Introducing Joel Salatin: A Pioneer in Regenerative Agriculture and Self-Proclaimed ‘Lunatic Farmer’

As he drives his well-worn early-’80s Ford Bronco—complete with no windows and only cleaned by rainfall—he showcases his playful humor.

“Most respectable farmers typically have a side-by-side ATV, but I don’t fit that mold,” Salatin quipped. “I’ve got this old $2,000 Bronco, and it gets the job done.”

Recognized by many as a leading expert on regenerative agriculture, Salatin is the author of over a dozen books on the subject and travels globally to speak at conferences and work as a high-paying consultant.

A proponent of local food systems, independent farmers, and what he terms “personal choice in food sourcing,” he is a vocal critic of what he perceives as “extreme government interference” in agriculture.

In the wake of former President Donald Trump’s return to the White House last November, Salatin revealed on his blog that the president-elect’s transition team had reached out to him regarding a role as a U.S. Department of Agriculture adviser, with U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) in line to head the department.

However, Trump instead appointed Brooke Rollins as the Secretary of Agriculture.

Nonetheless, the 64-year-old Salatin remains optimistic that the upcoming Trump administration—potentially featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the helm of Health and Human Services—will dismantle regulations that he believes “hinder farmers and, in turn, consumers.”

“A fundamental aspect of enhancing our food quality is reducing regulations to enable access to local food, rather than relying on products shipped from distant locations,” Salatin said.

Cumbersome Regulations

He highlighted the presence of countless agricultural entrepreneurs who are prepared to introduce clean food options but are stymied by existing food regulations.

“Four corporations control 85 percent of what Americans consume,” he pointed out. “We desperately need freedom of choice in our food.”

Salatin expressed that if Rollins is confirmed as the Secretary of Agriculture, he would advocate for her to promptly implement a “Food Emancipation Proclamation” facilitating “direct farmer-to-consumer” sales without extensive regulations.

“If someone wants to come to my farm for sausage, I should be able to sell it without bureaucratic oversight,” he stated.

“Currently, if I wish to do that, I must transport the pigs to a federally certified processing facility that navigates various licensing requirements to maintain their licenses, and I have to compensate them for this service.”

Should it be permissible, Salatin contends Polyface Farms could operate seamlessly.

Unfortunately, current regulations hinder this process.

“We have to transport that pig along the interstate to a slaughterhouse, which incurs significant costs to retrieve it,” he lamented. “Moreover, we lose all the byproducts—materials that could be composted for fertilizer and profit if handled on-site.”

Salatin voices his concerns over the current state of independent farmers.

“On average, farmers receive just 9 cents for every dollar spent at the grocery store,” he noted.

“For beef, it’s slightly higher, while for wheat, it’s lower—averaging just 9 cents. This indicates that 91 cents are consumed by middlemen, transportation, processing, packaging, marketing, and distribution.”

He believes that a significant reduction in government regulations would be highly beneficial for small farmers.

“Suddenly, a small farmer could earn a decent living while also offering consumers a wider selection of quality food at more affordable prices,” Salatin opined.

Those in favor of increasing government oversight, according to Salatin, “trust the government more than they trust small businesses and independent farms.” He believes, “That must change.”

“Raw milk serves as a prime example,” he illustrated. “The government vilifies raw milk as unsafe. Conversely, we allocate $9 billion annually to Coca-Cola under nutritional programs, while criminalizing raw milk.”

“I’d argue Coca-Cola poses a greater threat than raw milk. While illnesses from raw milk are acknowledged, has anyone ever fallen ill from Coca-Cola? The obesity crisis stemming from excessive sugar consumption highlights that issue.”

Regenerative Methods

According to EarthDay.org, the United States is depleting soil at a rate ten times faster than it is being replenished.

Most food and agricultural pollution stem from large-scale farms, which are predominantly run by industrial or foreign entities focusing on short-term profits instead of the long-term wellbeing of our land and society.

Salatin concurs and offers a more accessible explanation of regenerative agriculture.

“It’s fundamentally about leaving the land in better condition than you found it,” he stated.

“America is unwell. Many individuals are challenging the conventional American diet. Food and farming are intertwined. You can’t separate food from agriculture.

“Nutrient-rich farms are essential for nutrient-rich food.”

Salatin discovered regenerative practices through his father, who acquired the Polyface Farms land in 1961.

Originally, the land was barren, worn down after years of intensive tilling and neglect.

His father shifted away from traditional farming towards regenerative practices, such as planting trees, excavating ponds, building substantial compost piles, and implementing rotational grazing techniques.

Now, the land is lush, abundant in nutrients.

Today, Polyface Farms supplies beef, pork, poultry, and forestry products to over 5,000 families, 50 restaurants, 10 retail shops, and a farmer’s market.

Salatin’s family has been involved in farming for four generations.

Historically, Americans relied on locally sourced, chemical-free foods until the widespread adoption of chemical fertilizers led to nutrient-depleted soil and unhealthy food products, according to Salatin.

Concerns about the use of “chemical fertilizers” were raised as early as the 1940s.

“The fastest way to ruin land is to strip it of vegetation, with plowing being the top culprit,” he explained.

Planting monocrops—growing only one type of crop each year—is the second quickest way to degrade soil, while the use of chemical fertilizers comes third, he stated.

Salatin practices biodiversity; for instance, at Polyface Farms, rabbits, chickens, and pigs share the same hoop house during the winter months instead of being segregated as in traditional farms.

Pathogens from rabbit droppings come into contact with chicken droppings, which are harmful to the rabbit pathogens. The chicken droppings in turn destroy the rabbit pathogens before they can infect other animals, all without resorting to chemicals.

According to Salatin, biodiversity instills vital checks and balances on farms.

“Birds, for example, function as nature’s pesticides,” he noted. “They consume bugs, but they typically don’t venture more than 200 yards from shelter. Consequently, we have established forested zones within 200 yards of all open areas so birds always have a safe habitat to retreat to.”

“This encourages them to emerge and feast on insects in the fields, as they have convenient shelter nearby. Such biodiversity is invaluable.”

Salatin parks the Bronco about half a mile from the hoop houses, steps out, walks 50 yards, and finds himself surrounded by spirited pigs. These pigs enjoy the pasture until winter necessitates indoor housing.

“They are moved approximately every five to ten days,” he described. “They get to run about, graze on grass, and enjoy fresh air and sunlight—living fulfilling lives.”

“Over time, we’ve discovered that our meat cooks approximately 15 to 20 percent faster than ordinary store-bought meat. Why? Because our animals are never exposed to adrenaline; they are content and untroubled.

“Animals confined to small spaces experience stress, continuously secreting adrenaline throughout their lives. You have the choice between consuming happiness or stress. I believe that eating happiness is not only tastier but also healthier.”

At Polyface Farms, livestock is moved daily, reflecting their behavior in the wild.

“One of the quickest methods to enhance the diversity of our microbiome involves consuming pastured eggs, pastured beef, pastured pork—animals that have grazed on a diverse range of elements in a pasture,” Salatin explained.

“When we enjoy that pork chop or egg, we benefit from the variety these animals have foraged in the fields.”

Living Self-Sufficiently

Initially, Salatin worked as a local newspaper reporter in Staunton, Virginia.

“I envisioned myself as the next Woodward and Bernstein, exposing scandals and writing a bestseller to retire to my farm,” he chuckled. “That was the path I expected.”

Instead, he completed college, married Teresa, renovated an attic in the old farmhouse on Polyface Farms, and lived a modest lifestyle.

“We drove a $50 car, a 1966 Dodge Coronet, which I eventually sold for parts for $75,” he reminisced. “We lived so frugally that we managed to save half our paychecks. We never took vacations, went to the movies, or dined out. If we didn’t grow it ourselves, we didn’t eat it, and we subsisted on just $300 monthly.”

“We had cows and sold beef directly to a few local clients. We didn’t need many customers, considering we were living on just $300 a month.”

On September 24, 1982, he left his newspaper job, and he and his wife decided to commit to farming full-time.

“I’ll admit I was uncertain if this full-time farming venture would succeed. However, I had a vision, and I’m grateful that, for reasons unknown, I was bestowed with one,” Salatin reflected.

Salatin encourages aspiring farmers to adopt his frugal lifestyle as they start. He suggests living in an RV or even a tent while drastically reducing expenses.