Fresh Growth

Latest Episodes:

Jeremy Bunch: Shepherd's Grain Jan 17, 2022

Show notes

Western SARE completed our second season of Fresh Growth. Thank you for listening! As we are working toward Season 3, we are sharing some special podcasts created by Washington State University students.
In this podcast, you'll hear from Shepherd's Grain COO and Director of R&D Jeremy Bunch. He discusses what makes Shepherd's Grain unique and how they work with no-till wheat farmers. The model links farmers with consumers. You'll learn more about the importance of traceability as well as no-till practices for soil health.
Student team: Mia Berry, Miguel Fuentes, James Pellervo, Mathew Zimmer

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Diamond S Farms: Benefits of No-Till Mar 06, 2021

Show notes

Western SARE completed our second season of Fresh Growth. Thank you for listening! As we are working toward Season 3, we are sharing some special podcasts. These podcasts were created by students in the Washington State University’s Systems Skills for Agriculture and Food Systems class. The students interviewed producers on topics such as regenerative agriculture, permaculture, marketing, economics, technology and more. We hope you enjoy and learn from their work.
In this episode, Palouse wheat growers Kyle and Stacie Schultheis, Diamond S Farms, discuss the benefits they have seen using no-till practices. Kyle's grandfather started working with no-till in the 1970s when the ideas was very new. The farm has been 100% no-till for 20 years. Reduced soil erosion and moisture savings in the soil are two benefits described.

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WSU Impact Center: How Disruption Impacted Washington Ag Feb 20, 2021

Show notes

Western SARE completed our second season of Fresh Growth. Thank you for listening! As we are working toward Season 3, we are sharing some special podcasts. These podcasts were created by students in the Washington State University’s Systems Skills for Agriculture and Food Systems class. The students interviewed producers on topics such as regenerative agriculture, permaculture, marketing, economics, technology and more. We hope you enjoy and learn from their work.
In this episode, Tim Nadreau of the Washington State University Economic School's Impact Center discusses how the disruptions of COVID impacted Washington agriculture and the economics behind the decline. He works with commodity groups and government agencies on policy assessments and impact analysis. The Impact Center works on developing new outlets for Washington commodities in export markets.

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The Hay King: Talking Spuds and Cows Feb 19, 2021

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In this episode, Jon Paul Driver, Industry Analyst for Northwest Farm Credit Services in Spokane, curator of the Hay Kings Facebook Group, and host of the Hay Kings Podcast talks about the impact of COVID on the economy, environment, and supply chain.

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Barn Owl Bakery: Growing Heritage Grains Feb 05, 2021

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Today’s guest is Nathan Hodges, who along with his wife Sage Dilts, runs Barn Owl Bakery on Lopez Island, Washington. He discusses why they are farming and sourcing heritage grains and using them in their baked goods; how the grains are processed locally; how the community plays a big role in their success; the results of his Western SARE research project; and what “right livelihood” means to them.
The bakery came first, and then the growing of the grains. Nathan searches for grains that grow well in his climate and soils, taste good, and are highly nutritious.

After learning about heirloom grains and doing their own research finding seed and growing them, “we fell in love with these old grains... and developed a relationship with the grains, appreciating what the old grains bring to our bakery and our farming."
Heritage grains grow tall, and their root system mirrors this. Having grain with deep roots to access soil moisture is an advantage in their climate.

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Mountain Roots Produce: Feeding the Community in a Difficult Climate Jan 01, 2021

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Today’s guest is Mike Nolan who, along with Mindy Perkovich, farms in the Mancos Valley in Southwest Colorado. Mountain Roots Produce provides the local and regional community high quality and reasonably priced vegetables.

Mike discusses their commitment to building soil health, a strong local food system, and a profitable business, all while facing challenges brought on by COVID and limited water in the high desert climate.

Prior to COVID, the farm typically received 60% of their gross income from regional restaurants and retail. They were planning on decreasing their CSA shares. Since COVID hit, they lost much of that business and wound up increasing their CSA shares from 70 to 175.

“It was challenging to meet those deliverables every week,” says Mike, due to labor shortages, limited water, and changing protocols in how customers picked up their shares.

The farm was “flooded with interest” after 10 years of encouraging the community to see the importance of supporting a local farm. Mike wonders, is this an actual change to buy directly from local producers or about food security during COVID?

Mike also discusses the complexity of farming in region with limited water. “It takes a lot of coordination… to make sure we had enough to push our crops.” They plan on moving back to growing storage crops and reduce CSA shares due to a predication of even less water for the high succession, high management vegetable crops.

Mindy focuses on creating a beautiful website and blog. Last year they took a chance with a sponsored ad. In two weeks with two $60 ads, their online store sold $6,500 in product.

Mike also talks about his time in a local incubator program, in which he’s still involved as mentor. Hear his wise farming and marketing advice for beginning farmers.

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Chileno Valley Ranch: Passionate about Habitat, Land Restoration, and Community Dec 11, 2020

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Sally Gale, who along with husband Mike, operates Chileno Valley Ranch in Marin County California. She and Mike returned to the family ranch in 1993, restoring buildings, infrastructure, and the land. They planted hundreds of apple and pear trees and started a grass-fed beef business selling directly to the local community.

Sally discusses how they learned by reaching out to family ranchers, NRCS, ag extension, and the Marin Resource Conservation District to make progress on restoring the degraded land. About their work to restore eight creeks, improve pastureland, and expand wildlife habitat, she says they definitely didn’t work alone.

“I’m a believer in if you want to do something, you’ll find a way to do it.” Sally and Mike jumped in and now have a profitable ranch with restored creeks and habitat.

You’ll hear how they were successful by fencing off areas of the creeks, providing off-creek water sources for the cattle, planting native plants, and improving the soil through good carbon farming practices.

Sally now works in partnerships with RCD and Extension to help other ranches. She recommends always reaching out for assistance and getting involved in the community, as the land and waterways are all connected.

“Our land is not an island… we are all connected.”

Be sure to catch the ending when Sally discusses her work with the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade!

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Petty Ranch: Finding Balance and Planning for the Future Nov 20, 2020

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Chris Sayer is a successful fifth generation farmer in Ventura County. He grows citrus and avocados, and experiments with other specialty crops such as figs, persimmons, apples, and apricots. Chris returned to the family farm in 2001 and has become passionate about soil health and regenerative agriculture.

“I inherited well-maintained but old trees. So I’ve had to look down the road, replace trees, and get set up for the next 30-40 years.”

He discusses his ever evolving soil health and IPM practices as he continues to adapt to climate change and drought and to improve the land. Since the trees will last 30-40 years, he wants to give them the best soil possible, using 20 different species of cover crops over the past 15 years. Chris has seen organic matter greatly increase. Petty Ranch uses beneficial insects to manage pests and reduce chemical inputs. Lastly, Chris focuses on water efficiency, which has allowed him to continue farming successfully during times of drought.

It’s important to Chris to work with nature and find a balance.

“We should always be looking at impacts on the farm and keep them as minimal as possible, and localized to farm, with maximized benefits.”
Photo by Chris Sayer

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Sol Ranch: Cattle Ranching in a Brittle Environment Oct 28, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Emily Cornell and Sarah Bangert discuss prescriptive grazing effects on rangeland.

Emily is a cow-calf rancher with Sol Ranch and Cornell Ranch in Northeastern New Mexico. She markets grass fed beef and also manages an apprenticeship program for beginning ranchers. She talks about the importance of soil health, especially in an area with limited water, as well as impacts on processing and marketing due to COVID-19.

About soil health, Emily says, ““Paying attention to soil health is the most important thing a rancher can do,” especially in such a brittle environment with limited water and low decomposition.

Sarah runs a prescriptive grazing business with goats. She talks about her work with Emily and one other rancher on a SARE project studying the effects on the landscape with targeted grazing.

Listen in as Emily and Sarah talk about the importance of thinking about how nature does things, and still produce a profit every year.
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My Brothers’ Farm: Creating a Regenerative Ag Vision with Family Oct 01, 2020

Show notes

Today’s guest is Taylor Larson, who along with his two brothers and parents, operates My Brothers’ Farm in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
First generation farmers, they raise bison, pigs, and hazelnuts on the land on which they were raised.
Taylor describes creating effective frameworks to determine a vision of regenerative agriculture with multiple partners and the importance of returning to the frameworks for decision-making.
"We looking at what we are bringing into this world through our operations," says Taylor. "And it has grown beyond my wildest dreams."
You’ll also hear why Taylor views the partnerships between farmers and researchers as crucial to moving sustainable agriculture forward. Taylor has Western SARE farmer-rancher grant to study the potential for shake and catch harvesting in hazelnut production.

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