For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s Environment and Climate Resource center page, Health Issues page, CAFO’s vs. Free Range page and our All About Organics page.

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself.” That’s a quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt, who clearly knew something most people, including farmers, have since forgotten.

The truth is, to feed the world, we must feed the soil. One of the best ways to prevent global disaster, save our health, and build a sustainable economy is through regenerative agriculture. This isn’t a luxury we can put on the backburner. Changes must begin immediately.

A major part of the problem we now face is that our agricultural practices have removed massive amounts of valuable carbon from land, transferring it into air and water where it does more harm than good.

By paying greater attention to carbon management, we have the opportunity to make a dramatic difference in this area, which is having major negative consequences to our agriculture, and the pollution of our air and water.

But carbon management is but one aspect of cultivating healthy soil. We must also address the harm being done by agricultural chemicals, which have replaced natural methods of pest control and fertilization used since the beginning of agriculture.

Not only are agricultural chemicals decimating our soils, they’re also killing off bees, butterflies, and other flora and fauna. An estimated 60 percent of the world’s ecological systems are nearing collapse,1 yet industry continues to turn a blind eye to the destruction.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service2 (NRCS), which is part of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), is taking an active role in teaching farmers about the importance of soil health, as discussed in the featured video.

Grass fed and pastured products are high in demand these days.   Unfortunately, we are importing much of these goods from Australia due to USDA processing restrictions that have eliminated the ability to sell local meat products.