Regenerative agriculture is revolutionising how farmers view the ground beneath their feet.
That’s because it’s not a trend. Regenerative agriculture is a full-blown ecological movement – and planting & seeding equipment farmers use sits right at the centre of it all.
You’ll learn:
- What Regenerative Agriculture Is
- Why Farmers Are Switching to Regenerative Agriculture Practices
- Which Equipment Powers Regenerative Planting
- The Essential Regenerative Planting Equipment You Should Know
- Why Used Farm Equipment Makes Sense for Regenerative Planting
What Is Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture practices are defined by restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and revitalising ecosystems. They’re essentially the opposite of conventional agriculture techniques that tear up the land with intensive tillage and extractive chemical inputs.
Instead…
Regenerative agriculture takes a “what can I give back to the land?” approach to farming.
Cover crops. No-till planting. Rotating crops. Precision grazing. Each of these regenerative agriculture practices requires specialized planting & seeding equipment to execute successfully.
That’s why so many farmers are starting to browse used planting & seeding equipment to access affordable pre-owned planting equipment that works. Getting the right tools for the job is the smart way to dip your toe in regenerative agriculture without spending your entire budget on new machinery.
Clever, huh?
Why Farmers Are Switching to Regenerative Agriculture Practices
The industry stats speak for themselves…
According to one report, the global regenerative agriculture market is projected to reach $16.8 billion by 2027. That’s 14% annual growth we’re talking about. When an entire industry sector is trending upward like that, you know the movement is picking up steam.
But wait, there’s more…
Regenerative agriculture benefits the planet, too. Another study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences estimates regenerative agriculture has the potential to sequester up to 23% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. By never tilling the soil, no-till farmers can capture between 0.5 and 3 tons of carbon per acre per year.
Here’s the part that gets farmers excited…
When done right, going regenerative can actually save them money. Think lower fuel usage. Think less synthetic fertilizer. Think across-the-board reductions in chemical expenditures.
Farmers can decrease input costs by upwards of 25-50% using regenerative agriculture.
Despite all these benefits, cover crops haven’t been used on 80% of US cropland. That’s huge. If you’re among the farmers who have adopted regenerative practices early, you’re already ahead of the curve. For those who haven’t started the transition process just yet, now is the perfect time to learn more.
Which Equipment Powers Regenerative Planting
Regenerative agriculture isn’t a magical process.
It takes work. Real, sweaty, dirty-in-the-field work. And the machinery that puts seeds in the ground is where regenerative agriculture really takes shape. Conventional tillage planters and drills were never designed to run over grasses, break through root matter, and plant with a high degree of accuracy without turning the soil.
That’s a problem if you want to put regenerative agriculture practices into practice.
Machinery matters.
The Essential Regenerative Planting Equipment You Should Know
You can’t just grab any old planter off the shelf and expect it to cut through your rye, broadcast seed with precision, and improve your bottom line.
When it comes to regenerative agriculture equipment, here are the tools you should know about:
No-Till Drills
No-till drills create seed slots using a series of disk openers to slice through surface residue and plant seeds at depth with minimal disturbance to the soil layer below. These machines allow you to plant without plowing, which preserves soil structure and keeps your soil healthy.
Precision Air Seeders
Air seeders broadcast seed (and sometimes fertilizer) over broad areas with pinpoint accuracy. Air seeders are often used in conjunction with no-till drills and are ideal for planting cover crops at a large scale.
Cover Crop Planters
Cover crop planters are designed specifically for the task of planting cover crops like rye, clover, vetch, and more. The name of the game with cover crops is planting them quickly. Plant quickly so you can build up soil protection and renew biological activity as soon as possible.
Roller-Crimpers
Roller-crimpers crush cover crops into the soil surface to terminate them without herbicides. Once rolled down, the dead cover crop material forms a natural mulch layer atop the soil surface. The benefit of many roller-crimpers is you can attach a planter behind the unit to seed directly into the rolled cover crop residue all in one pass. It saves time and minimizes the number of field passes you make while protecting your soil from compaction.
These tools and more allow farmers to implement regenerative agriculture practices that build soil health, prevent erosion, and encourage biodiversity on the farm.
Why Used Farm Equipment Makes Sense for Regenerative Planting
Here’s the struggle farmers face when trying to go regenerative:
It costs money.
New planting & seeding equipment costs money. A lot of it. Before you even buy your first cover crop seed, you could be spending $20,000 or more on a quality no-till drill or air planter.
But what if you didn’t have to?
Pre-owned farm equipment is the best way for farmers to…
- Experience the benefits of regenerative planting without investing in brand-new equipment.
- Try out different planting techniques with no commitment.
- Scale your operation up or down as you learn what works best for your land.
- Open up more of your budget for other expenses like diverse cover crop mixes and soil testing.
Not all used farm equipment is created equal. But since the farm economy tanked in 2020, dealers have raised their game when it comes to pre-owned agricultural machinery. Many used dealers will service and inspect pre-owned equipment before listing it for sale. That means you can buy a used tractor, planter, or seeder knowing it’s been turned off at a dealership and not out in the field.
Simple math…
Less money spent on equipment + implementation of a proven regenerative agriculture practice = higher ROI.
Dig Deeper: Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative agriculture is here to stay.
The data proves it. The returns verify it. Farmers around the globe are testing regenerative agriculture methods and proving them correct year after year.
But before you can test, you have to get your hands on the right tools for the job. No-Till drills. Air Seeders. Cover Crop Planters. Whatever your farming situation requires, there’s a piece of regenerative agriculture equipment out there to help you get the job done.
And when you’re ready to try regenerative planting practices without breaking the bank on new equipment, used farm equipment is one of the smartest decisions you’ll make this season. The land is your business. Make a smart investment in it, starting with the right equipment.
