“You take care of the land, and the land will take care of you.”
That’s how Jared Brackett, a fifth-generation Idaho rancher and Country Natural Beef (CNB) cooperative member, describes the essence of regenerative ranching.
Like many other ranchers and CNB cooperative members, Brackett cares for the land like his family has been doing for generations. They practiced regenerative agriculture before it was a thing.
“It’s care of the ground, the family, continuity. I feel like it’s my turn to continue the ranch,” says Mary Schadler with Shadler Ranch in southeast Oregon. “I appreciate that there’s independence in working for myself and with my family. And while there’s some long days, I can set my days as I want and be able to be there with my family for other things too. There’s definitely a stewardship of the land, and a desire to leave it better than it was given to me to care for.”
Successful regeneration starts with healthy soil. Hooves break up the soil and animal droppings add fertilizer. Root systems add nutrients and keep the soil from eroding from wind or water.
The healthy soil produces lush grass which animals graze. Ranchers have learned the key is to not over-graze and to rotate animals off pastures so the grass regenerates. As it grows carbon is captured and sequestered in the plants and soil as carbon dioxide, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. When the grass grows enough, ranchers rotate animals again and the process starts over.
One challenge, especially in the arid West, is grass needs water, and water can be hard to come by. But when the soil has a good root structure, it’s able to hold water and use it sparingly until more rain comes.
The members of the Country Natural Beef cooperative raise cows and calves on these regenerative pastures from birth. Ranchers later add grain to the herd’s diet to enhance finishing and add a key flavor profile.
When the CNB cooperative began, the ranchers turned their focus to consumer preferences, tastes, and values. The result was a home run. Shoppers love Country Natural Beef because of the great taste, but also because of the connection to ranching families and the shared values created through the regenerative process used to raise this beef. It hits two key elements meat eaters value: it tastes better and is more tender.
The full-circle system is complete. CNB members like Jared Brackett and Mary Schadler can care for the land, ethically raise cattle, market products at a premium through the cooperative and turn a profit.
“It’s very rewarding to see people demanding our product,” says Brackett. “With Country Natural Beef, the type of product that we’re producing is really quality, and we get recognized for that. They’re voting with their pocketbook, and they’re choosing us.”
The CNB system is a full, holistic cycle where land, animals and people all benefit.