Wise Traditions 560: The Real Cost Of Conventional Agriculture And Cheap Food With Will Harris
Jan 5, 2026
Will Harris, a fourth-generation cattle rancher and owner of White Oak Pastures, shares his transformative journey from conventional to regenerative agriculture. He highlights the hidden costs of cheap food, from environmental damage to animal welfare issues. Will explains the benefits of holistic farming practices like rotational grazing and humane processing, and discusses how these changes have revitalized his community. With a focus on building soil health and promoting local farming, Will encourages listeners to support regenerative practices for a healthier food system.
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The Turning Point: Traumatized Calves
- Will Harris described loading a double-decker truck with 500-pound calves for a 30-hour trip without food or water and felt it was wrong.
- That moment triggered his decision to stop participating in industrial cattle shipping and change his farm practices.
Emulating Migratory Herds Restores Soil
- Will contrasts industrial feedlot finishing with rotational grazing that emulates migrating herds to improve land health.
- Daily paddock moves concentrate grazing impact and restore soil organic matter and species diversity.
Soil Organic Matter Skyrocketed
- Will reports his soil organic matter rose from ~0.5% to 5.5% after changing grazing methods.
- He attributes this dramatic increase to targeted grazing and improved ecosystem processes.
