Farm Bureau Delegates fail to Approve Regenerative Agriculture Policy Submittal instead opt to Create a Working Group
A single legal or regulatory definition of the term ‘regenerative agriculture’ does not exist. Equally, a widely accepted definition of the term has not emerged from within the agricultural industry. The absence of clarity around the term ‘regenerative agriculture’ creates challenges for researchers who seek to study practices and strategies and creates confusion among consumers who may not understand the term.
To that end, Cook County Farm Bureau submitted a resolution to Farm Bureau delegates to create a ‘regenerative agriculture’ policy that supports:
- Regenerative agriculture referring to maintaining the health of soil by rebuilding organic soil matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity.
- Regenerative agriculture practices including but not limited to minimal tillage, diversified crop rotation, cover crops, green manure, precision application of biological and chemical inputs, and natural fertilizers, including compost and inoculants to ensure soil micronutrients are kept in top condition.
- Qualification for incentives being based on a menu of regenerative agriculture practices rather than a prescriptive list.
- Clear metrics to measure environmental outcomes achieved through the voluntary implementation of regenerative agriculture practices.
- Farm policy supporting regenerative practices.
- Farmer education and outreach around the value of soil health and conservation practices.
- Reducing barriers to implementing regenerative agriculture practices including cost-sharing, incentives, and low-cost loan programs.
- Research into regenerative agriculture practices and outcomes. Promotion of outcomes and best management practices to farmers and policymakers.
- Access to technical assistance for farmers considering incorporating regenerative agricultural practices into their farming operation.
- Providing financial assistance and incentives to promote and assist voluntary and incentive-based conservation and ecosystem management efforts.
Resolution Committee members instead recommended that working group be created to complete a comprehensive review of existing policy and conduct research to more thoroughly investigate regenerative and sustainable agriculture. Committee members recommended that the working group include representatives of Cook CFB, Illinois Farm Bureau staff, natural resources policy subcommittee chair, and other members with experience on regenerative and sustainable agriculture.