Podcast Summary
Regenerative agriculture in turkey production: The Disto Family Ranch became the first turkey producer in the US to achieve Regenified certification, signifying a shift towards regenerative agriculture in the poultry industry.
Heidi Disto and the Disto Family Ranch in California have made history by becoming the first turkey producer in the United States to achieve Regenified certification. This certification, recognized by the USDA, signifies a significant shift in the way farming practices are viewed, focusing on regenerative agriculture. The Disto Family Ranch is a fourth-generation operation that has been in business since 1949, raising natural and certified organic products. Their vertical integration includes raising the birds, milling their feed, processing, and direct marketing to consumers. Achieving Regenified certification is a source of pride for the team and sets the stage for other poultry producers to follow suit. The certification reinforces the family's commitment to natural farming practices and contributes to the broader movement towards regenerative agriculture.
Sustainable Agriculture Practices: The ranch prioritizes soil health, ground cover, and sustainable feed sourcing to promote regenerative agriculture and improve the environment
The ranch prioritizes sustainable agriculture practices not just for the health and taste of their turkey products, but also for the betterment of the earth. This starts with soil health and structure, which is achieved through practices like outdoor access for birds, rotational grazing with ruminants, and maintaining ground cover throughout the growing cycle. Additionally, the ranch is focused on the origin of their feed, specifically the corn and soy used in poultry production. They aim to influence farmers in the Midwest to grow certified or genetically modified-free crops, providing an opportunity to double their positive impact on the environment. Soil health, ground cover, and sustainable feed sourcing are key elements of the ranch's commitment to regenerative agriculture.
Soil health for poultry farmers: Soil health is crucial for poultry farmers and future agriculture, nutrient density is diminishing, sustainable practices are essential, and we must support better land stewardship to avoid a dust bowl scenario.
Prioritizing soil health is crucial for poultry farmers across the country and for the future of agriculture as a whole. Soil health is often overlooked in the modern farming system, which focuses on high yields and volume over values. However, the value of leaving the land in good condition for future generations is essential. The nutrient density of our food is diminishing at an alarming rate, and agriculture has the power to shift towards sustainable practices. The need for better land stewardship is increasingly important as the number of farmers with the knowledge and dedication to farm sustainably is dwindling. We must address this issue and produce food that is not only higher in nutrient density but also considers the health of the soil for future generations. To learn more about Distal Family Ranch and their commitment to soil health, visit their website. Let us all do our part to support a healthier environment and avoid a dust bowl scenario.
Regenerative Agriculture: Understand the importance of knowing where your food comes from and the principles of regenerative agriculture to build a deeper connection to the land and the people who grow our food.
Learning from this discussion with Heidi Disto from Disto Family Ranch is the importance of knowing where your food comes from and understanding the principles of regenerative agriculture. By considering the farmer behind your food, whether it's produce, fruit, or meat, we can build a deeper connection to the land and the people who grow our food. Heidi encourages us to explore the Regenified certified website to learn more about regenerative agriculture and its principles. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and you can follow along with Disto Family Ranch's journey on Instagram or their website, distalfamilyranch.com. Overall, the message is to value the people and practices behind our food and embrace the regenerative agriculture movement.