Soil Regen has announced a two-step process whereby anyone who plants a seed in the soil to harvest or grows livestock can understand how their soils are functioning with the Regenerative Verified process.

The company verifies if a soil meets Regenerative Certification through soil testing.

Soil Regen uses the Regen Certified test now offered at Regen Ag Lab developed by soil scientist Rick Haney, and Regen Ag Lab founder Lance Gunderson.

The test employs updated soil analyses and formulations to measure the conditions your soils inherent qualities were versus how you have affected them with your management strategies.

Next, the Regenerative Verification process begins to determine the producer’s management qualifies as regenerative. Even conventional farmers can use the process to see how their soil compares to their own baseline and obtain nutrient recommendations down to a foot. The recommendations aim to help producers reduce inputs and save money.

The Regenerative Verified process gives producers a way to verify management strategies with factual data. It helps educate consumers and businesses. It is meant to help producers achieve a higher income for their products. As more and more consumers and businesses are further removed from understanding our way of life and the operations we manage, it is up to grower to have a common voice that is relatable to them.

Regenerative Verified labeling is a way for producers and companies to verify and market agricultural and food products that are grown and produced using regenerative farming practices. Regenerative farming practices include:

•    cover crops

•    rotational grazing

•    mob grazing

•    reducing fertilizer inputs

•    reducing synthetic chemical inputs

•    diverse crop rotations

•    minimizing mechanical soil disturbance

These practices build soil quality and soil health and reduce the environmental impacts of conventional farming thereby increasing local water quality and surrounding ecosystems. The company offers this certification process by using a two-part verification process. 

Regeneratively Grown labeling is a way for producers to verify and market meat products produced using regenerative farming practices described above.

These practices build soil quality and soil health and reduce the environmental impacts of conventional farming and ranching thereby increasing local water quality and surrounding ecosystems. The company offers this certification process by using a two-part verification process. Step one involves soil testing and regenerative certification through a certified laboratory. Step two consists of verification of Regenerative Management Techniques by a third party as described in Farm Regenerative Verification

Regenerative Certified labeling is a certification process using comprehensive soil tests from a certified laboratory that determine in a reproduceable and replicated scientific manner that management practices used are regenerating soils on that farm. The first and only laboratory certified now is Regen Ag Lab. The Regenerative Certified test is solely based upon the quality of the soils on their farm, independent of soil type, geographic location, climate, and other mitigating environmental and management factors. 

The regenerative certification process begins by obtaining composite 0-6” and 6-12” samples from the field under review.  Farm fields greater than 50 acres require multiple samples representing one composite sample for each depth for every 50 acres. 

Exceptions can be granted for large acreages treated using identical management practices in adjacent fields with similar soil composition. A composite sample should consist of no less than 10 subsamples per depth. Samples should be obtained prior to planting the crop under consideration for Regenerative Verification. Composite samples must be labeled by depth and include field identifier, producer information, and a request for testing.

Samples are analyzed in a lab using the Haney test.

The method measures inorganic N, P, and K with a soil extractant comprised of organic acids. It also estimates potentially mineralizable N and P as influenced by water-extractable organic C and N and microbial soil respiration. The test was designed for commercial soil testing laboratories and uses rapid, cost-effective procedures. The test also offers insight into the complex interactions between soil chemistry and biology and providing additional value to producers through improved plant available nutrient estimates as well as an indication of the soil health status as related to C, N, and P cycling.

In addition to the methods just described, soil organic carbon and micronutrients are also analyzed. The results from the 0 – 6 “ and 6 – 12” samples are next run through a proprietary calculation to determine that regenerative practices are being conducted on the soils submitted. Each set of samples is scored on the Regenerative Certified Scale. A score greater than the minimum threshold qualifies for Regenerative Certification.

Once a farmer’s soil samples receive Regenerative Certification, or in conjunction with sampling and analysis, the Regenerative Verification process begins. Regenerative Verification includes a survey of the management practices included on a field in the previous year and anticipated practices for the current crop year. Producers are required to provide some form of documentation supporting their management practices. Examples of documentation may include, but are not limited to:

•    Fertilizer receipts

•    Cover crop seed receipts

•    Planting records

•    Notarized statements of management practices

Visual evidence may also be required such as:

•    In-field photographic evidence of planting, cover crop stands, livestock, fencing, etc. 

•    Site visits throughout the year

•    Aerial imagery