FT. PAYNE, Ala. — Nearly 500 farmers and ranchers from a dozen countries were graduates of the Soil Health Academy’s 2019 schools, the regenerative agriculture-focused, non-profit organization announced in its annual report, released today.
More importantly, those graduates are applying regenerative ag principles in their farming operations and are sharing what they’ve learned with their peers.
“Based on our follow up surveys, our students and those we’ve reached through our educational outreach efforts, are applying regenerative agriculture principles on an estimated 5 million acres,” said SHA President David Brandt.
Brandt said SHA’s inaugural annual report includes additional survey responses from its farmer/rancher graduates that indicate a strong likelihood of regenerative practice application, increased optimism and a high willingness to share their regenerative agriculture knowledge and experience with their farming/ranching peers. Specifically…
- 100% are “significantly more” or “more” confident implementing regenerative agricultural principles on their farms or ranches.
- 100% are “significantly more” or “more” optimistic about their farming/ranching futures as a result of attending the SHA school.
- 98% “definitely will” or “probably will” or participate in of SHA’s follow up Q&A teleconferences and webinars.
- 95% “definitely will” talk to other farmers/ranchers about making the transition from conventional agriculture to soil health-focused regenerative agriculture.
- 85% “definitely will” participate in soil health/regenerative agricultural groups or organizations.
“Based on our graduate’s responses, it’s clear that most have also become ambassadors, advocates and trainers of regenerative agriculture in their own communities and among their farming peers, further advancing the widespread adoption of regenerative agricultural systems throughout the nation,” Brandt said. “
An Ohio regenerative farming pioneer, Brandt said SHA will have another full slate of regenerative ag schools throughout the country and in Canada this year.
“As we look to 2020 and beyond, SHA remains committed to working with our fellow farmers, ranchers and partners to realize the full potential of soil health-focused, regenerative agricultural principles and practices—all of which will restore the health of our bodies, our farms, our communities, and our planet,” he said.
A downloadable version of the SHA 2019 Annual Report is available at www.soilhealthacademy.org.
–Soil Health Academy
