Tribal Producers Lead the Way in Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative agriculture is a phrase that has increased in popularity in recent years. When hearing these words paired together, many people associate practices, mindsets, and standards that restore lands and natural resources. Oftentimes, with an understanding that this production approach has an opportunity to also maximize outputs, mitigate risk, and drive profitability. Far too often, what is missing is the celebration of the people who bring meaning, practice, and commitment to the phrase. At the IAC, we center our definition of regenerative agriculture through a framework that celebrates our producers as the integral connective tissue. It is the producers that bring life to this phrase, and model the time-honored tradition of being in relationship with the land. As newly marketed regenerative agriculture techniques make waves across the industry, I celebrate that it is this land's traditional ecological knowledge keepers who bring the vibrant light of regenerative agriculture forward from Indian Country.

Our Tribal Producers, since time immemorial, continue to prove that TEK expressed in modern regenerative agricultural practices can help to restore land, strengthen our crops, strengthen our animals and help build a more resilient future for us all. The Intertribal Agriculture Council has had the opportunity to work with many producers in this regard, so many in fact that this blog would become a book if I listed them all. So for the sake of time I’d like to highlight two.

Rose Ranch - Thad Rose

Situated near the Moreau River Valley, nestled on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation, you will find the Rose Ranch, owned and operated by Thad Rose since 2018. His cow-calf operation grazes nearly 3000 acres of native grass pasture, which early on in its operation faced significant challenges in the Western South Dakota climate. From the beginning of him taking the reins of the operation, Thad knew that he would need to use adaptive management in a low-intensity grazing system, in order to support the health of the land and his herd. One of the first practices Thad implemented was a system of bale grazing, which involved strategically placing bales in specific locations across pastures during the winter months. The goal of this practice was to return organic matter to the land to enhance soil fertility, while feeding his cows during the winter. 

“We are seeing more soil organic matter and better soil moisture where bale grazing has been practiced.” Thad Rose

A participant in a three year project led by the Environmental Defense Fund and the Intertribal Agriculture Council, Rose Ranch has created a system that is producing strong cattle weight gain, ensuring plant species are not overgrazed and providing vegetation that supports wildlife habitat. All of this is helping prove that with investment in people in their production that focuses on regenerative agriculture practices, producers from any background can help have successful operations that benefit both their bank accounts and the land with which they are entrusted to steward.

The Intertribal Agriculture Council has relished our work with Thad and the Rose Ranch and highlights of their success can be found on our website here.

TP Ranch - April Martin

On the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana the TP Ranch is situated on 580 acres of native grass pasture. After pursuing a career off reservation, April Martin has returned to revitalize her family’s land where she grew up. TP outfit includes 80 acres of land leased from the Bureau of Indian Affairs where April runs a 70-head cow-calf herd where she is committed to the regenerative agricultural practices she knows can restore health both to the land in which she is entrusted and to her long-term financial stability.

“Regenerative Agriculture, to me, is about caring for the land in a way that brings it back to health while respecting the traditions and knowledge passed down through my family.” April Martin

By connecting with the Intertribal Agriculture Council, April gained valuable insights in a broad array of best practices that include everything from soil testing to financial planning. Armed with these new resources, April has been able to strengthen her production, not only improving her bottom line, but also allowing for her to strengthen food sovereignty by partnering with local schools to supply locally raised beef for their meal programs. 

We at the Intertribal Agriculture Council are grateful for the opportunity to help April in her journey and will continue to walk beside her as she goes.

We at the Intertribal Agriculture Council are grateful for the opportunity to help April in her journey and will continue to walk beside her as she goes.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

If you believe in the power of regenerative agriculture and want to learn more about what the Intertribal Agriculture Council please visit our website www.indianag.org, follow our work across all social media platforms, and consider supporting work through a tax free donation. For more information on ways to give please click this link or reach out to me directly, wayne@indianag.org.