Farming families rejuvenating the soil in the Midwest's agricultural hub of America
In the heartland of farming in the United States, Wendy Johnson is making a significant impact on sustainable agriculture. Based in Charles City, Iowa, Johnson co-manages Jóia Food & Fiber Farm and Center View Farms Co., a farm that was established by her grandfather and father and covers approximately 1,100 acres.
Johnson, who once pursued a career in fashion in California, returned to farming in 2010. Today, she raises heritage pigs, sheep, turkeys, guinea fowl, chickens, and runs a small herd of cattle for direct-to-consumer markets. Her farm is a testament to her commitment to regenerative agriculture, a farming system that aims to restore the planet while feeding the world's growing population. By 2050, it is projected that 10 billion people will call Earth their home, and farmers like Johnson are tasked with meeting this challenge.
Johnson's farm practices no-till farming, a method that helps reduce erosion, increase water conservation, and improve soil health. This farming technique, already practiced by Center View Farms, is crucial for sustainable agriculture.
In her pursuit of regenerative agriculture, Johnson has been working with Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), a farmer-led nonprofit that received funds from PepsiCo for supporting regenerative agriculture in the U.S. She has been diversifying crop rotations and planting cover crops, such as oats, rye, canola, camelina, radish, turnip, kale, millet, red clover, white clover, sorghum, sudangrass, barley, winter peas, and cowpeas, to improve soil health and reduce carbon emissions.
PepsiCo, in partnership with Society, has introduced a new program to support researchers exploring the future of global food systems. This program seeks to uncover how food production can sustain both the planet and its people. The program aims to expand innovative and regenerative agricultural practices, share stories, and provide support to farmers and their communities. PepsiCo is partnering with farmers like Johnson to adopt regenerative agricultural practices and build resilient farms and communities.
Johnson's farm, Jóia Food & Fiber Farm, started as an incubator for agroecology and climate-resilient practices. She grows trees and shrubs that produce fruit and nuts, uses adaptive grazing management, and grows small grains like Kernza®. Her farm is a shining example of how family farmers in Iowa, like Johnson, strive to be the best stewards of the land and protect it for future generations.
The number of cover crop acres in Iowa has risen from fewer than 10,000 in 2009 to more than a million in 2022, a testament to the growing interest in regenerative agriculture in the state. Johnson, like many family farmers in Iowa, is committed to this sustainable farming approach and is making a significant contribution to the future of agriculture in the U.S. and beyond.
