Tuesday Dec 10, 2024
Ep 6 - Jerel Kratt: Headwinds for Regenerative Ag in California
In this episode I talk with independent agronomist Jerel Kratt who works in the southern Central Valley of California. He unpacks why many have become skeptical of regenerative agriculture in California:
🌪️ Visible failures in early implementations of regen practices
📉 Market realities, from the almond market collapse to the lack of a premium for regenerative crops
⚖️ Political and regulatory pressures, especially California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
These challenges have made “regenerative” a loaded term among producers and processors, and have ramped up economic pressures for producers that disincentivizes transition.
But Jerel also shares his optimism. He discusses his hybrid approach—offering a path forward that is able to drastically reduce chemical inputs and create measurable economic benefits. It’s rooted in a clear-eyed view of soil health and plant nutrition, using all the agronomic tools he has available.
Jerel offers a grounded, practical, and thought-provoking conversation from the perspective of an independent agronomist advising producers in the dry southern San Joaquin Valley.
Chapters
00:14 Introduction to Regenerative Agriculture Consulting
02:40 Challenges in Consulting and Adoption of Practices
05:01 Context-Specific Approaches to Regenerative Practices
06:35 The Role of Biologicals and Biostimulants
11:41 Independent Agronomy: A Growing Trend
12:16 Economic Outcomes of Regenerative Practices
12:35 Finding Independent Agronomists
14:49 Economics and Market Dynamics in California
18:25 Water, SOM, SOC
21:09 SGMA and Regulatory Tensions
27:23 The Perception of Regenerative Agriculture in California
31:17 Selling Regenerative Solutions in a Tough Market
34:20 Personal Journey Towards Regenerative Agriculture
40:34 A Call for Collaboration in Agriculture
Comments (0)
To leave or reply to comments, please download free Podbean or
No Comments
To leave or reply to comments,
please download free Podbean App.