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WC IN | Here's the thing I think most people, including the ones pushing regenerative ag(even the organic crowd) don't get/understand. WE USED TO FARM THIS WAY IN THE 1930,40,50,s. No commercial fertilizer, three or four year crop rotations etc. Everyone had their own source of manure because EVERYONE had animals. The animals were the moneymakers on the farm. They fed the corn, hay etc and sold the cow, pigs, chickens, eggs,milk etc. Crop yields were not real great back then. If someone wants to farm like 1940 go for it. I would like to do it on say 20 acres to see how I do, but for fun and I wouldn't skip the fertilizer either. Yes, I know corn hybrids are better now, and non GMO corn will yield right with the traited stuff. Could it be done...maybe. But I still think you are going to have to apply commercial NPK, unless you have unlimited supply of manure. There is a dairy near us that doesn't spread much dry fertilizer but they have an almost unlimited supply of manure. and they still apply NH3 on corn ground. When everyone started using commercial fertilizers and pesticides is when yields really started to increase. I think you could get away with less pesticides but probably have to increase tillage and row crop cultivation along with longer rotations. If it was my friend I would say something. Here's a thought...If we renamed Regenerative Ag..Let's Farm Like its 1940...How many would be jumping on the bandwagon.
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Regenerative Ag
