REGEN AG PODCAST EP64. BEN TAYLOR-DAVIES (UK) AND REGEN POTATOES

The regenerative agriculture podcast, hosted by John Kempf. Episode 64 Ben Taylor-Davies from the west of the UK.

If you can do regen potatoes, then regen sugar beets sounds a walk in the park. Ben Taylor-Davie, a UK farmer and advisor, states in this episode that he is doing it. Better that that, he states that he got help from Brendan Rocky (Center, CO, USofA) who had already worked a system out.

Ben notes that he likes to focus on the Three free elements: energy, water, CO₂. This took them into a discussion on CO₂ cycling and capturing as much energy as possible during the year and pushing as much CO₂ into the soil as possible. Noting that cereal crops are bad at this owing to senescence during summer – the period of must solar energy – Ben could have noted that sugar beets are a crop that follows the seasons better.

One of the chapters of a book Ben is writing (called “More-on”) is titled “It won’t work here”. This is in reference to the commonly stated phrase heard when new ideas are discussed. Ben’s point is that it has (your grandfather), it probably is (your neighbour), and it will (you). Proving the ideas in practice is the key to adoption.

Ben’s regen ag reading list is available on his website. It’s long. You can also put his coming book on your watch-list.

One thing that John mentions in this podcast is KindHarvest. This is a paid community/ new/ education service provided by John’s company. There is a sugar beet section.

Other things discussed: “input costs”, “profitability”, “farming should be fun”, “phases of the moon”.