Macauley Kincaid began farming rented ground in Missouri before he was 18. His early conventional system brought four financially difficult years, prompting him to reconsider tillage, crop diversity and the role of livestock. His operation later grew to about 880 acres with nine cash crops, a cow-calf herd, pigs, laying hens and custom grazing.
Diversity created options
No-till and cover crops became part of the system, but livestock integration gave the cover crops an additional job. Custom grazing 150 to 200 cow-calf pairs provided a major share of farm income while cycling nutrients and converting forage into a saleable service. Multiple crops and enterprises also reduced dependence on a single market.
The case does not suggest copying every enterprise. Each addition needs labour, infrastructure, knowledge and a customer. The principle is to look for combinations in which one activity supplies a need of another—such as livestock using a cover crop that also protects soil.
An open attitude is a management tool
Agronomist Christie Apple describes evaluating a practice by asking whether it helps or harms soil function. She also stresses climate and timing. A cover crop that thrives in a humid region may fail in a short, dry window; a simple, short-season mix may be the better choice.
Kincaid’s experience highlights staged change. Set a goal, build a budget, test the practice and account for the manager’s time. Early oats, grazing opportunities and reduced tillage can create near-term value while longer-term soil changes develop.
Regenerative agriculture is strongest when curiosity is paired with records. The farm must remain profitable enough to keep learning, and each experiment should make the next decision clearer.
Read the original High Plains Journal story, Integrating soil health with an open attitude pays off.