Back to our Roots

Spreading Manure and Growing Solutions

Sure, I could fill your inbox with a soapbox rant about how the USDA is bulldozing programs that help small farms connect to schools and food banks. Or I could get fired up about them increasing slaughterhouse line speeds while reducing worker safety data collection. I've got a manure spreader's worth of agricultural grievances these days—and they're probably just as pungent as what comes out the back end of our cattle. 🐄

But instead of fighting against what's broken, I've got my hands in the soil building something better. While DC suits are signing papers to dismantle food systems, I'm out here planting seeds of resilience. Because when the world feels like it's spinning off its axis, there's something mighty grounding about getting back to the roots—quite literally.

Take a look at what nature's been hiding underground all along... the Chuck Norris of the plant world! 🌱

Check out the difference in size and length of these two root structures! Prairie grass roots can grow 10-15 feet deep, creating a dense, resilient network that prevents erosion. In contrast, most agricultural crop roots only reach 1-3 feet, making them less effective at holding soil and retaining nutrients.

That measly little root system on the right is what modern agriculture calls "grass." Meanwhile, that absolute beast on the left—stretching down like it's trying to shake hands with Australia—that's what used to grow across America's prairies before we decided shallow roots were somehow better.

Holy smokes! That's enough to get any grass farmer's heart racing faster than a dung beetle to a fresh cow pie! This spring, we're trying something new on our farm—well, actually something very old. We're mixing native Big Bluestem and Indian grass seeds into our compost and spreading it across selected pastures. It's a bit of an experiment for us, and I find myself wandering out to those fields almost daily, searching for the first signs of these prairie powerhouses poking through.

Folks often ask how we manage to farm these steep Ozark slopes without sliding right off. Truth is, it ain't always pretty! But I've found that sometimes the best path forward is actually the path backward. These native grasses weren't our brilliant idea—Andrea and I just figured if they thrived here for thousands of years before anyone came along with a plow, maybe they're exactly what this land is asking for.

Sadly, an estimated 99% of native tallgrass prairie has been lost in North America since European settlement, representing one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet. And what's replaced this incredible resource? America's pastures are now dominated by shallow-rooted grasses that:

• Die at the first hint of drought

• Barely hold soil when it rains

• Need constant fertilizing

• Provide mediocre nutrition for our animals

So what's a stubborn Ozark farmer to do? Go back to what worked for thousands of years before we thought we knew better! It just makes plain sense to bring these native grasses back—here's why:

1. Drought survival: Those 12-foot roots should be able to find water when other plants can't
2. Better soil: Deep roots mean more carbon getting buried where it belongs
3. Less erosion: When it rains hard, we want that water soaking in, not running off
4. Healthier animals: These are the plants our livestock were meant to eat

So as we spread our compost this spring, we're placing a bet on nature's original design. Each seed represents a small step toward rebuilding what once was—a prairie ecosystem that worked perfectly for thousands of years before we came along and "improved" it.

Remember how I started this email? About all those things in agriculture that get me riled up? Well, this is my answer—not just complaining, but getting my hands dirty building something better. While those DC suits are signing papers, we're planting seeds of resilience, one native grass at a time. That's the beauty of farming—we can choose to be part of the solution.

Here's to deep roots and getting back to basics—both in our soil and in our food system!

Your farmer,

Cody