The regen ag learning curve

Regenerative agriculture sounds simple until you’re the one changing practices, sharing field data, and taking the risk on yield and cost. We sit down with Paul Scheetz, Director of Regenerative Agriculture at ADM, to get specific about what they’ve learned since launching regenerative ag efforts and why the hardest part is often not the agronomy, but the trust. Farmers routinely ask, “Why do you want this data?” and we break down how that concern gets answered in real life through incentives, transparency, and feedback that actually improves the bottom line. We also zoom out to the part of the story most people miss: consumer understanding. Paul compares regenerative ag awareness to the long road organic and non-GMO traveled, and explains why it may take a decade for shoppers to truly get what soil health practices mean for water quality, climate impact, and resilience. That’s where big brands and retailers can help, and we recap a standout collaboration with Farmers First, ADM, General Mills, and Walmart focused on regenerative wheat across three states. On the farm side, we cover what adoption can look like when it’s done well: starting small, leaning on partner groups for technical support, and learning from other farmers who have already made the shift. We talk cover crops, reduced tillage, no-till, fertilizer efficiency, and the “light bulb moment” tools like rainfall simulators that make erosion and infiltration visible in seconds. Finally, we dig into ADM’s business case: creating value from measurable environmental improvements and sharing that value across the supply chain so farmers, processors, brands, and retailers can all stay profitable. If you care about sustainable agriculture, soil health, and practical pathways to scale regenerative practices, listen now. Subscribe, share the episode with a farmer or food industry friend, and leave a review with your biggest question about regenerative agriculture.