Regenerative Agriculture

Flowering cover crops offer a win-win: weed suppression and food for pollinators

A recent study found that when cover crops are allowed to flower, not only do they provide vital food for pollinating insects, they also help suppress weeds in future crop rotations. Published in Environmental Entomology, the research compared floral resources, weed diversity, and economic weed abundance in crop fields across five cover crop treatments: one […]

Use of cover crops as climate tool on the rise

Purdue’s Ag Economy Barometer announced recently that over half of the U.S,’ largest farms (over $500,000 worth of production yearly) planted cover crops this year. Cover crops are now seen as a way to earn money from carbon contracts while lessening climate change impacts. In the survey of 400 producers, most were newcomers, with half […]

Planting perennial prairie strips—environmental boon, while increasing agricultural production

Less erosion, reduced nitrogen runoff, and loads more butterflies and microorganisms—sound worth it? Planting perennial prairie strips on farms provides these benefits, and more. Missouri farmer Frank Oberle has been using one-mile-long prairie strips for over 15 years—strips of 30-120 feet wide placed along waterways, through fields, or in terrace channels—seeding them with native flowers […]

Farmers see promise in hybrid rye as regenerative solution to weed problems

Ragweed is wreaking havoc in corn fields in the Midwest. The giant weed, which Iowa organic farmer Tom Frantzen calls an “evolutionary monster,” is resistant to glyphosate herbicide. Fortunately, farmers like Frantzen have a new solution that is helping them deal with ragweed—hybrid rye. Ragweed hammered Frantzen’s organic soybean crop, cutting yields in half in […]

Research introduces a regenerative food chain process that’s safe, yet profitable

A regenerative and socially responsible approach to food production and distribution is crucial to long-term food security and fundamental to our ecological and human well-being, according to a study by an acclaimed researcher at Clemson University. Recently published research by Burlington Industries Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management Aleda Roth introduces and compares two types […]