A system designed for results we’re getting

If you woke up this morning and asked yourself, “What am I going to kill today?,” chances are you’re a farmer. 
In an industry that should be focused on cultivating life, often our next thought or move is centered around what we can eliminate from our fields to achieve that goal.
The last weekend of January, as I found myself scanning over a crowd in Norfolk, I noted an array of more than 250 unique individuals: Young and old, farmers and environmentalists, government agencies and health professionals, country folk and city folk. The group included individuals on both the right and left side of the political aisle, who for at least 48 hours were unified on the vast topic of the conference.
In 2026, you may wonder what possible circumstances could bring such a diverse group of people together. The answer is simple. We are all concerned about the preservation of Nebraska’s agriculture and the health of its people. First and foremost, I want to thank the Nebraska Sustainable Agricultural Society (NSAS) for putting on such a great event, giving people a place to connect with like-minded individuals and to come together, united for a common cause.
My family stumbled on NSAS a few weeks ago during a deep dive into regenerative agriculture. Regenerative and sustainable agriculture go hand in hand. Regenerative agriculture is defined by Britannica as an alternative practice that “prioritizes conserving and rehabilitating the land, tailoring specific practices to local ecosystems and climates” while also “actively improving the health of the soil.”
This recent deep dive lead my family and I to the NSAS annual conference, which was held this year in Norfolk. Over the span of two days, we networked and soaked in information from a handful of the 38 session topics that were offered. Topics ranged from soil health, human health, composting, crop production and cover crops, to native ecosystems and much, much more!
Through the diverse topics discussed, one key theme resounded time and time again: Human and community health start with soil health.
Saturday’s keynote speaker, Dr. Stephanie Hartman, an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, spent her time discussing the connection between the health of the soil and the health of our communities.
“What is health?,” one might ask. Unfortunately, Dr. Hartman noted that “most people don’t realize what it is until they don’t have it anymore.” What a true statement.
With the rise in cancer, Parkinson’s, and nitrates in our local water supply, the connection of human health to the health of our soil is something we cannot ignore any longer. Change needs to happen to protect our communities and through that change may come the sustainability of our local agriculture climate, which is an imminent uncertainty in a $4 corn market era.
The change starts one agricultural enthusiast at a time. It starts with me. It starts with you.
How long until we say enough is enough? One farmer changing their practices may just be a small drop in the bucket, but so what? It is not done in vain. Change happens one person at a time; one farm at a time.
We have to care and care ENOUGH to begin making and implementing changes. There will always be barriers to making change; concerns of profitability being the main one. 
You may ask how you can afford to make these uncertain changes. I will ask you, for the sake of your health, future, loved ones and community, how can you afford not to?
BEKAH MEAD can be reached at advertising@hamilton.net