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THE NEXT GENERATION OF TEXAS
FARMERS AND RANCHERS
"Legacy is not what I did for myself. It's what I'm doing for the next generation." — Vitor Belfort
Texas Farmland is the Most Threatened in the Nation
Urban expansion plus scattered large lot development in rural areas means paving over and fragmenting farmland,
disrupting farming.
disrupting farming.
By Lori Sallet
April 21, 2021
April 21, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, American Farmland Trust told attendees at the Texas Land Conservation Conference – Texas farms are under severe threat, its best land succumbing to development. Sharing results from its May 2020 report “Farms Under Threat: The State of the States” report which identifies exactly where agricultural land has been paved over, fragmented, or otherwise converted to uses that jeopardize agriculture, AFT asked attendees to join in partnership to turn back the tide of land loss by working to strengthen state and federal policies, build public support for protecting farmland and ranchland, and usher in a brighter future for agriculture.
Between 2001 and 2016, AFT’s report reveals 11 million acres of America’s agricultural land were developed or converted to uses that threaten farming. Using cutting-edge geospatial technology, the report maps the extent, location, and quality of each state’s agricultural land and tracks how much of it has been converted in each state. In addition, the Agricultural Land Protection Scorecard analyzes six programs and policies that are key to securing a sufficient and suitable base of agricultural land in each state. Individual state policy summaries outline state performance and how each state can improve its performance.
With this research, AFT makes it clear that there is an urgent need to act to retain agricultural land for future generations to produce food, support jobs and the economy, provide essential environmental services, and help mitigate and buffer the impacts of climate change.
“Farms Under Threat: The State of the states is not just numbers and maps. It is about getting farming right before it’s too late,” said Mitch Hunter, AFT research director. “Because without an abundant supply of farmland and ranchland, and without a thriving community of dedicated farmers and ranchers, our future is dim. Jobs, schools, and agri-businesses will leave rural communities. We will not be able to clean up our water. We will not be able to fight climate change or protect biodiversity. And we will be in much worse shape the next time our food system is side-swiped, whether by a pandemic or a drought, a recession or a heat wave.”
In Texas, 1,373,000 acres of agricultural land were developed or compromised. What’s more, the Texas policy summary shows the state has not been aggressive enough in addressing development pressure.
“AFT’s research demonstrates the urgent need for action to protect land critical for Texas’ agricultural economy and its ability to grow food and other crops, said Billy Van Pelt II, AFT’s Director of External Relations and Senior Advisor. “We’ve all witnessed the impacts of empty grocery store shelves early on in the pandemic – we must be vigilant in protecting our farms and ranches and ensuring that our food system is more secure and resilient.”
The hot spots for development are around Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Odessa and San Antonio. However, the threat is more than just urban sprawl. Texas’ agricultural land is disproportionately threatened by a new, more insidious kind of development discovered by AFT through this research, termed low-density residential, or LDR, land use.
Roughly 50% of the land developed or compromised in Texas fell into this category. Urban sprawl is familiar, but LDR not always immediately visible and therefore less likely to provoke a policy response. In Texas, LDR is 30 times more likely to be converted to urban and highly developed land use than other agricultural land.
LDR land use compromises opportunities for farming and ranching, making it difficult for farmers to get into their fields or travel between fields. New residents not used to living next to agricultural operations often complain about farm equipment on roads or odors related to farming. Retailers such as grain and equipment dealers, on which farmers rely, are often pushed out. Farmers can be tempted to sell out for financial reasons, or because farming just becomes too hard in the circumstances.
The urgency to protect Texas farmland becomes even clearer when we look at the demographics of agriculture. In Texas, there are more than six times as many producers over 65 as there are under 35. We know that land is most at risk of being sold for development when farmers and ranchers retire without someone in line to take over the operation.
Texas is an agricultural state with $24.9 billion in annual revenues from farms and nearly 132 million acres of agricultural land. Roughly 25% of this agricultural land is considered “Nationally Significant,” meaning that it is among the nation’s best land for growing food and crops. Five-hundred and fifty-five thousand acres of Texas’s “Nationally Significant” farmland was impacted by development, pushing intensive food production to more marginal lands, where input costs are higher, yields are lower, and soils degrade more quickly. A situation where farmers are challenged to make an adequate income and risk going out of business.
Van Pelt added, “Texas is a state where agriculture is valued, and we look forward to working with the Texas Agricultural Land Trust and partners across the state to ensure that farms and ranches are conserved and that they continue to be an important contributor to the economy. The current trend of farmland conversion is putting Texas’ agricultural economy at risk. The rate of farmland loss is jeopardizing $7.2 billion in agricultural exports and a thriving local food economy that exceeds a quarter of a billion dollars.”
AFT shared that despite the threat there is hope. AFT’s analysis shows that every single state has taken steps to combat poorly planned development, improve economic opportunities in agriculture, and help transfer land to a new generation of farmers and ranchers. It also shows that there is a robust policy toolbox from which states can draw. Lawmakers at the state, local and county levels can and must pursue effective policies and link them together to be effective.
“In the big picture, this analysis shows that there are lots of tools in the toolbox for states to use. So, there is good news here, folks,” said Hunter. “We can protect our land and the people who work it. We can get farming right. We can be more prepared for the next drought, recession, or pandemic.”
To view the Farms Under Threat webinar about Texas, click here.
Between 2001 and 2016, AFT’s report reveals 11 million acres of America’s agricultural land were developed or converted to uses that threaten farming. Using cutting-edge geospatial technology, the report maps the extent, location, and quality of each state’s agricultural land and tracks how much of it has been converted in each state. In addition, the Agricultural Land Protection Scorecard analyzes six programs and policies that are key to securing a sufficient and suitable base of agricultural land in each state. Individual state policy summaries outline state performance and how each state can improve its performance.
With this research, AFT makes it clear that there is an urgent need to act to retain agricultural land for future generations to produce food, support jobs and the economy, provide essential environmental services, and help mitigate and buffer the impacts of climate change.
“Farms Under Threat: The State of the states is not just numbers and maps. It is about getting farming right before it’s too late,” said Mitch Hunter, AFT research director. “Because without an abundant supply of farmland and ranchland, and without a thriving community of dedicated farmers and ranchers, our future is dim. Jobs, schools, and agri-businesses will leave rural communities. We will not be able to clean up our water. We will not be able to fight climate change or protect biodiversity. And we will be in much worse shape the next time our food system is side-swiped, whether by a pandemic or a drought, a recession or a heat wave.”
In Texas, 1,373,000 acres of agricultural land were developed or compromised. What’s more, the Texas policy summary shows the state has not been aggressive enough in addressing development pressure.
“AFT’s research demonstrates the urgent need for action to protect land critical for Texas’ agricultural economy and its ability to grow food and other crops, said Billy Van Pelt II, AFT’s Director of External Relations and Senior Advisor. “We’ve all witnessed the impacts of empty grocery store shelves early on in the pandemic – we must be vigilant in protecting our farms and ranches and ensuring that our food system is more secure and resilient.”
The hot spots for development are around Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Odessa and San Antonio. However, the threat is more than just urban sprawl. Texas’ agricultural land is disproportionately threatened by a new, more insidious kind of development discovered by AFT through this research, termed low-density residential, or LDR, land use.
Roughly 50% of the land developed or compromised in Texas fell into this category. Urban sprawl is familiar, but LDR not always immediately visible and therefore less likely to provoke a policy response. In Texas, LDR is 30 times more likely to be converted to urban and highly developed land use than other agricultural land.
LDR land use compromises opportunities for farming and ranching, making it difficult for farmers to get into their fields or travel between fields. New residents not used to living next to agricultural operations often complain about farm equipment on roads or odors related to farming. Retailers such as grain and equipment dealers, on which farmers rely, are often pushed out. Farmers can be tempted to sell out for financial reasons, or because farming just becomes too hard in the circumstances.
The urgency to protect Texas farmland becomes even clearer when we look at the demographics of agriculture. In Texas, there are more than six times as many producers over 65 as there are under 35. We know that land is most at risk of being sold for development when farmers and ranchers retire without someone in line to take over the operation.
Texas is an agricultural state with $24.9 billion in annual revenues from farms and nearly 132 million acres of agricultural land. Roughly 25% of this agricultural land is considered “Nationally Significant,” meaning that it is among the nation’s best land for growing food and crops. Five-hundred and fifty-five thousand acres of Texas’s “Nationally Significant” farmland was impacted by development, pushing intensive food production to more marginal lands, where input costs are higher, yields are lower, and soils degrade more quickly. A situation where farmers are challenged to make an adequate income and risk going out of business.
Van Pelt added, “Texas is a state where agriculture is valued, and we look forward to working with the Texas Agricultural Land Trust and partners across the state to ensure that farms and ranches are conserved and that they continue to be an important contributor to the economy. The current trend of farmland conversion is putting Texas’ agricultural economy at risk. The rate of farmland loss is jeopardizing $7.2 billion in agricultural exports and a thriving local food economy that exceeds a quarter of a billion dollars.”
AFT shared that despite the threat there is hope. AFT’s analysis shows that every single state has taken steps to combat poorly planned development, improve economic opportunities in agriculture, and help transfer land to a new generation of farmers and ranchers. It also shows that there is a robust policy toolbox from which states can draw. Lawmakers at the state, local and county levels can and must pursue effective policies and link them together to be effective.
“In the big picture, this analysis shows that there are lots of tools in the toolbox for states to use. So, there is good news here, folks,” said Hunter. “We can protect our land and the people who work it. We can get farming right. We can be more prepared for the next drought, recession, or pandemic.”
To view the Farms Under Threat webinar about Texas, click here.
Having led the conservation agriculture movement for four decades, AFT is all too aware of how much work remains to be done. Consider:
1. WHAT'S AT STAKE? NOTHING LESS THAN OUR FUTURE.
First, we need farmland to grow our food—and the demand for food will only grow. Experts predict that we will need to increase food production by 60 percent by the year 2050.
Some people hold out great hope for technology. They believe that, in the future, far more food will be grown indoors or on rooftops, while the productivity of remaining field crops will soar. At AFT, we don’t believe technology alone will solve the problem. We suspect that the vast bulk of our food will continue to be grown on farmland. And although we do expect to see enhanced productivity, we don’t expect productivity to increase faster than demand.
But even more is at stake than our food supply. That’s because we also need farmland to restore our planet. When properly managed, farmland and ranchland support wildlife and biodiversity, recharge aquifers, clean water, and—of paramount importance in our fight against climate change—sequester carbon.
We now know that we can’t meet global climate goals unless we take steps that go beyond reducing emissions. We need to remove carbon already in our atmosphere. And when we lose farmland, we reduce this ability. We also put more pressure on the farmland that remains in production, because with less land available to grow the food we need, we can’t manage all the remaining farmland for optimal environmental benefit. It’s a double hit.
Long before we run out of farmland to grow our food, we may well run out of the farmland we need to restore our planet’s health.
AFT addresses these issues as no other organization does, with a direct focus on retaining our agricultural land and managing it using the right practices. At the same time, AFT recognizes that we will only retain the agricultural land we need, and be positioned to manage it wisely if we retain enough farmers and ranchers with adequate know-how and financial resources.
The future demands that we do all we can to (1) protect farmland, (2) promote sound farming practices, and (3) keep farmers on the land.
2. HOW MUCH FARMLAND IS NEEDED TO SUSTAIN LIFE ON EARTH?
No one knows. No detailed study has been undertaken. AFT has been assembling detailed data on the characteristics and uses of America’s farmland and ranchland. We are in the midst of producing Farms Under Threat, a multi-year project that, once complete, will provide a foundation for further study. But only for the United States. Our food system and our ecosystem are—of course—global systems. And what happens to farmland, farming practices, and farmers will have global impact. AFT hopes to partner on a larger international study. Too much is at stake to not explore these issues on a global level.
3. QUANTIFY. ENGAGE. INFORM. ASSIST
Farmers and ranchers manage nearly one billion acres of the land in the United States – working lands that can serve as a natural carbon sink by drawing down atmospheric carbon dioxide and storing it in plants and soils. However, these working lands face threats from land degradation because of historical and common farming practices. Over time, we have lost almost half of the original organic matter in our soils leading to soil erosion, nutrient losses, increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and reduced yields. For farmers to combat the climate crisis, we must improve the health of our soils.
Rebuilding soil health is the keystone of enhancing agricultural climate resilience and combating climate change. Soil health is defined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as “the continued capacity of a soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.” Healthy soils can absorb more water during heavy rains and retain more water during periods of drought. They also improve yields, yield stability, and long-term farm productivity.
- Every day 2,000 acres of agricultural land are paved over, fragmented, or converted to uses that jeopardize farming.*
- Too many farms are still losing topsoil and discharging nutrients, polluting rivers and contributing to dead zones in coastal waters. And we are forgoing restorative work that could rebuild soil health and sequester carbon.
- In the next 15 years, one-third of America’s farmland and ranchland will likely change hands, as current landowners age and sell. The land is most at risk of being converted to a non-agricultural use when it is sold.
1. WHAT'S AT STAKE? NOTHING LESS THAN OUR FUTURE.
First, we need farmland to grow our food—and the demand for food will only grow. Experts predict that we will need to increase food production by 60 percent by the year 2050.
Some people hold out great hope for technology. They believe that, in the future, far more food will be grown indoors or on rooftops, while the productivity of remaining field crops will soar. At AFT, we don’t believe technology alone will solve the problem. We suspect that the vast bulk of our food will continue to be grown on farmland. And although we do expect to see enhanced productivity, we don’t expect productivity to increase faster than demand.
But even more is at stake than our food supply. That’s because we also need farmland to restore our planet. When properly managed, farmland and ranchland support wildlife and biodiversity, recharge aquifers, clean water, and—of paramount importance in our fight against climate change—sequester carbon.
We now know that we can’t meet global climate goals unless we take steps that go beyond reducing emissions. We need to remove carbon already in our atmosphere. And when we lose farmland, we reduce this ability. We also put more pressure on the farmland that remains in production, because with less land available to grow the food we need, we can’t manage all the remaining farmland for optimal environmental benefit. It’s a double hit.
Long before we run out of farmland to grow our food, we may well run out of the farmland we need to restore our planet’s health.
AFT addresses these issues as no other organization does, with a direct focus on retaining our agricultural land and managing it using the right practices. At the same time, AFT recognizes that we will only retain the agricultural land we need, and be positioned to manage it wisely if we retain enough farmers and ranchers with adequate know-how and financial resources.
The future demands that we do all we can to (1) protect farmland, (2) promote sound farming practices, and (3) keep farmers on the land.
2. HOW MUCH FARMLAND IS NEEDED TO SUSTAIN LIFE ON EARTH?
No one knows. No detailed study has been undertaken. AFT has been assembling detailed data on the characteristics and uses of America’s farmland and ranchland. We are in the midst of producing Farms Under Threat, a multi-year project that, once complete, will provide a foundation for further study. But only for the United States. Our food system and our ecosystem are—of course—global systems. And what happens to farmland, farming practices, and farmers will have global impact. AFT hopes to partner on a larger international study. Too much is at stake to not explore these issues on a global level.
3. QUANTIFY. ENGAGE. INFORM. ASSIST
Farmers and ranchers manage nearly one billion acres of the land in the United States – working lands that can serve as a natural carbon sink by drawing down atmospheric carbon dioxide and storing it in plants and soils. However, these working lands face threats from land degradation because of historical and common farming practices. Over time, we have lost almost half of the original organic matter in our soils leading to soil erosion, nutrient losses, increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and reduced yields. For farmers to combat the climate crisis, we must improve the health of our soils.
Rebuilding soil health is the keystone of enhancing agricultural climate resilience and combating climate change. Soil health is defined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as “the continued capacity of a soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.” Healthy soils can absorb more water during heavy rains and retain more water during periods of drought. They also improve yields, yield stability, and long-term farm productivity.
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic, systems approach to farming and the food system that results in improved ecological, social, and economic conditions, including: Producing abundant, healthy food; Enhancing soil health and soil biological life; Supporting functioning ecosystems where wildlife thrives; Supporting thriving rural communities; Creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds, but, particularly black, indigenous, and people of color.
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic, systems approach to farming and the food system that results in improved ecological, social, and economic conditions, including: Producing abundant, healthy food; Enhancing soil health and soil biological life; Supporting functioning ecosystems where wildlife thrives; Supporting thriving rural communities; Creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds, but, particularly black, indigenous, and people of color.
The adoption of regenerative agricultural practices is a low-cost, ready-to-deploy approach to combat the climate crisis on a meaningful scale. But numerous challenges remain that hinder widespread adoption.
4. QUANTIFY IMPACTS
AFT quantifies the impacts of regenerative agriculture practices on soil health metrics, climate benefits, and farm operation economics through on-farm research and modeling. We evaluate and develop new decision-support tools to help guide decision-making from the field-scale to the federal level.
The CaRPE Tool
The Carbon Reduction Potential Evaluation Tool, or CaRPE, is a web-based interactive tool that allows users to quickly visualize and quantify GHG emission reductions resulting from the implementation of a suite of cropland and grazing land conservation management practices.
4. QUANTIFY IMPACTS
AFT quantifies the impacts of regenerative agriculture practices on soil health metrics, climate benefits, and farm operation economics through on-farm research and modeling. We evaluate and develop new decision-support tools to help guide decision-making from the field-scale to the federal level.
The CaRPE Tool
The Carbon Reduction Potential Evaluation Tool, or CaRPE, is a web-based interactive tool that allows users to quickly visualize and quantify GHG emission reductions resulting from the implementation of a suite of cropland and grazing land conservation management practices.
American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families.
Lori Sallet, Media Relations Director
lsallet@farmland.org
(410) 708-5940
lsallet@farmland.org
(410) 708-5940
What’s at stake when we pave over, fragment and otherwise fail to protect Texas farmland from the disruptions of development?
American Farmland Trust’s new report demonstrates how developing farmland puts food security, the environment and our way of life in jeopardy.
By Lori Sallet
May 20, 2020
May 20, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC — Millions of acres of America’s agricultural land were developed or converted to uses that threaten farming between 2001 and 2016, according to “Farms Under Threat: The State of the States,” a new report by American Farmland Trust. The report’s Agricultural Land Protection Scorecard is the first-ever state-by-state analysis of policies that respond to the development threats to farmland and ranchland, showing that every state can, and must, do more to protect their irreplaceable agricultural resources.
“The State of the States” report shows the extent, location, and quality of each state’s agricultural land and tracks how much of it has been converted in each state using the newest data and the most cutting-edge methods. The Agricultural Land Protection Scorecard analyzes six programs and policies that are key to securing a sufficient and suitable base of agricultural land in each state and highlights states’ efforts to retain agricultural land for future generations. It offers a breakthrough tool for accelerating state efforts to make sure farmland is available to produce food, support jobs and the economy, provide essential environmental services, and help mitigate and buffer the impacts of climate change.
Texas’ farms are under threat, with its best land succumbing to development.
The report found that Texas was the most threatened state in the nation due to the loss of agricultural land to poorly planned real estate development. Between 2001 and 2016, 1,373,000 acres of agricultural land were developed or compromised, 555,000 of which were “Nationally Significant,” or land best suited for growing food and crops.
“Texas’ agricultural land is the most threatened in the nation,” said Billy Van Pelt II, AFT senior director of external relations. “This report identifies the urgent need for action to protect this land that is critical for Texas’ agricultural economy and its ability to grow food and other crops. We’ve all witnessed the impacts of empty grocery store shelves in recent months – we must be vigilant in protecting our farms and ranches and ensuring that our food system is more secure and resilient.”
The hot spots for development are around Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Odessa and San Antonio.
However, the threat is more than just urban sprawl. Texas’ agricultural land is disproportionately threatened by a new, more insidious kind of development discovered by AFT through this research, termed low-density residential, or LDR, land use.
Roughly 50% of the land developed or compromised in Texas fell into this category. LDR is insidious because it is not always immediately visible to communities and policy makers and therefore has yet to provoke a policy response. In Texas, LDR is 30 times more likely to be converted to urban and highly developed land use than other agricultural land.
LDR land use compromises opportunities for farming and ranching, making it difficult for farmers to get into their fields or travel between fields. New residents not used to living next to agricultural operations often complain about farm equipment on roads or odors related to farming. Retailers such as grain and equipment dealers, on which farmers rely, are often pushed out. Farmers can be tempted to sell out for financial reasons, or because farming just becomes too hard in the circumstances. And lastly–but importantly–as older farmers near retirement they sell their properties, too often to non-farmers. This means that new and beginning farmers have a hard time finding land, threatening the very future of agriculture. More often than not, the land prices in these areas have been driven up by the encroaching development making it impossible for new farmers to afford to buy a farm.
Committed state action is an essential response to the loss of farmland and ranchland. Pursuing multiple approaches and linking them together is the most effective path. Texas ranked in the third quartile of states in taking action to protect farmland according to the Agricultural Land Protection Scorecard.
Van Pelt added, “Texas is a state where agriculture is valued, and we look forward to working with the Texas Agricultural Land Trust and our other partners across the state to ensure that farms continue to be an important contributor to the economy. The current trend of farmland conversion is putting Texas’ agricultural economy at risk. The rate of farmland loss is jeopardizing $7.2 billion in agricultural exports and a thriving local food economy that exceeds a quarter of a billion dollars.”
Texas is an agricultural state with $24.9 billion in annual revenues from farms and nearly 132 million acres of agricultural land. Roughly 25% of this agricultural land is considered “Nationally Significant,” meaning that it is among the nation’s best land for growing food and crops.
Texas’ top agricultural products are cattle, poultry and eggs, and cotton. Roughly 413,000 farmers and 149,000 farm workers are directly involved in the state’s agricultural economy.
“The State of the States” report shows the extent, location, and quality of each state’s agricultural land and tracks how much of it has been converted in each state using the newest data and the most cutting-edge methods. The Agricultural Land Protection Scorecard analyzes six programs and policies that are key to securing a sufficient and suitable base of agricultural land in each state and highlights states’ efforts to retain agricultural land for future generations. It offers a breakthrough tool for accelerating state efforts to make sure farmland is available to produce food, support jobs and the economy, provide essential environmental services, and help mitigate and buffer the impacts of climate change.
Texas’ farms are under threat, with its best land succumbing to development.
The report found that Texas was the most threatened state in the nation due to the loss of agricultural land to poorly planned real estate development. Between 2001 and 2016, 1,373,000 acres of agricultural land were developed or compromised, 555,000 of which were “Nationally Significant,” or land best suited for growing food and crops.
“Texas’ agricultural land is the most threatened in the nation,” said Billy Van Pelt II, AFT senior director of external relations. “This report identifies the urgent need for action to protect this land that is critical for Texas’ agricultural economy and its ability to grow food and other crops. We’ve all witnessed the impacts of empty grocery store shelves in recent months – we must be vigilant in protecting our farms and ranches and ensuring that our food system is more secure and resilient.”
The hot spots for development are around Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Odessa and San Antonio.
However, the threat is more than just urban sprawl. Texas’ agricultural land is disproportionately threatened by a new, more insidious kind of development discovered by AFT through this research, termed low-density residential, or LDR, land use.
Roughly 50% of the land developed or compromised in Texas fell into this category. LDR is insidious because it is not always immediately visible to communities and policy makers and therefore has yet to provoke a policy response. In Texas, LDR is 30 times more likely to be converted to urban and highly developed land use than other agricultural land.
LDR land use compromises opportunities for farming and ranching, making it difficult for farmers to get into their fields or travel between fields. New residents not used to living next to agricultural operations often complain about farm equipment on roads or odors related to farming. Retailers such as grain and equipment dealers, on which farmers rely, are often pushed out. Farmers can be tempted to sell out for financial reasons, or because farming just becomes too hard in the circumstances. And lastly–but importantly–as older farmers near retirement they sell their properties, too often to non-farmers. This means that new and beginning farmers have a hard time finding land, threatening the very future of agriculture. More often than not, the land prices in these areas have been driven up by the encroaching development making it impossible for new farmers to afford to buy a farm.
Committed state action is an essential response to the loss of farmland and ranchland. Pursuing multiple approaches and linking them together is the most effective path. Texas ranked in the third quartile of states in taking action to protect farmland according to the Agricultural Land Protection Scorecard.
Van Pelt added, “Texas is a state where agriculture is valued, and we look forward to working with the Texas Agricultural Land Trust and our other partners across the state to ensure that farms continue to be an important contributor to the economy. The current trend of farmland conversion is putting Texas’ agricultural economy at risk. The rate of farmland loss is jeopardizing $7.2 billion in agricultural exports and a thriving local food economy that exceeds a quarter of a billion dollars.”
Texas is an agricultural state with $24.9 billion in annual revenues from farms and nearly 132 million acres of agricultural land. Roughly 25% of this agricultural land is considered “Nationally Significant,” meaning that it is among the nation’s best land for growing food and crops.
Texas’ top agricultural products are cattle, poultry and eggs, and cotton. Roughly 413,000 farmers and 149,000 farm workers are directly involved in the state’s agricultural economy.
Lori Sallet, Media Relations Director
lsallet@farmland.org
(410) 708-5940
lsallet@farmland.org
(410) 708-5940
Growing through action. Leading with service. Filling a demand. Fueled by passion and hunger for knowledge and leadership. Young farmers and ranchers are cultivating the future. And Texas Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer & Rancher program strengthens your impact.
Regenerative Farming: Why Texan Farmers Are Making The Transition
In recent years, the state of Texas has experienced a drastic increase in the number of droughts and floods. This has led to a decline in crop yields and soil erosion. As a result, farmers are increasingly turning to regenerative farming practices.
Regenerative farming is a type of agriculture that focuses on rebuilding soil health and improving water retention. As a result, regenerative farms are much more resilient to drought and floods. In addition, regenerative farms can sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to combat climate change.
Regenerative farming is also good for the local economy, as it helps to create jobs and support small businesses. In addition, it provides a more sustainable food source for the future. There are many benefits to regenerative farming, and it is clear that this type of agriculture is here to stay.
SOIL IS A LIVING ECOSYSTEM
In Texas, we know a thing or two about soil. After all, it's what our state is built on! However, the soil is much more than just a foundation for plants. It is a complex ecosystem supporting various plant, animal, and microbial life. There are more microorganisms in a single teaspoon of healthy soil than people on the planet.
Regenerative farming is a type of agriculture that focuses on rebuilding soil health and improving water retention. As a result, regenerative farms are much more resilient to drought and floods. In addition, regenerative farms can sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to combat climate change.
Regenerative farming is also good for the local economy, as it helps to create jobs and support small businesses. In addition, it provides a more sustainable food source for the future. There are many benefits to regenerative farming, and it is clear that this type of agriculture is here to stay.
SOIL IS A LIVING ECOSYSTEM
In Texas, we know a thing or two about soil. After all, it's what our state is built on! However, the soil is much more than just a foundation for plants. It is a complex ecosystem supporting various plant, animal, and microbial life. There are more microorganisms in a single teaspoon of healthy soil than people on the planet.
A single handful of soil contains millions of individual living organisms. The diversity of life in the soil is vital for the health of ecosystems. Soil organisms help to break down organic matter, releasing essential nutrients that plants need to grow. They also play a role in controlling pests and diseases. In other words, healthy soils are necessary for a healthy planet. Without them, plant life would quickly perish.
Soil is a complex and vital ecosystem that sustains life on Earth.
THE REGENERARTIVE APPROACH
Regenerative agriculture is a system of farming principles and practices that seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the farm's entire ecosystem by placing a heavy premium on soil health, with attention also paid to water management, fertilizer use, and more.
The goal of regenerative agriculture is to create farming systems that are productive and restore and rejuvenate our natural resources, including land, water, air, and biodiversity. Indigenous people worldwide have practiced this type of agriculture for thousands of years.
BENEFITS OF REGENERATIVE FARMING
In recent years, regenerative agriculture has been gaining popularity in Texas as more and more of our farmers are beginning to see the benefits of this type of farming.
Soil is a complex and vital ecosystem that sustains life on Earth.
THE REGENERARTIVE APPROACH
Regenerative agriculture is a system of farming principles and practices that seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the farm's entire ecosystem by placing a heavy premium on soil health, with attention also paid to water management, fertilizer use, and more.
The goal of regenerative agriculture is to create farming systems that are productive and restore and rejuvenate our natural resources, including land, water, air, and biodiversity. Indigenous people worldwide have practiced this type of agriculture for thousands of years.
BENEFITS OF REGENERATIVE FARMING
In recent years, regenerative agriculture has been gaining popularity in Texas as more and more of our farmers are beginning to see the benefits of this type of farming.
- One of the critical benefits of regenerative agriculture is that it helps to improve soil health. Healthy soils are vital for growing healthy crops.
- Regenerative agriculture practices such as cover crops, crop rotation, and composting help build up the soil's organic matter, which in turn helps to improve the soil's ability to hold water and nutrients. This means that less water and fertilizer are needed, which can save farmers money while also reducing environmental impacts.
- In addition to improving soil health, regenerative agriculture can also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers who practice regenerative agriculture store carbon in the soil, which helps to offset emissions from other sources.
Regenerative agriculture is a win-win for Texas farmers and the environment and offers a sustainable way forward for food production. Read on as we take a closer look at the positive effects of regenerative farming on the planet.
Industrial Farming is a method of unsustainable farming that has adversely affected wildlife and plant life throughout the Lone Star State.
REGENERATIVE FARMING FOR REDUCING POLLUTION
In today's world, we are faced with the challenging task of reducing pollution while still being able to produce enough food to feed the growing population. Traditional farming methods have led to soil erosion and depletion, as well as water and air pollution. However, regenerative farming has the potential to heal the land and reduce pollution.
This farming focuses on rebuilding soil health, which improves water retention and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers that run off of farmlands and into waterways. In addition, regenerative farms often use cover crops and rotational grazing to improve soil health, restore ecosystem balance, and sequester carbon. As a result, regenerative agriculture has the potential to reverse the damage caused by traditional farming methods and create a more sustainable food system.
How we produce and consume our food is one of the most significant contributors to our changing climate. TexasRealFood discusses Regenerative Agriculture and its diverse potential in this post.
REGENERATIVE FARMING MEANS LESS WATER LOST
With climate change causing more extreme weather patterns, many regions in Texas face increased water stress and drought. In agriculture, this can lead to lower crop yields and reduced water availability for livestock. However, organic regenerative practices can help build resilience to these conditions.
Promoting healthy soil helps crops withstand drought and increases their ability to hold onto water. In addition, these practices can also help improve water quality by reducing the amount of pollutants that run into rivers and lakes. As water stress and drought become more common, regenerative organic agriculture will play an increasingly important role in ensuring a stable food supply.
REGENERATIVE FARMING CAUSES LESS CARBON DIOXIDE
A growing consensus is emerging among soil scientists that regenerative farming – agricultural practices that remove carbon from the atmosphere and put it back in the soil – could deliver a massive win for the climate. By sequestering carbon in the ground, regenerative agriculture has the potential to not only mitigate climate change by leaving less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere but also improve food security and water quality while boosting farmers' incomes.
While there is still much research on the best regenerative agriculture methods, early indications are promising. For example, one study found that adopting regenerative agriculture practices on just 10% of the world's farmland could offset nearly a decade's global greenhouse gas emissions. Another found that implementing regenerative agriculture on a large scale could bring about a "profound reversal" of climate change.
With the need for climate action becoming more urgent every day, it is clear that regenerative agriculture must play a key role in our efforts to combat climate change.
SUSTAINABLE, HIGH YIELD, LOW-COST FOOD
When it comes to the topic of food sustainability, there are a lot of factors to consider. For example, how does the food we eat impact the environment? And what does it mean for a food system to be sustainable? A sustainable food system does not take away from the soil or environment. In other words, it is a system that seeks to maintain Earth's natural resources.
There are many ways to achieve this, but one promising method is regenerative agriculture.
Industrial farming, or factory farming, yields a comparatively larger quantity of dairy, meat, and eggs but produces huge amounts of waste and gasses, thereby polluting our environment.
Regenerative farming reduces the risk of yield loss due to stressors and can bring about a material increase in crop yields and quality. There's a lot of discussion on the importance of improving farm profitability when converting a farm to regenerative agriculture, and the research on it is variable yet promising.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FROM REGENERATIVE FARMING ARE MORE NUTRITIOUS
A growing body of evidence suggests that regenerative agriculture can positively impact crop nutrition. Regenerative farming practices, such as cover cropping and reduced tillage, help to boost soil health by increasing organic matter levels and promoting microbial activity. As a result, crops grown on regenerative farms tend to be more nutritious than those produced using conventional methods.
A recent study found that food grown on regenerative farms contained higher magnesium, calcium, potassium, and zinc levels, more vitamins (including B1, B12, C, E, and K), and more phytochemicals. The study also found that regeneratively-grown crops had a higher antioxidant capacity than conventionally-grown crops. These findings suggest that regenerative agriculture has the potential to improve the nutritional quality of our food supply significantly.
REGENERATIVE FARMING LEADS TO IMPROVED ANIMAL WELFARE
Regenerative farming benefits the environment and boosts animal welfare through humane practices. For example, animals raised on regenerative farms are typically allowed to roam freely and are fed a natural diet. As a result, they tend to be healthier and happier than those raised in cramped conditions. Furthermore, by grazing on pastureland and fertilizing the soil with their waste, these animals play an essential role in restoring ecosystems. In addition to being more humane, regenerative farming is also more efficient and sustainable in the long run. It is an integral part of creating a more sustainable food system.
FINANCIAL GAINS FROM REGENERATIVE FARMING
A new study has found that regenerative farms are more profitable than conventional methods. The study, conducted by researchers at Washington State University, compared the financial performance of regenerative and traditional farms over four years. The findings showed that regenerative farms were 78% more profitable than conventional farms. The increase in profitability resulted from two main factors: input costs and end markets.
Regenerative farming reduces the risk of yield loss due to stressors and can bring about a material increase in crop yields and quality. There's a lot of discussion on the importance of improving farm profitability when converting a farm to regenerative agriculture, and the research on it is variable yet promising.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FROM REGENERATIVE FARMING ARE MORE NUTRITIOUS
A growing body of evidence suggests that regenerative agriculture can positively impact crop nutrition. Regenerative farming practices, such as cover cropping and reduced tillage, help to boost soil health by increasing organic matter levels and promoting microbial activity. As a result, crops grown on regenerative farms tend to be more nutritious than those produced using conventional methods.
A recent study found that food grown on regenerative farms contained higher magnesium, calcium, potassium, and zinc levels, more vitamins (including B1, B12, C, E, and K), and more phytochemicals. The study also found that regeneratively-grown crops had a higher antioxidant capacity than conventionally-grown crops. These findings suggest that regenerative agriculture has the potential to improve the nutritional quality of our food supply significantly.
REGENERATIVE FARMING LEADS TO IMPROVED ANIMAL WELFARE
Regenerative farming benefits the environment and boosts animal welfare through humane practices. For example, animals raised on regenerative farms are typically allowed to roam freely and are fed a natural diet. As a result, they tend to be healthier and happier than those raised in cramped conditions. Furthermore, by grazing on pastureland and fertilizing the soil with their waste, these animals play an essential role in restoring ecosystems. In addition to being more humane, regenerative farming is also more efficient and sustainable in the long run. It is an integral part of creating a more sustainable food system.
FINANCIAL GAINS FROM REGENERATIVE FARMING
A new study has found that regenerative farms are more profitable than conventional methods. The study, conducted by researchers at Washington State University, compared the financial performance of regenerative and traditional farms over four years. The findings showed that regenerative farms were 78% more profitable than conventional farms. The increase in profitability resulted from two main factors: input costs and end markets.
Regenerative farms have lower input costs because they rely on natural processes rather than synthetic inputs. They also have higher-end markets for their products, as consumer demand for food grows sustainably. The findings of this study show that regenerative agriculture is good for the environment and farmers' bottom line.
REGENERATIVE FARMING SUMMARY
Regenerative farming is a new agricultural approach that is gaining traction in Texas. It focuses on rebuilding and restoring the soil, using practices like cover crops, composting, and mulching. This agriculture is better for the environment and can help farmers be more profitable.
The regenerative approach has been shown to improve water retention, reduce erosion, sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and increase yields. In addition to these benefits, it also helps build healthy soils that can support future generations of plants and animals.
Texas has the potential to become a leader in regenerative farming thanks to its ample land area and diverse climate. Many farmers in Texas are already adopting this new approach, and others are taking notice. Ultimately, regenerative agriculture is just one piece of the puzzle regarding building a more sustainable future. But it's an important piece and one that we should continue to invest in.
As the world looks for solutions to the climate crisis, regenerative farming offers a hopeful path forward.
REGENERATIVE FARMING SUMMARY
Regenerative farming is a new agricultural approach that is gaining traction in Texas. It focuses on rebuilding and restoring the soil, using practices like cover crops, composting, and mulching. This agriculture is better for the environment and can help farmers be more profitable.
The regenerative approach has been shown to improve water retention, reduce erosion, sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and increase yields. In addition to these benefits, it also helps build healthy soils that can support future generations of plants and animals.
Texas has the potential to become a leader in regenerative farming thanks to its ample land area and diverse climate. Many farmers in Texas are already adopting this new approach, and others are taking notice. Ultimately, regenerative agriculture is just one piece of the puzzle regarding building a more sustainable future. But it's an important piece and one that we should continue to invest in.
As the world looks for solutions to the climate crisis, regenerative farming offers a hopeful path forward.
Pure Pastures: Collaborative regeneration in Comal County
By Peggy Sechrist
June 17, 2021
June 17, 2021
Nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, in Comal County, Pure Pastures is a 2,000-acre multi-species operation that practices 100% regenerative management. Pure Pastures is a collaboration between the Moorman family, the ranch owners and partners in the business, and the Eubank family, the operations managers and business partners.
Lew Moorman was introduced to regenerative agriculture after experiencing health concerns in his family. He realized that the food system needed changing, from the soil up, to improve people's health. In 2018 Lew set out on a mission to regenerate the food system beginning with improving soil health on his ranch near Canyon Lake, TX. He partnered with Maggie and Jeremiah to develop their business Pure Pastures.
Lew Moorman was introduced to regenerative agriculture after experiencing health concerns in his family. He realized that the food system needed changing, from the soil up, to improve people's health. In 2018 Lew set out on a mission to regenerate the food system beginning with improving soil health on his ranch near Canyon Lake, TX. He partnered with Maggie and Jeremiah to develop their business Pure Pastures.
The Eubank and Moorman families.
Pure Pastures is located in Comal County Texas.
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IT TAKES A VILLAGE
In October 2019, the Eubanks moved to Lew’s ranch from Stockdale, TX where they had been running a hog operation since 2015. They had been attempting to buy more land, but they were facing many obstacles in doing so, which is common for many beginning farmers and ranchers. They saw a Lew's job post on Facebook for managing a much larger piece of land. They began negotiations with Lew and took the leap to manage the ranch and partner in the business. As first-generation ranchers, this gave Maggie and Jeremiah the opportunity to expand their production and gave Lew peace of mind that the ranch would be managed regeneratively. Pure Pastures is a multi-species operation that raises cattle, pigs, and sheep, as well as chickens and ducks (for eggs). Using holistic management practices, they tend to their animals in a way that revitalizes the ranch’s natural resources. Maggie and Jeremiah Eubank have been working since 2015 to improve their rotational grazing practices to provide flavorful and nutrient dense meat to their community. In fact, the ranch has a store that is open to the public on the weekends and they sell at two different farmer’s markets in nearby San Antonio, TX. In 2021 they brought in 35 red angus bred heifers, 170 ewes, 100 hogs, and 200 chicken and ducks. |
Maggie Eubank.
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Lew Moorman and another business partner Ed Byrne are also hard at work in supporting the regenerative agriculture community with their business SoilWorks Natural Capital. SoilWorks is a Public Benefit Company on a mission to accelerate the Regenerative Food Movement by helping launch scalable, repeatable businesses that fuel the Regenerative economy.
SoilWorks has recently acquired or developed:
SoilWorks has recently acquired or developed:
- PastureMap , an app that enables better grazing management decisions so ranchers get the most from their land.
- Wholesome Meats , a San Antonio-based beef brand dedicated to accelerating the consumer adoption of regenerative agriculture with products delivered to your door.
- True Algae , a company that works with farmers, providing micronutrient dense algae products to nourish the soil and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and develops ways to utilize algae in food, feed, and nutritional supplements.
An image of a higher plateau on the ranch after cedar clearing.
Soil for Water has two transects set up at Pure Pastures. These transects were set up before the Eubanks arrived and were chosen based on some of Lew’s management strategies. Large areas of the ranch were cleared of cedar (ash juniper), as seen on the right, to make room for more grass to grow and to more easily install 40 permanent paddocks around the ranch using high tensile permanent electric fencing.
The Cedar Break Transect in October 2019 after a very dry summer.
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The Cedar Break Transect taken from the opposite direction in May of 2021 after a very wet spring.
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CEDAR BREAK TRANSECT
This pasture was cleared of cedar about three years ago and the piles were burned. The paddock is about 80 acres but it is further subdivided with electric fence when it is grazed. Prior to setting up the transect in June of 2019 the pasture had not been grazed for at least three years because it was heavily laden with cedar. This paddock will be grazed 1-3 times per year for about 1-2 days each time. The goal is to watch how biodiversity and plant succession change along with soil health since the cedar has been cleared and animals have been reintroduced.
This pasture was cleared of cedar about three years ago and the piles were burned. The paddock is about 80 acres but it is further subdivided with electric fence when it is grazed. Prior to setting up the transect in June of 2019 the pasture had not been grazed for at least three years because it was heavily laden with cedar. This paddock will be grazed 1-3 times per year for about 1-2 days each time. The goal is to watch how biodiversity and plant succession change along with soil health since the cedar has been cleared and animals have been reintroduced.
KR BLUESTEM TRANSECT
The second transect is in a pasture that has been taken over with KR Bluestem, a highly invasive grass species that was introduced by the Texas Department of Transportation to control erosion on roadsides. KR bluestem has slowly spread from highways into many pastures.
The pasture is about 50 acres and is also subdivided with electric fencing when grazed. The KR has taken over and crowded out most other species in the pasture creating a monoculture. However, there is evidence on the edges of this pasture that this was not always the case, as you can find stands of little bluestem and Indian grass close to the oak trees that boarder the pasture. Another problem with KR bluestem is that it is only palatable to livestock for short periods of time throughout the year which limits the capacity for it to be grazed.
The Eubanks have plans to attempt a pasture reset by releasing hogs into the pasture to root up all the KR, which is a strong bunching grass, cover it with a low-cost perennial cover crop grasses like side oats and green sprangletop, and see if the native seed bank will germinate once it is no longer competing with the KR. This method has shown to be effective for a time period but often the KR will return if rains do not come, which allow the native perennials to strongly root.
The Eubanks are experimenting with a number of different regenerative practices around the ranch to see what works in relationship to their ecology. Some of the other practices they are trying out on other areas of the ranch include no till drilling cover crops (milo, daikon, Austrian winter and cow pea, sorghum sudan, vetch, and clover) into certain pastures, single shank sub-soil ripping on areas of the ranch where the soil is deep enough, and application of compost tea extracts to pastures using home brews from high quality compost. They also have some other trials in process with Holistic Management International's RAMP program that is assessing whether planting cover crops, along with holistically managed grazing increases organic matter and speeds up pasture improvement sooner.
Only time will tell how shifting the management practices will benefit the ranch but it is an exciting process to watch the Moormans and Eubanks passionately approach their work with a regenerative mindset.
The second transect is in a pasture that has been taken over with KR Bluestem, a highly invasive grass species that was introduced by the Texas Department of Transportation to control erosion on roadsides. KR bluestem has slowly spread from highways into many pastures.
The pasture is about 50 acres and is also subdivided with electric fencing when grazed. The KR has taken over and crowded out most other species in the pasture creating a monoculture. However, there is evidence on the edges of this pasture that this was not always the case, as you can find stands of little bluestem and Indian grass close to the oak trees that boarder the pasture. Another problem with KR bluestem is that it is only palatable to livestock for short periods of time throughout the year which limits the capacity for it to be grazed.
The Eubanks have plans to attempt a pasture reset by releasing hogs into the pasture to root up all the KR, which is a strong bunching grass, cover it with a low-cost perennial cover crop grasses like side oats and green sprangletop, and see if the native seed bank will germinate once it is no longer competing with the KR. This method has shown to be effective for a time period but often the KR will return if rains do not come, which allow the native perennials to strongly root.
The Eubanks are experimenting with a number of different regenerative practices around the ranch to see what works in relationship to their ecology. Some of the other practices they are trying out on other areas of the ranch include no till drilling cover crops (milo, daikon, Austrian winter and cow pea, sorghum sudan, vetch, and clover) into certain pastures, single shank sub-soil ripping on areas of the ranch where the soil is deep enough, and application of compost tea extracts to pastures using home brews from high quality compost. They also have some other trials in process with Holistic Management International's RAMP program that is assessing whether planting cover crops, along with holistically managed grazing increases organic matter and speeds up pasture improvement sooner.
Only time will tell how shifting the management practices will benefit the ranch but it is an exciting process to watch the Moormans and Eubanks passionately approach their work with a regenerative mindset.
Cattle at G Bar C Ranch. Courtesy of Meredith Ellis.
Regenerative Ranching Is Better for the Environment, but Can It Be Profitable? These Texans think so.
Meredith Ellis harbors no illusions when it comes to the demands of running a cattle ranch. As she offers me a cozy blanket to keep warm during our “buggy” ride on her Kawasaki Mule around her family’s three-thousand-acre G Bar C Ranch on a crisp December morning, she tells me she has “about a hundred items” on her to-do list. Ellis, forty, isn’t complaining; she just knows what it takes to do what she loves, and to do it well. When I ask if she ever takes a vacation, she replies immediately, without a trace of regret: “There is no day off. Ever.”
G Bar C Ranch is nestled between Era and Rosston, about thirty miles northwest of Denton. Ellis is in charge of maintaining the land and the cattle, along with longtime ranch manager Mike Knabe; her dad, G.C., who is 69 and “trying to retire”; and ranch apprentice Jen Peterson.
Peterson sits in the back of the buggy during my tour, along with Ellis’s dog, Eva. Ellis’s seven-year-old son named the dog after a character in the Pixar film WALL-E, one of many facts and stories that Ellis shares as we navigate over steep, rocky drops on our way to see her cattle. On this winter day, the ranch has 146 pregnant cows, 62 young females, two Charolais bulls, five black Angus, and two horses that pretty much serve as “yard art.” They’re all off grazing in one of the many pastures whose grass height and soil health Ellis and Knabe watch closely, so they know when it’s time to move the cattle along. The ranch has about 58 permanently fenced pastures, plus several temporary pastures through which the animals are rotated, in keeping with the principals of regenerative ranching. In this increasingly popular, more-sustainable form of agriculture, hooves till the soil, manure provides the fertilizer, and the plowing is done by animals, not machines.
Family legend has it that forty years ago, Ellis’s dad, a longtime rancher who once owned a fishing-lure company and a pecan farm in South Texas, wore out two pickup trucks driving around the state in search of the perfect spot for his dream ranch. Now his daughter is becoming a powerful voice in the world of regenerative ranching. She’s on the board of the Integrity Beef Alliance, a group that advocates for sustainable, progressive ranch management and humane livestock handling, and she travels across the U.S. to speak about the benefits of eco-conscious ranching. Ellis tells me she’s given talks in upstate New York, North Carolina, and Las Vegas, of all places, which felt to her “like being on another planet.”
As we drive through the peaceful pastures of her ranch, Ellis points out her own temporary fencing, as well as the patches of peas and okra she plants as cover crops, which improve soil health and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers.
“My job is to try not to be a stupid human and to figure out what the cattle want and need,” Ellis tells me as she stops to point out a stag grazing nearby. She’s making it sound simple, but regenerative ranching—which prioritizes soil heath by discouraging chemical fertilizers and overgrazing, and instead advocates no-till principles and practices that mitigate the effects of climate change—is anything but. Like “organic” or “grass-fed,” “regenerative agriculture” is fast becoming a catchphrase that’s creating a rift between the large corporations that have dominated the industry for decades and the next generation of smaller-scale farmers and ranchers, many of whom are determined to do better by the environment and by the consumer. That said, the approach seems to be gaining traction. General Mills pledged to use regenerative practices on one million acres of farmland by 2030. The Biden administration has also proposed creating a carbon market that could incentivize farmers and ranchers by paying them for the amount of carbon they trap in their soils. Closer to home, Willie Nelson is in the process of implementing regenerative practices on his five-hundred-acre Luck Ranch.
Ellis tells me that she did the math, and the amount of beef she produces on her ranch in a year is about the same quantity that McDonald’s uses globally in 45 minutes. “I’m this tiny blip on the radar,” she says. “But if I could get all ranchers across the nation doing the job sustainably, then we’d have a lot of clout.”
She says most consumers have no idea if their beef comes from a ranch with environmental goals. “I want to give them that choice.”
Ellis acknowledges her advantages: since her dad had already started the ranch, she didn’t have to purchase land or spend thousands on farm equipment and a first herd of cattle. Still, it’s a tough business. “Year to year, we run a narrow profit, ” she says. “We’re getting by.”
At the same time, she’s found that an eco-friendly strategy has distinct financial advantages: “A lot of the regenerative practices we’ve adopted keep us more drought- and flood-resistant.” That may increase profit margins, Ellis argues, as does not having to pay for huge amounts of fertilizer. “I don’t want people to think that converting to a more regenerative approach is costly,” she says.
G Bar C Ranch is nestled between Era and Rosston, about thirty miles northwest of Denton. Ellis is in charge of maintaining the land and the cattle, along with longtime ranch manager Mike Knabe; her dad, G.C., who is 69 and “trying to retire”; and ranch apprentice Jen Peterson.
Peterson sits in the back of the buggy during my tour, along with Ellis’s dog, Eva. Ellis’s seven-year-old son named the dog after a character in the Pixar film WALL-E, one of many facts and stories that Ellis shares as we navigate over steep, rocky drops on our way to see her cattle. On this winter day, the ranch has 146 pregnant cows, 62 young females, two Charolais bulls, five black Angus, and two horses that pretty much serve as “yard art.” They’re all off grazing in one of the many pastures whose grass height and soil health Ellis and Knabe watch closely, so they know when it’s time to move the cattle along. The ranch has about 58 permanently fenced pastures, plus several temporary pastures through which the animals are rotated, in keeping with the principals of regenerative ranching. In this increasingly popular, more-sustainable form of agriculture, hooves till the soil, manure provides the fertilizer, and the plowing is done by animals, not machines.
Family legend has it that forty years ago, Ellis’s dad, a longtime rancher who once owned a fishing-lure company and a pecan farm in South Texas, wore out two pickup trucks driving around the state in search of the perfect spot for his dream ranch. Now his daughter is becoming a powerful voice in the world of regenerative ranching. She’s on the board of the Integrity Beef Alliance, a group that advocates for sustainable, progressive ranch management and humane livestock handling, and she travels across the U.S. to speak about the benefits of eco-conscious ranching. Ellis tells me she’s given talks in upstate New York, North Carolina, and Las Vegas, of all places, which felt to her “like being on another planet.”
As we drive through the peaceful pastures of her ranch, Ellis points out her own temporary fencing, as well as the patches of peas and okra she plants as cover crops, which improve soil health and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers.
“My job is to try not to be a stupid human and to figure out what the cattle want and need,” Ellis tells me as she stops to point out a stag grazing nearby. She’s making it sound simple, but regenerative ranching—which prioritizes soil heath by discouraging chemical fertilizers and overgrazing, and instead advocates no-till principles and practices that mitigate the effects of climate change—is anything but. Like “organic” or “grass-fed,” “regenerative agriculture” is fast becoming a catchphrase that’s creating a rift between the large corporations that have dominated the industry for decades and the next generation of smaller-scale farmers and ranchers, many of whom are determined to do better by the environment and by the consumer. That said, the approach seems to be gaining traction. General Mills pledged to use regenerative practices on one million acres of farmland by 2030. The Biden administration has also proposed creating a carbon market that could incentivize farmers and ranchers by paying them for the amount of carbon they trap in their soils. Closer to home, Willie Nelson is in the process of implementing regenerative practices on his five-hundred-acre Luck Ranch.
Ellis tells me that she did the math, and the amount of beef she produces on her ranch in a year is about the same quantity that McDonald’s uses globally in 45 minutes. “I’m this tiny blip on the radar,” she says. “But if I could get all ranchers across the nation doing the job sustainably, then we’d have a lot of clout.”
She says most consumers have no idea if their beef comes from a ranch with environmental goals. “I want to give them that choice.”
Ellis acknowledges her advantages: since her dad had already started the ranch, she didn’t have to purchase land or spend thousands on farm equipment and a first herd of cattle. Still, it’s a tough business. “Year to year, we run a narrow profit, ” she says. “We’re getting by.”
At the same time, she’s found that an eco-friendly strategy has distinct financial advantages: “A lot of the regenerative practices we’ve adopted keep us more drought- and flood-resistant.” That may increase profit margins, Ellis argues, as does not having to pay for huge amounts of fertilizer. “I don’t want people to think that converting to a more regenerative approach is costly,” she says.
Travis Krause of Parker Creek Ranch. Photo by Kent Wuthrich.
Travis Krause of Parker Creek Ranch, located fifty miles west of San Antonio, has a more complicated view of this type of farming and ranching. Like Ellis, he knows better than to romanticize the work. Parker Creek has been in his family since 1846, and Krause says they’ve mainly been “dirt rich and money poor.” Still, after graduating from Texas A&M University and then working in India as a field director focused on the study of parasitic diseases in livestock, Travis (with his wife Mandy) headed back to the ranch with an ambitious goal: running a sustainable, profitable business based on the principles of regenerative agriculture.
“We were young and full of piss and vinegar, with lots of ambition and energy,” Krause says.
Add a few years of hard labor, with a newborn baby eventually thrown into the mix, and the couple’s dream proved much tougher to achieve than they’d expected. Krause sees regenerative agriculture not as a new, flash-in-the-pan trend, but as comparable to the way his grandparents and great-grandparents once worked the land. Back in their day, it was just a cowboy on a horse. When “progress” in the form of fertilizers and large-scale, fuel-burning machinery came into the picture, the old ways were, in a sense, turned to so much dust. During the second half of the twentieth century, these advances allowed farmers and ranchers to produce much higher quantities of meat and crops, keeping prices artificially low for consumers, but at a cost: more carbon dioxide was released into the air, tilling and pesticides depleted the soils, and water sources were contaminated by chemical runoff and drug residues. Krause, like Ellis, sees the principles of regenerative agriculture as being much more in line with the values of the ranching culture of his ancestors. Instead of being a threat to modern ranching, he sees the philosophy as a benefit. But that doesn’t mean it comes easy.
In 2020, Travis and Mandy Krause “semi-closed the doors” of their ranch after realizing that the around-the-clock stress, work, and financial instability was just too much. They still own and operate Parker Creek Ranch, but they’ve scaled back. In partnership with Soilworks Natural Capital, Krause is now CEO of Grazing Lands, a company he founded to help ranchers and landowners adopt regenerative principles. Krause says he still believes in regenerative practices “one hundred percent,” but that it does a disservice to novice farmers and ranchers to pretend it’ll be a simple, straight path to success.
“Let’s not romanticize it to the point that we are conveying a message that people can make a living,” he says. “You can do it, but let’s call a pig a pig and a unicorn a unicorn. On social media you always see the beautiful side of things,” he says of the dreamy, photo-ready back-to-nature farmsteads popping up all over the country. “You’re not going to be able to make a healthy living unless you’re at a certain scale.” Krause says that to make money, ranchers can reduce overhead, increase turnover of livestock (basically, add more animals), or add value via marketing. The biggest hurdle to profitability, though, is often “between people’s ears,” he says. “The ranching business is slow to change.”
It can be a full-time job trying to convince landowners who are skeptical about (or outright hostile toward) regenerative practices. Megan Clayton, range specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, helps landowners stay profitable while suggesting changes that can benefit the ecosystem. She says that sometimes she feels as though she’s talking to two clashing groups, and her goal is to bridge that divide. “This is not something new,” Clayton says of regenerative practices. “It’s what we should have been doing all along.”
Not everyone agrees. Critics argue that regenerative agriculture is merely a handy marketing term to make consumers believe they’re helping the environment, when in fact the only truly eco-conscious choice is to stop eating meat altogether. These skeptics point out that switching to non-meat alternatives reduces carbon emissions and water use, among other benefits. If you ask a proponent of regenerative practices, though, they’ll tell you that mass-producing plant-based alternatives can also negatively impact the environment, and that abandoning meat entirely is unrealistic. Unless you’re going to convince everyone on the planet (and in Texas) to stop buying and consuming meat products, maybe a middle ground between a fully plant-based diet and regenerative ranching is the answer.
“We were young and full of piss and vinegar, with lots of ambition and energy,” Krause says.
Add a few years of hard labor, with a newborn baby eventually thrown into the mix, and the couple’s dream proved much tougher to achieve than they’d expected. Krause sees regenerative agriculture not as a new, flash-in-the-pan trend, but as comparable to the way his grandparents and great-grandparents once worked the land. Back in their day, it was just a cowboy on a horse. When “progress” in the form of fertilizers and large-scale, fuel-burning machinery came into the picture, the old ways were, in a sense, turned to so much dust. During the second half of the twentieth century, these advances allowed farmers and ranchers to produce much higher quantities of meat and crops, keeping prices artificially low for consumers, but at a cost: more carbon dioxide was released into the air, tilling and pesticides depleted the soils, and water sources were contaminated by chemical runoff and drug residues. Krause, like Ellis, sees the principles of regenerative agriculture as being much more in line with the values of the ranching culture of his ancestors. Instead of being a threat to modern ranching, he sees the philosophy as a benefit. But that doesn’t mean it comes easy.
In 2020, Travis and Mandy Krause “semi-closed the doors” of their ranch after realizing that the around-the-clock stress, work, and financial instability was just too much. They still own and operate Parker Creek Ranch, but they’ve scaled back. In partnership with Soilworks Natural Capital, Krause is now CEO of Grazing Lands, a company he founded to help ranchers and landowners adopt regenerative principles. Krause says he still believes in regenerative practices “one hundred percent,” but that it does a disservice to novice farmers and ranchers to pretend it’ll be a simple, straight path to success.
“Let’s not romanticize it to the point that we are conveying a message that people can make a living,” he says. “You can do it, but let’s call a pig a pig and a unicorn a unicorn. On social media you always see the beautiful side of things,” he says of the dreamy, photo-ready back-to-nature farmsteads popping up all over the country. “You’re not going to be able to make a healthy living unless you’re at a certain scale.” Krause says that to make money, ranchers can reduce overhead, increase turnover of livestock (basically, add more animals), or add value via marketing. The biggest hurdle to profitability, though, is often “between people’s ears,” he says. “The ranching business is slow to change.”
It can be a full-time job trying to convince landowners who are skeptical about (or outright hostile toward) regenerative practices. Megan Clayton, range specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, helps landowners stay profitable while suggesting changes that can benefit the ecosystem. She says that sometimes she feels as though she’s talking to two clashing groups, and her goal is to bridge that divide. “This is not something new,” Clayton says of regenerative practices. “It’s what we should have been doing all along.”
Not everyone agrees. Critics argue that regenerative agriculture is merely a handy marketing term to make consumers believe they’re helping the environment, when in fact the only truly eco-conscious choice is to stop eating meat altogether. These skeptics point out that switching to non-meat alternatives reduces carbon emissions and water use, among other benefits. If you ask a proponent of regenerative practices, though, they’ll tell you that mass-producing plant-based alternatives can also negatively impact the environment, and that abandoning meat entirely is unrealistic. Unless you’re going to convince everyone on the planet (and in Texas) to stop buying and consuming meat products, maybe a middle ground between a fully plant-based diet and regenerative ranching is the answer.
Buffalo at Roam Ranch. Photo by Brie Smith.
From far away, it might look like Taylor Collins and Katie Forrest of Roam Ranch, outside Fredericksburg, have achieved that Instagram-perfect version of living off the land. When they sold their meat-snack company Epic Provisions to General Mills in 2016, they finally had the financial stability to turn their dreams into reality. They now manage nine hundred acres of multi-species, regenerative land, with 160 free-range bison, plus chickens, turkey, goats, pigs, ducks, and more. When I ask Collins how long it took to make a profit, he doesn’t gloss over the truth. “Three years,” he says. “I guarantee you’re going to be at a loss for at least three years.” He suggests that novice ranchers find creative ways to add to their revenue streams, such as offering vacation rentals or agritourism workshops. Roam hosts about two thousand guests annually for events such as a Thanksgiving turkey harvest, guided deer hunts, and farm-to-table dinners.
“You’re going to be working harder than you’ve ever worked in your life,” Collins says. During the winter freeze in February 2021, he, Katie, and their small staff were all outside, shivering, hauling water, and pumping what they could from the Pedernales River into their trucks. The well pump they used only had intermittent power. “It was a nightmare.”
Back at G Bar C Ranch, as we wind our way across the property, Ellis stops at an overlook so we can take in the valley below. It’s one of her favorite spots. When I ask if all that land belongs to her family, she tells me we’re looking down at part of the neighboring Dixon Ranch. Its late owner, Roger Dixon, founded the Dixon Water Foundation in 1994 to promote healthy watersheds and soils through regenerative practices. “They’re my idols,” Ellis says of the people who run Dixon Ranch. Does she admire them because they own the most cattle or make the most profit? Nope. She reveres them because they’re attempting to replace their land’s invasive Bermuda grass with native species.
“That’s a tough nut to crack,” she says.
At times, Ellis sounds like a Jedi of regenerative ranching. She utters such aphorisms as “Use your intuition and focus on your principles, and the answers will come to you.” Or, “Everyone is on their own regenerative journey.” To my surprise, she also told me that she believes in using the tools at hand, and if that means occasionally, sparingly implementing a fertilizer as a last resort if it allows you to stay profitable, she’s all for it. The ultimate goal for most eco-conscious ranchers and farmers is to move away from synthetic chemicals and fertilizers completely, but that takes patience, and time. “It’s not about being a better rancher than your neighbor,” Ellis says as we head back up to the house. “This is so much more than a piece of land. It’s a grand experiment.”
“You’re going to be working harder than you’ve ever worked in your life,” Collins says. During the winter freeze in February 2021, he, Katie, and their small staff were all outside, shivering, hauling water, and pumping what they could from the Pedernales River into their trucks. The well pump they used only had intermittent power. “It was a nightmare.”
Back at G Bar C Ranch, as we wind our way across the property, Ellis stops at an overlook so we can take in the valley below. It’s one of her favorite spots. When I ask if all that land belongs to her family, she tells me we’re looking down at part of the neighboring Dixon Ranch. Its late owner, Roger Dixon, founded the Dixon Water Foundation in 1994 to promote healthy watersheds and soils through regenerative practices. “They’re my idols,” Ellis says of the people who run Dixon Ranch. Does she admire them because they own the most cattle or make the most profit? Nope. She reveres them because they’re attempting to replace their land’s invasive Bermuda grass with native species.
“That’s a tough nut to crack,” she says.
At times, Ellis sounds like a Jedi of regenerative ranching. She utters such aphorisms as “Use your intuition and focus on your principles, and the answers will come to you.” Or, “Everyone is on their own regenerative journey.” To my surprise, she also told me that she believes in using the tools at hand, and if that means occasionally, sparingly implementing a fertilizer as a last resort if it allows you to stay profitable, she’s all for it. The ultimate goal for most eco-conscious ranchers and farmers is to move away from synthetic chemicals and fertilizers completely, but that takes patience, and time. “It’s not about being a better rancher than your neighbor,” Ellis says as we head back up to the house. “This is so much more than a piece of land. It’s a grand experiment.”
TOP 25+ NEXT GENERATION REGENERATIVE RANCHERS AND FARMERS
Texas is home to many farms that practice regenerative agriculture, an approach to farming that emphasizes more sustainable and holistic methods. This form of farming focuses on soil health, water conservation, biodiversity, and animal welfare. While the exact number of these farms in Texas is difficult to pin down, there has been a recent surge in the use of regenerative practices. Regenerative agriculture in Texas is supported by laws such as the Agricultural Extension Service, which makes resources and training available to farmers who want to adopt regenerative practices. There are also several organizations that provide funding and educational resources to help farmers transition their farms over to regenerative farming methods. Ultimately, the goal of regenerative agriculture in Texas is to create a healthier and more sustainable environment for the state's farmers and their livestock. Through increased soil health, water conservation, biodiversity, and animal welfare, these farms can benefit both the planet and local economies. Such farms are a great example of how agriculture in Texas is working towards sustainability –
a trend that many hope will continue.
a trend that many hope will continue.
B & C Farm, Ovalo TexasBrittany and Chris White are behind the fruition of B&C Farms. The two architects aim to succeed in regenerative agriculture to help Mother Nature heal. While they are just a small piece of the puzzle to Earth's healing, they want to help nature. Think globally and act locally is their motto. To make the best farm fresh eggs, they allow their egg ladies to move around their pasture using a mobile coop. On top of that, they do not medicate their egg ladies. When they are not eating bugs and insects in the grass, the farmers feed them with an all-natural, non-soy, non-GMO feed.
Farming Methods, Practices
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Brittany & Chris White of B & C Farm.
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Back 4T Farms, Eden TexasBack 4T Farms is a regenerative farm. The farm is located in Eden, Texas. This is the farm to contact if you are looking for the following: organic, pastured eggs, and organic, pastured chicken. They are also getting ready to offer these items: grass-fed lamb; organic and grass-fed and finished beef; and pastured pork. This farm is owned by the Turnbough family. Their goal is to "provide whole nutrient dense foods to as many people." If you want to know more about them, you are welcome to visit the farm. They also set up shop at the Concho Valley Farmers Market in San Angelo.
Farming Methods, Practices
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Bali Family Farm, Llano TexasThe Bali Family Farm in Llano, Texas imbibes the goal of establishing a farm that gives importance to health, family, and nutrition. They employ the principles of permaculture when farming which is good for both the land and the animals. This ensures that all of the livestock that they raise on their farm are pasture-raised, and fed certified-organic grains while also taking care of the environment around them through rotational grazing.
Farming Methods, Practices
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Bandera Grassland, Bandera Texas
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Land to Market verified and a member of the Livestock Conservancy, the Bandera Grassland has been producting highly-nutritious meat since 2003. Their meat contains higher in protein, beta-carotene, vitamin-e, omega 3, and conjugated linoleic acid.They are able to promote superior taste and consistent tenderness through dry-aging, grass-feeding, and grass finishing. Each breeding step they do aligns with the American Grassfed Associations standards.Breeding one of the best American heritage beef, Bandera Grassland produces the best CertifiedTexas Longhorn beef.They also offer pasture-raised pork, lamb, and chicken egg. What's best is that all the pork meat they periodically sell are from feral hogs. These hogs offer much leaner meat that their bellies cannot pass for making bacon. On the other hand, their lambs are never fed any grain to promote highest omega-3 content.
Farming Methods, Practices
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Hudspeth River Ranch, Comstock Texas
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The Hudspeth River Ranch comes with a long history of successful ranchers dating back to 1905. Today, Alice Ball Strunk runs and operates the farm. The health of the land is critical to our business. Every single plant and animal on the property is precious to the ranch and our lives. We constantly evaluate the health of our land and use a planned grazing system as a tool for furthering our ecological goals.
Our grazing plans are of the utmost importance here on the Hudspeth, so that each area is allotted sufficient rest to replenish root structure after the plant is defoliated by grazing. Of course, it is important to avoid grazing any plants too severely - browse plants as well as grass plants. This is a carefully considered grazing plan: it is neither short-duration high-intensity grazing nor is it rotational grazing. It is planned grazing periods and planned rest periods. Periodically, we evaluate those plans and our progress, and make adjustments where necessary so that each piece of our complex ecological system can thrive. Farming Methods, Practices
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Jubilant Fields Farms, Trenton Texas
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Dawson Mehalko is 17 years old and runs Jubilant Fields Farms, a small, 1/4 acre, vegetable farm 1 hour northeast of Dallas. She grow salads; lettuce, arugula, spicy greens, salad turnips, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and broccolini. She grows year round utilizing regenerative, no-till, gentle on the soil practices.
Farming Methods, Practices
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Young McDonald Farm, Seguin Texas
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Young McDonald Farm, located in Seguin, Texas, is a small family farm that offers many different products like pasture-raised chicken, homemade barbecue sauce, cheese, yogurt, raspberry chipotle jams, pear butter, pickle relish, and sauerkraut. They are always present in nearby local farmers and artisan markets, like at the Garden Ridge Market Days in Garden Ridge, Texas, and the Cibolo Grange Farmers Market along Main Street in Cibolo, Texas.
Farming Methods, Practices
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YP7 Farm and Ranch, Wichita Falls Texas
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YP7 Farm and Ranch is a family owned and operated ranch in beautiful North Texas near the Red River. They have more than three decades of farming and ranching experience and they aim to provide a sustainable and renewable food supply for their children and generations to come. They specialize in raising Angus cattle, in fact, all of their beef comes from Angus cattle raised right there in their ranch. They utilize rotational grazing practices that allow the land to naturally heal and they use cover cropping to replenish the soil. All of their products are all-natural, uses no hormones and their pastures are free of any GMOs.
Farming Methods, Practices
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Cattle grazing at the Texas A&M University O. D. Butler Jr. Animal Science Complex. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)
Grazing cattle can reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint
Study recognized for focus on conventional, regenerative production carbon footprints
By Adam Russell
August 9, 2021
August 9, 2021
Ruminant animals like cattle contribute to the maintenance of healthy soils and grasslands, and proper grazing management can reduce the industry’s carbon emissions and overall footprint, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist.
Cattle grazing at the Texas A&M University O. D. Butler Jr. Animal Science Complex. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)
Richard Teague, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the Department Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management and senior scientist of the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Vernon, said his research, “The role of ruminants in reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint in North America,” published in the Soil and Water Conservation Society’s Journal of Soil and Water Conservation presents sustainable solutions for grazing agriculture.
The published article, authored by Teague with co-authors who include Urs Kreuter, Ph.D., AgriLife Research socio-economist in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Bryan-College Station, was recognized at the society’s recent conference as a Soil and Water Conservation Society Research Paper for Impact and Quality.
Teague’s research showed appropriate grazing management practices in cattle production are among the solutions for concerns related to agriculture’s impact on the environment. His article serves as a call to action for the implementation of agricultural practices that can improve the resource base, environment, productivity and economic returns.
“We went to the society because it represents professionals who know soils, and to have it published and then recognized by them is huge and shows the validity of the work,” he said. “I am extremely proud of the work and my fellow contributors at Texas A&M and around the country. And I believe it to be a good example for how science can present solutions to serious issues related to agricultural production.”
RUMINANTS AS PART OF THE SOLUTION
To ensure long-term sustainability and ecological resilience of agricultural landscapes, he said cropping and grazing management protocols are needed that can regenerate soil systems and ecosystem functions previously lost by neglect and destructive management practices. Fortunately, many problems caused by some current cropping and grazing agriculture practices can be avoided by ecologically sensitive management of ruminants in mixed crop and grazing agroecosystems.
Effective soil management measures provide the most significant possibilities for achieving sustainable use of agricultural land amid a changing and increasingly variable climate, Teague said. Regenerative agricultural practices restore soil health and ecosystem function to support ecologically healthy and resilient agroecosystems. These practices improve net profitability and enhance ecosystem and watershed function.
REDUCING CARBON FOOTPRINT WITH RUMINANTS, REGENERATION
Grassland ecosystems co-evolved with herbivores over many thousands of years as complex, dynamic ecosystems comprised of grasses, soil biota, grazers and predators, that deteriorate in the absence of periodic grazing, Teague said. His research suggests moving toward regenerative practices designed to improve soil biology and function. Ruminant livestock are an important tool for achieving sustainable agriculture with appropriate grazing management, Teague said.
A key element is that grazing cattle on permanent perennial grasslands with appropriate management helps develop soil biology to improve soil carbon, rainfall infiltration and soil fertility. Thus, much more carbon dioxide equivalents are sequestered into the soil than are emitted by cattle in that management unit, Teague said. Such management increases the production of forages, allowing for more livestock to provide improved economic returns compared to conventional methods.
Permanent cover of forage plants is highly effective in reducing soil erosion and increasing soil infiltration, and ruminants consuming grazed forages under appropriate management results in considerably more carbon sequestration than emissions, Teague said.
Incorporating forages with ruminants to manage regeneration of ecological function in agro-ecosystems can elevate soil carbon, improve soil ecological function, and enhance biodiversity and wildlife habitat if incorporated within goal-oriented planning and monitoring protocols.
“In non-cropping and cropping areas, grazing ruminants in a manner that enhances soil health reduces the carbon footprint of agriculture much more than by reducing ruminant numbers and provides highly nutritious food that has sustained pastoral livelihoods and cultures for centuries,” he said.
REGENERATIVE AG PRACTICES FOR FUTURE PROSPERTY
Teague said research can harm public discourse related to sustainable agriculture more than help unless scientists take a much broader view of agriculture as it is and can be. This broad view includes the potential societal and economic ramifications of proposed changes but also warrants providing solutions that can be used in policy and ultimately in the evolution of more sustainable global food and fiber production.
“The scientific investigations that call for the reduction or elimination of cattle and livestock agricultural production must consider the full impacts of the entire food production chain, and of different cropping and livestock alternatives,” Teague said.
Collectively, conservation agriculture aimed at regenerating soil health and ecosystem function supports ecologically healthy and resilient agroecosystems, improves net profitability and enhances watershed function, Teague said.
“When we’re talking about science, we need to look at the full spectrum of what is happening, weigh the positives and negatives of our options and be honest about the outcomes,” he said. “Then, we seek the most sustainable solution.”
Cattle grazing at the Texas A&M University O. D. Butler Jr. Animal Science Complex. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)
Richard Teague, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the Department Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management and senior scientist of the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Vernon, said his research, “The role of ruminants in reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint in North America,” published in the Soil and Water Conservation Society’s Journal of Soil and Water Conservation presents sustainable solutions for grazing agriculture.
The published article, authored by Teague with co-authors who include Urs Kreuter, Ph.D., AgriLife Research socio-economist in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Bryan-College Station, was recognized at the society’s recent conference as a Soil and Water Conservation Society Research Paper for Impact and Quality.
Teague’s research showed appropriate grazing management practices in cattle production are among the solutions for concerns related to agriculture’s impact on the environment. His article serves as a call to action for the implementation of agricultural practices that can improve the resource base, environment, productivity and economic returns.
“We went to the society because it represents professionals who know soils, and to have it published and then recognized by them is huge and shows the validity of the work,” he said. “I am extremely proud of the work and my fellow contributors at Texas A&M and around the country. And I believe it to be a good example for how science can present solutions to serious issues related to agricultural production.”
RUMINANTS AS PART OF THE SOLUTION
To ensure long-term sustainability and ecological resilience of agricultural landscapes, he said cropping and grazing management protocols are needed that can regenerate soil systems and ecosystem functions previously lost by neglect and destructive management practices. Fortunately, many problems caused by some current cropping and grazing agriculture practices can be avoided by ecologically sensitive management of ruminants in mixed crop and grazing agroecosystems.
Effective soil management measures provide the most significant possibilities for achieving sustainable use of agricultural land amid a changing and increasingly variable climate, Teague said. Regenerative agricultural practices restore soil health and ecosystem function to support ecologically healthy and resilient agroecosystems. These practices improve net profitability and enhance ecosystem and watershed function.
REDUCING CARBON FOOTPRINT WITH RUMINANTS, REGENERATION
Grassland ecosystems co-evolved with herbivores over many thousands of years as complex, dynamic ecosystems comprised of grasses, soil biota, grazers and predators, that deteriorate in the absence of periodic grazing, Teague said. His research suggests moving toward regenerative practices designed to improve soil biology and function. Ruminant livestock are an important tool for achieving sustainable agriculture with appropriate grazing management, Teague said.
A key element is that grazing cattle on permanent perennial grasslands with appropriate management helps develop soil biology to improve soil carbon, rainfall infiltration and soil fertility. Thus, much more carbon dioxide equivalents are sequestered into the soil than are emitted by cattle in that management unit, Teague said. Such management increases the production of forages, allowing for more livestock to provide improved economic returns compared to conventional methods.
Permanent cover of forage plants is highly effective in reducing soil erosion and increasing soil infiltration, and ruminants consuming grazed forages under appropriate management results in considerably more carbon sequestration than emissions, Teague said.
Incorporating forages with ruminants to manage regeneration of ecological function in agro-ecosystems can elevate soil carbon, improve soil ecological function, and enhance biodiversity and wildlife habitat if incorporated within goal-oriented planning and monitoring protocols.
“In non-cropping and cropping areas, grazing ruminants in a manner that enhances soil health reduces the carbon footprint of agriculture much more than by reducing ruminant numbers and provides highly nutritious food that has sustained pastoral livelihoods and cultures for centuries,” he said.
REGENERATIVE AG PRACTICES FOR FUTURE PROSPERTY
Teague said research can harm public discourse related to sustainable agriculture more than help unless scientists take a much broader view of agriculture as it is and can be. This broad view includes the potential societal and economic ramifications of proposed changes but also warrants providing solutions that can be used in policy and ultimately in the evolution of more sustainable global food and fiber production.
“The scientific investigations that call for the reduction or elimination of cattle and livestock agricultural production must consider the full impacts of the entire food production chain, and of different cropping and livestock alternatives,” Teague said.
Collectively, conservation agriculture aimed at regenerating soil health and ecosystem function supports ecologically healthy and resilient agroecosystems, improves net profitability and enhances watershed function, Teague said.
“When we’re talking about science, we need to look at the full spectrum of what is happening, weigh the positives and negatives of our options and be honest about the outcomes,” he said. “Then, we seek the most sustainable solution.”
A Conservation Guide for Texas Landowners
New and experienced Texas landowners alike have a variety of organizations to collaborate with and tools at their disposal to become involved in the conservation of the state’s natural resources. Whether it’s land, water, or the wide array of flora and fauna that make their home in Texas, landowners can use the aggregated resources and tools that are featured in Texan by Nature’s Landowner Guide for Conservation and Land Management to engage in meaningful conservation efforts. With roughly 95% of land in Texas privately owned (Texas Land Trends), it is essential for landowners to participate in conservation stewardship and ensure our natural resources flourish for generations of Texans to come.
LAND
With 12 distinct eco-regions, the 172 million acres of Texas terrain offer a wide range of landscapes, from mountains in West Texas to coastal plains in East Texas. To best understand the conditions that shape your land like annual precipitation and soil type, you can reference this map to find out which ecoregion you are located in.
Once you have determined the ecoregion, there are a variety of land management strategies that can be used to restore and maintain the native ecosystems present on your land. Landscaping with native plants is a simple solution that provides habitat and food for native species; find which plants are native to your region here. A hands-off approach can also be an effective land management strategy to establish plant biodiversity – landowners can consider not mowing or mowing a small portion of land to allow a biodiverse range of plants to take root. A variety of plants can support a variety of animals, promoting a healthy ecosystem on your land.
Habitat Restoration Examples:
To protect these native ecosystems on your land, consider implementing a Conservation Easement. A Conservation Easement is a voluntary agreement between a private landowner and a government agency, land trust, or other conservation organization, to limit or restrict certain activities on private land in perpetuity. For example, there may be restrictions on subdividing or developing your property, while ensuring your right to continue ranching, farming, hunting, and otherwise maintaining the rural lifestyle. As a landowner, you can continue to live on the land, sell it, or pass it on to future generations, but the conservation easement will remain intact. Other easement agreements may focus on timber management, energy development, or other natural resources. An easement holder, such as a land trust, ensures that the easement is maintained by periodically checking that the easement provisions are upheld. More information on conservation easements can be found here.
Conservation Easement Resources:
WATER
Of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the United States, 7 are in Texas. While this presents an opportunity for economic growth, it also presents a challenge as the demand for water in the municipal, industrial, and agricultural sectors grows. Innovation that includes conservation, industry, landowners, and communities is a must to meet the challenge.
According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, irrigation and livestock together use about 78% of all groundwater, and agriculture uses about 33% of all surface water used in Texas. If you’re a landowner whose land is used for agriculture, one conservation measure you can take is investing in water efficiency. Water conservation happens on a large and small scale, from fixing dripping faucets to innovations in reclaimed and recycled water. Landowners can efficiently irrigate crops and maintain soil moisture by installing low-pressure sprinklers (i.e. drip irrigation) and lining irrigation canals with pipelines to prevent leaks. Landowners and the general public can conserve water by repairing leaks and investing in water-saving technologies like low-flow toilets.
Water Resources:
PLANTS & WILDLIFE
Landowners can participate in various programs to promote and maintain plants and wildlife. Even small projects that focus on benefitting one plant or animal species can positively impact other plants and animals in the same ecosystem. These projects can also save you money through tax exemption.
Some landowners can purchase land that is already under a tax-exempt status, or you can apply for exemptions. With an agricultural or timber exemption certificate, landowners are exempt from tax on the purchase of items that are directly used to produce agricultural and timber products being grown commercially. Agricultural exemptions can also be converted to a wildlife exemption status, which lets you keep your property taxes low by performing activities aimed at helping native Texas wildlife rather than, or alongside, traditional agriculture uses.
In regions where the landscape evolved with naturally occurring wildfires, prescribed burns may benefit the plant and animal life on your land. Prescribed burns are controlled low-intensity fires that remove excess brush and clear space for seeds to take root. A prescribed burn should be performed only by trained professionals, such as Prescribed Burn Alliance of Texas or Texas A&M Forest Service. Read How Fire Makes a Forest to learn how the Texas Longleaf Team implements prescribed burns. Additionally, consult the NRCS Conservation Practice guide to learn about the uses and risks of prescribed burns.
Plants and Wildlife Resources
CARBON CREDITS
As a Texas landowner, you can diversify your profit stream by claiming carbon credits through the conservation work you do on your land. When you claim these credits on a registry, private companies can purchase these credits from you through your registry to counterbalance their CO2 emissions from their operations. Your land can store carbon above ground as well as below ground through the root system and soil. Learn more about carbon credits and get involved in the right program for you through the resources below.
Carbon Resources:
As a Texas landowner, you have the opportunity to strengthen your connection to natural resources and continue the forward momentum of conservation in the Lonestar State. Being a steward of the native species and ecosystems that make their homes on privately owned land is one way to preserve Texas’ rich natural history and preserve it for the future.
Additional Tools & Resources for Landowners:
Visit our Landowner Guide for Conservation and Land Management for the latest and email us at info@texanbynature.org if you have additional resources to add to the guide!
Definitions:
LAND
With 12 distinct eco-regions, the 172 million acres of Texas terrain offer a wide range of landscapes, from mountains in West Texas to coastal plains in East Texas. To best understand the conditions that shape your land like annual precipitation and soil type, you can reference this map to find out which ecoregion you are located in.
Once you have determined the ecoregion, there are a variety of land management strategies that can be used to restore and maintain the native ecosystems present on your land. Landscaping with native plants is a simple solution that provides habitat and food for native species; find which plants are native to your region here. A hands-off approach can also be an effective land management strategy to establish plant biodiversity – landowners can consider not mowing or mowing a small portion of land to allow a biodiverse range of plants to take root. A variety of plants can support a variety of animals, promoting a healthy ecosystem on your land.
Habitat Restoration Examples:
- Playa Restoration Guide – Playa Lakes Joint Venture
- EOG Resources’ Pollinator Habitat – Texan by Nature Business Member Project
- Sandia Springs Wetlands Project – Texan by Nature Certified
- 7 Oaks Ward Walker Ranch – Texan by Nature Certified
- Spread Oaks Ranch – Texan by Nature Certified
- John Bunker Sands Wetland Center
- Quail Ranch
- Lone Star Land Steward Awards
To protect these native ecosystems on your land, consider implementing a Conservation Easement. A Conservation Easement is a voluntary agreement between a private landowner and a government agency, land trust, or other conservation organization, to limit or restrict certain activities on private land in perpetuity. For example, there may be restrictions on subdividing or developing your property, while ensuring your right to continue ranching, farming, hunting, and otherwise maintaining the rural lifestyle. As a landowner, you can continue to live on the land, sell it, or pass it on to future generations, but the conservation easement will remain intact. Other easement agreements may focus on timber management, energy development, or other natural resources. An easement holder, such as a land trust, ensures that the easement is maintained by periodically checking that the easement provisions are upheld. More information on conservation easements can be found here.
Conservation Easement Resources:
- Conservation Easements Guide – Texas Land Trust Council
- Questions and Answers on Conservation Easements – Rensselaer Land Trust
- Facts (and Myths) about Conservation Easements – American Forest Foundation
WATER
Of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the United States, 7 are in Texas. While this presents an opportunity for economic growth, it also presents a challenge as the demand for water in the municipal, industrial, and agricultural sectors grows. Innovation that includes conservation, industry, landowners, and communities is a must to meet the challenge.
According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, irrigation and livestock together use about 78% of all groundwater, and agriculture uses about 33% of all surface water used in Texas. If you’re a landowner whose land is used for agriculture, one conservation measure you can take is investing in water efficiency. Water conservation happens on a large and small scale, from fixing dripping faucets to innovations in reclaimed and recycled water. Landowners can efficiently irrigate crops and maintain soil moisture by installing low-pressure sprinklers (i.e. drip irrigation) and lining irrigation canals with pipelines to prevent leaks. Landowners and the general public can conserve water by repairing leaks and investing in water-saving technologies like low-flow toilets.
Water Resources:
- Best Management Practices for Agricultural Water Users – Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)
- Groundwater Conservation District Index – Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts
- Water Conservation in Texas: Opportunities and Challenges – Texas Agriculture Land Trust
- How’s My Waterway – Environmental Protection Agency
- Texas Water Dashboard – U.S. Geological Survey
PLANTS & WILDLIFE
Landowners can participate in various programs to promote and maintain plants and wildlife. Even small projects that focus on benefitting one plant or animal species can positively impact other plants and animals in the same ecosystem. These projects can also save you money through tax exemption.
Some landowners can purchase land that is already under a tax-exempt status, or you can apply for exemptions. With an agricultural or timber exemption certificate, landowners are exempt from tax on the purchase of items that are directly used to produce agricultural and timber products being grown commercially. Agricultural exemptions can also be converted to a wildlife exemption status, which lets you keep your property taxes low by performing activities aimed at helping native Texas wildlife rather than, or alongside, traditional agriculture uses.
In regions where the landscape evolved with naturally occurring wildfires, prescribed burns may benefit the plant and animal life on your land. Prescribed burns are controlled low-intensity fires that remove excess brush and clear space for seeds to take root. A prescribed burn should be performed only by trained professionals, such as Prescribed Burn Alliance of Texas or Texas A&M Forest Service. Read How Fire Makes a Forest to learn how the Texas Longleaf Team implements prescribed burns. Additionally, consult the NRCS Conservation Practice guide to learn about the uses and risks of prescribed burns.
Plants and Wildlife Resources
- Native Plants of North America Database – Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Landowner Assistance – Texas Longleaf Team
- Wildlife Exemption in Texas – Plateau Land & Wildlife Management
- Texas Wildlife Exemptions Explained – TexasLand
- Fire Information: Overview of Prescribed Burns – Texas A&M Forest Service
- Monarch Butterfly Landowner Guide – Texan by Nature
- Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project – San Antonio Zoo
CARBON CREDITS
As a Texas landowner, you can diversify your profit stream by claiming carbon credits through the conservation work you do on your land. When you claim these credits on a registry, private companies can purchase these credits from you through your registry to counterbalance their CO2 emissions from their operations. Your land can store carbon above ground as well as below ground through the root system and soil. Learn more about carbon credits and get involved in the right program for you through the resources below.
Carbon Resources:
- Carbon Markets Fact Sheet – Texas A&M Forest Service
- Carbon Storage and Credits – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
- Determining if Soil Carbon Storage Markets are Right for You – Texas Agricultural Land Trust
- Emission Reduction Credit Program – Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
As a Texas landowner, you have the opportunity to strengthen your connection to natural resources and continue the forward momentum of conservation in the Lonestar State. Being a steward of the native species and ecosystems that make their homes on privately owned land is one way to preserve Texas’ rich natural history and preserve it for the future.
Additional Tools & Resources for Landowners:
- Map My Property – Texas A&M Forest Service
- Mapping with the Map My Property Tool – Tutorial on how to use the tool above
- Conservation Resources of Landowners – Audubon Texas
- New Landowners – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
- 5 Ways to Be a Successful Texas Land and Wildlife Steward – Texan by Nature
- Video: Resources for New Landowners in Texas – Texas A&M Wildlife and Fisheries Extension
Visit our Landowner Guide for Conservation and Land Management for the latest and email us at info@texanbynature.org if you have additional resources to add to the guide!
Definitions:
- Carbon Credits – A tradable permit that achieves measurable reductions in greenhouse emissions.
- Conservation – The act or process of conserving. The efficient management or restoration of wildlife and of natural resources such as forests, soil, and water.
- Sustainability – The process of maintaining change in a balanced environment, in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations.
- Ecoregion – An area where ecosystems are similar based on climate, landscapes, plants, and animals.
- Public-Private Partnership – In the conservation realm, this term typically refers to a government or non-profit entity such as Texas Parks and Wildlife or Texan by Nature partnering with private foundations, landowners, and/or businesses in pursuit of a conservation outcome.
- Return on Conservation – The return realized by investing in conservation encompassing positive financial, people, and natural resource impact.
The Dixon Water Foundation promotes healthy watersheds through regenerative land management, to ensure that present and future generations have the water resources they need.
Landowner Education
The Dixon Water Foundation hosts workshops and supports other initiatives to educate landowners about sustainable land management and holistic grazing methods. Visit their Events page to find information about upcoming workshops.
RESOURCES FOR LANDOWNERS
RESOURCES FOR LANDOWNERS
- Holistic Management International: HMI educates land stewards to manage land for a sustainable future. In addition to its training programs, HMI offers free online introductory packets about holistic management, grazing and financial planning. HMI’s website also offers for free its “Creating Healthy Land” ecosystem manual and “Bullseye! Targeting Your Rangeland Health Objectives,” a guide to rangeland health monitoring.
- Your Remarkable Riparian: the Nueces River Authority’s Riparian Network educates landowners and decision-makers about the value and health of the riparian areas throughout the state. The website includes Steve Nelle’s guide to managing riparian areas and field guide to riparian vegetation. Learn more about the Riparian Network in Steve Nelle’s article from Texas Wildlife (March 2011).
- Texas Riparian Association offers education workshops for landowners and other citizens about riparian and stream ecosystems. Riparian Education Program workshop materials are also available on their website.
- Soil for Water: information from a series of Soil Talks by the National Center for Appropriate Technology and the Hill Country Alliance, including many helpful links to other landowner resources about grazing, soils and water.
- Water Stewardship on Rangelands: A Manager’s Handbook (from Carrus Land Systems, LLC and Utah State University)
- Texas Wildlife Association Land Manager Field Days
- Keystone Conservation offers a Rangeland Stewardship program and online resources for land managers to prevent conflict with large carnivores. Keystone Conservation (now People and Carnivores) produced a white paper, “Livestock Management for Coexistence with Large Carnivores, Healthy Land and Productive Ranches,” (pdf) with support from the Dixon Water Foundation.
- The Noble Foundation assists ranchers through consultations, conducts research, and offers many other agricultural services and resources.
- Walt Davis on educating ranch managers
- Circle Ranch: Grasslands – Nice to Visit, Critical to Save: The Circle Ranch has compiled a great set of articles and videos about the importance of grasslands and sustainable grazing management. The Gill family uses Holistic Management on this 32,000-acre high-desert ranch in the Sierra Diablo of far West Texas.
Additional Resources
- West Texas farmers look to regenerative agriculture to fight extreme weather
- Cattle grazing and wildlife habitat
- Sustainable Land Management
- Wildlife tracking station
- Effects of Livestock grazing on scaled quail and grassland birds in the Marfa grasslands, Texas
| williams-effectsoflivestockgrazing.pdf |
- Soil greenhouse gas emissions as impacted by soil moisture and temperature under continuous and holistic planned grazing in native tallgrass prairie
| 1-agee-106647-soil-ghgs-under-cg-and-amp-grazing-journal-copy-sept_24_2019.pdf |
- Adaptive grazing and relationship to soil health
| nri_dwf_adaptive-grazing_case-studies_06.05.17reduced.pdf |
