CHAIR OF NEXT YEAR'S CONFERENCE,
CLIMATE CHANGE. ANNA. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I AM HONORED TO INTRODUCE OUR NEXT SPEAKER, RAY ARCHULETA.
A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL SOIL SCIENTISTS, MR. ARCHULETA IS
COFOUNDER OF SOIL HEALTH CONSULTANTS AND THE SOIL HEALTH
ACADEMY WHERE HE TEACHES TECHNIQUES FOR INCREASING CROP
NUTRIENT DENSITY AND IMPROVING SOIL RESILIENCY USING SOUND
ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES AND BIOMIMICRY.
WITH MORE THAN 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE AS A SOIL
CONSERVATIONIST, WATER QUALITY SPECIALIST, AND CONSERVATION
AGRONOMIST, WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE,
MR. ARCHULETA, KNOWN WIDELY AND FONDLY AS RAY THE SOIL GUY, IS
REGARDED AS ONE OF THE FOREMOST EXPERTS IN SUSTAINABLE SOIL
MANAGEMENT AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE.
HE HAS HEAD LINED NUMEROUS AGRONOMY CONFERENCES AND HIS
WORK HAD FEATURED IN MEDIA RANGING FROM THE PROGRESSIVE
FARMER TO -- THOUGH I SUSPECT HE'S MOST PROUD OF THE FACT THAT
HE'S WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THOUSANDS OF FARMERS, PROVIDING
PRACTICAL ADVICE THAT CONNECTS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH WITH HANDS
IN THE DIRT HOW-TO. INDEED, MR. ARCHULETA IS ALSO A
FARMER. HE AND HIS FAMILY OWN AND
OPERATE A 150-ACRE RANCH IN SEYMOUR, MISSOURI.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MR. ARCHULETA.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, ANNA.
THANK YOU. WELL, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU,
THIS IS A CLASS ACT. THIS IS AN AMAZING, AMAZING
CONFERENCE. DR. BECK, BECKY, THANK YOU SO
MUCH. LISA AND DR. JIM AND ALL THAT.
WE USE IN THE SOUTH DR. JIM AND DR. BECKY, ALL THOSE KIND OF
APPROACHES. EXCELLENT CONFERENCE.
NOW, WHAT I WANT TO DO AS A FAVOR, I WANT TO ASK A FAVOR
FROM THE AUDIENCE AND I ALWAYS DO THIS WHEN I GO GIVE A TALK
BECAUSE IT JUST GIVES ME ENERGY TO GO TO THE NEXT CONFERENCE AND
THE NEXT CONFERENCE AND THE NEXT CONFERENCE.
I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME AN INCREDIBLE GOOD MORNING.
>> All: GOOD MORNING! >> DAVID, WHO SAID MINNESOTA PEOPLE DON'T HAVE PASSION?
THEY DO. FANTASTIC.
FOLKS, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I NEEDED THAT AND I APPRECIATE
THAT. IT GIVES ME -- YOU ARE THE ONES
THAT GIVE ME HOPE. MY TALK IS CALLED HEALING THE
LAND, ONE HEART, ONE MINE AT THE TIME AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU,
FRANK, YOU KNOW, HUGH WAS PROBABLY CONSIDERED THE SOIL
PROPHET. I'M THE MINOR PROPHET AND I MEAN
REALLY MINOR. FOLKS, I APPRECIATE FRANK GIVING
YOU A HISTORY OF AN AGENCY THAT WORKED FOR 30 YEARS.
I HAVE SO MUCH PASSION AND LOVE FOR THAT AGENCY, AND SO I'M
GOING TO SHOW YOU KIND OF THE JOURNEY REAL QUICKLY HOW WE'RE
DOING TODAY AFTER SPENDING BILLIONS, MAYBE EVEN TRILLIONS
OF DOLLARS AND LET'S FIND OUT HOW WE'RE DOING.
THIS IS TEXAS 2016. CAN YOU SEE ALL THE REPLICATED
PLOTS? ALL THE RESEARCH, CAN YOU SEE ALL THE MONEY BLOWING?
WE HAVE SPENT BILLIONS ON THAT. WE'VE HAD TO GO TO THE TOP
UNIVERSITIES, TOP SCHOOLS, AND YET, WE STILL HAVE THIS, LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN. THIS IS 2016.
HOW ABOUT COLORADO? LOOK AT 1935 AND LOOK AT -- THE
PICTURE ON THE LEFT. YOU NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COLOR OF THE SOILS?
HOW ABOUT OUR BELOVED ARKANSAS? WHERE THEY GET 50 OR 60 INCHES
OF RAIN. HOW ABOUT OUR BELOVED IOWA 2017?
IN FACT, I WAS TOLD THAT PEOPLE GOT KILLED ON THE ROAD WHEN THAT
HAPPENED. AS I TRAVEL THE WHOLE COUNTRY, I
TAKE MY LITTLE CAMERA, I TAKE PICTURES, FLYING OVER AT 30,000
FEET. TOOK THAT PICTURE AS I WAS GOING
TO NEW JERSEY AND THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SLIDES WHEN I GO
TEACH. I SAID OUR LAKES AND RIVERS ARE
FILLED WITH NUTRIENT AND CONSERVATION PLANS, BUT NOT
CRYSTAL CLEAR WITH UNDERSTANDING.
IT DOESN'T SET VERY WELL THAT AN AGENCY LIKE OURS TOUTED
PLANNING. MADE PEOPLE VERY UPSET.
SEE, IT'S NO -- IT'S NOT THAT I'M AGAINST PLANNING, BUT I'M
NOT ABOUT THE PROCESS, I'M ABOUT THE GOAL, AND I THINK WE MISSED
IT. THE GOAL SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
UNDERSTANDING. THAT'S THE GOAL, NOT TOOLS, NOT
PLANTS. THEY'RE BOTH NEEDED, BUT LOOK
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT GOAL IN MIND.
AS YOU SEE THE PICTURE, ON THE TOP, YOU SEE A TILLED SOIL, NO
AGGREGATION, NO PORE SPACE. A NO-TILL SOIL HAS LOTS OF
PORES, A LOT OF COTTAGE CHEESE. THAT IS CRITICAL.
MICROBES CREATE THAT. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
PICTURE, YOU'LL SEE A LANDSCAPE. THE REASON I TITLED THAT IS I
WAS A REDUCTIONIST CONSERVATION PUTTING DIAPERS ON THE LAND.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY DIAPERS? THE ONLY FUNCTIONING SOIL ON
THAT PICTURE IS THE FILTER STRIPS, THE WIND BREAKS, ALL
WHERE THE DIAPERS ARE AT, THE SOIL IS FUNCTIONING.
SEE, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, UNLESS YOU HAVE A
LIVING PLANT ALL THE TIME LIKE THE DIAPERS DO, YOU'RE NOT
BUILDING AGGREGATES, YOU'RE NOT FEEDING BIOLOGY.
THIS IS WHAT I LEARNED AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF UNIVERSITY.
I'VE LEARNED REDUCTIONIST SCIENCE, AND PLEASE, IT'S NOT
ALSO THE UNIVERSITY'S PROBLEM EITHER OR FAULT TOTAL.
IT WAS -- HAS GONE BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS WHERE WE LEARNED
MECHANICIST REDUCTIONISM. IT CAME BACK WAY FROM NEWTON'S
ERA AND IT PERMEATED OUR EUROPEAN CULTURE, AND THEN COMES
THE GLOBAL WARMING SITUATION, CO2.
WHEN THE FIRST CO2 MEASUREMENT WAS HAPPENING ON THE VOLCANO IN
HAWAII, IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN THE MESSAGE CAME OUT, IT CAME THAT
IT WAS TWO SEPARATE ISSUES. LAND DEGRADATION AND CO2
EMISSION. BUT IN REALITY, IT WAS ALWAYS
ONE THING. IT WAS ALWAYS ONE THING.
LET ME GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE. I JUST TURNED 57, I GRADUATED IN
1961. THIS IS THE RESEARCH STATION AT
NEW MEXICO STATE WHERE I WENT TO COLLEGE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I NEVER SAW THAT.
LOOK AT THE NATIVE RANGE. THIS IS WHAT I GROW UP SEEING.
SEE, I LOVE THAT WORD, FRANK, CONTEXT.
SEE, I INTERPRET EVERYTHING THE WAY I LOOK AT THE NATURAL SYSTEM
FROM THIS CONTEXT. THIS IS THE CONTEXT I SHOULD
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE. MOST LANDOWNERS, MOST PRODUCERS,
DON'T REALIZE THEY'RE IN A DEGRADED CONTEXT, IN A DEGRADED SOIL.
SO HERE IS ANOTHER POINT THAT'S VERY CRITICAL.
WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH THE FIVE LARGEST STATES OR ALL OVER THE
WEST, WHAT I SEE NOW IS BARE SOIL IN BETWEEN THE PLANTS.
SCIENTISTS, RANGE SCIENTISTS SAY THAT CAN'T BE FIXED BECAUSE
THOSE PLANTS ARE ALLOPATHIC AND WOULD LEAVE CHEMICAL MESSAGE
GERS AND SUPPRESS THE GRASS. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TAUGHT IN
RANGE. SO YOU HAVE MILLIONS OF ACRES,
MAYBE EVEN BILLIONS OF ACRES FLUTE THE WORLD THAT ARE REFLECT
-- THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THAT ARE REFLECTING SENSITIVE HEAT
BETWEEN THOSE PLANTS. KEEP IN MIND, THOSE WERE THICK
PRAIRIE GRASSES. AND THEN IN OUR WISDOM, WE
BLAMED THE TOOL AND NOTICE WITH HUMANS, WE REALLY LIKE TOOLS AND
PROCESS. AND SO THE FIRST THINGS, WHEN WE
SAY WE'RE OVERGRAZING THE RANGE, THEY BLAME THE COW AND THE
MOMENT WE TOOK THE COW OUT OF THE PICTURE, WE MADE IT WORSE IN
A BRITTLE ENVIRONMENT. SEE, COWS ARE NEEDED.
DUNG AND URINE AND MANURE, THEY'RE NEEDED IN THE ECOSYSTEM.
THEY STIMULATE NUTRIENT CYCLING, BUT THE MOMENT WE TOOK THEM OUT,
BLAME THE COW, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AND MADE IT WORSE.
THE REAL BLAME SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LET'S LOOK IN THE
MIRROR. AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS ON
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF ACRES, YOU HAVE MORE DES SI PICK INDICATION GOING ON.
LOOK AT THE PARTS OF WORLD THAT ARE MORE DESERTIFIED.
I VISIT MY PARENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
IT HURTS TO GO HOME. I HAVE TEARS IN MY EYES AND I
SAY, GOD, HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIX THIS LAND?
IT'S SO DEGRADED AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SO MUCH ENERGY.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS? I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW
RANCHERS ARE DOING THAT, BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND IF WOE JUST
LOOK AT ONE THING AS CO2, WE'RE MISSING THE MARK.
IT'S THE AMOUNT OF HEAT COMING OFF THE LAND IS ALSO CRITICAL.
SOME SOIL TEMPERATURES IN THOSE AREAS REACH ABOUT 160 DEGREES.
160 DEGREES. KILLS MICROBES AT 140.
YOU DENATURE SOMETIMES ABOUT 113, 114.
NO NUTRIENT CYCLING OCCURRING. AND IT'S GROWING MORE AND MORE
AND MORE EVERY YEAR. AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU
HAVE HUGE AMOUNT OF HEAT AND YOU CAN TELL EVERY TIME YOU FLY INTO
DENVER AND ANY OF THESE BRITTLE ENVIRONMENTS, YOU CAN GET IN THE
PLANE AND YOU'RE GETTING THE LAY OF THE LAND, YOU CAN FEEL THE
PLANE SHAKE. IT'S THOSE CURRENTS OF HEAT
COMING OFF BECAUSE THERE'S NO VEGETATION.
I THINK PEOPLE FORGET, YOU CANNOT HAVE CLIMATE WITHOUT PLANTS AND SOIL.
ECOLOGY SAYS EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED, EVERYTHING IS ONE.
IT'S CONNECTED. SO WE HAVE HUGE AMOUNTS OF
SURFACE THAT ARE PUSHING RAIN CLOUDS AWAY.
IT'S NOT JUST CO2. CO2 IS IMPORTANT, PLEASE DON'T
MISUNDERSTAND ME, BUT THE MOMENT YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A
REDUCTIONIST PERSPECTIVE, IT'S MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAN WE EVER
IMAGINED. SO WHEN I CROSS THE COUNTRY,
THIS IS WHAT I SEE. THE SOIL IS NAKED, HUNGRY,
THIRSTY, AND RUNNING A FEVER. THIS IS HAPPENING GLOBALLY.
THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS WE LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL ECOSYSTEM AS A
MEDIUM. THAT'S THE WAY WE LOOK AT IT, AS
A MEDIUM. NOW, WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS?
I DRIVE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I THINK I PROBABLY HAD ONE OF
THE LARGEST TRAVEL BUDGETS AS I WAS WORKING AS A NRCS EMPLOYEE.
I HAVE TRAVELED MILLIONS OF MILES.
I'VE BEEN IN EVERY STATE MAYBE ONCE, TWO, THREE TIMES, FROM
ALASKA TO PUERTO RICO TO HAWAII, TAUGHT ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE,
EXPOSED TO ALL TYPES OF RACES, BUT THE THING THAT IS VERY
STARTLING THAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR COUNTRY AND IT HURTS TO SEE
THIS, AS I TRAVEL IN MY VEHICLE, I SEE THE DYING RURAL AMERICA.
SEE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BLESSINGS OF THE LAND ACTUALLY
FLOWED THROUGH THE FARMER AND RANCHER.
THE RURAL COMMUNITY GREW THROUGH THE RANCHER AND THE FARMER.
THE BLESSINGS OF THE LAND, THE WEALTH OF THE SOIL FLOWS THROUGH
THE FARMER AND RANCHER, AND IT WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE, THE
LOCAL GAS STATION. THAT'S THE WAY THE BLESSINGS OF
THE LAND FLOW. NOW THIS IS WHAT IS OCCURRING.
HOW MANY KNOW IN 2016, THE CENTER FOR DISEASE SAID THAT
FARMING AND RANCHING ARE THE TOP 30 CAREERS, HAVE THE LARGEST
SUICIDE RATES. HOW CAN IT BE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN A FAITH WITH GOD'S
CREATION DAILY HAVE SUCH A HIGH SUICIDE RATE?
WHEN ONE UNDERSTANDS THEIR PREDICAMENT, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT FARMERS, NOT ONLY DO THEY
FARM, BUT THEY'RE AN ENGINEER. THEY'RE A CHEMICAL ENGINEER.
THEY'RE MECHANICAL ENGINEERS. THEY'RE AN AGRONOMIST, THEY'RE
AN ECOLOGIST, THEY'RE A MARKETER, AN ACCOUNTANT.
THE SKILL SET TO BE A FARMER AND RANCHER IS INCREDIBLY COMPLEX,
AND YET, THEY DEAL WITH A DYNAMIC ECOSYSTEM THAT CHANGES
EVERY SECOND. THE SKILL SET TO BE A FARMER, A
FARMER THAT MIMICS NATURE, IS INCREDIBLE.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE MOST BRILLIANT SHOULD BE ON THE LAND
BECAUSE IT IS THAT DIFFICULT OF A SKILL SET.
THEY DEAL WITH CHAOS. CHAOS IS UNPREDICTABILITY.
THAT'S WHY THE STRESS, AND ON TOP OF THAT, THEY MAINTAIN
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
I TELL SOME OFOF MY FARMER FRIENDS, YOU ARE THE POOREST
MILLIONAIRES I KNOW. YOU MAINTAIN TRACTORS,
BUILDINGS. IT'S EASY TO GO -- SOME OF US
HERE CAN GO TO A CUBICLE, ALL WE HAVE AS LAPTOP AND STILL MAKE A
DECENT LIVING. THEY MAINTAIN MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE MAYBE THE SAME TYPE OF
LIVING. I SAID TO MYSELF, OKAY, WHY IS
THERE SO MUCH IGNORANCE, AND INCLUDING MYSELF?
SO I CAME ACROSS DR. ROSSLYNN, HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL TED TALK, HOW
NOT TO BE IGNORANT ABOUT THE WORLD.
HE CALLED IT THE IGNORANT PROJECT.
SIGN ME UP! IT WAS INTERESTING.
WHEN HE CAME OUT, HE ASKED MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS TO
PEOPLE IN SWEDEN, USA, AND THE TED TALK PARTICIPANTS.
AND THE OTHER GROUP WAS THE CHIMPS.
IT WAS MULTIPLE CHOICE. THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORLD.
GUESS WHO WON? [ LAUGHTER ]
THE MONKEYS DID.
HE SAID, WHY? WHY ARE WE SO IGNORANT ABOUT OUR
WORLD? FIRST ONE IS PERSONAL BIAS.
RCH IN THIS ROOM, EVEN OUR SCIENTISTS, HAVE PERSONAL BIAS.
WE INTERPRET THE WORLD FROM OUR OWN CONTEXT THAT WE GREW UP.
WE INTERPRET THE FARMING THE WAY WE GREW UP WITHIN OUR CONTEXT.
WE HAVE PERSONAL BIAS. THE ONLY NON-BIASED PERSON I'VE
EVER MET IS A DEAD HUMAN BEING.
THE BIGGEST STRUGGLE IS TO REALIZE YOU HAVE BIAS.
IF YOU OVERCOME THAT, THAT IS THE FIRST STEP TO KNOWLEDGE.
IT CAN ONLY COME WITH HUMILITY. THE OTHER ONE, WE'RE TEACHING
OUTDATED FACTS. OUTDATED FACTS.
OUR UNIVERSITIES, OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, WE'RE TEACHING JUST
WRONG INFORMATION. IT'S OUTDATED, AND AS I WAS
SITTING WITH JACK OR JAKE, RIGHT NEXT TO ME, HE SAID, RAY, IT'S
IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE KNOWLEDGE.
AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, SOME OF THE KNOWLEDGE WAS JUST BASED
ON THE WRONG PREMISE. I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A WHILE.
SO PERSONAL BIAS, OUTDATED FACTS, AND HERE'S THE THIRD ONE
I THOUGHT WAS VERY INTERESTING.
EMBELLISHED NEWS. NEWS THAT JUST SELLS BUT IS NOT COMPLETELY TRUE.
BIAS, OUTDATED FACTS, EMBELLISH NEWS.
THEN YOU GET A HUMAN THAT HAS -- GETS SKEWED INFORMATION AND
INTUITION. INTUITION IS POWERFUL.
IT SAVES US FROM GETTING EATEN UP WHEN WE'RE OUT IN THE JUNGLE.
POWERFUL. THE PROBLEM IS BAD INFORMATION,
INTUITION, THE MONKEYS WIN.
THE MONKEYS JUST GO, HMM, HMM, HMM, HMM.
THEN HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE AN UPSIDE DOWN OF THE
WORLD THE WAY IT WORKS. ECOLOGICALLY OR JUST IN GENERAL.
WHAT I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU IS A CORRECT VIEW.
BUT THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO OVERCOME IS THE MOST DIFFICULT
THING, AND WHY OUR LAND IS SO DEGRADED.
RIGHT HERE. SEE, AS A WATER QUALITY
SPECIALIST, I USED TO SIT AT THE END OF THE LAKE AND RIVER AND GO
OH, AND I HAD TO DEAL WITH IT RIGHT THERE WHEN IT WAS TOO
LATE. SAME THING WITH CO2 UP IN THE
ATMOSPHERE. THE REAL ISSUE, THE REAL START
IS RIGHT HERE. IT'S THE WAY WE SEE THINGS IS
THE PROBLEM. IT'S COMMINGLED WITH OUR HUMAN
NATURE CAUSE THESE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
IF ALL THOSE THAT HUMBLY GO BEFORE US AND SAYS -- BECAUSE MY
WIFE TELLS ME, HUSBAND, YOU ARE 99.9% OF YOUR PROBLEM.
[ LAUGHTER ] AND SHE IS RIGHT. SEE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I
JUST DON'T BRING THE SCIENCES IN.
SCIENCE IS CRITICAL, BUT SOCIOLOGY, THE CULTURE ASPECT,
THE THEOLOGY, ALL OF IT IS NEEDED IN ONE.
ONE THING THAT WE LOVE TO DO AS HUMANS, WE LIKE TO DELINEATE.
WHAT IS IN COMMON? WHOLISM TEACHES CONNECT THE
RELATIONSHIPS. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE
QUOTES DEALING WITH HUMANS. KNOWING YOUR OWN DARKNESS IS THE
BEST METHOD FOR DEALING WITH THE DARKNESS OF OTHER PEOPLE.
WONDERFUL. SO THEN, WHEN I GO OUT AND TEACH
AND GET READY TO PROMOTE, FIRST THINGS FARMERS TELL ME, RAY, YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND, IT'S TOO COLD. THEN THEY ALSO TELL ME, NO, RAY,
IT'S TOO HOT, WE CAN'T DO IT HERE.
THEN IT'S TOO WET! MM-HMM, THEY TELL ME ALL THOSE
THINGS. UH-OH, GUESS WHAT?
I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? HOW COME WE'RE DOING NO-TILLING
IN CANADA AND THE DAKOTAS? HOW COME WE'RE DOING IT IN
AFGHANISTAN? HOW COME WE'RE DOING IT IN HUMID
AREAS OF GEORGIA AND ARKANSAS?
SEE, WHAT WE HAVE TAUGHT, YOU GOT TO SHOW DISTINCTION, BUT
RARELY DO WE COME BACK AND SAY WHAT IS IN COMMON IN ALL THOSE
AREAS. WHAT IS COMMON?
SO MOST TIMES I TELL PRODUCERS, OH, YOU MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE
BIOLOGY HERE? YOU MEAN, IT STOPPED AT THE
BORDER OF MINNESOTA? OH, I GET IT, MINNESOTA IS SPECIAL.
SEE, BIOLOGY TRUMPS ALL THAT. BIOLOGY MODIFIES THE
ENVIRONMENT. I TELL FARMERS, NOW, FARMERS,
THAT'S A COMPACTION ISSUE.
LET ME PULL OUT MY TRACTOR. HOW DOES THAT -- HOW MANY HAVE
ACTUALLY SEEN THAT, RAISE YOUR HAND.
I'VE SEEN IT IN THE WEST AND I COULD NEVER EXPLAIN IT.
THAT PLANT IS HEAVILY MICRO RHIZAL.
THE FUNGI THAT POWERFUL SOMETIMES THAT BREAK ROCK DOWN.
THE ROOTS, WHEN THEY RESPIRE, MIXED WITH WATER, CARBONIC ACID,
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS TO FIX COMPACTION IN ANY FARM IS
LIFE ITSELF. BUT HOW DO WE APPROACH IT?
CHEMICALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
NOW, HOW DO I ATTRACT FARMERS TO COME TO MY WORKSHOP?
ONE OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS BY THE AUSTRALIANS, YOU CANNOT BE
GREEN UNLESS YOU'RE IN THE BLACK.
SEE, IT'S EASY TO -- WE COMPLAIN SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GO MOW THE
LAWN OR DO ANY EXPENDITURES, BUY FERTILIZER IN A SMALL LITTLE
AREA. THINK ABOUT A FARMER WHO OWNS
THOUSANDS OF ACRES AND HOW MUCH MONEY IT TAKES JUST TO PUT COVER
CROPS. ONE TIME.
COULD BE UP TO $30,000.
THINK ABOUT THE SCALE. SO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS MOVEMENT
TO GROW? RIGHT HERE.
I APPROACH FARMERS ECONOMICALLY TO GET INTERESTED.
LATER THEY FALL IN LOVE WITH THE LAND.
LOOK AT THIS, IT'S FROM CANADA. LOOK AT THE BLUE, YOU'LL SEE IS
THE COST OF INPUTS. FROM THE BEGINNING OF 1926 TO
2016, LOOK AT THE FARM INCOME.
THIS IS VERY SIMILAR IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO WHAT IS MAKING THIS MOVEMENT GROWING?
IN AN AMAZING WAY? WHY IS IT GROWING?
ECONOMICS. THE ECONOMICS MEANS THE MONEY OF
THE HOUSE. THE ECOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF THE
HOUSE. I TEACH FARMERS, IF YOU GET THE
ECOLOGY, THE ECONOMICS WILL COME.
SO THIS IS WHAT THE -- SO HOW DO I GET THEM TO LISTEN?
THESE TWO DEMONSTRATIONS WE USE VERY POWERFULLY.
LET ME SHOW YOU THE FIRST ONE. >> I HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK YOU.
IS YOUR SOIL HEALTHY, FUNCTIONING AND STABLE?
ONE OF THE BEST DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS THAT I KNOW OF IS THE SOIL
STABILITY TEST. HERE ARE TWO SOILS, EXACTLY THE SAME SOIL TYPE.
THIS SOIL HAS BEEN TILLED FOR 30 YEARS.
IT IS ADDICTED TO CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZER.
THIS SOIL HAS NOT BEEN TILLED FOR 40 YEARS.
IT IS COVERED YEAR ROUND WITH DIVERSE PLANTS.
IT IS COMPLETELY WEANED FROM CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZER.
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DROP THE SOIL IN THE WATER.
THESE ARE THE SAME SOIL TYPES. NOTICE HOW THE CONVENTIONAL TILL
SOIL IS FALLING APART. THE BUY ON THE TICK GLUES IN THE
ORGANIC -- BIOTIC GLUES IN THE ORGANIC MATTER HAVE BURN UP.
NOTICE THE NO-SILL SOIL. THE SOILING HODEING TOGETHER.
THE PORE SPACES ARE STILL INTACTS ABOUT DO THIS TEST FOR
YOURSELF. I GUARANTEE IF YOU'LL DIG A
LITTLE, YOU'LL LEARN A LOT.
[ APPLAUSE ] IT.
>> TOOK ME ALL DAY TO GET THAT ONE RIGHT.
AND THE GUY THAT IT DID TO ME, SAYS RAY, YOU'RE THE WORSE UNDER
CAMERA I KNOW. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, THOSE ARE
THE SAME SO I TYPES. THE RECONCILE ON THE LEFT, 6%
ORGANICIC MATTER. NORTH CAROLINA.
THE FOREST IS 3%. THE SOIL ON THE LEFT IS LESS
THAN HALF A PERCENT. SEE, THE SOIL ON THE LEFT, WHEN
I TOLD YOU YESTERDAY, THE FIRST ACT OF EROSION IS DOWNWARD.
THOSE CLAYS YOU SEE IN SUSPENSION WILL PLUG UP THE
PORES AND THE WATER WILL RUN OFF.
I TELL YOU, WE DON'T HAVE A RUNOFF PROBLEM, WE HAVE AN
INFILTRATION PROBLEM. THE SOIL ON THE LEFT IS ADDICTED
TO FERT LIERZ AND PESTICIDE. RAY STIERS NO LONGER USES -- NO
FUNGICIDES, NO INSECTICIDES, NO CHEMICAL FERTILIZER.
DOWN TO ONE HERBICIDE. HEALTHY SOIL.
LET ME TAKE YOU FURTHER. >> BEFORE WE APPRECIATE THE
POTENTIAL RUNOFF AND EROSION FROM A CONVENTIONALLY TILLED
FIELD LIKE THIS, YOU NEED TO BE OUT HERE DURING THE MOST INTENSE
THUNDERSTORM OF THE YEAR. SINCE MOST PEOPLE AREN'T WILLING
TO DO THAT, HERE IN VIRGINIA, WE USE A RAINFALL SIMULATOR TO HELP
OUR FARMERS TELL THE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED WHEN IT RAINS REALLY HARD.
>> THIS IS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. >> ON THE LEFT, WE START WITH A
TRAY OF DRY, LOSE SOIL TAKEN FROM A CLEAN TILL FIELD.
ON THE RIGHT, WE START WITH A SLICE OF INTACT SURFACE SOIL
FROM A LONG-TERM NO-TILL FIELD. THIS SOIL IS NOT ONLY PROTECTED
WITH A MULCH OF COVER CROP RESIDUE, IT ALSO HAS A STABLE
PORE SPONGE STRUCTURE. >> YEARS AGO AS A KID, I
REMEMBER YOU GET THESE BIG HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS IN THE SUMMER AND
IT WOULD JUST -- IT WOULD JUST WASH THE FIELD.
AND YOU'D END UP WITH MUD DOWN ON THE ROAD AND I'M TALKING
ABOUT MUD THAT YOUTH YOU'D GO OVER THERE WITH A SKID LOWERED
AND SCOOP OUT OF THE WAY SO THE CARS CAN GO DOWN THE ROAD.
NOW I'M SEEING THESE HEAVY RAINFALLS AND I'M BARELY SEEING
A TRICKLE COMING OUT OF THE FIELD.
>> AFTER WE STIMULATE AN EXTREMELY INTENSE THUNDERSTORM
FOR FIVE MINUTES, THE DIFFERENCES ARE OBVIOUS.
MOST OF THE WATER WE APPLIED TO THIS SOIL HAS RUN OFF INTO THIS
JAR, CARRYING AWAY WITH IT A THIN BUT VERY SIGNIFICANT LAYER OF TOP SOIL.
WE JUST APPLIED AN INCH AND A HALF OF VERY INTENSE RAINFALL TO
THIS OF TOP SOIL.
WE JUST APPLIED AN INCH AND A HALF OF BARE TILLED SOIL.
>> HOW MUCH WATER ENTERED? >> OBVIOUSLY WE HARVESTED VERY
LITTLE. >> IS THAT A FUNCTIONING WATER
CYCLE? AND THIS IS HAPPENING GLOBALLY.
>> MEANWHILE, THIS MONTH-TILL SOIL HAS ABSORBED VIRTUALLY
EVERY DROP OF WATER WE APPLIED. WHAT LITTLE RAN OFF IS CLEAR.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
IF YOU WANT TO HARVEST MORE RAIN LIKE THESE NO-TILL FARMERS ARE
DOING, KEEN YOUR SOIL COVERED ON TOP AND MAKE IT A SPONGE
UNDERNEATH. >> WHAT IS HAPPENING?
WHEN YOU TILL, YOU INSERT OXYGEN INTO THE SOIL, YOU WAKE UP
BACTERIA AND THEY START TO EAT THE AGGREGATE.
THEY EAT THE GLUE. SEE, SCIENTISTS SAY THOSE
AGGREGATES ONLY LAST 27 DAYS. THEY HAVE TO BE CONTINUALLY FED
WITH, WHAT I CALL THE PLANT, THE MOUTH OF THE SOIL, ANCIENTS USED
TO CALL IT THE MOUTH OF THE SOIL BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THE SOIL
EATS. WE NEED TO BUILD AGGREGATE.
NO AGGREGATE, NO INFILTRATION, NO POROSITY, THE WATER RUNS OFF.
I START TEACHING BASIC THINGS. OUR JOB, CAPTURE ENERGY, GET THE
WATER CYCLE GOING, YOU CANNOT HAVE A COMPLETE FUNCTIONING
WATER CYCLE WITHOUT THE PLANTS CREATING AGGREGATES IN THE
BACTERIA AND ORGANISMS AND YOU CAN'T HAVE NUTRIENT CYCLING AND
YOU CAN'T HAVE DIVERSITY. WE INTERFACE WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL
SYSTEM AT THE GROUND LEVEL. ALL THESE PROCESSES ARE
HAPPENING AND IT'S IMPORTANT HOW YOU MANAGE THE CATTLE.
IF YOU OVERGRAZE, LOOK HERE ON THE LEFT.
SO IT BECOMES HOT, WEEDS, LOOK AT WHEN IT'S MANAGED PROPERLY.
IT AFFECTS THE ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES.
SO WHAT'S THE ANSWER? WHAT'S THE PREMISE? WHOA, I GOT A LITTLE OF MUSIC
BACK THERE FOR YOU. HERE WE GO.
DID YOU SEE THAT? BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE.
FOLKS, THIS IS THE PREMISE THAT WE SHOULD BUILD SOIL EROSION
SERVICE. NOTICE HOW SCS WAS CALLED
INITIALLY. SOIL EROSION SERVICE.
THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE SYMPTOM.
THAT WAS NEVER THE GOAL. WE BUILD AGRICULTURE ON THE
WRONG PREMISE. THE PREMISE SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN THIS: HOW DO WE MIMIC IT? MIMIC NATURE WAS ALWAYS THE
GOAL. IT WAS ALWAYS THE PREMISE.
LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL THE DESIGN. WE ARE NOW DOING ECO MIMICRY,
BIOMIMICRY. WHAT DOES THE WORD MEAN?
MIMIC LIFE. RANCHERS AND FARMERS WHO HAVE A
T-SHIRT WALK THROUGH THE AIRPORT, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A
LIVING? I MIMIC LIFE.
THAT'S THE GOAL. IF WE GET EVERYBODY TO SAY OUR
GOAL IS TO MIMIC THE TEMPLATE, NOW WE ARE DESIGNING COVER CROP
MIXES THAT MIMIC THE PRAIRIE. BUT INSTEAD, WE'VE DONE THIS.
WE'VE USED OUR OLD SCIENCE TO MAKE NATURE INTO A MACHINE OF
INDUSTRY, A FACTORY. SEE, BIO-MICK MIM KRI IS ON THE
RIGHT. OUR FOREFATHERS WERE DOING THAT.
HAS THE METHOD ON THE LEFT HURT US?
YES. IT'S AFFECTED OUR HEALTH, AFFECT
OUR SOILS, IT HAS AFFECTED EVERYTHING.
SO I TEACH THESE PRINCIPLES. WE TALK ABOUT IT, DAVID TALKED
ABOUT IT. SEE, WHAT I TEACH IS PRINCIPLE.
A GREAT STATISTICIAN ONCE SAID BE CAREFUL WITH DATA OR YOU'LL DROWN IN IT.
I'D RATHER HAVE MY FARMERS UNDERSTAND PRINCIPLES AND
ECOLOGY OF BIOMIMICRY. IF YOU GET THE PRINCIPLES RIGHT,
THE METHODS WILL BE MILLIONS, BUT YOU FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLES.
FIRST ONE, DAVID TALKED ABOUT IT, LIVING ROOT 24/7.
WHY? RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS A SLOW MOTION VIDEO SHOWING LIQUID SUN LEAKING INTO
THE SOIL FEEDING MICROBES. THIS IS OUR JOB, PRODUCERS.
ENERGY FLOW TO FEED THESE GUYS.
ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL? I GET EMOTIONAL WHEN I SEE THAT.
THOSE ARE THE BABIES I FORGOT, EVEN THOUGH I TOOK A GRADUATE
LEVEL, SOIL BIOLOGY, SOIL ECOLOGY, IT WAS LEFT OUT.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO FOLLOW THAT PRINCIPLE?
WE PUT LIVING ROOTS 24/7 AND GUESS WHAT ELSE WE DO?
WE ARE DOING THIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE NO-TILLING CORN AND SOYBEANS INTO THIS MULTI-BEEFY
MIX THAT LOOKS LIKE THE PRAIRIE. WE ARE CUTTING OUR FERTILIZERS
MORE THAN HALF. FARMERS ARE NO LONGER USING
FUNGICIDES, INSECTICIDES, BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING
BIOMIMICRY. AND IT'S SPREADING ON HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES. ISN'T THAT EXCITING?
[ APPLAUSE ] FOUR TO FIVE PERCENT OF INDIANA
IS COVERED IN THIS SOIL HEALTH MOVEMENT, STARTED IN 2007.
LOOK AT THE SKIN. THAT'S COTTON.
WE'RE DOING IT. WHEN THEY PLANT INTO IT, YOU
ROLL DOWN THE ROW, DO YOU SEE ANY WEEDS?
CEREAL RYE PROGRESSES QUITE A BIT OF WEEDS.
WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE IS CREATING THE FOREST FLOOR.
THE FOREST IS COVERED WITH LEAVES, THE PRAIRIE IS COVERED
WITH A GRASS. ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL?
SAVING FARMERS A LOT OF MONEY. THIS IS IN OUR BELOVED WISCONSIN
RIGHT NEXT DOOR. HE'S PLANTING GREEN.
HE DID NOT WANT TO SHOW THIS VIDEO, THIS PICTURE, BECAUSE OF
PEER PRESSURE. THE PEER PRESSURE IS BRUTAL.
LOOK AT THE CORN POP OUT OF THAT BEAUTIFUL SKIN.
LOOK WHAT FARMERS ARE DOING HERE HERE. SEE?
THAT -- IF YOU GIVE FARMERS THE RIGHT PRINCIPLES, THEY'LL FIGURE
IT OUT. THAT'S NOT A SPRAYER, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN. IT IS A COVER CROP PLANTER
PLANTING CORN, A COVER CROP INTO STANDING CORN.
I TOLD YOU FARMERS ARE BRILLIANT, THEY'LL FIGURE IT
OUT. SO WHICH FARMER IS MAKING MONEY,
WHICH ONE'S NOT MAKING MONEY? CAN ANYBODY GUESS?
THAT FIELD HERE ON THE RIGHT, YOU HAVE BIOLOGICAL PRIMERS,
ENERGY TRANSFORMERS, NUTRIENT SEQUESTERS, HABITAT MODIFIERS.
THE FARMER ON THE LEFT IS LEAKING NUTRIENTS, SPILLING SUN,
SPENDING WAY HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY.
THE FARMER ON THE RIGHT, THAT BY THE WAY, THAT IS PENNSYLVANIA.
THAT'S ILLINOIS ON THE LEFT. WHEN I DROVE HERE, GUESS WHAT I
SAW IN OUR BELOVED STATE HERE? I SAW THE LEFT.
MOST OF THE COUNTRY WILL BE LIKE IN THE LEFT.
SO LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE. TILLAGE.
TILLAGE IS DESTRUCTIVE. SPRAYING, FUNGICIDES,
INSECTICIDES HURT THIS. LOOK AT RIGHT HERE, THIS LITTLE
TINY VIDEO, ON THE RIGHT YOU SEE ALL OF IT TOGETHER.
THIS IS NUTRIENT CYCLING. THIS IS THE WATER CYCLE ALL
TOGETHER. THEY HELP WITH THE WATER CYCLE.
I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT THE BIOLOGY HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THE
WATER CYCLE. THEY CREATE THE AGGREGATESES.
THE WATER CYCLE IS NOT COMPLETE UNLESS WE HAVE AGGREGATES.
THE WATER CYCLE HAS TO BE COMPLETE WHEN THE WATER GOES IN.
OKAY? SO IT IS VERY CRITICAL.
SO INCREASE PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES DIVERSITY.
OH, BY THE WAY, I TELL FARMERS THE MORE YOU DISK THAT, THE MORE
YOU SPRAY THAT, YOU HAVE TO WRITE THE FRONT OF THE CHECK,
THE LESS YOU BOTHER IT, YOU START WRITING THE BACK OF THE
CHECK. [ LAUGHTER ]
THEY LIKE THAT. AND WE FORGET ONE.
ANIMALS. NATURE DOES NOT FARM WITHOUT
ANIMALS. EVERY NATURAL ECOSYSTEM HAS
ANIMALS. MY BUSINESS PARTNER FRIEND,
MENTOR, JUST CAME OUT WITH A BOOK "DIRT TO SOIL."
HE SAID I USED TO GET UP EVERY MORNING TO SEE WHAT I HAD TO
KILL THAT DAY. NOW I GET UP EVERY MORNING, HOW
CAN I MIMIC NATURE AND BRING LIFE ONTO HIS RANCH.
LET ME TELL YOU, THIS IS JUST RECENT DATA THAT JUST CAME OUT,
A THIRD-PARTY CAME IN AND DID THIS DATA.
IT WAS BY LANDSTREAM, DR. JOHN NORMAN WITH THREE OR FOUR PhD'S,
WISCONSIN, NEBRASKA, THEY JUST DID AN INDEPENDENT STUDY ON GABE
RANCH ON 523 ACRES. LOOK AT THE AVERAGE CARBON
SEQUESTERED ON HIS RANCH. OVER 92 TONS OF CARBON PER ACRE.
LOOK AT THE U.S. AVERAGE. 10 TO 30.
THIS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN A COUPLE YEARS ONCE WE GET MORE
MONEY TO FINISH THE RESEARCH, OVER EXTREMELY REPLICATED,
BRILLIANT. SO WE ARE SHOWING IF YOU APPLY
ALL THE PRINCIPLES, IT ONLY TOOK HIM EIGHT YEARS.
SOME OF OUR YOUNG FARMERS WHO ARE DOING ALL THE PRINCIPLES
RIGHT AWAY DO IT QUICKER. THEN WE ARE GOING TO WRAP IT UP
HERE WITH OUR BELOVED CHIHUAHUA. NEW MEXICO STATE IS AT THE
SOUTHERN TIP WHERE I WENT IT COLLEGE.
LET ME GIVE AWE LITTLE PERSPECTIVE WHERE I WENT TO
COLLEGE. I ALSO WORKED WITH RCS.
WE DID ALL THE WORK IN THE MORNING BECAUSE WHEN IT GOT TO
NOON, YOU COULD FRY AN EGG ON THE SIDEWALK.
110, 112 DEGREES. IT IS BRUTAL.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT 1 DEGREE AWAY FROM HADES.
I GREW UP IN THE NORTHERN, IN THE ROCKIES, IT TOOK ME YEARS TO
GET ACCLIMATED. LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT THE
CHIHUAHUAN DESERT LOOKS LIKE. LOOK WHAT THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIX THAT SYSTEM ALL OVER THE WEST?
THE REASON I CHOSE THIS, IF WE -- IF RANCHERS CAN MAKE IT WORK
THERE IN THE HOTTEST, MORE BRUTAL ENVIRONMENT, WHY CAN'T WE
DO IT HERE? LET ME SHOW YOU THEIR PROBLEMS.
THEY ONLY GET 3 TO 6 INCHES. HOW COME THEY HAVE MASSIVE
EROSION LIKE THAT? WITH ONLY 3 TO 6 INCHES OF RAIN?
THROUGH HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT, THROUGH CHANGING THEIR LIVE
USING THE METHOD, WHICH BY THE WAY CHANGED ME, WHEN I WENT OUT
TO GABE'S PLACE, I GO, WHOA. I GOT IT.
I MISSED IT. I JUST GOT BACK FROM CHIHUAHUA
FOUR MONTHS AGO. LOOK WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. JUST CATTLE!
[ APPLAUSE ] YOU KNOW, DOCTOR, I THINK IT IS
ONE OF THE BEST CONFERENCES. BUT WHEN I WENT TO CHIHUAHUA,
THAT WAS THE BEST ONE, BECAUSE I SAW THAT, AND I WALKED THE
RANCHES. HOW DID IT START?
ONE LEADER THAT CHANGED THE WAY THEY SEE THINGS.
LOOK WHAT THEY'VE DONE. IN BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS THE
DESERT IS COMING BACK TO BE A PRAIRIE.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE HEROES, HE TAUGHT ME MORE ECOLOGY,
JAPANESE, HE SAID HE THOUGHT THAT MOST DESERTS WERE ALL
MAN-MADE. I KIND OF BELIEVE THAT.
SO HOW ARE THEY DOING THAT, REAL QUICK.
SO WHAT -- SEE, I COULD NOT WRAP MY MIND, BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING
TO EAT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. HOW CAN COWS EAT?
SO WHAT THEY DO, THERE'S A CONCEPT CALLED MOBILE LINK,
ECOLOGISTS CALL IT, COWS ARE MOBILE, BUT THEY ARE A LINK, A
LINK TO THE NATURAL PROCESSES. COWS ARE POWERFUL.
LOOK, HIS RANCH ON THE LEFT, HIS RANCH USED TO BE LIKE THAT ON
THE RIGHT. BRINGING THE CATTLE, AND THAT
HAS CHANGED. BUT WHAT THEY DO START FIRST,
THEY START OFF WITH A GOOD PATCH THAT LOOKS LIKE ON THE LEFT, AND
THEN THEY BRING THE ANIMALS AND MOVE THEM LIKE THIS, LIKE GIANT
BUFFALO, AND THEY USE COWBOYS. AND THEN THE ANIMALS DISTRIBUTE
THE MANURE VERY CLOSELY. I WANT MANURE EVERY SQUARE FOOT,
THE HOOVES BREAK UP THE CRUST, AND THEN THE COWS DO THE MOST
POWERFUL THING THEY DO. [ LAUGHTER ]
THEY PUT IT ON THE LAND. A LOT OF ENERGY GOES RIGHT
THERE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT'S A
COW PIE IN THE DESERT! WHERE THE COW PUT THAT ENERGY,
LOOK WHAT HAPPENS. AND I GET SO FRUSTRATED TO HEAR
THE ARGUMENT, WELL, WE GOT TO EAT LESS MEAT.
NO, WE NEED MORE MEAT, BUT WE NEED IT TO BE RAISED LIKE
BUFFALO, NOT IN THE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX THAT WE HAVE.
[ APPLAUSE ] FRUSTRATING. THE COW IS NOT THE PROBLEM.
WE'RE THE PROBLEM. LOOK AT THE PRAIRIE, GRASSES
CHOKE OUT THE CACTUS. AND GUESS WHAT ELSE COMES?
THE WILDLIFE. SO PEOPLE SAID, OKAY, SO WHAT
CAN WE DO? WHAT CAN WE DO?
FIRST, FOLKS, EVERY ONE OF US HAS TO MAKE THIS PERSONAL, THE
WAY YOU BUY FOOD. LET THY FOOD BE THY MEDICINE.
YOU WANT TO STAY HEALTHY? NEVER GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
[ LAUGHTER ] I'M NOT BEING CRITICAL.
THE THING IS, WE NEED FOOD. FOOD IS OUR NUTRITION.
IF THE SOIL IS DEPLETED, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY SOIL, YOU
DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY PLANT, YOU DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY ANIMAL, YOU
DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY HUMAN. WE HAVE LOST 50 % OF OUR
NUTRIENT DENSITY. WHAT ARE THE OTHER OBSTACLES?
THE AG COMPLEX. PLEASE UNDERSTAND, EVERYBODY
BUILT AGRICULTURE ON THE WRONG PREM IGS.
THERE'S FORCES. YOU GOT TO BUY TILLAGE,
SPRAYERS. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE
FARMERS BARRAGED EVERY DAY. OUR AG POLICY, PEER PRESSURE IS
BRUTAL. I HAD A RANCHER TELL ME, RAY,
IDAHO, SAID I WENT FIRST AND I WENT TO NO TIL, I WENT TO THE --
NO TILL, I WENT TO THE HARDWARE STORE, ONE OF THE OTHER RANCHERS
AND FARMERS SAID YOU ARE DEGRADING THE RESOURCE!
BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF THE NORM. THE PEER PRESSURE IS BRUTAL.
THE OTHER, WE HAVE A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING, AND HERE'S
ANOTHER THING THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME.
60 TO 70% OF THE LAND IS RENTED. PEOPLE WHO RENT THE LAND DON'T
USUALLY TAKE CARE OF IT. AND MANY ABSENTEE LANDOWNERS
DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON TO THE LAND, AS LONG AS THEY GET
THEIR CHECK. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING?
CHANGING EVERYTHING. WE CAN ONLY CHANGE IT IF WE
CHANGE THIS WORLD HERE, THE HEART AND MIND, THROUGH
EDUCATION, TEACHING PEOPLE TO BE LEADERS HOLISTICALLY, NOW THEY
HAVE THE RIGHT PARADIGM. SO WE WANT -- THAT'S WHY WE CREE
AT ATE -- CREATED SOIL HEALTH ACADEMY.
LET RANCHERS AND FARMERS TEACH OTHERS.
THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PREM IGS. -- PREMISE.
WRAPPING IT UP HERE, ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES, "PEOPLE DON'T
BUY WHAT YOU DO; THEY BUY WHY YOU DO IT."
KNOW YOUR WHY. SOME OF THE TOP RANCHERS AND
FARMERS, THEY SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE.
WHY DO THEY DO IT? BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE LAND AND
THEY LOVE THE PEOPLE. AND THEY LOVE THE CREATOR AND
THE CREATION. THEY ARE THE MOST GIVING, THE
TOP 1% THAT SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE.
I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THESE TWO BOOKS.
START WITH YOUR WHY. I TOLD THE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE.
I AM IMPRESSED WITH THESE COLLEGE STUDENTS HERE.
I TELL THEM, START WITH YOUR WHY.
IF YOU KNOW YOUR WHY, YOU WILL LOVE YOUR JOB FOR THE REST OF
YOUR LIFE. AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS,
"LEADERS EAT LAST." LIKE I SAID.
WENT ALL OVER THE WORLD. AND I NEVER FORGET THE IMAGERY,
WHEN HE SHOWED IT IN HIS VIDEO. IN A WAR-TORN AREA, THERE WAS
THIS MOTHER THAT WAS NESTLED, COVERING UP THIS LITTLE TODDLER,
SO SHE WOULDN'T BE HIT WITH BULLETS.
SIMON SINNICK, THAT'S THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP WE NEED.
LEADERS THAT WILL OUT OF LOVE, THAT WILL SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES
FOR THE WHOLE. I MADE A COMMENT YESTERDAY, HOW
MANY OF OUR -- DO WE HAVE LEADERS IN WASHINGTON, DC THAT
WILL SACRIFICE THEM SELF FOR THE WHOLE?
THAT'S WHY THE MARINE CORPS, THEY BUILD A BROTHERSHIP, A
BROTHERHOOD, A COMMUNITY. WE NEED COMMUNITY OF FARMERS AND
RANCHERS THAT HAVE THAT SAME LOVE FOR EACH OTHER, THAT THEY
DON'T FEEL THEY ARE COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER.
OUR INDIVIDUALISM IS POWERFUL, BUT IT HURT US.
WE NEED TO LEARN MORE FROM THE EASTERN CULTURES OF COMMUNITY.
[ APPLAUSE ] LAST ONE, LAST TWO SLIDES.
SEE, LEADERS EAT LAST. LEADERS MAKE YOU SAFE.
I NOTICE THE LEADERS DON'T GIVE YOU A CONSERVATION PLAN.
PLAN'S GOOD, BUT THEY ARE THERE WITH YOU.
LEADERS INSPIRE. PLANS DO NOT INSPIRE ANYONE.
TOOLS DO NOT INSPIRE. SCIENCE DOES NOT INSPIRE.
I LOVE SCIENCE, I HAVE EIGHT YEARS OF UNIVERSITY STUDY.
LOVE INSPIRES. WHEN YOU ARE WILLING TO DIE FOR
YOUR PEOPLE AND SACRIFICE YOURSELF, THEN WE WILL CHANGE
THIS WORLD. DAVID, LAST SLIDE.
REMEMBER DAVID SPEAKING HERE? DAVID WAS VERY, LIKE HE SAID,
PESSIMISTIC. WHEN HE WENT TO DAVE'S RANCH,
WHEN HE WENT ALL OVER, HE WALKED AWAY, SAYS, WE CAN DO THIS!
WE CAN DO THIS. AND I'M TELLING YOU, I WILL
SHARE THE LAST THING AND GET OFF THE PODIUM, PROMISE.
YESTERDAY AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN CAME UP AND HE WALKED, HE COULD
BARELY WALK UP HERE, AND HE COULD BARELY SPEAK, AND HE JUST
KIND OF BREATHED, AND YOU COULD TELL THE STRUGGLE FOR THE WORDS
TO COME OUT. AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID?
"WHAT CAN I DO?" SIR, I GAVE YOU A WRONG ANSWER.
I TOLD HIM "BUY QUALITY FOOD." THAT'S ONLY ONE.
I WANT TO SAY THIS TO YOU, IF YOU ARE THERE, SIR, LET'S PRAY
FOR OUR LEADERS. PRAY FOR EACH OTHER, LET'S HELP
EACH OTHER OUT. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST
ONE. AND THEN DEMAND QUALITY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM GOING TO TELL YOU, THERE IS A FAMINE
IN THE LAND, AN INCREDIBLE FAMINE.
A FAMINE OF QUALITY FOOD, QUALITY LAND, AND QUALITY PEOPLE
OF INTEGRITY. LET'S BECOME THOSE PEOPLE OF
QUALITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
