From Dry Spells to Downpours:
Navigating Planting Season Across Regions
(An excerpt from ‘The Dirt”: SCI’s Monthly Farmer Newsletter)
Planting season is in full swing and surely life on the farm is B-U-S-Y. Equipment is rolling and everyone is experiencing their own version of Mother Nature.
Out west in Kansas and Colorado it's dry. Down here in the south it’s also pretty dry although some of us got a good rain last week. Up in Wisconsin, it's been raining and too wet in places.
So much of farming is learning to work with what you’re given -- trying to get planting done before a big weather event, or before you lose moisture in the soil. Praying for rain, then praying for a break in rain.
As always, our team is sending you good luck and godspeed this season.
🌾 Taylor Herren, SCI Farm Program Director
P.S. Our next Office Hour is April 30 at 4pm ET. This month, we’ll be talking about integrating cattle into regenerative management systems.
Seth Watkins will talk about how his operation has evolved from cattle/crop to being cow-centric. He will share how he's managed cattle differently over time. We'll also discuss the current state of the cattle market and Seth's thoughts for those considering getting into cattle at a time when prices are super high. You don’t want to miss this one! Please reach out to us to receive the meeting link.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
✨ Welcome Ginger Leib!
SCI Coordination Manager
Ginger has joined the SCI Farm Program to support scheduling and coordination. If you receive an email or text from Ginger know she’s reaching out on behalf of the program and that she’s eager to help.
📞 Farm Planning Information
If you haven't spoken with Brian within the last six months, please set up a time. The goal is to connect with you at least once a year to get an update on your farm management information and track your progress for potential market opportunities down the road. You don't need to do forms or paperwork, just share the info on a call with Brian and he can do the rest.
✅ NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program
During last month's Office Hour, Keith Scoggins, RPP Coordinator for NRCS Arkansas, joined us to discuss how to access NRCS funding this year through the Regenerative Pilot Program and receive support with technical implementation.
To receive this recording, or if you have any questions, reach out to Taylor.Next deadline to apply will be this fall.
EVENTS
Regenerative Revival: A Soil-to-Soul Celebration of Food, Movement, Music, and Community
May 2 | Salado, TX
Join Soil Regen at Barrow Brewing Company for a celebration of farmers, food, and family.
Regenerative Revival is expanding this year with a clear theme: Soil to Soul, recognizing that healing and regeneration happen at many levels. Healthy soil leads to healthy plants, healthy food, healthy people, and ultimately healthier communities. The event brings together multiple pathways of regeneration, including food, movement, music, land stewardship, and shared experience.
Held alongside the Salado Farmers Market, the day begins at 9:00 AM with grounding yoga, led by Caroline of Proud Heart Yoga, setting the tone for a day focused on restoration, balance, and presence.
Attendees are encouraged to come and go, explore the farmers market, enjoy the brewery grounds, and engage in meaningful conversations around food, soil, and regeneration.
Soil & Climate Alliance Network Meeting
June 16-18 | Allentown, PA (Includes a visit to Rodale Institute!)
We’re thrilled to share that our Soil & Climate Alliance (SCA) will be hosting their annual in-person, on-farm Network Meeting at Rodale Institute this June!
Over three days, we’ll dive into the science and practice of regenerative farming, with hands-on learning and behind-the-scenes access to Rodale’s pioneering research. Expect exceptional farm tours, deep dives into soil health and nutrient-density outcomes, and rich conversations with practitioners, scientists, and supply-chain partners who are shaping the future of the field.
As always, our gathering will offer abundant opportunities for connection, collaboration, and systems-level problem-solving across the entire SCA network. We can’t wait to bring this community together on ground that has inspired decades of agricultural innovation.
⭐ Farmers receive 100% discount on registration with promo code: FARMERS
⭐ SCI Brand Partners receive 50% discount on registration. Please reach out for the promo code.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Physicians Committee Giving Grants to Farmers Who Are Growing Health-Promoting Fruits and Veggies While Phasing Out Animal Agriculture
Launched in November 2024, the Physicians Committee’s Convert to Crops program is modeled on a program established by lawmakers in Vermont who provided grants to farmers who wished to diversify or transition from one type of farming to another.
This quarter’s available grants have already been awarded. But farmers are welcome to apply so that your application will be considered when additional grants become available.
To apply for a Convert to Crops grant, farmers should email the answers to the below questions to Jeanne McVey, jeannem@pcrm.org. Grants range from $5,000.00 to $15,000.00 per farm.
Photo credt: Getty Images