Mike Jones’ Post

How Big Food Profits from Ruthless Bird Flu Scare Tactics -- Recent reports have unfairly targeted small-scale farmers and their animals, suggesting they are vectors for the H5N1 bird flu virus. A striking example comes from British Columbia, where ostriches from pastured farms have been wrongly implicated. The real issue lies not with small, mixed farms but with industrial factory farming.

By introducing livestock like Runner ducks and Nguni cattle into vineyard management, Reyneke Wines mimics natural grazing patterns. This adds to soil enrichment, pest control, and cover crop management, as well as reduced costs and increased yields. Taking a holistic approach has numerous benefits! Unpack more of Johan Reyneke’s take on regenerative agriculture practices here: https://bit.ly/3W4EHB0 #ReynekeWines #JohanReyneke #BiodynamicFarming #BiodynamicViticulture #BiodynamicWine

A second climate-smart agricultural revolution is necessary, but one that accounts for the significant social capital of highland communities whilst still leaning heavily on native crops, trees and livestock. A Perspective just published: https://lnkd.in/dqgs9G6z

🔍🐄 Transparency in the food supply chain is a priority. Thanks to stringent UK farming regulations, every Red Tractor-certified cattle comes with its own passport and two identification tags within just 20 days of birth. This level of detail ensures that businesses and consumers alike can trust in the integrity and origin of their meat – a testament to the commitment to quality and accountability in UK agriculture. Learn more: #RedTractor #UKAgriculture #FoodTraceability #SustainableFarming

This is why diverse pastures are so important, and why the idea of weeds in fields needs to be put to rest. Different plants accumulate and cycle different minerals through their microbial associations. A field of a single or even a few grass and forb species will always leave a low stave in your livestocks nutritional needs. You can either keep supplementing those deficiencies with bought in minerals or allow your paddocks to have a real ecology and let the mineralogical cycle function the way it’s supposed to. One caveat though to this is that if like most farmland you have broken the mineralogical cycle then you may not have some of those essential minerals to let the plant keep in the cycle anymore. And you’ll always need to reapply the minerals you’ve exported offsite through meat, milk, fiber, wood, ect. Work to create as diverse of paddocks and landscapes as possible, but also don’t be afraid to test your soil and reapply whatever trace minerals are lacking. Even if it’s just through a mineral buffet for your stock. I can’t recommend using an Albrecht test enough for this.

This article explains in detail the sensing solutions necessary for environmental monitoring by estimating the greenhouse gases in indoor environments, agricultural land and livestock farming for a greener environment: https://lnkd.in/gda457Ea #TechnicalResources

Today is International Day for Biological Diversity! Maximizing biodiversity is among the U.S. Department of Agriculture's principles for soil health - for example through planting cover crops, using diverse crop rotations, and integrating livestock. https://buff.ly/4555kXm

This article explains in detail the sensing solutions necessary for environmental monitoring by estimating the greenhouse gases in indoor environments, agricultural land and livestock farming for a greener environment: https://lnkd.in/gHuaBFbb #TechnicalResources

What a great example on how strategic partnerships between the livestock and farming sectors can promote healthy soils, sustainability, and more resilient agricultural systems.