By Stan Wise, South Dakota Soil Health Coalition
There are many reasons for producers and landowners to adopt regenerative land management practices, but few are as important as the prospect of bringing a new generation into a farming or ranching operation.
kAm(96? q2CCJ {:EE=6’D D@?[ t=:[ C6EFC?65 E@ E96 72>:=J 72C> 27E6C 8C25F2E:?8 7C@> $@FE9 s2<@E2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ W$s$&X :? a_`b[ 96 <?6H D@>6E9:?8 925 E@ 492?86]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 H2D 6?@F89 :?4@>6 7@C >J 72>:=J[ 3FE H96? 96 H2?E65 E@ DFAA@CE 9:D @H? 72>:=J[ E92EVD H9J H6 H6C6 8@:?8 E@ 86E >@C6 :?G@=G65 :? E96 =:G6DE@4< D:56 @7 E9:?8D] (6 D2H =:G6DE@4<[ 6DA64:2==J 3667 42EE=6[ 2D 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C E96C6 E@ 36 >@C6 C6G6?F6 2?5 C@@> 7@C t=:[” {:EE=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 255:E:@? @7 42EE=6[ E96 {:EE=6D ?66565 >@C6 7@C286]k^Am
The Michalskis have seeded cropland back to grassland, and they work to promote diverse native species in their pastures.
Submitted photo
kAm“(6 DE2CE65 A=2?E:?8 4@G6C 4C@AD E@ 8C2K6 =2E6C :? E96 J62C – ?@E D@ >F49 7@C E96 D@:= 962=E9 36?67:E 2D 3642FD6 H6 ?66565 >@C6 7665 E@ 86E E9C@F89 E92E A6C:@5 @7 E96 J62C[” {:EE=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96J 2=D@ DE2CE65 255:?8 D>2== 8C2:?D =:<6 @2ED 2?5 H962E E@ E96:C 4@C? 2?5 D@J362? 4C@A C@E2E:@?] %9@F89 E96J 5:5?’E 25@AE E96D6 ?6H AC24E:46D :?:E:2==J E@ 3F:=5 D@:= 962=E9[ E96 {:EE=6D H6C6 :>AC@G:?8 E96:C =2?5 3J 5:G6CD:7J:?8 E96:C 4C@A C@E2E:@?[ <66A:?8 =:G:?8 C@@ED :? E96 D@:= 7@C =@?86C A@CE:@?D @7 E96 J62C[ 2?5 :?4@CA@C2E:?8 =:G6DE@4< @? E96:C 4C@A 8C@F?5] %9@D6 D@:= 962=E9 :>AC@G6>6?ED 3682? E@ A2J 5:G:56?5D]k^Am
kAm“(6 EFC?65 :?E@ 2 =62DE\4@DE AC@5F46C] p?5 :? E96 =2DE 7:G6 J62CD[ H6VG6 C62==J 4FE 324< @? E96 76CE:=:K6C E92E H6 AFE @? @FC 4C@AD[” {:EE=6 D2:5] “(6 2=D@ 5@?VE FD6 7F?8:4:56D 2?5 :?D64E:4:56D 2?J>@C6] $@[ H6 5@?VE 92G6 E9@D6 4@DED]”k^Am
kAm#686?6C2E:G6 28C:4F=EFC6 AC24E:46D 2==@H65 {:EE=6 E@ :>AC@G6 9:D AC@7:E23:=:EJ 2?5 3C:?8 9:D D@? :?E@ E96 @A6C2E:@?] %@52J[ E96 EH@ @7 E96> @A6C2E6 E96:C q=:@FI #:G6C #2?49 ?62C r2DE=6H@@5[ $@FE9 s2<@E2[ H:??6CD @7 E9:D J62C’D {6@A@=5 r@?D6CG2E:@? pH2C5]k^Am
kAm“(96? J@F 4FE 4@DED 2?5 <66A E96 J:6=5D E96 D2>6[ E96C6VD >@C6 E@ 8@ 2C@F?5[” {:EE=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%C2:?:?8 E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmy6DD:42 |:492=D<: C2:D6D 42EE=6 2?5 4C@AD :? 62DE6C? r=2C< r@F?EJ[ $@FE9 s2<@E2[ H:E9 96C 9FD32?5[ s2C:?[ 2?5 E96:C D@? rFE=6C] uC@> E96 G6CJ 368:??:?8 @7 E96:C 72C>:?8 42C66CD[ E96 |:492=D<:D 3682? 4@?G6CE:?8 D@>6 @7 E96:C 4C@A 8C@F?5 324< :?E@ 8C2DD=2?5D]k^Am
kAmy6DD:42 3682? H@C<:?8 7@C E96 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D r@?D6CG2E:@? $6CG:46 a` J62CD 28@[ 2?5 27E6C D@>6 4@?G6CD2E:@?D H:E9 s2C:?[ E96J 564:565 E@ 368:? 72C>:?8 H:E9 ?@\E:== AC24E:46D `d J62CD 28@]k^Am
Jessica and Darin Michalski taught their son Cutler the importance of their regenerative agriculture practices, preparing him to become a partner in their operation in Clark County, S.D.
Submitted photo
kAm$:?46 E96?[ E96J 92G6 ?@E:465 2 3:8 :>AC@G6>6?E :? E96:C 7:6=5D]k^Am
kAm“(6VG6 D66? 9@H 8C62E E96J 5@ :? A6C:@5D H96C6 :EVD 5C:6C[ 2?5 E96 7:6=5D E92E >2J36 92G6 925 >@C6 E:==286 2C6 5CJ:?8 FA >@C6] p?5 H6VG6 8@E 7:6=5D E92E DE:== 92G6 256BF2E6 >@:DEFC6 3642FD6 H6VC6 C6E2:?:?8 E92E >@:DEFC6 C:89E E96C6 @? E92E A2CE:4F=2C 7:6=5[” |:492=D<: D2:5]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ |:492=D<: :D E96 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D r@?D6CG2E:@? $6CG:46 $@FE9 s2<@E2 DE2E6 C6D@FC46 4@?D6CG2E:@?:DE[ 2?5 96C 72>:=J’D @A6C2E:@? D9@H42D6D >2?J 4@?D6CG2E:@? =2?5 >2?286>6?E AC24E:46D] %96J 2C6 :?4C62D:?8 E96 5:G6CD:EJ :? E96:C 8C2DD=2?5D[ H@C<:?8 E@ AC@>@E6 ?2E:G6 DA64:6D] %96J 2=D@ 92G6 2 5:G6CD6 4C@A C@E2E:@? :?4=F5:?8 2=72=72[ 4@C?[ D@J362?D[ @2ED[ >:==6E[ 8C2DD >:I 2?5 D@>6 @E96C 4@G6C 4C@AD]k^Am
kAm“(6 5@?VE ;FDE H2?E :E E@ 36 DFDE2:?23=6] (6 C62==J H2?E :E E@ 36 C686?6C2E:G6 3642FD6 H6VG6 D66? D@ >F49 D@:= =@DD E9C@F89@FE E96 DE2E6 H:E9 C646?E H:?5 2?5 C2:? 6G6?ED[” |:492=D<: D2:5] “(6VG6 ;FDE C62==J 925 E@ >2<6 2 564:D:@? E92E E9:D :D E96 H2J H6 H2?E65 E@ @A6C2E6]”k^Am
kAm|:492=D<: D2:5 96C 49:=5C6? 92G6 =62C?65 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 E96:C C686?6C2E:G6 AC24E:46D E9C@F89 E96:C 52:=J :?E6C24E:@?D]k^Am
kAm“%96JVC6 @FE E96C6 H:E9 FD 4964<:?8 4@HD[ D66:?8 @FC 8C2DD[ H:=5=:76[ A@==:?2E@CD 2?5 D62D@?2= H6E=2?5D H:E9 E96 5F4<D 2?5 323J 566C] p?5 E96J D66 9@H 962=E9J E96 =2?5 :D] x E9:?< <:5D 2C6 >@C6 2AE 2?5 2H2C6 D@>6E:>6D E92? H6 8:G6 E96> 4C65:E 7@C[” D96 D2:5] “(6VG6 2=H2JD ;FDE 925 E9@D6 @A6? 5:D4FDD:@?D 2E E96 DFAA6C E23=6] (6 ;FDE H6 925 E9@D6 @A6? 5:D4FDD:@?D H:E9 2== E9C66 @7 @FC 49:=5C6?[ 2?5 x E9:?< E92E >2<6D 2 3:8 5:776C6?46]”k^Am
Kasey, Shay, and Cutler Michalski have learned about the benefits of regenerative agriculture through conversations with their parents and activities on their family’s operation in eastern Clark County, S.D.
Submitted photo
kAmrFE=6C[ H9@ :?7@C>65 9:D A2C6?ED :? 9:D ;F?:@C J62C @7 9:89 D49@@= E92E 96 H@F=5 =:<6 E@ C6EFC? E@ E96 @A6C2E:@?[ F?56CDE2?5D H9J 9:D 72>:=J A=246D 2 AC:@C:EJ @? 36:?8 8@@5 DE6H2C5D @7 E96 =2?5[ |:492=D<: D2:5]k^Am
kAm“rFE=6C F?56CDE2?5D E96 DEC6DD :? DAC:?8D =:<6 E9:D H96C6 J@F 5@ 92G6 2 =@E @7 AC6G6?E65 A=2?E:?8 24C6D[ 2?5 J@FVC6 DE:== ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 8@ @FE E96C6[ 2?5 J@FVC6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ E:== E92E D@:=] *@FVG6 >256 E92E 564:D:@?] *@FVC6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 5@ :E[” D96 D2:5] “p?5 :E 5@6D A=2J :?E@ H92E <:?5 @7 4@?5:E:@? J@FVC6 =62G:?8 E92E =2?5 :? 7@C J@FC 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D]”k^Am
kAmk6>m|2<:?8 C@@> 7@C ?6H :562Dk^6>mk^Am
kAmpD AC@5F46CD A=2? 7@C E96 7FEFC6 @7 E96:C @A6C2E:@?D[ ?@E @?=J 5@ E96J ?665 E@ 8C@H 962=E9J D@:=[ 3FE E96J 2=D@ ?665 E@ 8C@H 962=E9J DF446DD@CD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $s$& tIE6?D:@? {:G6DE@4< qFD:?6DD |2?286>6?E u:6=5 $A64:2=:DE w62E96C v6DD?6C]k^Am
kAmv6DD?6C E62496D 2 4@FCD6 @? A=2??:?8 7@C DF446DD7F= 72C> EC2?D:E:@?D]k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 E92E 2D 72C> <:5D AC@8C6DD :? E96:C 65F42E:@?[ E96J 2C6 6IA@D65 E@ >2?J ?6H :562D[ 2?5 7@C 2 72C> EC2?D:E:@? E@ 36 DF446DD7F=[ E9@D6 <:5D ?665 E@ 92G6 DA246 @? E96 72C> @C C2?49 E@ 6IA=@C6 E9@D6 :562D]k^Am
kAm“(96? H6’C6 E2=<:?8 23@FE 3C:?8:?8 <:5D 324< E@ E96 72C>[ 2 =@E @7 E:>6D H6 H2?E E96> E@ 4@>6 324< 7@C J@FC =23@C[” v6DD?6C D2:5]k^Am
kAm%92E <:?5 @7 E9:?<:?8 5@6D?’E @776C E96 J@F?86C 86?6C2E:@? >F49 9@A6 7@C E96 7FEFC6 @C AC6A2C6 E96> E@ E2<6 @G6C 72C> >2?286>6?E 564:D:@?D[ D96 D2:5] (96? J@F?8 AC@5F46CD D92C6 E96:C :562D 2?5 2C6 >6E H:E9 @AA@D:E:@? 7C@> E96:C A2C6?ED[ E96J 42? 364@>6 5:D4@FC2865 23@FE E96:C 28C:4F=EFC2= 42C66CD]k^Am
kAm“(96? H6 3C:?8 324< E92E ?6IE 86?6C2E:@?[ H6 ?665 E@ =6E E96> 92G6 D@>6 3FJ\:? 2?5 D@>6 DE@4< :? 9@H 564:D:@?D 2C6 >256[” v6DD?6C D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 36DE H2J E@ 5@ E92E[ D96 D2:5[ :D E@ D6E FA D@>6 E:>6=:?6D 7@C E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@? E@ E2<6 @G6C D@>6 6?E6CAC:D6D @? 2? @A6C2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“*@F 4@F=5 D6E 2 8@2= 7@C J@FC <:5 E@ E2<6 @G6C E96 4@H\42=7 6?E6CAC:D6 3J a_ad 2?5 E96 C@H 4C@A 6?E6CAC:D6 3J a_af[” v6DD?6C D2:5] “*@F 92G6 E@ 2D< J@FCD6=7 :7 J@F’C6 C625J 7@C 2 A2CE?6C @C J@F’C6 =@@<:?8 7@C 2 9:C65 92?5]”k^Am
kAm{:EE=6 D2:5 E92E[ 2E 7:CDE[ 96 925 EC@F3=6 =6EE:?8 9:D D@?[ t=:[ E2<6 2 C@=6 :? 564:D:@?\>2<:?8 @? E96:C 72C>]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< E92E H2D 5:77:4F=E 7@C >6 3642FD6 x >256 2== >J @H? 564:D:@?D 7@C D@ >2?J J62CD[” {:EE=6 D2:5] “qFE H6 H6?E E@ E96 $@:= w62=E9 r@?76C6?46 5@H? :? qC@@<:?8D[ 2?5 96 42>6 9@>6 7C@> E92E ;FDE 7F== @7 :562D] ~?46 96 DE2CE65 F?56CDE2?5:?8 H92E 9:D E9@F89ED H6C6[ :EVD =@ED 62D:6C ?@H E@ =6E 9:> =625 FD :? E92E 5:C64E:@? ?@H 2?5 E96?] %96 5:C64E:@? E92E 96VD =625:?8 FD :D H96C6 6G6CJ J62C H6 ;FDE 2C6 >@C6 4@?7:56?E E92E H92E H6VC6 5@:?8 :D 8@:?8 E@ C686?6C2E6 @FC D@:= 2?5 =62G6 E96 =2?5 E92E H6 @A6C2E6 :? 36EE6C D92A6 E92? :E H2D H96? H6 DE2CE65]”k^Am
kAm%@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE C686?6C2E:G6 28C:4F=EFC6 AC24E:46D[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D5D@:=962=E94@2=:E:@?]@C8^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmHHH]D5D@:=962=E94@2=:E:@?]@C8k^2m @C 4@?E24E E96 $@FE9 s2<@E2 $@:= w62=E9 r@2=:E:@? 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@iD5D@:=962=E9o8>2:=]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD5D@:=962=E9o8>2:=]4@>k^2m @C e_d\ag_\c`h_]k^Am
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!