Bionutrient Institute Nutritional Assessment
For years, Dragonfly Farms has been learning about soils by following the work of the Bionutrient Food Association. We first became aware of them when a Central VA BFA Chapter formed. I enjoyed meeting other farmers with similar interests, as well as attending a workshop that the founder conducted. It is very interesting to understand their practices of mineralizing soil to encourage soil life and healthy plants, balancing the soils with micronutrients and biology, not just N, P and K. For our work at Dragonfly Farms, healthy soil and grass will produce healthy cattle and tasty beef.
The BFA is also looking at nutrient density. A carrot from one garden might not have the same nutritional qualities as a carrot from another garden. The Bionutrient Institute was formed to look at this closer and they are starting by examining beef. We immediately signed up to participate in the study. Then, we planned where the cattle would be grazing before going to the butcher, and took soil and forage samples from that field. After the cattle had been grazing that field for about a week, we took manure samples. This week, when the beef comes back from the butcher, we will send 3 ribeyes to the lab. They will be doing a thorough look at grazing management practices, soil and fertility, and forage quality and diversity. Here is more info about the beef study.
Our understanding is that this is the beginning of the study and it will be months before results are released. They are taking samples from other regenerative farms as well as grain fed feedlot beef. We are excited to see how our beef compares.
