Soil for Water

Research approach

This systems research project includes:

• Knowledge systems research. For example: Where are producers getting their information, and what sources do they trust? Which soil tests are most informative and cost-effective for landowners who want to establish a baseline and measure their progress? What pasture and rangeland monitoring methods generate the most useful information?
• Social science research. For example: What sort of peer pressure do early adopters face, and how can we reduce it? What land stewardship attitudes motivate landowners to regenerate damaged and depleted land? Why do so few graziers monitor their land, and how can we make this easier and more attractive? How can we accommodate legitimate needs for privacy and confidentiality while encouraging a free exchange of ideas and experiences?
• Economic research. For example: Is the regenerative grazing model financially feasible and profitable? What up-front investments are needed to implement a regenerative grazing system, and what is the rate of return? Are regenerative grazing systems affordable for small farms, or those with limited resources? What is the consumer demand for sustainably-produced meat products in these states, and how can producers tap into these markets?
• Farming systems research. For example: Why have controlled studies so often failed to validate the claims of regenerative grazing proponents? What methods work well in dry climates, and which ones work better in wet climates? Does soil moisture reliably increase with frequent short-duration grazing periods?

Why we focus on water

Healthy soil carries out many other functions besides regulating water cycling, but we return persistently to the topic of water. The Soil for Water Project began during the Texas drought of 2010-14 to spread the positive message that livestock can (when properly managed) be a powerful tool for improving soil health and increasing infiltration rates and water-holding capacity. An acre of healthy soil holds tens or hundreds of thousands of gallons of water in each foot of soil depth. From a landowner’s perspective, there are multiple benefits to catching and holding more water in soil.

 A state-by-state approach

In our project, each state has its own semi-autonomous working group that's focused on how to improve support services and increase rates of adoption. In each state, a coordinator leads group meetings and serves as a resource person for anyone who wants to try on-farm research or begin measuring changes in their soil health and vegetation. The coordinators are familiar with a wide range of monitoring tools and methods and work closely with Cooperative Extension, NRCS, Land Grant schools, grazing groups, and other farmer membership organizations in their state.

 Our team

Our project team includes agronomic, ecological, economic, and sociological expertise. We have two sociologists, two soil scientists, a philosopher, a veterinarian, a rangeland ecologist, and eight experienced grazing researchers on our team. All team members were chosen because of their openness to new ideas, their curiosity about regenerative grazing, their interest in working on an interdisciplinary team, their dissatisfaction with the status quo, and their desire to take a fresh approach. Farmers participate as equals, and all team members are expected to be innovators.

 Methodology and cooperating partners for each objective

Objective 1: Identify practical and regionally-appropriate ways of improving soil health and catching more water in soil.

• Conduct on-farm research on the impact of grazing methods on soil health in all four states (Dr. Lemus, VABF, cooperating farmers).
• Conduct controlled studies on the impact of grazing height on soil gravimetric/volumetric water content over time. Researchers will use a 12-acre novel endophyte tall fescue area. Each experimental unit will be approximately 0.15 acres in size and grazed by sheep during variable-length grazing cycles and defoliation treatments, with ongoing measurements of seasonal water use efficiency, soil water, and soil health (Dr. Philipp and Dr. Coffey).
• Demonstrate the effects of best management practices on cooperating farms, including soil water content and soil quality (Dr. Philipp and Dr. Coffey).
• Offer pasture walks and field days (Dr. Lemus, Dr. Wells, cooperating farmers).
• Annual rangeland monitoring and research at 20 Texas ranches that are conducting on-farm trials, summarizing the results in an annual report for the landowner (NCAT Texas office).
• Soil sampling and testing at a minimum of 20 participating farms or ranches (about five in each state). Analyze soil samples and monitoring data, and assist with preparing landowner reports (NCAT).
• Study the use of drones for rangeland monitoring (Dr. Lemus).

Objective 2: Launch a new multi-state network of landowners who are conducting on-farm trials.

• Recruit at least 120 new participants in the Soil for Water peer-to-peer learning network, include at least 12 African American, 12 Hispanic, and 12 veteran participants (all partners).
• Offer workshops, webinars, and other trainings on use of the LandPKS phone app for land monitoring. At least eight trainings will take place, reaching at least 240 people (NCAT staff in all four offices).
• Reach out to existing grazing networks (such as the Grassroots Grazing Group in Arkansas), inviting their members to help us evaluate the LandPKS monitoring app. At least 15 farms in each state will test the app and give us feedback, a total of at least 60 producers who will learn about land monitoring through this experience (NCAT staff in all four offices).
• Evaluate quality of life aspects of regenerative grazing, including economic benefit for participants, diverse and intergenerational participation and relationships, regenerative, resilient capacity of chain elements, and relation to health, wealth, and capacity (Virginia Tech, Dr. Jones).

Objective 3: Improve communication and information-sharing among producers and agricultural professionals who are interested in regenerative grazing.

• Create a discussion forum for project participants and other interested persons (NCAT).
• Compare the effectiveness of in-person trainings, live webinars, and one-on-one technical assistance. At least 100 producers in Arkansas and Mississippi will receive one, two, or all three modes of training, and their changes in knowledge, attitude, and intention will be evaluated and compared (Holistic Management International). 
• Offer at least 16 workshops, webinars, or other educational events per year: four per year in each of our four target states. At least 480 producers from the Southern SARE region will attend these events and be invited to join the Soil for Water network (NCAT staff, Dr. Lemus).
• Give workshops at the Texas Hispanic Farmer & Rancher Conference in 2022-2023 (NCAT Southwest office).
• Offer three intensive, two-day workshops on regenerative grazing, including both classroom and field experiences (Dr. Allen Williams).
• Hold quarterly meetings of project partners in each state that focus on improving technical assistance and removing barriers to adoption. Partners have been chosen to represent widely differing backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs about regenerative grazing (all partners).
• Create 10 professional-quality videos focused on land stewardship and stories from producers who have adopted regenerative methods (Virginia Tech, VABF).
• Create multi-media stories, profiles, and success stories for posting on NCAT’s Atlas of Regenerative Farms & Ranches (all partners).
• Hold four storytelling events in Virginia, to catalyze community capacity and cultural understanding of experiences and realities of food and farming system stakeholders (Virginia Tech).
• Encourage cross-pollination of ideas through the Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation (Virginia Tech).
• Strongly promote existing relevant resources and services of NCAT’s ATTRA information service in all four target states. (NCAT staff in all four offices)
• Present project findings at professional meetings (Dr. Lemus).