604 My book is out!
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#RealisticRegenAg | My book is published! This has been a year long process of editing, book design, proofreading, and finally getting it set for distribution. I used a hybrid model of self publishing with the support of a team at FriesenPress. They are Canadian publishers and have all the distribution channels in place to get it available anywhere in the world.
The title is Practical Regeneration: Realistic Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture. Here’s the elevator pitch:
Farmers are feeling the pressure to implement climate smart strategies from outside forces. Governments are making international commitments and agribusinesses are responding to consumer demands and shareholder resolutions. The hype of regenerative agriculture keeps growing. But what actually works? I have spent two decades working with farmers on the Western Canadian Prairies. I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. I’ve spent the time critically reviewing the science behind the claims. Whether you are a farmer, an agronomist, or anyone that touches agriculture, this book will help you find the practices that help the planet and, just as importantly, farmers’ economic sustainability.
Welcome to the sixth season of Plants Dig Soil, a podcast about #RealisticRegenAg. I’m your host, Scott Gillespie, and I’m an agronomist from the western Canadian prairies specializing in climate-smart agriculture. I discuss scientifically proven practices that benefit the planet and, just as importantly, farmers' economic sustainability. Be sure to visit my website, www.plantsdigsoil.com, for resources and information about the services I that I offer for farmers and agribusiness.
Transcript is available:
https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/podcast/practical-regeneration
Realistic Regen Ag Channel (WhatsApp):
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBofw37NoZxtgHSRl3S
My consulting packages:
https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#consulting
Practical Regeneration: Realistic Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture
https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/books
Speaking, Teaching, & Workshop Design:
https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/speaking
My funding service offerings:
https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork
SCAP program details https://www.alberta.ca/sustainable-cap.aspx
OFCAF program details https://rdar.ca/funding-opportunities/ofcaf
My course: Profitable From the Start: Cover Crops for the Prairies:
https://plantsdigsoil.thinkific.com/courses/cover-crops-prairies
Newsletter signup:
https://mailchi.mp/plantsdigsoil/newsletter
https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6944029544697802752
Email: scott@plantsdigsoil.com
X (aka Twitter) (Scott): https://twitter.com/scottcgillespie
X (aka Twitter) (Company): https://twitter.com/PlantsDigSoil
LinkedIn (Scott): https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgillespie/
LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/plants-dig-soil
YouTube: (Company): https://www.youtube.com/@scottcgillespie
Podcast Subscription Apps: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scottcgillespie
Try your local bookstore first. If they can’t get it try their website. For reasons I don’t quite understand sometimes it shows in online catalogues for retail delivery to a store or your home, but bookstores are not able to order it through their system for stock. Just ask and search and if you get stuck email me.
Ereader options are much easier to find. It is on all the major sellers websites for sale plus the publisher’s site.
If you’re local to me, near Taber, Alberta, Canada, I have my own copies and can sell them to you direct. Buying direct from me is the cheapest way to buy it and I get more of the royalties. Buying from my publisher gives me the most royalties but there is shipping on top of that.
You might have noticed I only put one podcast episode out, other than the audio version of the newsletter. I decided this year to go back to how I started. I’ll concentrate on one solid agronomy episode per month and not try to add in extras on the news and on book reviews. If you want to see interesting news join my WhatsApp channel, follow me on X (Twitter), or connect on LinkedIn.
I have just one more event planned during conference season. I’ll be speaking at the Alberta Forage Industry Network AGM near Edmonton this coming Thursday. Beyond that it’s grow time! Get it? Grow time? Time to grow the crops.
On the funding side of things I’m finishing up some S-CAP applications now. The OFCAF program announced it is taking in new applications a few weeks ago. Confused on the acronyms? Scroll down for more details.
If there is anything regenerative you’ve wanted to try on the farm, or there are new pieces of technology you want to try, it might be covered. It’s worth taking a look. The total dollars are over $100,000 per farm. Some programs even pay greater than 100% - compensating you for opportunity costs in trying something new.
If you are thinking of these I suggest you get on them now. While they can be applied for in the spring and the summer there are many good reasons to do it now. First of all, they usually require approval before incurring expenses. This is also good for you as you want to be sure before spending money that you will get it back. Second, if they get enough applications to fill the available money, they will shut them down early. And finally, I don’t have the time to work on them then, and I expect neither do you. After all, it’s grow time.
Practical Regeneration:
Realistic Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture
Farmers are feeling the pressure to implement climate smart strategies from outside forces. Governments are making international commitments and agribusinesses are responding to consumer demands and shareholder resolutions. The hype of regenerative agriculture keeps growing. But what actually works? I have spent two decades working with farmers on the Western Canadian Prairies. I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. I’ve spent the time critically reviewing the science behind the claims. Whether you are a farmer, an agronomist, or anyone that touches agriculture, this book will help you find the practices that help the planet and, just as importantly, farmers’ economic sustainability.
The easiest way to find it is to ask your local bookstore to order or stock it.
Here’s my local bookstore:
Analog Books in Lethbridge, AB
Here are some others that you can order direct from:
Audrey’s Books in Edmonton AB
The Bookstore on Perron Street in St. Albert, AB
Three Hills Books in (you guessed it) Three Hills, AB
Pages On Kensington in Calgary, AB
The Next Page in Calgary, AB
Owl’s Nest Books in Calgary, AB
If you’d like me to list your bookstore, send me a message through my contact page.
It should be available to order from any channel with normal the trade discount & book return insurance. (So, they should have no risk in getting it for you!)
If you don’t have a local bookseller, go to your favourite app and search “Practical Regeneration”
Try one of the links below (due to country specific sites you may need to just search, these are the Canadian ones)
Friesen (direct from the publisher)
Chapters Kobo
Amazon Barnes & Noble
Apple Google
Where I’ll be in Winter 2024
Alberta Forage Industry Association - AGM & Speaking Engagement
Best Western Premier Edmonton Airport Hotel
Thursday March 14, 2024
Title: Cover Crops for Break Years: Improving the Soil for Perennial Production
Description: Incorporating cover crops into your break years can effectively control problem weeds, restore lost fertility, and improve soil structure. This presentation will discuss how these practices can fit into your farming system, which cover crops to use, and how to strike a balance between building soil health and maintaining a steady cash flow.
Speaking, Teaching, & Workshop Design
Hire me for your next event. I’ve given presentations (online and in-person), taught courses at Lethbridge College to diploma & degree students, and created workshops. A full list of my work is on my “Media” page. Most events are not recorded but a few have made it to YouTube (posted below). I’m up for just about anything so let me know what you need, and we’ll go from there.
Consulting Packages
I do not sell any products. I do not follow systems that others have created. I get to know your farm or agribusiness, your needs, and work to develop a plan that works for you. You are not locked in: Once the plan is created you are free to implement it on your own, hire another company, or retain me for help along the way.
$600 Q&A
You’ve got questions. I’ve got answers. Not sure where to begin? Do you need a sounding board for your ideas? Perhaps you want a second opinion on what your current advisor is suggesting. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.
Pricing includes one meeting in-person (within 100km of Taber, AB) or online and support through email, text, or phone for a 3 month period.
It is ideal for winter planning or seasonal support.
Upgrade to any other plan for the difference in cost anytime.
$3000 Farm Planning
I get to know your operation, where you are, and where you want to be. Give me access to as much, or as little, data as you like. Don’t worry if it’s not organized. I’ll figure it out.
Pricing includes four meetings in-person (within 100km of Taber, AB) or online and support through email, text, or phone for a 12 month period.
This is ideally started in the fall with new clients so that plans can be worked on over the winter. The summer can be used for implementing and fine-tuning them.
$2000 Annual Retainer
Unlike most agronomy businesses, I don’t try to hook you into my services year over year. I love to keep working with you over the long term though.
Pricing includes four meetings in-person (within 100km of Taber, AB) or online and support through email, text, or phone for a 12 month period.
This is ideal for existing clients who want support for the farm plan on an annual basis or who just want to have a resource throughout without a lot of upfront work.
S-CAP Funding ($150,000 per farm)
S-CAP = Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership
Many things are covered but the highlights are:
New technology, farm security, grain handling
Buying new or upgrading existing centre pivots,
Installing drip irrigation
Digging a well, developing water supplies for crops or livestock, decommissioning old wells
Developing a food safety plan or upgrading existing ones, developing new products or markets
Fencing in riparian areas, adding fencing (perimeter and internal)
Increasing legumes or establishing native or tame forages
Adding in shelterbelts, eco-buffers, and pollinator strips,
Intercropping annuals for grain harvest
Cocktail cover crops for green manure or forage
Establishing or enhancing wetlands.
My fees can usually be included in the funding.
https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork
SCAP overview: https://youtu.be/0icitHJR2lk
SCAP program details https://www.alberta.ca/sustainable-cap.aspx
OFCAF Funding
OFCAF = On-Farm Climate Action Fund
Many things are covered but the highlights are:
· Cover crops (seed & seeding costs)
· Soil testing/mapping
· Manure, compost & digestate hauling and application
· Split applied nitrogen & nitrogen inhibitors
· Establishing perennial legumes or renovating pasture
· Getting set up for rotational grazing (internal fencing + water)
You MUST have a CCA or P.Ag on the application and I have both designations.
There is no better time to start working with an independent agronomist.
The initial consultation is free to determine eligibility.
My fees can be included in the funding.
https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork
OFCAF Program details https://rdar.ca/funding-opportunities/ofcaf
Profitable From the Start: Cover Crops for the Prairies
You'll make a Cover Crops FIRST (TM) Plan:
Fit
Implementation
Return-On-Investment
Species
Termination.
CCA Continuing Education Credits (CEU) available.
https://plantsdigsoil.thinkific.com/courses/cover-crops-prairies