Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

Episode 91: You Are What You Eat: Examining Beef and Plants With Dr. Stephan van Vliet

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 21:20:51 +0200

Dr. Stephan van Vliet performs clinical and translational studies to evaluate the effects of whole food ingestion and physical activity interventions on body composition, physical function, inflammation, insulin action, and intracellular signaling pathways that regulate muscle mass with advancing age. His work has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the Journal of Nutrition, and the Journal of Physiology.

Dr. van Vliet earned his Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Community Health as an ESPEN Fellow from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received post-doctoral training at the Center for Human Nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. Dr. van Vliet also holds a Masters in Nutrition Science.

As a member of the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute within the Duke University School of Medicine, his work focuses on the effects of primary (protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins) and secondary compounds (phytochemicals, polyphenols, antioxidants) and the molecular mechanisms by which they impact human metabolism. His work often involves physical activity interventions and utilizes an integrative approach to improve human health.

In this conversation, John and Stephan discuss:

Nutrient differences in grass-fed beef
Other studies focused on beef, bison, and milk
Implications of plant secondary metabolites being consumed
Variations in phytonutrient density
Soil health and ergothioneine levels
How different plant species provide different compounds to livestock
Organic production and nutrient density

Additional Resources
Follow Stephan on Twitter: @vanvlietphd
For more webinars featuring Dr. van Vliet, please search “Dr. Stephan Van Vliet” on YouTube
Stephan’s Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=L5KcySQAAAAJ&hl=en
To learn more, please visit his website: https://stephanvanvliet.com/

About John Kempf
John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA). A top expert in biological and regenerative farming, John founded AEA in 2006 to help fellow farmers by providing the education, tools, and strategies that will have a global effect on the food supply and those who grow it.

Through intense study and the knowledge gleaned from many industry leaders, John is building a comprehensive systems-based approach to plant nutrition – a system solidly based on the sciences of plant physiology, mineral nutrition, and soil microbiology.

Support For This Show & Helping You Grow
Since 2006, AEA has been on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable with regenerative agriculture.

AEA works directly with growers to apply its unique line of liquid mineral crop nutrition products and biological inoculants. Informed by cutting-edge plant and soil data-gathering techniques, AEA’s science-based programs empower farm operations to meet the crop quality markers that matter the most.

AEA has created real and lasting change on millions of acres with its products and data-driven services by working hand-in-hand with growers to produce healthier soil, stronger crops, and higher profits.

Beyond working on the ground with growers, AEA leads in regenerative agriculture media and education, producing and distributing the popular and highly-regarded Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, inspiring webinars, and other educational content that serve as go-to resources for growers worldwide.

Learn more about AEA’s regenerative programs and products: https://www.advancingecoag.com/

VIDEO: To learn more from John Kempf about regenerative agriculture, watch this conversation between John and three AEA grower partners about how regenerative agriculture is changing lives and conventional farming: https://youtu.be/n9U6GwbYPDk

Check out this episode!

Episode 90: Scaling Regenerative Supply Chains with Anthony Corsaro

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 03:06:38 +0200

Anthony Corsaro is an entrepreneur, investor, and regenerative agriculture evangelist whose mission is to help heal our people and planet through ventures that inspire the production and consumption of healthy, nutrient-dense foods. Anthony’s family has been deeply involved in the food system for almost 100 years since his orphaned grandfather started selling produce in the early 1930s. That business grew into one of the country’s leading regional fresh produce distributors and today serves 2,500+ retail customers in 20 states.

Anthony is the Founder and Managing Director at Outlaw Ventures: a family office backing the rebels, radicals, and revolutionaries building the better food system of tomorrow. Outlaw Ventures is raising a venture capital fund to invest in early-stage regenerative consumer brands. Anthony is also the Creator and Co-Host of The ReGen Brands Podcast: a podcast about the consumer brands supporting regenerative agriculture and how they’re changing the world. He is also the Founder of Regeneration Nation: a clothing company and community hub for the heroes and advocates of regenerative agriculture.

In this conversation, John and Anthony discuss:

Regenerative vs. extractive relationships in supply chains
Building regenerative infrastructure to create better routes to market
Increasing market accessibility for growers
Nutritional integrity and its impact on buyers
“Upstream Disease” – examining the whole supply chain
Opportunities and limiting factors for growers
The importance of networking to expand market access

Support For This Show & Helping You Grow
Since 2006, AEA has been on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable with regenerative agriculture.

Learn more about AEA’s regenerative programs and products: https://www.advancingecoag.com/

Check out this episode!

Episode 89: Regenerative Agriculture, Cover Crops and Water Holding Capacity with Jimmy Emmons

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 17:42:25 +0200

Jimmy Emmons is a third-generation farmer from Oklahoma. He and his wife Ginger have been farming and ranching together since 1980. They have a 2000-acre farm with a diverse rotation of crops that include: wheat, soybeans, sesame, sunflowers, irrigated dairy alfalfa, canola, grain sorghum, and several cover crops for seed.

Jimmy has been monitoring soil health with soil testing since 2011 and is a proponent of using multi-species cover crops to enhance soil health. He is currently involved in a multi-year water holding capacity study examining the water use of cover crops. Jimmy also incorporates other regenerative practices, such as companion crops, to attract beneficial insects and decrease the need for additional synthetic nutrients.

In this conversation, John and Jimmy discuss:

The benefits of cover crops for water retention in the soil profile
Drought resilience of crops and plants grown in diverse environments
Companion crop mixes and their benefits
The importance of talking to your legislatures about regenerative farming
The negative effects on quality markers from grower practices and input decisions
Using nutrient-dense food as medicine

Support For This Show & Helping You Grow
Since 2006, AEA has been on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable with regenerative agriculture.

Check out this episode!

The Relationship Between Fungi, Endophytes, and Native Soil Biology with Dr. Mary Lucero – Episode 88

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 19:47:30 +0200

Dr. Mary Lucero has over 30 years of experience in scientific research and education in agriculture. Her research examines the microbial relationships between plants and soil health and proves that the regenerative approach offers a way forward for growers and consumers. As Co-founder and Systems Biologist at End-O-Fite Enterprises, she works with growers and biostimulant producers to optimize regenerative techniques to restore microbial ecosystems.

Mary and her husband, David, run Jal Farms, a family-owned fruit and beef operation in Eastern New Mexico. Her farm focuses on regenerative practices to restore soil health and growing nutrient-dense foods and even has an on-farm lab for her research.

In this conversation, John and Mary discuss:

The importance of creating an environment for native biology to thrive
How fungi are great shapeshifters
The Mycosome Hypothesis developed by Peter Atsatt
The importance and complexity of endophytes
Horizontal organism transfer
Indigenous concepts and principles
Mary’s experience with farm ownership

To connect with Mary and her work and to learn more about her online classes, please visit: https://endofite.com/

To learn more about the Mycosome Hypothesis developed by Peter Atsat, please visit: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12730709/.

Support For This Show & Helping You Grow
Since 2006, AEA has been on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable with regenerative agriculture.

To get started, contact AEA here: https://www.advancingecoag.com/contact

Check out this episode!

Episode 87: Helen Atthowe

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 19:16:42 +0200

Helen Atthow is an author and farmer who has worked on developing systems that focus on ecological health by utilizing living mulches and minimal tillage. She is passionate about using the natural nutrient cycles present in ecosystems to reduce system inputs. Her research and experience have shown how focusing on the system can impact weed, disease, and pest management.

She and her late husband, Carl Rosato, co-owned and operated a certified organic orchard in California, where they pioneered methods for raising apples, peaches, and other crops to replace the need for pesticides. She also farmed and conducted additional research at Wood Leaf Farm in Eastern Oregon until early 2023. Now living in Western Montana, she is starting a new farm where she has planted a no-till orchard. Atthowe has a master’s degree in horticulture from Rutgers University and has worked in education and research at many other institutions.

In this conversation, John and Helen discuss:

No-till living mulch systems in orchards
Managing ecological systems with residues
Strategies for disease and pest management
Minimizing inputs and maintaining yields
Mowing management and the importance of timing
Thinning and pruning practices
Vole management outcomes
Selective strip-till system in vegetable production

Click here to check out Helen’s new book, The Ecological Farm

Support For This Show & Helping You Grow
Since 2006, AEA has been on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable with regenerative agriculture.

Learn more about AEA’s regenerative programs and products.

VIDEO: To learn more from John Kempf about regenerative agriculture, watch this conversation between John and three AEA grower partners about how regenerative agriculture is changing lives and conventional farming: https://youtu.be/n9U6GwbYPDk

Check out this episode!

Episode 86: Charles Eisenstein

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 21:43:46 +0200

Charles Eisenstein is a speaker, teacher, and author. A graduate of Yale University with a degree in Mathematics and Philosophy, his work covers various topics, including human civilization, economics, spirituality, and ecology. His published works include “The Coronation,” “The Ascent of Humanity,” “Sacred Economics,” “The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible,” and “Climate—A New Story.” In the last-mentioned title, he argues that reducing environmental discourse into the single issue of global warming is a huge mistake for the environmental movement. The book focuses instead on the “Living Planet” view, envisioning what our relationship to nature might be if we saw that everything is alive, conscious, and sacred. Overall, his primary interest is exploring the boundaries of what is possible according to our received beliefs, habits, technologies, and ways of knowing.

In this conversation, John and Charles discuss:

What defines regeneration
What we need to do to embrace regenerative landscapes
Why the quality of our life depends on the quality of our relationships
Indigenous knowledge of landscape management
The understanding of what real wealth is
The differences between control and responsibility
The Importance of exercising our capacity to create
The growing community and movement of regenerative farmers

To learn more about Charles Eisenstein and his work, please visit his website at https://charleseisenstein.org/ or subscribe to his substack at https://charleseisenstein.substack.com/

To learn more about his published work, please visit https://charleseisenstein.org/books/

Support For This Show & Helping You Grow
Since 2006, AEA is on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable with regenerative agriculture.

AEA has created real and lasting change on millions of acres with their products and data-driven services by working hand-in-hand with growers to produce healthier soil, stronger crops, and higher profits.

Check out this episode!

Episode #85: Steve Tucker

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 17:16:41 +0200

Steve Tucker is a western Nebraska dryland producer who has been farming for 30 years. He introduced regenerative practices into his operation over 10 years ago and values diversity in his approach. Growing upwards of 10 crops per year while integrating livestock, such as chickens, pigs, and cows. Steve also uses no-till farming practices and biological applications on his farm. Steve advocates for growers to market themselves in order to access more opportunities and advises them to look for alternate streams of income for the crops they are growing.

Steve runs Agriforce Seed with his business partner Jeff Olsen. Steve grows sunflower, hay millet, oats, yellow field peas, winter wheat, Golden German hay millet, and forage pea/oat hay blends. His ultimate goal is to build soil health by mobilizing soil microorganisms to grow better, higher quality, more nutrient-dense food.

In this episode, John and Steve discuss:

Being content with the size of the farm you operate
Making connections by marketing yourself
Selling by the pound vs selling by the bushel
Looking for sales opportunities around you to sell
Pursuing multiple streams of farm income
Identifying opportunities that come from promoting more life on the farm
Using biologicals, including AEA’s BioCoat Gold
Finding the freedom of doing things on your own terms

AgriForce Seed is Nebraska’s largest pulse seed producer. Agriforce provides yellow peas, chickpeas, and many other types of pulse crop seeds. Also available are hay millet seed and a large selection of cover crop seeds and forage products. To learn more, call 308-289-4853

To learn more about AEA’s BioCoat Gold, please visit – https://land.advancingecoag.com/buy-biocoat-gold-now

About John Kempf
John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA). A top expert in the field of biological and regenerative farming, John founded AEA in 2006 to help fellow farmers by providing the education, tools, and strategies that will have a global effect on the food supply and those who grow it.

Support For This Show & Helping You Grow
The recognized leader in regenerative agriculture since 2006, AEA is on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable.

AEA works directly with growers on the application of its unique line of liquid mineral crop nutrition products and biological inoculants. Informed by cutting-edge plant and soil data gathering techniques, AEA’s science-based programs empower farm operations to meet the crop quality markers that matter the most.

AEA has created real and lasting change on millions of acres with their products and data-driven services by working hand-in-hand with growers in North America to produce healthier soil, stronger crops, and higher profits.

Learn more about AEA’s regenerative programs and products.

VIDEO: For more conversations with John Kempf about regenerative agriculture, watch this amazing conversation between John and three AEA grower partners about how regenerative agriculture is changing lives and conventional farming: https://youtu.be/n9U6GwbYPDk

Check out this episode!

Episode #84: Joel Williams

Thu, 25 May 2023 14:57:48 +0200

Joel Williams is an independent plant and soil health educator who provides lectures, workshops, and consultations on soil management, plant nutrition, and integrated approaches to sustainable food production. Joel enjoys designing farming systems that focus on managing soil biology along with crop and soil nutrition to optimize plant immunity and soil function. He has extensive experience working in Australia, the UK, and Canada, integrating soil and plant analyses as a joined-up strategy for managing production.

In this episode, Joel and John discuss:

The differences between the chemistry vs. biology approach
The importance of a well-structured soil
Reasons for using biological seed coatings
Efficiencies of foliar applications vs. soil applications
Crop responses to incremental changes over extended periods
Strategies for efficient foliar applications
Nitrogen applications and management
Yield expectations during regenerative transitions

To learn more about Joel and his work, please visit https://integratedsoils.com/

About John Kempf
John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture. A top expert in biological and regenerative farming, John founded AEA in 2006 to help fellow farmers by providing the education, tools, and strategies that will have a global effect on the food supply and those who grow it.

Support For This Show & Helping You Grow
The recognized leader in regenerative agriculture since 2006, Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) is on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable.

Learn more about AEA’s regenerative programs and products, and check out the Regenerative Agriculture Podcast.

VIDEO: For more conversations with John Kempf about regenerative agriculture, watch this inspiring webinar featuring John and three AEA grower partners that share how regenerative agriculture is changing the way they farm and live: https://youtu.be/n9U6GwbYPDk

Check out this episode!

Episode #83: John Warmerdam

Tue, 23 May 2023 15:15:08 +0200

John Warmerdam is a third-generation stone fruit grower in the San Joaquin Valley of California. His grandfather came to the area from Holland in 1911 and started a small farming operation that John’s father, John N. Warmerdam, eventually took over. Today John and his dad farm over 350 acres of peaches, plums, nectarines, kiwi, and almonds. The Warmerdams also have one of the largest cherry-growing operations in the southern San Joaquin Valley and have been innovators in the fruit packing industry for 45 years. In this episode, they discuss:

Cultural management practices for stone fruit Transitions in his farming systems Mite management Driving factors for considering regenerative management Pruning and thinning management Future water usage issues Generational shifts in farming Additional Resources:

Concepts for Understanding Fruit Trees by Theodore DeJong

Learn more about Warmerdam Packing

Learn more about John Warmerdam

About John Kempf

John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture. A top expert in the field of biological and regenerative farming, John founded AEA in 2006 to help fellow farmers by providing the education, tools, and strategies that will have a global effect on the food supply and those who grow it.

Support For This Show & Helping You Grow

The recognized leader in regenerative agriculture since 2006, AEA (Advancing Eco Agriculture) is on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable.

Learn more about AEA’s regenerative programs and products and check out the Regenerative Agriculture Podcast.

VIDEO: For more conversations with John Kempf about regenerative agriculture, watch this amazing conversation between John and three AEA grower partners about how regenerative agriculture is changing lives and conventional farming: https://youtu.be/n9U6GwbYPDk

The post Episode #83: John Warmerdam appeared first on Regenerative Agriculture Podcast.

Episode #82: Dr. Erin Silva

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 05:43:24 +0200

Dr. Erin Silva is an Associate Professor and State Extension Specialist in Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems in the Department of Plant Pathology as well as the Director for the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UW-Madison.

After completing a Ph.D. in Horticulture at Washington State University, Dr. Silva obtained a faculty position at New Mexico State University. During her tenure at NMSU, Dr. Silva taught courses on organic vegetable production, including an experiential learning course integrating the campus working student organic Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. Dr. Silva initiated several organic research projects at NMSU, including work on a cover crop-based reduced tillage approach for organic vegetable crops and breeding vegetables for organic production systems.

These research themes continued as Dr. Silva moved into the first organically focused research position at the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in 2006. Through her work at UW-Madison, she has developed an internationally recognized program that improves the management of organic production systems and increases the profitability and sustainability for organic producers and rural communities.

In this episode, Dr. Silva and John discuss the following:

To find out more information about Erin’s research, please visit https://uworganic.wisc.edu/ograin/. OGRAIN, The Organic Grain Resource and Information Network, exists to provide farmers access to research and to form a community of organic grain producers.

About John KempfJohn Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture, a plant nutrition and biostimulants consulting company. A top expert in the field of biological and regenerative farming, John founded AEA in 2006 to help fellow farmers by providing the education, tools, and strategies that will have a global effect on the food supply and those who are growing that supply.

Through intense study and the knowledge gleaned from many industry leaders, John is building a comprehensive systems-based approach to plant nutrition - a system solidly based on the sciences of plant physiology, mineral nutrition, and soil microbiology.

Support For This Show & Helping You GrowThe recognized leader in regenerative agriculture since 2006, AEA (Advancing Eco Agriculture) is on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable.

AEA works directly with growers on the application of its unique line of crop nutritional supplements and biological inoculants. Informed by cutting edge plant and soil data gathering techniques, AEA’s science-based programs empower farm operations to meet the crop quality markers that matter the most.

Learn more about AEA’s regenerative programs and products.

VIDEO: For more conversations with John Kempf about regenerative agriculture, watch this amazing conversation between John and three AEA growers about how regenerative agriculture is changing lives and conventional farming: https://youtu.be/n9U6GwbYPDk

Episode #81: Fred Provenza

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 20:27:46 +0200

Fred Provenza, Professor Emeritus of Behavioral Ecology at Utah State University, is the co-founder of BEHAVE (Behavioral Education for Human, Animal, Vegetation and Ecosystem Management), an international research and outreach program that seeks to understand the principles of animal behavior. For the past 30 years, this group has produced ground-breaking research that laid the foundations for what is now known as behavior-based management of landscapes.

Through his research, books, and speaking engagements, Fred has paved the way for the behavior-based management of landscapes. His work has influenced researchers across disciplines.

In this episode, Fred and John Kempf discuss:

The consciousness of plants and animals, and our relationships to them
The relationships between domestic animals, crops, and healthy landscapes
Fred’s understanding of the gut microbiome of livestock and how it changes with diverse diets
The pathway for regenerating millions of arid acres in the US West
Appreciating the culture and heritage of animals
The functional significance of both human and animal family structures

Fred has authored three books:

Nourishment: What Animals Can Teach Us about Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom: https://bookstore.acresusa.com/products/nourishment
- Also available on audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/An-Original-Audiobook-Adaptation-of-Nourishment-Audiobook/B0BKH5NBF5
Foraging Behavior: Managing to Survive in a World of Change: https://www.amazon.com/Foraging-Behavior-Managing-Survive-Change/dp/0970389922
The Art & Science of Shepherding: Tapping the Wisdom of French Herders: https://bookstore.acresusa.com/products/the-art-and-science-of-shepherding

Support For This Show & Helping You Grow

This show is brought to you by Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA), leaders in regenerative agriculture since 2006.

AEA produces the highest quality biological and mineral nutrition products along with offering Plant Sap Analysis, and regenerative program development for your farm.

If you are a large-scale grower looking to increase crop quality, resilience, and profit — email hello@advancingecoag.com or call 800-495-6603 today to be connected with a dedicated AEA regenerative agriculture crop consultant. To learn more visit https://www.advancingecoag.com

VIDEO: For more conversations with John Kempf about regenerative agriculture, watch this amazing conversation between John and 3 growers about how regenerative agriculture is changing lives and conventional farming: https://youtu.be/n9U6GwbYPDk

Episode #80: Kelly Mulville

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 15:50:47 +0200

Kelly Mulville, a veteran agricultural consultant, is the Vineyard Director at Paicines Ranch in San Benito County, California. For more than 25 years, Kelly has been obtaining impressive results by merging his experience in viticulture with his understanding of Allan Savory’s holistic grazing management techniques. His approach to extended-season vineyard livestock grazing and other ecological practices continue to capture an audience of vineyard managers around the globe.

Kelly and John discuss in this episode:

How Kelly developed practices around incorporating sheep into his vineyard management.
Flooring a wildlife biologist with the bird population data on Kelly’s vineyard after implementing new practices.
The role plant-grazing animals play in reducing insect pressures.
Kelly’s cover cropping strategy and how it has led to a diversity of 50 species of plants growing in the vineyard.
The specific holistic management techniques inspired by Allan Savory’s work that have contributed to vineyard success.
The adaptability of these practices on other crops like nuts and tree crops.

Episode #79: Joe Lewis

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 21:28:22 +0200

Joe Lewis is an internationally renowned scientist recognized for his work in entomology and agricultural studies. His discoveries in the behavioral and chemical interactions of parasitoids, insect herbivores, and plants have played a critical role in our understanding of ecological growing. He is also the author of A New Farm Language: How a Sharecropper's Son Discovered a World of Talking Plants, Smart Insects, and Natural Solutions.

Listen as Joe and John discuss:

Joe’s introduction to agriculture growing up on a Mississippi cotton farm
The discovery of plants utilizing chemical compounds to alert parasitic wasps to the presence of caterpillars.
The first demonstration of associative learning in parasitic wasps.
Sensitivity of signals between plants and parasitic wasps, including how they differentiate from food and host.
Environmental impacts that have led to unbalanced increases in insect pressures.
The value of cover cropping to provide a nectar source for insects during production season.
Changing the paradigm from “how to kill this pest” to “why is this pest a pest?”

A New Farm Language by Joe Lewis: https://bookstore.acresusa.com/products/a-new-farm-language

Episode #78: Adam Chappell

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 17:27:38 +0200

Adam Chappell is a regenerative grower and cover crop advocate from Cotton Plant, Arkansas. Adam started growing with his dad and brother on their 7,500 acre property in 2005, but by 2009 pigweed issues alone had nearly pushed them into bankruptcy. Knowing there had to be a better way, Adam began educating himself about the power of regenerative agriculture, implementing a cover cropping strategy that he claims saved the family farm. Today, Adam’s operation grows a variety of broadacre crops and continues to make strides in ecological health and crop performance.

Throughout their conversation, Adam and AEA Founder John Kempf discuss:

Adam’s start in agriculture and how cover cropping brought the farm “from the brink of bankruptcy to a profitable enterprise.”
Adam’s current methodologies for crop rotation and cover cropping.
How the adoption of regenerative practices has contributed to improved profitability.
Adam’s background in entomology and ecology and the shifts in insect populations he has seen over time.
Questioning the necessity of soil testing and becoming wary of “sales tools.”
Implementing Dr. Norman Lupo’s root intensification method and other row spacing strategies.
Livestock integration and the story of Adam’s first purchase of cattle.
Why Adam’s goals for the future include “getting smaller.”

Episode #77: Rick Clark

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 18:41:07 +0200

Rick Clark is a fifth-generation farmer from Warren County, Indiana. Driven by a desire to work alongside mother nature, Rick has been implementing regenerative practices on his farm for almost a decade. Rick’s commitment to soil health has allowed him to grow his operation to 7000 organic, no-till acres, in part by employing a variety of cover cropping and weed control techniques.

In their conversation, Rick and John Kempf discuss:

Rick’s journey to a fully organic operation
Conventional agriculture’s “dependency on chemistry” and the best practices for conventional burn down
Rick’s humbling experiences experimenting with cover crops in the early days
How planting multiple cash crops together could be the future of agriculture
Handling foxtail and other difficult weeds through regenerative practices
The power of diversity and rotation in a no-tillage system
Rick’s take on farm economics and how he is saving almost $1.7 million a year in inputs

Episode #76: Tim Parton

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 18:20:28 +0200

Tim Parton is a regenerative agriculture advocate and Farm Manager at Brewood Park Farm in the United Kingdom. Tim has been implementing regenerative practices on his 300-hectare estate for over 15 years. He has received several accolades for his work, such as being named the Arable Innovator of the Year by British Farming Awards and receiving the Farm Innovator of the Year award from Farmers Weekly.

Throughout their conversation, Tim and John discuss:

Tim’s background and retreat from intensive pesticide use.
How balancing plant nutrition helped Tim cultivate canola seedlings that are resistant to flea beetles.
Tim’s experience with Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (or BYDV) and how he manages aphids in an ecological system.
Foliar application systems and their economic impacts.
Increases in commodity fertilizer prices and what this means for the financial viability of regenerative agriculture.
How Tim has managed to not apply any NPK fertilizers for more than a decade.
The cultural management practices that have replaced fungicide applications on Tim’s farm.
The importance of carbon sequestration, educating consumers, and sharing information among growers.

Episode #75: James Johnson

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 21:14:30 +0200

James Johnson is a fourth-generation farmer in New Mexico and the Vice President of Carzalia Valley Produce. When James finally took over the family farm in the early 2000s the outlook of his operation seemed grim. After many years of trial and error with various practices, James found the Advancing Eco Agriculture team where he discovered the benefits of regenerative agriculture.

Thanks to his partnership with AEA, James achieved an outstanding yield of 1,490 lbs/acre for Pima Cotton at the end of harvest season 2020 while his county average was 880 lbs/acre!

In this episode, James and AEA founder John Kempf discuss:

The shift in agronomy management on James’ farm over the last 20 years.
James’ first encounter with John Kempf and the similarities in their personal stories.
The long-term effects of herbicide, insecticide, and pesticide use on crops from the perspective of a self-declared “recovering glyphoholic”
Solving onion thrips and western flower thrips pressure with regenerative foliar applications, rather than insecticides.
James’ observations on chlorpyrifos and diazinon—how their use affects non-target species and overall soil biology.
The technology James uses as a self-proclaimed early adopter, including evapotranspiration platforms and an AI robot that pulls weeds.

Episode #74: Dale Strickler

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 18:27:32 +0200

Dale Strickler is an agronomist at Green Cover Seed and prominent author primarily focused on soil health. Dale grew up on a family farm outside Colony, KS, and received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agronomy from Kansas State University. Dale has been an advocate for the use of cover crops for over three decades and continues to experiment, achieving increasingly exciting results.

Dale has published two books, The Drought-Resilient Farm and Managing Pasture. His third book, The Complete Guide to Restoring Your Soil, will be released later this year.

In this episode, Dale and AEA Founder John Kempf discuss:

Dale’s agricultural background and what inspired his fascination with cover crops.
His experiences with heavy clay soil and implementing a subsurface, drip-irrigated pasture.
How regenerative practices can affect water-holding capacity of soils and restore small water cycles.
Dale’s most memorable moments in his consulting work with growers across the country.
Hand cropping, intercropping, and other practices forgotten by mainstream, mechanized agriculture.
The reason farmers need to be “thinking like a scientist” and the power of self-education.

Episode #73: John Fagan

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 17:41:43 +0200

John Fagan is the Chairman & Chief Scientist at the Health Research Institute, also known as HRI Labs, in Fairfield, Iowa. HRI provides testing services that focus on the nutritional value and biofunctionality of food sources. HRI’s research and collaboration efforts continue to help grow the global regenerative agriculture movement in myriad ways.

Throughout their discussion, Fagan and John discuss:

The scope of Fagan’s work at the Health Research Institute.
How chromatography, mass spectrometry, and other analytical tools allow Fagan to identify plant and animal compounds.
Fagan’s research in comparing conventional vs organic production methods and his key takeaways.
The diversity and variability of plant compounds and their potential for innovation in the world of agriculture.
Fagan’s tentatively named “Farmer Led Innovation Network” and how it is combining cutting-edge science and data collection.
How evidence of glyphosate presents across different crop types, agricultural products, and soil profiles.
The evolution of glyphosate detection and what science can tell us about glyphosate levels in our food.

Check out the glyphosate research mentioned by Fagan here: https://johnkempf.com/perspective-on-glyphosate-challenges/

Episode #72: Nicole Masters

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 20:27:46 +0200

Nicole Masters is an internationally recognized agroecologist from New Zealand. Fortified by her studies in ecology and plant physiology, Nicole currently serves as the Director of Integrity Soils, a collection of regenerative agriculture coaches that assist growers around the globe. Nicole is also the author of “For the Love of Soil: Strategies to Regenerate Our Food Production Systems.”

In this episode, Nicole and John discuss:

Nicole’s background in vermicompost and her strategy of customizing microbial applications to produce specific outcomes.
The current rise in research on microbial quorum sensing and quorum signaling.
Many case studies and examples that explain relationships between soil life and nutrition profiles and weed populations.
The function of biology in response to plant signals and in enhancement of plant immune systems.
The practice of bio-priming seeds or land, and how it helps to produce disease-suppressive soils, and to regenerate native plant populations.