An NRCS employee for more than 32 years, Doug Peterson started his career as a soil scientist. In the intervening years, he served as a state grassland specialist and state soil health specialist. Most recently, he served as a regional soil health specialist, helping row crop and livestock producers around the country understand soil health and regenerative agriculture, how it impacts virtually all natural resource processes and how to effectively regenerate the health, function and productivity of our soil.
He attended college at Missouri Western State University, graduating in 1986 with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture, with an emphasis in economics and agronomy.
Doug grew up on a crop and livestock farm near Newtown, in Northern Missouri. For the last 25 years, he has operated his own 250-head cow/calf and contract grazing operation. He utilizes Adaptive Regenerative Grazing to regenerate soil health, eliminating the need for most purchased fertilizer and limiting hay needs to about one bale per-cow per-winter.
Doug’s NRCS training, coupled with his real-world, hands-on experience, make him a uniquely qualified speaker. In his role as regenerative agriculture consultant, his expertise makes him relatable to both row crop and livestock producers in all parts of the country.
I am excited to be part of the Soil Health Academy team and to continue down the path of helping others understand how to regenerate their land, improve our environment and be profitable while doing those things. It seems that I have spent my entire adult life learning about soil, plants and animals.
In that time, I have learned that overcoming the human tendency to want absolute control over everything is the first step we have to take to make positive changes in our operations. Learning to work with natural ecosystems and not against them is, without a doubt, one of the biggest challenges.
I believe the best learning comes from doing. Growing up on a farm and then spending many years with NRCS, evaluating farms and ranches across the Midwest, has allowed me to learn a tremendous amount about managing the land. But running my own farming operation for the last 25 years has been the ultimate learning experience.
That practical experience allows me to help my clients make the best management choices, whether it be selecting the right fence, waterline, water tanks, adapted livestock, or cover crops and no-till equipment. Whatever the need, I can help.
Regenerative agriculture has the remarkable potential to improve our environment, our profitability, our rural communities, as well as our health. I’m convinced that regenerative agriculture is the future of all agriculture. I look forward to helping you gain the knowledge, confidence and skills you need to make the right regenerative decisions for your operation.
