Diestel Family Ranch, the family-owned U.S.-based producer of sustainably raised turkeys, has officially announced that it has become the first turkey producer ever to achieve Regenified™ certification, which happens to be a global leader in regenerative agriculture verification. More on the Regenified certification would reveal how it is, in essence, the first third-party regenerative program to be recognized and accepted by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Services for single and multi-ingredient products. Having referred to the certification, we now must turn our attention towards what all Diestel did to achieve the same. Here, we begin from its offering of Certified Regenified feed for bird and soil health. You see, earlier this spring, the company sourced 650 tons of Certified Regenified™ corn grown by local U.S. farmers, and it did so with an ancillary goal of regenerating soul and helping it transition into a healthier state. Building upon that is Diestel’s aim to replace half of its feed with Certified Regenified™ corn by 2035. Next up, we must get into how the company would go on to develop a natural habitat for birds. As turkeys’ natural habitat would often see birds roaming amongst the trees in deeply shaded forests, Diestel would try and replicate this environment by giving them access to open land. Furthermore, it would plant over two miles of evergreen, perennial shrubs, grasses, and flowering trees to promote biodiversity. The idea behind introducing these plants is rooted in the way they can attract beneficial insects, improve water quality, while simultaneously playing the role of a key component when the agenda is to create a diverse landscape, as well as restore ecosystem function.
“Every aspect of being a farmer impacts the world around us and feed is a critical part of raising poultry. If we ignore the animals’ feed sources, then we can’t solve for the future,” said Heidi Diestel, fourth generation farmer at Diestel Family Ranch. “Addressing how the feed is being grown will bring the entire system closer to a regenerative state that supports the future of farming and our planet. We want to support the next generation now because their future depends on it, both ours and yours.”
Another detail which helped Diestel achieve the Regenified certification is concerned, by and large, with its knack to create compost for soil health. This involves a process where the company would turn its organic waste into valuable, nutrient-dense compost, diverting somewhere around 2,117 tons annually from landfill. Instead, it would use that waste to produce roughly 6,350 tons of compost for local use. For some context, compost creates a healthy, diverse environment for microbiology to thrive no matter where it’s used. Anyway, Diestel also made a shift away from traditional chemicals to embrace probiotics in their place. Using beneficial biology (probiotics), the company was able to eliminate harmful components, such as chlorine. A ripple effect of this move would be improved bird health and a healthier ecosystem on the farm and beyond.
“For 75 years, my family has committed to more holistic agriculture practices that not only support the best habitat for turkeys raised on our farms, but also consider the impact on the land used.” said Diestel. “Regenified™ certification is an important recognition of what has always differentiated Diestel turkeys from mass-produced poultry products. We lead with the strictest animal welfare and environmental standards to produce the leanest, cleanest, and most delicious birds.”
Fair enough, founded back in 1949, Diestel Family Ranch has been known for the importance it puts upon health of its birds and thoughtful farming practices. In fact, during the year 1999, the ranch also became one of the first poultry farms ever to incorporate organic farming practices.
