Ray Archuleta USDA Scientist Learned to Work with Nature

Ray Archuleta, featured in documentaries like Kiss The Ground and Common Ground, spent decades as a USDA employee working with farmers and ranchers. Despite his long career in the traditional system, which he describes as attempting to "manipulate, force, and control nature," Ray grew discouraged. He witnessed persistent soil erosion and struggling farmers.His perspective shifted dramatically when he encountered regenerative farmers such as Allen Williams, Gabe Brown, and Neil Dennis—the subjects of our short film soil carbon cowboys. This meeting was a revelation, providing the answers he had been seeking. Though convinced, he spent years at the USDA wishing his colleagues would recognize the potential of this new approach.Ray sat down with Peter to share his journey in regenerative agriculture, discuss the rapid soil improvement he has observed, and articulate his deep, spiritual belief in treating nature with respect."When you stand on healthy soil, there's a universe beneath your feet."