TL/DR –
The article discusses the issue of soil degradation in American agriculture, which costs farmers and taxpayers billions of dollars annually. The Inflation Reduction Act has provided nearly $20 billion to federal conservation programs aiming to rebuild healthy soil, but this funding is at risk of being repurposed to subsidize the nation’s largest farms. The authors argue for the application of regenerative agriculture, which has not only been proven to rejuvenate soil but also increase profit margins, suggesting that this could be a solution if Congress embraces and financially supports it.
American Agriculture Soil Loss and Regenerative Farming
Each year sees a loss of 4.6 tons of agricultural soil per acre in the US, costing farmers $44 billion and taxpayers nearly $100 billion. The decline of healthy soil is both a cause and a symptom of the climate crisis. Last year, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) invested nearly $20 billion in federal conservation programs, such as USDA conservation initiatives, which provide resources to rebuild soil quality, enhance wildlife habitats, and improve water quality. However, despite their popularity, these programs are often underfunded, leading to 75% of qualified applicants being rejected from some programs.
This funding is under threat, with Congress considering using these funds to further subsidize the nation’s largest farms. The overuse of fertilizer and chemicals caused by soil degradation reduces our food’s nutritional value. It also causes environmental damage, such as carbon emission, water pollution, and increased input costs which hurt rural economies and raise food prices.
Regenerative Agriculture as a Solution
Fifth-generation farmer, Rick, discovered regenerative agriculture as a solution. This farming approach mimics nature, promotes soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience while reducing chemical inputs. This approach improved his soil health and increased his profits.
Wayne, whose grandparents were farmers, also adopted regenerative farming principles intuitively. Regardless of their political affiliations, both farmers are advocating for federal support for regenerative agriculture through Regenerate America.
We urge Congress to protect the IRA funds meant for conservation and support responsible land stewardship. Farmers are resilient and need Congress to invest in a climate-resilient future.
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