Rachel Gurney is co-lead of the Soil Health & Agroecological Living Lab (SHALL) in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She’s also a faculty associate in the UW-Department of Community & Environmental Sociology.
In the following Q&A, Gurney discusses her lab’s primary objectives through SHARE-funded research and what a recent SHALL survey is revealing about implementation of sustainable practices.
What are SHALL’s primary objectives?
Gurney: SHALL examines social dynamics that contribute to more healthy and just food and agriculture in Wisconsin and beyond. Our work sits at the intersection of ecological and human wellbeing. We use a range of social scientific and humanistic methods, including the arts. We believe agroecological living offers long-term sustainability, wellbeing, and resilience. By engaging with farm workers and producers, we aim to co-create solutions that promote a more equitable and sustainable food future for all.
SHALL Foci:
· Social links between soil health, human health, and agroecological health
· Agroecological organization
· Labor and inequality in food and agriculture
· Place-making and rural-urban “flow”
· Perceptions of and connections with the natural environment
· Cultivation of environmental knowledge
· Food security and sovereignty
· Politics of food and farming
What do you want farmers/other stakeholders to know about your work?
Gurney: SHALL partners with a variety of community groups and organizations to support projects that address critical research needs and foster community engagement through research projects and publications, arts initiatives, educational workshops, training programs, and events. Many of these initiatives are made possible through grant funding. We welcome inquiries from potential collaborators and encourage interested parties to reach out to our SHALL team to explore opportunities for partnership and grant funding. We can be reached at shall-uw@wisc.edu.
What’s something new you’ve learned through your current SHARE-funded project or the SHARE collaboration itself?
Gurney: I’m excited to announce that SHALL recently concluded a statewide survey requesting responses from 3,200 farmers across Wisconsin. Through this survey, we’re aiming to gain insight regarding farming practices and farmers’ beliefs regarding personal, community, and ecological wellbeing. SHALL – in collaboration with Dr. Shaheer Burney, associate professor of agricultural business and the director of the Survey Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls – is currently analyzing these survey results.
One key finding thus far is that farm size and profitability play a critical role in determining whether dairy farmers implement sustainable practices. While many farmers hold positive perceptions of sustainability, these beliefs don’t always translate into action. Even if farmers are supportive of sustainable practices, the size of their operation and its financial viability often outweigh these perceptions. That limits their ability or willingness to engage in more sustainable practices.
Two sustainable practices that stand out as exceptions to this trend are grazing and organic certification. While these practices are widely seen as sustainable, they come with significant barriers to scalability, especially for larger farms. For example, securing the necessary organic inputs can be especially challenging for large operations, making these practices more difficult to implement on a larger scale.
Working closely with Dr. Burney, we’re excited to continue analyzing these data and look forward to sharing more insights in the near future. This work is deepening our understanding of the practical barriers and opportunities associated with sustainable farming.
Does the SHARE collaboration affect your approach to soil health research or effort? If so, in what way(s)?
Gurney: Our lab contributes to SHARE by helping to develop understanding of the social factors and dynamics that promote and/or hinder soil health principles. SHALL considers how agriculture practices associated with soil health – such as maximizing soil cover via cover cropping and perennials, optimizing biodiversity via crop rotation and diversification, and engaging in minimal disturbance (no- or reduced-till) – overlap and synergize with farmers, farmworkers, and their communities.
Why are you interested in soil health?
Gurney: I’m interested in soil health because it offers a comprehensive and impactful way to enhance environmental sustainability as well as the wellbeing of farmers, rural communities, livestock, and wildlife. By focusing on improving soil health, we can address a wide range of critical challenges – from soil erosion and compaction to nutrient loss and water pollution. These issues not only threaten agricultural productivity they also harm ecosystems and communities that depend on healthy land.
Soil health is at the heart of building long-term economic vitality for farmers. Healthy soils reduce risks associated with crop production, improve resilience to extreme weather events, and can lead to better yields with fewer inputs, ultimately supporting a more sustainable and profitable farming system. Improving soil health also can help mitigate broader environmental issues, such as biodiversity loss, pesticide drift, and air pollution from fine particulates.
I’m passionate about soil health because it offers a pathway to tackle both immediate and systemic challenges in agriculture, fostering a more sustainable and resilient future for our farming communities and the planet.
Why are you interested in SHARE?
Gurney: I’m interested in SHARE because of its comprehensive approach to advancing soil health through research and outreach. Building on the success of the Cover Crops Research and Outreach Project (CCROP), SHARE expands our understanding of the social, agronomic, ecological, and economic dimensions of sustainable farming practices. By focusing on practices such as incorporating small grains into crop rotations, using cover crops, and promoting grassland and perennial systems, SHARE addresses critical challenges facing modern agriculture.
What excites me most about SHARE is its emphasis on farmer engagement and collaboration with strategic partners and stakeholders. The project's success depends not just on technical innovations, but also on fostering a community of practice that supports these principles. This holistic approach aligns with my passion for developing solutions that are both scientifically sound and socially sustainable, ensuring that the practices are accessible and beneficial to farmers and the broader agricultural community. This work helps advance practices that will have long-term positive impacts on soil health and farming sustainability.
What’s your favorite soil health practice (and why):
Gurney: My favorite soil health practice is managed rotational grazing because it helps build more resilient agricultural systems that are good for the land, animals, and the people who rely on them.
Managed rotational grazing, where livestock are moved between different grazing areas, helps maintain healthy pasture ecosystems. This method reduces overgrazing, allowing the land to recover and preventing the depletion of nutrients. By carefully managing grazing patterns, farmers can ensure that animals have access to fresh, nutritious forage, while also improving soil structure and organic matter. This creates a positive feedback loop where livestock contribute to soil fertility through manure, which in turn supports healthy plant growth.
Practicing managed rotational grazing not only improves soil health but also fosters a more humane environment for livestock by reducing the need for intensive confinement systems. By supporting natural behaviors and providing a variety of forage, this management practice ensures animals have a healthier, more stress-free life.
Visit SOIL HEALTH & AGROECOLOGICAL LIVING LAB (SHALL) – College of Agricultural & Life Sciences for more information.
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