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
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