Introduction to Impacts of Agriculture

This course provides the essential information required to teach and learn key topics in regenerative grazing, both the science behind it and the practical aspects of implementation. Each course module covers an essential topic in regenerative grazing, beginning with fundamental knowledge for new audiences. Lessons cover topics in greater detail, with content for more advanced audiences.

This course is divided into the following modules:

I. Introduction to Impacts of Agriculture
II. Equity and Justice in Agriculture
III. Regenerative Grazing in Context
IV. Healthy Soil
V. Healthy Forage
VI. Healthy Herd
VII. Adaptive Grazing in Practice
VIII. Row Crops, Cover Crops, and Livestock
IX. Infrastructure: Fencing Systems
X. Infrastructure: Water Systems
XI. Business Planning and Financial Management
XII. Grazing Plans

This module outlines how regenerative grazing differs from other livestock production systems and summarizes the consequences of conventional animal agriculture for human and environmental health.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

• Define regenerative grazing
• Explain how regenerative grazing differs from other livestock production systems
• Describe the human-environmental health problems caused by intensive agricultural production
• Describe how regenerative grazing can resolve these problems and support human-environmental health

Note: The content presented in this module draws upon material from the report, “Just Transitions to Managed Livestock Grazing: Needs and Opportunities for Change in the Midwestern United States” by Erin Lowe and Ana Fochesatto. We encourage you to explore and cite the original report for more in-depth information.