A few days ago, we posted a simple question to our followers: "What is the biggest problem in agriculture?” Honestly, we expected a handful of responses. Instead, we got hundreds. Farmers, ranchers, and land stewards from across the U.S. and beyond jumped into the conversation. Some answers were nuanced. Some were extremely passionate. A few were blunt. What surprised us wasn't just how many people responded, but how different the answers were. Some pointed to politics and regulations. Others blamed economics, rising input costs and things like land access. Still, others pointed at the lack of younger generations entering agriculture and the growing disconnect between consumers and producers. Poll Results: Government / Regulations / Politics — 27% Mindset / Resistance to Change — 18% Economics / Profitability / Input Costs — 15% Consumer Disconnect / Education — 12% Land Access / Cost of Entry — 10% Soil Health / Degradation — 8% Next Generation / Labor Shortage — 6% Water / Weather — 4% No matter where you stand on the issues, one thing is clear: Agriculture is under pressure. From drought and input costs to labor shortages and profitability concerns, many farm and ranch families are carrying a tremendous amount of uncertainty right now. But as we collected all the responses and concerns, a clear theme emerged in all of them. The Biggest Problem in Agriculture Whether someone blamed government, economics, land access, consumer education, or soil health, the underlying concerns are largely the same: How do we build farms, ranches, and rural communities that can withstand the headwinds and challenges they’re facing? It's an important question because agriculture has never been a simple business. Farmers and ranchers have always dealt with uncertainty. Weather changes. Markets fluctuate. Costs rise and fall. New challenges emerge. But many producers today feel like more and more of the factors affecting their success are outside their control. And that's where resilience clearly becomes more than a buzzword: it’s a crucial strategy for long-term success and operational sustainability farmers and ranchers can’t do without. The agriculture community is hungry for a way of doing business that not only maximizes production this year but also can remain productive, profitable, and healthy for decades to come. Is Regenerative Agriculture The Solution We Need? One of the crucial—and most obvious—ways we can stay afloat over the long haul is obvious: lowering our reliance on what can’t be controlled. This includes fluctuating weather, input costs, and supply chain bottlenecks, just to name a few. And, whether we like it or not, the conventional agricultural model places farmers/ranchers in a tough spot: increasingly dependent on things that exist outside the operation. This is one reason regenerative agriculture continues to gain attention across the agricultural landscape. At its core, regenerative agriculture is about rebuilding the strength of the operation from the ground up. Healthier soils hold more water during dry periods. Diverse plant communities mimic natural systems, rebuild the soil and suppress weeds. Integrating livestock can turn standing forage into feed while reducing the need for harvested inputs. Improved soil biology can cycle nutrients that might otherwise need to be purchased. In other words, regenerative agriculture seeks to move more of the solution back onto the farm or ranch itself, at a lower cost. The goal isn't independence from markets or weather. No system can offer that. The goal is greater resilience when challenges inevitably arrive. We've seen examples of this across the producers we've featured at Growing Resilience. Ranchers are extending grazing seasons and reducing winter feed costs. Producers are increasing water infiltration and carrying green forage longer into dry periods. Farmers are reducing fertilizer requirements as soil health improves. Operations are finding ways to remain profitable without continually increasing inputs and, due to a more diverse mix of crops, are no longer solely reliant on risky corn-soybean production. These changes don't happen overnight. Most producers will tell you they take years of observation, experimentation, and adaptation. But they all point toward the same idea: The healthiest farms and ranches are often those that become less dependent on forces beyond their control. Keeping it Realistic We don’t present regenerative agriculture or systems as a silver bullet solution to all that ails an operation. Rain still needs to fall, and input costs still exist. Agriculture can be an extremely rewarding and fruitful way of life, but it has never been easy. This truth still remains for those who switch to regenerative systems. Making the transition isn't always straightforward, either. While there are universal principles that research shows work everywhere, every farm and ranch is unique. What works in South Dakota may need to be adapted in Georgia. What works on one soil type may not work exactly the same on another. Producers considering regenerative practices often have legitimate questions about profitability, risk, implementation, and how to make changes without disrupting an already complex operation. That's why community matters. One of the encouraging themes we've seen emerge in agriculture is the growing willingness of producers to share what they're learning. Farmers and ranchers across the country are opening their gates, sharing successes and failures, and helping others avoid costly mistakes. Fortunately, there has never been greater access to knowledge. Free educational resources are available through platforms like YouTube. Organizations like the NRCS provide technical assistance and support to land managers across the country. Local soil health groups, grazing networks, and producer-led organizations regularly host events where farmers and ranchers can learn directly from people putting these ideas into practice. The resources are there. And while no system removes all risk, many producers who incorporate regenerative principles report something important: less dependence on outside inputs and greater confidence in their operation's ability to weather challenges. What does that mean in practical terms? Greater operational resilience. The ability to withstand drought a little better. The ability to absorb market shocks a little easier. The ability to rely more on the strength of the land itself and less on factors beyond the farm gate. The Need for Collective Dialogue Whether you agree or disagree with regenerative agriculture, one thing became clear from this conversation: Agriculture needs more discussions like this. Open-minded conversations about the challenges we face. Honest conversations about what's working, what isn't, and what possibilities exist moving forward. Because the future of agriculture won't be shaped by one person, one practice, or one idea. It will be shaped by farmers, ranchers, researchers, land managers, and communities working together to find solutions that make sense for their land, their families, and their future. So we'll leave you with the same question we started with: What do you think is the biggest problem facing agriculture today? And can regenerative agriculture be part of the solution? Get involved with us by subscribing to our email list, and let’s keep this important discussion going! __________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts, and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3. Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

A Conversation with Fred Provenza About Family Farms and Rural Communities The ranch country near Salida, Colorado, where Fred Provenza first learned lessons about land, livestock, and the communities that depend on them. Photo by Joe Dickie By Buz Kloot A few weeks ago, I sent out an email titled What Wendell Berry Taught Me About the Family Farm. Shortly afterward, my friend, behavioral ecologist Fred Provenza wrote to say how much he appreciated it. That email sparked a new conversation between us. Fred reminded me of an article he had shared earlier this year titled Town and Country: Linking Agriculture and the Nonfarm Rural Economies. In February, I had the opportunity to sit down with Fred and record a conversation about the changes he has witnessed during his lifetime in agriculture. As I revisited that discussion and reread the article, I began to see why it had resonated so strongly with him. The article challenged one of the most deeply held assumptions in American agriculture. For generations, we have assumed that healthy farms create healthy rural communities. The authors suggest that, increasingly, the opposite may be true. Today, many farms depend on healthy rural economies to survive. That observation caught Fred's attention. He described a pattern that researchers call the "barbell effect." The largest farms continue to grow larger. At the same time, the number of very small farms continues to increase. Meanwhile, many of the mid-sized farms and ranches that once formed the backbone of rural communities are disappearing. "I worked on one of those ranches," Fred told me. As he reflected on the ranch where he spent so many years, he found himself thinking about how difficult it has become for young people to enter agriculture. Previous generations often had opportunities to build operations on land acquired through homesteading or inherited through family. Today, high land values and capital requirements create barriers that would have been unimaginable a century ago. What struck Fred most was not simply the economics. It was what happens to communities when the middle disappears. The Hollowing Out of the Middle The article traces a dramatic shift in American agriculture. Since the mid-1900s, farms have become fewer and larger. At the same time, the number of very small farms has increased. The result is a hollowing out of the middle—a landscape dominated by a relatively small number of very large operations and a growing number of very small ones. It was this disappearance of the middle that caught Fred's attention. More Than a Story About Efficiency For many people, this may sound like a story about efficiency. Fred sees something more. He sees a story about communities. Researchers have long debated what is known as the Goldschmidt Hypothesis—the idea that communities supported by modest-sized family farms tend to enjoy stronger economic, social, and civic life than communities dominated by large-scale industrialized agriculture. While the evidence is mixed, there is little doubt that farms and ranches once played a central role in sustaining rural communities. Fred remembers those communities. He also remembers a time when many producers had more control over their own economic destiny. From Price Makers to Price Takers Fred remembers a time when farmers and ranchers were often what one South African producer called "price makers, not price takers." As industries consolidated and supply chains centralized, many producers found themselves with less influence over the prices they received and fewer options available to them. Why Healthy Farms Need Healthy Communities Perhaps the most surprising finding in the article involves off-farm income. Today, the average farm household receives roughly four out of every five dollars of household income from off-farm sources. For many small and intermediate-sized farms, off-farm employment is not supplemental income—it is what allows the farm to continue operating. That reality has profound implications. If farm families depend on off-farm employment, then the health of the local economy becomes essential to the health of the farm. The authors put it plainly: a viable farm increasingly requires a financially stable household, and a financially stable household often depends on a strong local economy beyond agriculture. In other words, healthy farms now depend on healthy communities. Broadening the Conversation As Fred and I discussed these ideas, I found myself thinking about conversations I've had with farmers and ranchers across the country. Many are working harder than ever. Many are producing more than ever. Yet many feel trapped between rising costs, volatile markets, and shrinking margins. The answer is not simple. But Fred believes we need to broaden the conversation. For decades, agriculture has focused heavily on production and yield. Those things matter. But so do the health of rural communities, the vitality of local businesses, opportunities for young people, and the resilience of the landscapes that support agriculture. Toward the end of our conversation, Fred shifted from economics to ecology. He reminded me that livestock can be more than a means of producing meat. Properly managed, they can help build healthy landscapes, increase biodiversity, improve water cycles, and support both wildlife and people. That observation points toward a hopeful future. If the challenges facing agriculture are economic, social, and ecological, then the solutions must be as well. The future of family farms may depend not only on what happens within the fence line, but also on the strength of the communities beyond it. That may be the most important lesson Fred took from the article. And it may be one of the most important conversations agriculture needs to have today. __________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts, and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3. Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

By Buz Kloot Over the past season, I stumbled onto an observation that, by the book, shouldn't have happened. This is a farm where growers have been consistently using cover crops for well over a decade, and where I've been working alongside them for the past 5 to 7 years. In recent seasons, we had reduced the number of soil samples we were pulling, but this year we decided to widen the net again. What we found got my attention. Using the Mehlich-1 extraction, several soil samples returned phosphorus levels of 3, 7, and 8 lb/ac. In most circles, that's not just low—it's alarmingly low. Those are the kinds of numbers that would send many crop consultants running to the fertilizer recommendations, saying, "Back up the truck." Seeing those numbers caused more than a few sleepless nights on my end as well. At the time, however, phosphorus wasn't even the nutrient we were investigating. We were primarily looking at nitrogen management. As part of that work, we pulled plant tissue samples on May 1st. That's when the story took an unexpected turn. The Plant Told a Different Story The plant tissue phosphorus levels ranged from 0.35% to 0.60%. According to commonly cited nutrient sufficiency guidelines for corn, approximately 0.30% phosphorus is considered the critical level (> 4 inches in height to tasseling) associated with optimum yield potential. These tissue values were not deficient. Most were comfortably above the critical threshold. The crop itself seemed to agree. The last time I visited the farm, the corn looked good. More importantly, the farmer thought it looked good. We had finally received some much-needed rain after an earlier dry spell, and there were no obvious signs of phosphorus deficiency. What puzzled me most was not the soil test. Soil tests can surprise us. What puzzled me was the absence of the symptoms I expected to see. There were no purple leaves. There were no obvious signs of phosphorus stress. The tissue tests suggested the plants were finding phosphorus somewhere. And that left me with a question. If the soil test says, "There's almost nothing here," but the plant says, "I'm doing just fine," which one should we believe? A Puzzle, Not a Conclusion Before anyone gets excited—or upset—let me be clear. This is not a victory dance. The combines have not yet rolled through these fields. We do not have yield data. We do not know whether these plants will ultimately produce yields that match their apparent nutritional status. We have a single season, a handful of samples, and an observation that raises more questions than answers. At this point, this is anecdotal evidence. But it is also an observation that I find difficult to ignore. Are We Measuring the Entire Phosphorus Story? I'm not dismissing soil testing. Soil tests have been calibrated over decades and remain one of the best decision-making tools available to farmers. But soil tests are indices. They estimate a portion of the phosphorus pool and the probability that a crop will respond to additional fertilizer. They do not directly measure every form of phosphorus present in the soil. So, what might explain what we're seeing? One possibility is that some phosphorus exists in forms that are not easily extracted by Mehlich-1 yet still become available to plants over the course of a growing season. Another possibility is that phosphorus associated with mineral surfaces or held within the soil matrix contributes more to plant nutrition than we sometimes assume. And biology may be part of the story as well. Mycorrhizal fungi are known to extend the effective reach of plant roots and improve phosphorus acquisition, particularly in soils testing low in available phosphorus. Long-term cover cropping may also influence biological activity and nutrient cycling in ways we do not fully capture with conventional testing. None of those ideas are new. What may be new is seeing them expressed so dramatically in a field situation. Why This Matters This question may be particularly timely. In 2022, farmers experienced firsthand how quickly fertilizer markets could be disrupted. Nitrogen prices surged, supplies tightened, and many growers were forced to rethink nutrient management strategies. More recently, renewed concerns about fertilizer availability have reminded us that nutrient inputs are not always guaranteed. If crops can, under certain conditions, access nutrients that standard soil tests do not fully account for, then understanding those mechanisms becomes more than an academic exercise. It becomes an economic question. It becomes a resilience question. And it becomes a question worth investigating carefully. What Happens Next? For now, I'm left with curiosity rather than conclusions. The next step is simple: continue observing, continue testing, and continue asking questions. We'll watch the yield monitor. We'll compare results. And perhaps we'll design some simple on-farm trials to better understand what's happening. Until then, I remain fascinated by a field that, according to the soil test, should have been starving for phosphorus—but apparently wasn't. If you've seen something similar or have a different explanation, I'd genuinely like to hear from you. After all, agriculture advances not only through research stations and laboratories, but also through careful observation and the willingness to ask questions when the field doesn't behave as we expect. __________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts, and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3. Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

We get together with ranchers Drew Anderson (Lemmon, SD), Bart Carmichael (faith, SD) and Harold and Jodie Gaugler (Grant Co., ND, also ranching near Thunder Hawk SD.) to discuss their experiences with bale grazing. Drought Management Resources As South Dakota faces the challenges of drought in 2025, Growing Resilience is here to support ranchers and producers with valuable resources to manage and mitigate its impact. This page serves as a comprehensive hub for drought management information, offering videos, podcasts, PDFs, and blog posts designed to provide practical insights and solutions. Additionally, we are proud to partner with the South Dakota Drought Plan , a vital resource for preparing for and responding to drought conditions across the state. We encourage you to explore their site for more in-depth information on drought strategies, mitigation, and support available to you. With help from the USDA-NRCS , together we can build resilience for the future. Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied All VIDEOS Drought Management Podcasts All PODCASTS Drought Management Blog Posts When the Rain Doesn’t Come: A Practical Drought Playbook for Farmers and Ranchers 2 days ago 5 min read When Cattle Bring the Desert Back: Alejandro Carrillo’s Regenerative Ranching Story Jan 7 2 min read Drought Tolerance, Diversity, and Déjà Vu: What Dakota Lakes Is Teaching the World Dec 19, 2025 2 min read Ray Archuleta on Bare Soil, Fungicides, and Rethinking Soil Health Sep 2, 2025 5 min read Mastering Drought: The Sustainable Secrets of a South Dakota Rancher May 7, 2024 5 min read Rancher Prepares Drought Plan to Save Grass, Soil and Cows Apr 6, 2022 2 min read ALL BLOG POSTS Drought Management Resources DROUGHT 2025 - ADVICE AND TOOLS Click here to download! DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN Q&A Click here to download! DROUGHT MANAGEMENT FACT SHEET Click here to download! DROUGHT TOOL Click here to download! DROUGHT TOOL INSTRUCTIONS Click here to download! DROUGHT MONITORING MAP Click here to view! ALL RESOURCES Drought Management Shorts ALL SHORTS

Labor and equipment needs, economics, calving, grazing practices, grassland diversity, soil health, livestock, lifestyle––virtually everything can change for the better when you evolve to year round grazing. Year Round Grazing Videos South Dakota ranchers Pat Guptill and Bart Carmichael, pioneers of year round grazing, share their journeys into the practice along with the top obstacles and insights gleaned along the way. These valuable resources were created in partnership with the USDA-NRCS. Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied All VIDEOS Year Round Grazing Blog Posts Year-Round Grazing in South Dakota: Lessons from Pat Guptill & Bart Carmichael Can you really graze cattle year-round? South Dakota ranchers Pat Guptill and Bart Carmichael say yes — not through miracle, but through mindset. By calving on grass, managing for plant diversity, and timing their moves with nature, they’ve cut feed costs, restored their soils, and rediscovered joy in ranching. Watch the Year-Round Grazing video . Buz Kloot, Ph.D. The Range According to Bart At Wedge Tent Ranch near Faith, SD, Bart Carmichael shows how adaptive grazing, humor, and humility can turn harsh prairie country into a thriving, resilient landscape. kloot1 Fire, Grazing, and the Long Patience of Grassland Restoration Pete Bauman In the Field In July's Our Amazing Grasslands video , courtesy of SD Grassland Coalition, we marveled at the hidden value in so-called weeds — goldenrod testing out as rich as alfalfa, prairie clovers, and milkweeds that feed both cattle and monarchs. That story, framed by Joe Dickie's steady lens, left us thinking of diversity not as decoration but as sustenance. This August's Our Amazing Grasslands video features SDSU's Pete Bauman walking us onto different Buz Kloot, Ph.D. All BLOG POSTS Year Round Grazing Resources YEAR ROUND GRAZING FACT SHEET Click here to download! ALL RESOURCES Year Round Grazing Shorts ALL SHORTS

Eastern red cedar trees have invaded as much as 30 percent of the grassland along the Missouri River in southern South Dakota, and are slowly invading grasslands to the north. This is not unique to the Missouri and we are seeing similar encroachment in other river valleys in South Dakota, including the James River. Eastern red cedar trees have invaded as much as 30 percent of the grassland along the Missouri River in southern South Dakota, and are slowly invading grasslands to the north. This is not unique to the Missouri and we are seeing similar encroachment in other river valleys in South Dakota, including the James River. Fire is an ecological process and recognized control method, but many ranchers are hesitant to use it because of the fear of a runaway fire. As a result, the conversion of grassland to forest is equal in scale to the loss of grassland to row cropping. In this these videos, we visit with Rod Voss (NRCS), Sean Kelly (SDSU) and Ranchers Rich Grim (Gregory Co., SD) and Doug Feltman (Brule Co., SD) to talk about the eastern red cedar and the use of fire to restore rangeland. In this video we summarize the spread of the tree in the last 40-50 years and what it has cost us in terms of grazing, we talk about the role of fire in natural prairie systems, fear versus respect of fire, creating a burn plan, the Mid Missouri River prescribed Burn Association (MMRPBA) - the only one of its kind in South Dakota, and its role in helping producers prepare and execute burn plan, how to prepare the land for a fire including mechanical treatments, ensuring a good fuel load, in small situations where trees are small or large. Finally, we discuss fire return interval as it relates to the eastern red cedar and why it is important to begin addressing this problem now. Thank you to the USDA-NRCS for helping us share these stories on prescribed burning. Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Now Playing 09:57 Play Video Now Playing 02:54 Play Video Now Playing 02:10 Play Video Now Playing 02:29 Play Video All VIDEOS Prescribed Burn Podcasts All PODCASTS Prescribed Burn Blog Posts Fire, Grazing, and the Long Patience of Grassland Restoration Pete Bauman In the Field In July's Our Amazing Grasslands video , courtesy of SD Grassland Coalition, we marveled at the hidden value in so-called weeds — goldenrod testing out as rich as alfalfa, prairie clovers, and milkweeds that feed both cattle and monarchs. That story, framed by Joe Dickie's steady lens, left us thinking of diversity not as decoration but as sustenance. This August's Our Amazing Grasslands video features SDSU's Pete Bauman walking us onto different Buz Kloot, Ph.D. Resilience Rodeo - Doug Feltman- Controlling Missouri River’s “Green Glacier” with Prescribed Fire For this week’s “Resilience Rodeo”, rancher Doug Feltman tells us the importance of controlling Missouri River’s ever-expanding “Green Glacier” through the use of prescribed fire. About 7 miles southwest of Chaimberlain, SD, Doug Feltman lives on the land he grew up on alongside the Missouri river. He’s seen a lot of changes occur over the years, but none as threatening as the “Green Glacier”; the encroachment of the Eastern Red Cedar up the river and into the prairie. “It ju mtsausen Prescribed burn saves pastures from red cedar takeover Woody encroachment of trees can be managed to save cattle stocking rates and water loss. Rod Voss, NRCS Rangeland Management Specialist in Mitchell, South Dakota, discusses the importance of using prescribed burns to control red cedars in pastures—before they turn valuable grazing land into a forest. Listen to his podcast interview with Robin “Buz” Kloot on Growing Resilience podcasts . “South Dakota is on the front edge of a slow-moving tree glacier that, left unchecked, c mtsausen ALL BLOG POSTS Prescribed Burn Resources PRESCRIBED BURN FACTS Click here to download! PRESCRIBED BURN Q&A Click here to download! ALL RESOURCES Prescribed Burn Photos The MMRPBA is currently the only burn association in South Dakota. Click here to learn more about the association. 1/12 Prescribed Burn Shorts ALL SHORTS Prescribed Burn Videos