Stu McFarland’s Post

"In the fertile soils of the regenerative agriculture movement, data is the unseen hero, providing valuable insights to farmers, scientists, agribusinesses and policymakers. Essentially, data is the backbone of decision-making processes that can improve resiliency and efficiency of working lands, while delivering enduring net-positive benefits for people, climate and nature. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), along with partners at Regrow Ag and the Conservation Tillage Information Center (CTIC), recognizes the value of data to unlock economic and environmental solutions for the agriculture industry. For the last several years, TNC and our partners have been leading the development of the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), remote-sensing data to track trends in cover crops and tillage practices." - The Nature Conservancy #satellitedata #remotesensing #agriculture

💰 If you're not sure you can make it to the end of the month, why worry about the end of the world..? The head of FNSEA, Arnaud Rousseau, recently pointed out that "ecology without an economy makes no sense." To me, this highlights the flawed system in its current state. Farmers aren't rewarded or valued, but instead pushed by the system to produce at scale with tiny margins. How can we expect them to care about the longer-term future when they're struggling to make ends meet? Wouldn't you care more about feeding your family? Agriculture isn't the industry where you can just 'try and see’... It's understandable that farmers across Europe are upset, but we can't ignore the importance of nature restoration. I do not fully agree with Arnaud Rousseau's statement and especially not how shortsighted the farmers are acting - or at least, the 'noisy' ones we see in media..! 🤯 Have we lost our mind voting against the #naturerestorationlaw?! Where are we without nature? If we continue down this path, we risk losing our economy as well as our environment. It's time for systemic change. By ensuring farmers are paid fairly for their produce and rewarded for ecosystem services, we can transition to a system that works with nature instead of against it. Even a small percentage of improvement over all farmland can make a massive difference. 🙌 Let's prove that profitable farming and sustainability can go hand in hand. #naturepositive #sustainableagriculture #farmingprotests #farming #regenag #foodsystem 

Want to learn more about climate-smart agriculture? Climate Solutions for Health Lab researcher Valerie Stull and Margaret Krome, Policy Program Director Michael Fields Agricultural Institute co-authored an op-ed earlier this year on conservation opportunities of the Farm Bill. The article starts off describing the threats of climate change to farming, including droughts and flooding, and then details how climate-resilient farms and supporting the conservation programs on working farmlands can make a positive difference for farmers. As of now, congress has not passed a new Farm Bill.To read the full article and see their three key recommendations, click the link below! #farmbill #climatefriendlyfarming #conservation

🌱 Healthy Soil, Healthy Future 🌱 We all know that healthy plants require healthy soil—it’s the literal foundation for crops to thrive. But maintaining soil health isn’t always straightforward. Factors like extreme weather, increasing regulatory oversight, and growing pressure to adopt environmentally conscious practices add complexity to every grower's challenge. Why is soil health such a hot topic? Because it’s good for business. Sustainable soil management ensures higher yields, better crop quality, and long-term operational success. Proactive planning and evolving processes are key to combating current and future soil threats. This is why World Soil Day on December 5th matters. Established by the United Nations in 2013 and championed by organizations like the FAO and the IUSS - International Union of Soil Sciences, it highlights the critical importance of soil health and promotes sustainable practices worldwide. 🔗 Read more from Meister Media Worldwide Global Insight Series: https://ow.ly/Bz1U50UlHjU How are you preparing your soil to adapt to challenges and drive sustainable success? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #WorldSoilDay #SoilHealth #SustainableAgriculture #HealthySoilHealthyPlants

🌱 Healthy Soil, Healthy Future 🌱 We all know that healthy plants require healthy soil—it’s the literal foundation for crops to thrive. But maintaining soil health isn’t always straightforward. Factors like extreme weather, increasing regulatory oversight, and growing pressure to adopt environmentally conscious practices add complexity to every grower's challenge. Why is soil health such a hot topic? Because it’s good for business. Sustainable soil management ensures higher yields, better crop quality, and long-term operational success. Proactive planning and evolving processes are key to combating current and future soil threats. This is why World Soil Day on December 5th matters. Established by the United Nations in 2013 and championed by organizations like the FAO and the IUSS - International Union of Soil Sciences, it highlights the critical importance of soil health and promotes sustainable practices worldwide. 🔗 Read more from Meister Media Worldwide Global Insight Series: https://ow.ly/Bz1U50UlHjU How are you preparing your soil to adapt to challenges and drive sustainable success? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #WorldSoilDay #SoilHealth #SustainableAgriculture #HealthySoilHealthyPlants

🌱 Healthy Soil, Healthy Future 🌱 We all know that healthy plants require healthy soil—it’s the literal foundation for crops to thrive. But maintaining soil health isn’t always straightforward. Factors like extreme weather, increasing regulatory oversight, and growing pressure to adopt environmentally conscious practices add complexity to every grower's challenge. Why is soil health such a hot topic? Because it’s good for business. Sustainable soil management ensures higher yields, better crop quality, and long-term operational success. Proactive planning and evolving processes are key to combating current and future soil threats. This is why World Soil Day on December 5th matters. Established by the United Nations in 2013 and championed by organizations like the FAO and the IUSS - International Union of Soil Sciences, it highlights the critical importance of soil health and promotes sustainable practices worldwide. 🔗 Read more from Meister Media Worldwide Global Insight Series: https://ow.ly/Bz1U50UlHjU How are you preparing your soil to adapt to challenges and drive sustainable success? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #WorldSoilDay #SoilHealth #SustainableAgriculture #HealthySoilHealthyPlants

🌱 Healthy Soil, Healthy Future 🌱 We all know that healthy plants require healthy soil—it’s the literal foundation for crops to thrive. But maintaining soil health isn’t always straightforward. Factors like extreme weather, increasing regulatory oversight, and growing pressure to adopt environmentally conscious practices add complexity to every grower's challenge. Why is soil health such a hot topic? Because it’s good for business. Sustainable soil management ensures higher yields, better crop quality, and long-term operational success. Proactive planning and evolving processes are key to combating current and future soil threats. This is why World Soil Day on December 5th matters. Established by the United Nations in 2013 and championed by organizations like the FAO and the IUSS - International Union of Soil Sciences, it highlights the critical importance of soil health and promotes sustainable practices worldwide. 🔗 Read more from Meister Media Worldwide Global Insight Series: https://ow.ly/Bz1U50UlHjU How are you preparing your soil to adapt to challenges and drive sustainable success? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #WorldSoilDay #SoilHealth #SustainableAgriculture #HealthySoilHealthyPlants

Can cows flip the climate narrative? The answer might just lie in the grasslands they roam.... Over the past five years, a research alliance has been hard at work, delving into the intricate relationship between #grazing ruminant animals and the planet's carbon cycle. The results the team have uncovered are surprising. The Archbold–Alltech Alliance, born in 2019, united the expertise of ecologists from Archbold with ruminant nutritionists from Alltech. Their mission? To explore the impact of #cattle production on the #ecosystem and #carbon sequestration at Archbold’s Buck Island Ranch, sprawling across 10,500 acres in Lake Placid, Florida. Their findings suggest that grazing ruminant animals can actually benefit the environment and enhance carbon cycling. It's not just about emissions – it's about understanding the full ecological picture. Vaughn Holder, director of ruminant research at Alltech, revealed one of the most striking discoveries: beef production can potentially be carbon negative. That means the land and cattle combined emit fewer net #emissions than the land absorbs. Moreover, when cattle are absent, methane production in some cases actually increases, highlighting the complex interplay of factors in the ecosystem. Dr Betsey Boughton, director of agroecology at Archbold Biological Station, emphasizes that Buck Island Ranch alone sequesters 1,201 tons of CO2 equivalent annually. And here's the kicker – this transformative impact isn't confined to Florida. It's scalable, applicable, and has the potential to revolutionize grazing practices worldwide.

There really are only 2 types of agriculture - destructive & regenerative. & all agriculture that does not build soil biology, reinstate natural mineral, and water cycles is destructive. Given the dire condition of our soils across the planet, sustainable agriculture can no longer be our goal, we can't merely sustain we have to regenerate. Why is this important to you? 1. Regen Agri practices help store carbon in the soil, mitigating #climatechange by reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 2. It improves soil fertility, structure, and nutrient content, promoting better plant growth and #resilience against pests and diseases. 3. Regen methods enhance soil's ability to retain water, reducing irrigation needs and enhancing drought resilience. 4. It produces #food that is richer in nutrients, promoting better health outcomes for consumers. 5. It supports sustainable food production systems that can meet the needs of future generations without compromising environmental integrity. If you are keen to learn more - check out the exciting event below - #RegenAgri #CarbonCowboys #NutritiousFood Andrew Ardington &collab

🤠 Here's the blog on my new paper 🤠