By Scout Nelson
A growing interest in healthy, chemical-free food is motivating more farmers to switch to regenerative agriculture, a method focused on restoring soil and reducing chemical use.
Tyler Zimmerman and Chris Walberg, lifelong friends from Leonard, North Dakota, are two such farmers. Their shift to regenerative practices is the subject of a popular mini-documentary that has reached nearly 600,000 viewers in just six months.
Starting with no-till farming, the duo expanded into cover cropping, crop rotation, grazing livestock, and reducing synthetic inputs. Zimmerman now grows a mix of crops including corn, soybeans, sunflowers, wheat, rye, and more on his 3,000-acre farm.
“Everything just kept connecting and we kept going down that road, and pretty soon here you are doing all these different things that the conventional farmer isn’t doing,” said Zimmerman.
The documentary, produced by Kiss the Ground, a nonprofit promoting regenerative agriculture, aims to educate consumers and inspire farmers. CEO Evan Harrison believes Zimmerman and Walberg’s openness and curiosity resonate widely.
“I think what we were able to bring across in the film is that ‘welcomeness’ they give off,” said Harrison.
Awareness of regenerative agriculture is growing, rising from 4% to 7% among U.S. adults. Harrison believes reaching 15-20% awareness could shift 76 million more acres to these practices.
Experts like Qasim Khan from North Dakota State University say consumer demand is rising, with 35% now seeking food grown without pesticides. He notes that new generations of farmers may drive long-term adoption.
Field events in July, such as Khan’s tour in Carrington and a soil health tour in Walsh County, are helping educate and connect farmers with regenerative solutions.
As farmers look for sustainable methods, stories like Zimmerman and Walberg’s show how friendship, curiosity, and care for the soil can lead to lasting change.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-dmytro-diedov
Categories: North Dakota, Business