Primary Animals Raised: Cattle

Greg Thoren Farms is a regenerative operation in Stockton, Illinois, rooted in the belief that healthy soil grows healthy food and healthy communities. Greg and his wife Janis manage over 2,200 acres of cropland and 125 acres of pasture, where they raise a herd of beef cattle rotationally grazed on living cover crops. Their cows are an active part of the soil-building system, adding organic matter, cycling nutrients, and helping the land capture and hold more carbon and moisture. Guided by data and decades of on-farm trials, Greg measures yield not by bushels but by net profit and soil health, proving that stewardship and profitability can go hand in hand.

Raising Practices

• Regenerative-First: 100% no-till and 100% cover-cropped with multi-species mixes to build microbial life, reduce inputs, and strengthen the land year over year.
• Non-GMO and Low-Input: Grows non-GMO corn and soybeans without seed treatments, insecticides, or routine fertilizers — nitrogen reduced to just what the crop and soil biology can handle.
• Integrated Livestock Grazing: Cattle graze diverse cover crops in carefully managed strips, turning forage into fertility while protecting soil structure.
• Profit over production: Evaluates success by net income and ecosystem health, showing that mindful management produces both stronger land and better beef.
• Adaptive, virtual-fenced grazing: GPS collars guide animals without physical fences, allowing flexible movement, proper rest, and protection of sensitive areas.

Read More About Greg Thoren Here