky
• Cover Crops Make Farming Fun Again by Mary Ann Lieser

Find more great articles in the Grow Crops section of EcoFarmingDaily.com

Learn Online

If you aren’t able to travel for soil health education this year – we’ve got you covered! Our Eco-Ag U Online courses are virtual classrooms where you can download important lessons from experts and learn at your own pace.

The 2021 Eco-Ag Conference Replay is a great place to get a vast variety of knowledge, including cover cropping, from a large number of experts at once. Check it out here or browse our whole virtual catalogue at Learn.AcresUSA.com.

Stay Up to Date

Want free information delivered directly to your inbox each week on topics like building soil health, growing nutritious crops, and more? Sign up for our weekly Acres U.S.A. newsletter right here!

Our October 2023 Issue focuses on the theme of cover crops. 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 Issue

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

This month’s cover

FEATURES

Planting Green
BY VICTOR SHELTON
Innovation merely requires a change of mindset.

Priorities for Profitability and Regeneration
BY JOHN KEMPF
Soil amendments are the least important part of building profitable and more regenerative systems.

Iron Management
BY DR. PATRICK FREEZE
Understanding iron’s mechanisms in productive soil.

Culturing Agriculture
BY TARA MAXWELL
The Alliance of Sustainable Farms celebrates a decade of supporting small-scale farms in Mississippi.

DEPARTMENTS

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

OPINION

Manage with Mother Nature in Mind- Lessons learned from cover crops in 2023. 
BY LORAN STEINLAGE

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

REGEN AGRONOMY  
Seven Agronomic Virtues- My tips for developing regenerative systems. BY JIM PINGREY

REGEN ECONOMICS 
Cooperation Motivation- A farmer’s guide to co-ops. BY KIRSTEN SIMMONS

INTERVIEW
Oklahoma farmer Jimmy Emmons discusses using cover crops for drought resilience, how to influence policy changes, and why managing regenerative systems requires more, and better, education.   

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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!

Here is a list of resources related to whatever you need to learn about regenerative supply chains, from free articles to our most recent issue of Acres U.S.A. magazine.

Best Books on Regenerative Supply Chains

There are lots of titles on supply chains! Here’s a list of bestselling books from our Farm Business and Marketing Collection at the Acres U.S.A. Bookstore.

• Farming Without Losing Your Hat by Paul Dorrance
• A Farmer’s Guide to the Bottom Line by Charles Walters
• The Lean Farm by Ben Hartman
• Ready Farmer One by Nina Galle & Diego Footer
• Honor System Marketing by Jeff Mcpherson

Free Articles on Regenerative Supply Chains

• Build Your Own Sustainability Network by Richard Finzer
• Food Hubs Connect Growers, Consumers by  Lauren Turner
• Preserving a Way of Life With the Cooperative Model by Wayne Wengerd
• Successful Crowdfunding for Agricultural Pursuits by Eric Gibson
• Find more articles in the Farm Business and Marketing Collection of the Eco-Farming Daily website

Read the September 2023 Issue

The September 2023 issue of AcresUSA magazine deals with the theme of regenerative supply chains, with a number of in-depth and educational articles, including:

Promoting Local Food
BY MARTY TRAVIS
Strengthening the regenerative supply chain through a new USDA grant program.

Moving Toward Adaptive Governance
BY JULIE DAVENSON & JULIE SNOREK
Three operations that have helped create fair and regenerative supply chains.

Mutual Admiration
BY DOUG FINE
What vegetable growers can learn from hemp/cannabis farmers, and vice versa.

…. AND MORE!

Buy the print version of September 2023 issue here, the digital version here, or subscribe here to get the magazine delivered to you monthly.

Stay Up to Date

Want free information delivered directly to your inbox each week on topics like pasture management, soil health and more? Sign up for our weekly Acres U.S.A. newsletter right here!

At the 5^th Annual AcresUSA Healthy Soil Summit, held last week in Monterey CA., we had a great crowd of folks on hand ready to share and learn from our amazing speakers and from each other.  The conference and trade show offered a range of perspectives and encouraging case studies to support and reach everyone no matter where they are on their soil health journey.

Some attendees started the summit with an optional farm tour to the Pinnacle Organically Grown operation in Hollister and the Paicines Ranch nearby.

At Pinnacle, we toured the fields with Phil Foster who, with his wife Katherine, grows a diverse range of fruits and vegetables on farms in Hollister and San Juan Batista. We learned that Pinnacle operations have been certified organic for more than 3 decades. The Fosters have been at the forefront of implementing a wide range of regenerative agricultural practices in California, and they conduct many on-farm research trials to test alternative cropping and minimal/no-till strategies.  They plant to attract beneficial insects throughout the fields, widely utilize water saving techniques, run equipment on biodiesel and even implement production-scale composting.

At Paicines, we met the team for an overview of their philosophy toward the management of this historic 7,600 acre ranch, which is now an educational center for regenerative agriculture. Paicines Ranch is pioneering agro-ecological solutions to regenerate the landscape through a biologically-oriented approach to farming.

The team at Paicines is managing a very diverse and inherently complex integrated cropping and livestock system to produce 100% grass-fed-and-finished lamb and beef, as well as pastured pork, turkey and eggs.  They grow organic grain, as well as organic grapes in a polyculture vineyard that is designed to be managed by sheep. In all areas, they are making changes to move toward more perennial systems, more complexity, and more diversity, and they conduct in-house research to continually guide their practices.

Back at the hotel, we started the conference off with remarks from David Knaus from Apical Crop Science, who encouraged everyone to adopt a systems approach to soil health problem solving. He was followed by a lively conversation between Steve Becker and Dennis Warnecke, from Tainio Biologicals, who traded quips and memories as they gave the audience a tour of the wide range of field conditions they’ve seen and helped producers tackle over the years.

AcresUSA announced the relaunch of our long running podcast, Tractor Time, now with a new host: the Executive Director of the Quivira Coalition, Sarah Wentzel-Fisher. Upcoming not to missed conversations include interviews with Kelly Mullville who designed the extraordinary vineyards of Paicines Ranch, Tim Vos of the Southwest Grain Collaborative and Mollie Engelhart, the California chef who with her chef-husband Elias Sosa own and operate the certified organic Sow a Heart Farm.

The first day of the conference continued with a presentation by Gus Plamann, from Biome Makers, who offered the audience a deep dive into building biodiversity above and below the ground. Gus interprets biological soil test results and educates growers to help them optimize regenerative management practices and better understand how agricultural inputs impact soil health.  He discussed how newly available analytic techniques can be utilized to tailor biological input strategies designed to address specific field conditions and grower objectives.

David Knaus then came back to give us his take on “reading your soil” and shared his perspective on some of the challenges our society is facing and his vision for how we can come together to tackle these challenges. At the top of the list David mentioned the risks of tribalism and of incivility, a theme that was reinforced the next day by our keynote speaker Ray Archuletta.

The second day of the summit started with a great panel discussion moderated by Sarah Day Levesque, Managing Director of RFSI – Regenerative Food Systems Investment – and featured Gus Plamann of Biome Makers and Laura Decker, of Prolific Earth Sciences. The conversation when into some detail about intentional use of soil tests and the importance of limiting the variable when testing – ie don’t change both the location and the season when you are testing.

After the panel discussion, we heard a great talk from Dr. Yadi Wang. He shared his Arizona story of farming with cover crops as a strategy to fight desertification and rehabilitate abandoned farm land. We also saw a very cool owl box and learned how to build it.

Our key note presentation of the conference was from Ray Archuletta, who challenged us to really understand the critical role of the water cycle in regulating our planet’s climate.  Ray offered us an inspiring vision of how regenerative agricultural production can help each of us make a difference to the earth – starting at the local level with the all important cover crops that Ray usefully has re-christened “service crops.”

Following Ray – which was not an easy spot to be in – we heard from Christie Apple from Timac Agro USA, who is known as CropScout Christie and who gave us a great roadmap for how to think about working with product manufacturers. She outlined questions to ask yourself and the sales people before you decide to buy any input.

Our Lunch & Learn opportunity gave everyone a chance to move around and join a conversation in one of these six key subjects:

1. Nitrogen Use Effectiveness
2. Soil Testing
3. Regenerative Fertility
4. Soil Biology
5. Soil Amendments
6. Plan Nutrition

Takeaways from the lunchtime discussion included the importance of community; the fact that adaptation takes time and we need to support traditional growers as they make their way along the path; and the evidence for regenerative practices as a profitable strategy for producers.

Jim Pingrey (JRP Crop Consulting and TEP, Inc) jump-started the afternoon by drawing out that last lunchtime point about the profitability of implementing regenerative strategies. He walked us through some great case studies that he’s been involved with over the years, illustrating how these strategies can be profitable, with high yields and happy producers.

Our final panel of the conference discussed the importance of timing and selectivity: utilizing the right biostimulants and the right innoculants at the right times.  Our speakers were Justin Wylie (Wylie Farms), Jason Hobson ( AEA) , Jim PIngrey, Jorge Camacho (Baja Agra International) and Christie Apple and they focused on how to think critically about biological inputs and target specific problems to find the keys that can unlock growth and profitability.

We closed with fun give aways including a Yeti filled with something delicious to drink, a $100 gas card and a $100 certificate for books at the AcreUSA bookstore. See you next year!

Catch us in Covington this December!

Every year, the Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show sets a new standard for innovative and practical learning in modern agriculture. Each moment of programming is thoughtfully curated to provide useful, practical and measurable information and connections that you can apply to your operation. Join us for the main conference and trade show on Dec. 6-7 or decide to come early for one of our incredible full-day Eco-Ag U intensive workshops… either way you can expect a fulfilling experience that will include: 

1. Exceptional learning from leading farmers, agronomists, and others who are pioneering a new way to farm ecologically and economically. 

2. Engagement with innovative companies building tools and services to help you surpass your goals.

3. Connecting with your peers who are also seeking to chart a new path forward for their operations and with experienced growers and agronomists who have valuable lessons learned and are ready to share. 

Register Today!

Our September 2023 Issue focuses on the theme of regenerative supply chains. 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 September 2023 table of contents – and subscribe here to get AcresUSA magazine delivered to you monthly!

This month’s cover

FEATURES 

Promoting Local Food
BY MARTY TRAVIS
Strengthening the regenerative supply chain through a new USDA grant program.

Moving Toward Adaptive Governance
BY JULIE DAVENSON & JULIE SNOREK
Three operations that have helped create fair and regenerative supply chains.

Mutual Admiration
BY DOUG FINE
What vegetable growers can learn from hemp/cannabis farmers, and vice versa.

Perennial Turnings
BY KYLE HOLTON
Changing the way we think in order to advance agriculture.

Soil That Connects Us
BY DANI KUSNER & NASHA WINTERS
Taking steps towards greater soil—and human—health. from hemp/cannabis farmers, and vice versa.

DEPARTMENTS

VIEW FROM THE COUNTRY
Monthly musings from AcresUSA’s editor.

OPINION

Time to Leave Carbon Markets Behind- Instead, let’s build a new way for farmers and ranchers to benefit from good soil management. 
BY RYAN SLABAUGH

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

REGEN AGRONOMY  
My BIG4- P, Ca and Si— plus carbon. BY JIM PINGREY

REGEN ECONOMICS 
Funding On-Farm Research- Why and how to apply for a farmer-led research grant. BY KIRSTEN SIMMONS

INTERVIEW
Asking the Right Questions- Supply chain expert Ian Chamberlain talks about scale, definitions and what issues the regenerative movement should be contemplating. 

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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!

Original Price: $24.00
Book of the Month Price: $19.25 – Buy it now!

About the Book

An Acres U.S.A. Classic!

Dung beetles have always been nature’s greatest recyclers — in a way, they were the first organic farmers. They were also the first casualties of industrial farming. As farmers rediscover the many benefits of grass-based livestock production, dung beetles are given a solid shot at reestablishing their rightful place on the farm and ranch.

Charles Walters digs deep into modern science and ancient history, traditional folklore and the best practical advice to resurrect the lowly dung beetle, exposing farmers and ranchers — and anyone with a desire to work more closely with nature — to this amazing creature. Meet the world’s leading scientists and farmer/researchers who have dedicated years to understanding the roles, actions and value of dung beetles in bringing a grazing operation into compliance with nature’s laws, and then harvest the profits. Anyone interested in organic forms of farming will be enchanted by the intriguing tale of the dung beetle.

About the Author

Charles Walters was the son of a Kansas farmer and grew up during the end of the Dust Bowl. His love of farming lead to him joining and working for the National Farmer’s Organization (NFO), a group dedicated to the idea of using collective bargaining to obtain a better deal for the family farmer. Eventually, frustrated with the NFO’s bureaucracy, he founded his own publication–Acres U.S.A. Walters single-handedly started the company, and used it to publish dozens of books and to use his magazine to inform the world about eco-philosophy. He eventually turned over day-to-day operations to his son, but remained an active part of Acres until his death in 2009.

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