By Briggs Oldham
This summer, three North Carolina State University students participated in Nature For Justice’s pilot internship – Regenerative Farming with BIPOC Farmers. For ten weeks, they learned about how climate-smart, regenerative, and sustainable practices manifest on livestock and produce farms. Through tailored workshops, farm and market tours, and interactions with agricultural specialists, these students gained insight into a perspective not often seen in academia – one of a Black farmer. The following blog is a one-on-one interview with an intern, Briggs Oldham, and his Farmer Instructor, Beverly Blackwell Bowen, about her journey through sustainable and economical farming.
I had the gracious opportunity to come onto Beverly Bowens farm and not only ask questions but to aid with on-farm practices. At the end of my experience, I had a few remaining questions, so I emailed Miss Beverly and received some direct quotes from her. These questions compare the environmental and economic benefits of climate-smart farming emphasized in Nature For Justice’s mission and practices on farms worldwide. Everything in quotations is a direct quote and her true beliefs about her farm.
Q: When getting into the economics of the farm, what is the first step you take?
A: “The first step in understanding the economics of farming would be to conduct a comprehensive financial analysis. You would assess your current financial status by reviewing financial statements and cash flow statements. Conduct a farm inventory to record all assets including livestock, equipment, crops, land, and buildings. Also, other analysis would include conducting a risk assessment, market analysis, production cost analysis and detailed budget plan for future expenses and investments.”
Q: How do you value environmental benefits when applying certain practices on the farm?
A: “Valuing environmental benefits and making decisions on farm practices involves several considerations and methodologies. Our farming approach revolves around climate-smart and regenerative agricultural practices. This includes a focus on improving soil health, carbon sequestration, reducing greenhouse gasses through good agricultural practices and enrollment in USDA Conservation Programs. As an innovative and proactive farmer you constantly evaluate the environmental impacts and benefits of farm agricultural practices throughout their entire lifecycle. This can help you to understand the long-term benefits that may not be immediately visible.”
Q: How do you make decisions on farm practices with the chance of risk in everything you do?
A: “Farming is about being resilient and understanding the uncertainty about the outcome! As a farmer, you have to identify and evaluate the potential risks associated with crops and livestock. This includes considering weather variability, pest management, market fluctuations, inflation, and input cost. Diversity [in commodities] is detrimental when it comes to farming to reduce the dependence on a single income source.”
Q: If given the opportunity, what would you say has been your biggest economic “win” with climate-smart or regenerative farming practices in comparison to the “old way” practices?
A: “There have been significant economic “wins” with the introduction of climate-smart and regenerative agricultural practices. With the implementation of cover cropping, limited to no-till, and managed grazing farming efficiency and profitability have improved.
Proven benefits of regenerative farming practices include the following:
• Enhanced soil fertility and structure lead to higher yields and reduced need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
• Improved soil organic matter has increased water retention and protects crops during drought conditions.
• Provides greater biodiversity with increased resilience against pests and diseases and reduces dependency on chemical interventions.
In comparison to traditional practices, these benefits demonstrate that climate-smart and regenerative practices have contributed to environmental sustainability and viability of Blackwell’s Farm -creating a win-win scenario for the farm.”
With these four questions answered you get a better understanding of what the thought process is for the climate-smart farmer. Granted Miss Beverly is very on top of the new and changing world of agriculture. On top of that, not all farms or farmers are the same so no two plans are alike. As Miss Beverly so eloquently put it, always have a plan and make sure that plan works for you and is cost-effective. I would like to express my gratitude to Miss Beverly for answering my questions and taking the time to allow me onto her farm.
