Crop Insurance Won't Let Some Farmers Adapt to Climate Change for Bloomberg
Gail Fuller grew monoculture cash crops and raised thousands of feeder lot cattle until a change of heart pushed him toward regenerative farming; as a result he lost his farm insurance. Now, he and partner Lynette live on a much smaller farm in the Kansas Flint Hills where they use rotational grazing to raise cattle, sheep, chickens, and hogs.
Gail Fuller extends the temporary fence as his cattle and sheep rush for fresh pasture to graze on at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg Gail Fuller extends the temporary fence as his cattle and sheep rush for fresh pasture to graze on at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
Cattle graze on Illinois Bundle Flower among other plants and grasses in a pasture at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Many farms would consider Illinois Bundle Flower to be a weed to spray but Fuller Farms lets their livestock feed and maintain the fields rather than spray. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg Cattle graze on Illinois Bundle Flower among other plants and grasses in a pasture at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Many farms would consider Illinois Bundle Flower to be a weed to spray but Fuller Farms lets their livestock feed and maintain the fields rather than spray. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
Sheep graze on Illinois Bundle Flower among other plants and grasses in a pasture at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Many farms would consider Illinois Bundle Flower to be a weed to spray but Fuller Farms lets their livestock feed and maintain the fields rather than spray. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg Sheep graze on Illinois Bundle Flower among other plants and grasses in a pasture at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Many farms would consider Illinois Bundle Flower to be a weed to spray but Fuller Farms lets their livestock feed and maintain the fields rather than spray. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
A moth lands on Iron Weed growing among other plants and grasses in a pasture at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Many farms would consider Iron Weed a weed to spray but the sheep at Fuller Farms love to graze on it; maintaining the fields while also providing growth for the livestock. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg A moth lands on Iron Weed growing among other plants and grasses in a pasture at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Many farms would consider Iron Weed a weed to spray but the sheep at Fuller Farms love to graze on it; maintaining the fields while also providing growth for the livestock. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
Turkeys strut at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg Turkeys strut at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
A litter of curious pigs looks on at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. The farm sells meat to restaurants and individual buyers. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg A litter of curious pigs looks on at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. The farm sells meat to restaurants and individual buyers. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
Pigs and cattle share a field at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg Pigs and cattle share a field at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
A cat naps on a grill at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg A cat naps on a grill at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
Fuller Farms’ geese move to a new spot at the farm near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg Fuller Farms’ geese move to a new spot at the farm near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
Gail Fuller walks to the field where some of their cattle and sheep are grazing in a field near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg Gail Fuller walks to the field where some of their cattle and sheep are grazing in a field near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
Gail Fuller on his farm near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Gail farmed monoculture cash crops and raised feeder cattle until a change of heart directed him toward regenerative farming practices. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg Gail Fuller on his farm near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Gail farmed monoculture cash crops and raised feeder cattle until a change of heart directed him toward regenerative farming practices. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
Gail Fuller on his farm near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg Gail Fuller on his farm near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
Gail Fuller on his farm near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Gail farmed monoculture cash crops and raised feeder cattle until a change of heart directed him toward regenerative farming practices. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg Gail Fuller on his farm near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Gail farmed monoculture cash crops and raised feeder cattle until a change of heart directed him toward regenerative farming practices. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
A cow grazes in a field on Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg A cow grazes in a field on Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
Cattle and sheep graze in a field on Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg Cattle and sheep graze in a field on Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
Gail Fuller watches the chickens at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg Gail Fuller watches the chickens at Fuller Farms near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg
(L-R) Lynette Miller and Gail Fuller with the chickens on their farm near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg (L-R) Lynette Miller and Gail Fuller with the chickens on their farm near Severy, Kansas, U.S. on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2024. Photographer: Castor Chase/Bloomberg