SCA is a strong advocate for regenerative agriculture (regen ag). What is that? It’s an umbrella term referring to an array of agricultural management and production practices that aim to: improve soil; sustain arable farmland; sequester carbon; increase biodiversity; provide healthy forage for farm animals; reduce the use of agricultural chemicals; and promote the growth of high-quality food.

Regen ag can also help increase food security and climate resiliency amid the challenges of climate change. Changing weather patterns and extreme weather events are expected to put many food-growing areas in the U.S. at risk. Improved soils hold water better, in flood and drought. Increasing the amount of food grown locally will help ensure adequate crop growth and food supply. And it will protect against supply chain disruptions, such as those the occurred during the pandemic. Regen ag can also increase the sequestration of carbon in soils.

SCA is in the process of converting its own 150-acre Dickerson farm to regen ag. Until recently, the land was leased to local farmers for conventional commodity crop production (wheat, corn, soybeans). We aim to be a model for the use of regen ag techniques for farmers in the Ag Reserve and the entire county.

We started by leasing 90 acres (one large pasture) to a local farmer experienced in regen ag practices. He has applied for government grants to cover some of the costs of converting to pasture, including extensive planting of biodiverse cover crops. SCA has also received some private foundation grants, which will help with sturdy perimeter fencing and an agricultural well. The project is also enrolled in the “Million Acre Challenge.” Chesapeake Bay Foundation, American Farmland Trust and Future Harvest, founding partners of this initiative, aim to transition one million acres of Maryland farmland to regen ag by 2030.

SCA’s regen ag project is a 10-year effort, with the likelihood that it will continue for decades beyond. The first step, which began in 2020, is to replenish and enrich the soil through the planting of cover crops for several years.

Supporting Regenerative Agriculture