Nature abounds with diversity. It is our job as stewards of the land to mimic natures patterns. Regenerative agriculture by definition is mimicking nature to regenerate the land, our communities and our own lives. It is equally important that we take on a holistic perspective and understand that these systems must be managed as a whole rather than the traditional, linear thought process of managing pieces of the whole individually and expecting all encompassing outcomes.

As a regenerative rancher my goal is to achieve a greater, balanced diversity on the landscape. On the landscape we strive to achieve plant and animal diversity. We achieve plant diversity by managing our grazing system as a whole farm ecosystem. Conventional agriculture achieves exactly the opposite of diversity. It works in a linear process to grow a specific crop or grass and use a machine or animal to harvest that for one end product. You can not achieve a diverse, balanced ecosystem by continuously grazing livestock, continuously plowing the land, applying herbicides to kill unwanted vegetation or fertilizing the soil with microbe killing N-P-K. These practices not only destroy diversity above the soil, but also below. Regenerative, holistic grazing practices increase the health of the landscape by managing the cattle so that they don’t overgraze. When a landscape is allowed to rest for a managed period of time the results are astounding for plant health and overall diversity. At Parker Creek Ranch in the past ten years we have seen a return of forbs and grasses that have not been present on this landscape for at least 30 years and possibly for over a hundred years. For example, we have seen the return of Blue Mistflower in the wooded areas, new recruitment of Elm trees in the forest, and Indian grass on the prairie. The lack of diversity was caused by one thing: poor planning and management that lead to overgrazing. The return of diversity was a direct result of sound planning and holistic livestock management.

Ultimately a diverse vegetative community within the landscape is not only good for the overall ecosystem including insects and wildlife, but also the livestock that we manage upon the landscape. Recent research has shown that a more diverse diet for livestock is healthy for them and us as consumers of these proteins. Not only does a diverse diet for livestock, including grasses, forbs and other browse have health benefits, but it also influences the phytochemical characteristics of the meat, fat and milk that comes from these animals. A animal that is eating a total mixed ration that is high in grains at the feedlot has much less phytochemical diversity than a animal that is grazing on a diverse landscape that has hundreds of plant species. The simple fact of the matter is the biochemical complexity of the meat from animals grazed using holistic practices on a diverse vegetative landscape is much greater than those simply finished in feedlots or monoculture grass fields. Ultimately the biodiversity, health of the ecosystem and our livestock that graze upon those landscapes resides in our own bodies. When we consume healthy plants and proteins our bodies are healthy and the diseases, etc. that we experience in our “modern” society virtually disappear.

There is so much more to the subject of diversity that I could go on writing for hours. I hope this gives you a starting point for further thought and research. For the ranchers reading this I hope it begins a paradigm shift in your mind that weeds and brush are not the enemy. Through thoughtful planning and management we can have a diverse landscape. For the consumers I hope this helps create an understanding that not all foods are the same. In 370 B.C. Hippocrates knew “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Choose your sources wisely.