Soil Sense

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Advancements in Ag Research, Technology and Outreach with John Butler Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

Advancements in ag research and technology not only help farmers produce more with less, but also have had a big impact on their ability to build healthier soils. John Butler is the CEO of Agricenter International and a 5th generation farmer from Northwestern Tennessee. Before joining Agricenter International about seven years ago, he worked on his family farm for about 25 years and had a career with Cargill where he worked across multiple geographies in North America. He shares his unique perspective as someone who has worked in agribusiness, operated a more traditional farm, and now is running an urban farm and research hub. He shares his take on soil health, how they adapt principles to their local context of the Mississippi Delta Region, the impact of their research and education efforts, and new technologies as well.

“I can't farm the way I farm today if I had the same tools I had in the 80’s. What's allowing me this flexibility is the chemistries that we have, the fertilizers that we have, and the equipment that we have. On our AgriCenter research plot last year, we flew fungicide with the drone over our corn crop. I mean, I don't know if I would have said that five years ago. I don't know if I would even have known to have said that five years ago. So it's a pretty cool space. We're evolving significantly.” - John Butler

Agricenter International was founded in 1979 as a joint effort between Shelby County and the state of Tennessee which set aside 1,000 acres to operate an urban farm. Today, the nonprofit organization is an education, agribusiness, research and agricultural hub of the Mid-South. They have over 1.5 million visitors annually, and partner with around 80 companies every year to conduct research that includes over 20,000 replicated plots on around 700 acres of land. The breadth and scale of the organization is impressive enough, but the diversity is also remarkable, including row crops, specialty crops, tree crops, and a wide range of new products and growing practices.

“Our mission is to advance the knowledge and understanding of agriculture. And so we do that through a lot of different lenses and some of it's very, very intentional. And some of it is not so intentional… We have a commercial kitchen. We have canning classes through extension. Everything you can think of from A to Z. And so, because we have so many resources here on campus, we have about 40 companies that are located here…. It's really an opportunity for both consumers and producers to connect.” - John Butler

This Week on Soil Sense:

Meet John Butler, the CEO of Agricenter International and a 5th generation farmer from Northwestern Tennessee.
Discover the opportunities Agricenter International offers the agricultural industry and visitors alike to experience and learn

If you are interested in what soil health looks like in practice and on the farm, please subscribe and follow this show on your favorite podcast app, and leave us a rating and review while you’re there. Check out the Farmers for Soil Health website at FarmersForSoilHealth.com.

Water and Soil Conservation with Ryan Britt Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

Fifth generation farmer Ryan Britt talks about the practices he’s combined over the years and the results he’s seeing in North Central Missouri. Ryan has been a full time farmer of soybeans, corn and wheat alongside his father ever since returning after college about 23 years ago. Ryan shares the journey he and his father have been on to transition their farm to no-till, add more cover crops, plant green, and incorporate livestock into their row crop operations. We also talk about various incentive programs that Ryan has been able to take advantage of, and how their soil health practices set them up for the drought conditions they’re currently experiencing.

“Between the no till practices, the cover crop, and the terraces, we've actually greatly minimized some of our nutrient runoff concerns and our erosion concerns. So you kind of have to keep stacking all those things together. It's not one particular practice that makes a significant change, it's the whole system. We've seen that through the course of time, through stacking all those together, we're actually seeing some improvement in some of our land.” - Ryan Britt

Ryan has become very involved in volunteer leadership positions, including his current role as an Executive Board Member for the National Association of Conservation Districts where he represents the north central region. He’s also the immediate past president of the Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and a former Randolph County Farm Bureau President, among other service positions. He says these roles have exposed him to how other farms operate and given him countless lessons that he’s been able to bring back to his farm for conservation, efficiency, and profitability.

“My father and my grandfather always encouraged me to try to improve things, to try to leave it better than you found it… As I got to seeing the different things that actually had lasting impacts, conservation and specifically soil and water programs are one of those things that I felt was a great investment and I feel like we're able to continue. And it's something that I feel like my kids will be able to be proud of or at least get some of the benefits from.” - Ryan Britt

This Week on Soil Sense:

Meet Fifth generation farmer Ryan Britt who shares the soil health practices he’s combined on his operation and the results he’s seeing in North Central Missouri.
Discover Ryan’s journey to soil health and the organizations he participates in to promote its practices
Explore Ryan’s recommendations for introducing soil health practices to any operation

Experimenting with Cover Crops with Joe Rothermel Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

Farmer Joe Rothermel joins the show to talk about cover crops, strip tillage, and experiments he’s trying on his farm in East Central Illinois. Joe is the fifth generation to operate his farm and he is someone who loves new ideas and approaches and is always experimenting with new ways to improve his farm. He is motivated to find ways to lower his inputs while maintaining profitable yields.

“I have an air seeder where I can plant twin rows in between the bean rows. So then we went in and planted various clover mixes. So, what I'm going to try and do is modify the platform so it pushes down the cover crops in between the bean rows so we can cut the beans and leave the cover crop. We're just trying to have our cake and eat it too. That's basically what we're trying to do. I don't know if this is going to work. It all depends on the weather, just like anything else in farming, but... if we could get 30 bushel beans and 75 pounds of nitrogen I think that'd be kind of cool.” - Joe Rothermel

Joe originally thought he wanted to be a crop duster. He ultimately decided he didn’t quite have the right personality for it, but it led him into a career in the aerospace industry. In the mid 1990’s he came back to the family farm and took over which is where he has been ever since. At that time his father had been incorporating no-till practices for years and in his retirement he continued to encourage Joe to pursue soil health with cover crops. Despite some early mistakes, Joe continued these efforts and has found some real success.

“My goal has always been to try and minimize inputs, chemicals, fertilizer, and trying to at least maintain yield. I'm not trying to be a corn yield champion or anything like that. I would like to maintain yields and reduce input costs.” - Joe Rothermel

This Week on Soil Sense:

Meet East Illinois farmer Joe Rothermel and explore his use of cover crops and strip tillage as well as ongoing experiments he is trying on his farm
Discover the process Joe took to incorporate cover crops into his operation and the different techniques he is attempting

All Soil Health Is Local with Garrett Marsh Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

There are a lot of similarities amongst farmers, but there is no denying the fact that every farm is different. Never is that more apparent than when you learn about a farming operation in a different part of the country than where you’re from. Louisiana farmer Garrett Marsh shares about some of his early experiences with cover crops, why he switched from flooding to row rice and how that fits into his rotation. Garrett shares about how his lifelong interest in soil eventually led him to cover crops.

“It's worked out really well so far. Like I said, it's cut down on erosion. I hadn't had a whole super lot of weed pressure. So far, it's been working good. I'm kind of wanting to get into some of the other cover crops that cost a little more. Just for the fact of, I want to try to do a little experimenting with the nitrogen savings on it.” - Garrett Marsh

Garrett and his wife farm near Tallulah, Louisiana which is just across the Mississippi River from Vicksburg, MS. His grandfather started out sharecropping in the area, so he is now the third generation of his family to farm that land. They farm around 1700 acres of soybeans, corn, rice, wheat, and cotton. Garrett offers advice to producers considering incorporating soil health practices into their operations.

“Rather than jumping off into it head first and planting every acre you got in it, you know, I would suggest just kind of starting off slow, a couple of fields and experimenting with them. See how you like it. Cause I mean, it's different for everybody. It really is, you know your neighbor is going to do something different than what you are and you just got to find the little niche that's right for you and there's no doubt that it's going to.” Garrett Marsh

This Week on Soil Sense:

Meet Louisiana farmer Garrett Marsh and discover his journey into cover crops
Discover the many similarities and differences in farming in different parts of the country

Thank you to the Soy Checkoff for sponsoring this Farmers for Soil Health series of the Soil Sense podcast. This show is produced by Dr. Abbey Wick, Dr. Olivia Caillouet, and Tim Hammerich, with support from the United Soybean Board, the University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture and the Soil Health Institute.
If you are interested in what soil health looks like in practice and on the farm, please subscribe and follow this show on your favorite podcast app, and leave us a rating and review while you’re there. Check out the Farmers for Soil Health website at FarmersForSoilHealth.com.

Conservation For Both Ecology and Farm Economics with Laurie Isley Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

We love to talk about soil conservation practices on this show, but it’s always important to frame it in a realistic context that acknowledges farms are businesses. This means that the right thing for the soil has to also be the right thing for the farm’s profitability. Michigan farmer Laurie Isley shares how she’s embraced new practices at Sunrise Farms, from strip tillage to precision technology to biologicals and beyond on today’s episode of Soil Sense.

“We've also found that we continue to be profitable in the same way that we were before using these other practices. And that's really the point we try and get across to the farmers we talk to. Profitability is not this one and conservation this one. They can be very close together. It's not like they're two ends of a spectrum. Some of it isn't that I'm getting a greater yield. It's just, I have fewer costs related to the tillage that I was doing prior to that.” - Laurie Isley

Laurie is one of the owners of Sunrise Farms in Southeastern Michigan along with her husband, Jim and their son Jacob. The family farm grows about 1100 acres of corn and soybeans and implements a lot of different conservation practices including strip tillage, cover crops which they have flown on, filter strips, soil tests, and precision ag practices. Laurie, who also spent decades teaching agriscience at the high school level, now also contributes to the industry as part of the Michigan Soybean Committee and the United Soybean Board, where she is the chair of the Communication and Education Committee.

“It requires people that are open to seeking more information. So I guess my major message to them is don't settle. Be willing to look for what are new opportunities that I can use on my farm that will help me to be more profitable, but also help to ensure that the soil that I leave behind for the generations to come is as good as it possibly can be and still viable for other generations to continue farming in this area.” Laurie Isley

This Week on Soil Sense:

Meet Michigan farmer Laurie Isley as she shares how she’s embraced new practices at Sunrise Farms
Explore the introduction and use of cover crops on her operation and the efforts she’s making to share her experiences with other producers
Discover Laurie’s journey from agriscience teacher to the Michigan Soybean Board and United Soybean Board

Patience and Persistence Pays Off With Fred Yoder Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

Improving soil health doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s amazing how a series of small changes, compounded over time, can really make a difference. In this episode, we talk to 4th generation Ohio farmer Fred Yoder about things he’s been implementing over the past four decades to improve his soil health and what he has experienced firsthand that he wants farmers everywhere to experience as well. Along with his wife Debbie and his 2 children, he grows corn, soybeans, and wheat. He also has operated a retail farm seed business for over 36 years and sells seed and other technology products to farmers.

“I think we should be building soil and the things that we're doing today, I think we're building rather than even maintaining, we're actually improving soil. Dad wasn't the first to say it, but I asked him when I bought the farm, any last minute, recommendations. He said, “Just leave it in better shape than what you got it.” And today the farm is the most productive it's ever been and in the best shape it's ever been. And I think that's because of some of the things that we've been doing over the years.” - Fred Yoder

Fred is also a founding board member and now Co-Chair of “Solutions from the Land,” a non-profit that explores integrated land management solutions to help meet food security, economic development, climate change and conservation of biodiversity goals. He also serves as Chair of the “North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance,” representing all factions of production agriculture, and working to ensure that farmer-to-farmer education and economics will be the driving force to adapting to a changing climate while feeding the world.

“I look at my soil as my 401k, you won't get instant gratification from it… What they have to be convinced of is the fact if you invest in some of these practices that it'll pay dividends later on down the road. The first couple of years, you have to actually get your soils conditioned for less tillage and for cover crops and things like that. You give me a farmer for three to five years and I'll have him for life because once you go through that transitional change, then all of a sudden it supports itself.” Fred Yoder

This Week on Soil Sense:

Meet 4th generation Ohio farmer Fred Yoder and explore his soil health journey over the past 4 decades of farming
Discover the advice Fred offers all producers on pursuing soil health practices on their operations
Explore the organizations and efforts Fred participates in to support soil health practices

Practical Ideas for Building Healthier Soils With John Burk Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

There is no substitute for experience. Michigan farmer John Burk has a masters degree in crop and soil science, spent 10 years as an ag and natural resources agent for Michigan State University, and has spent over two decades farming full time. Even though he’s been farming full time for over 20 years now, he still remains involved in a lot of cover crop work with the university as well as some conservation districts. His real world experience and knowledge are invaluable in our discussion about the future of soil health.

“Get some green manure back in. You've gotta replenish them soils. You've gotta keep them soils healthy, and you need to keep them in one place so they're not all over the neighborhood. At the same time, I'm gonna tell somebody don't go out tomorrow and this fall and say, I'm gonna plant a thousand acres of rye. You're never gonna do it again. Do a hundred acres of rye. Figure out how you're gonna manage that hundred before you do a thousand.” - John Burk

John shares specifics about his planning strategies and things he has implemented or at least tried over the years. He brings a unique perspective as someone who not only grows corn and soybeans, but also sugar beets and dry edible beans. John says you need to “replenish your soil somehow and tillage isn't gonna do it all.” He recommends cover crops as a natural answer that will provide great benefits to soil health.

“If you really think about it…the more root mass you have in the soil, the harder it is for that soil to compact. Plus it gives more air pockets for the rain to flow through rather than pond on top or pack those soil aggregates together. So that's why I always like to have a bunch of different masses of roots or even the mass up top worked into the soil.” - John Burk

This Week on Soil Sense:

Meet Michigan farmer John Burk as he shares extremely practical and detailed information about finding a way to build healthier soils on the farm
John shares a lot of specifics about things he has implemented or tried over the years, including some really useful tools and strategies.

Community and Soil Health With Ray Gaesser Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

Ray Gaesser grew up on a small farm in southern Indiana and said he visited Iowa for the Farm Progress Show one year and never wanted to leave. So that’s where he and his wife moved when they had the chance to start their farming careers. Over the decades Ray has improved his own soil health and enjoys working with neighbor farmers to do the same. Ray shares about his adoption of soil health building practices, no-till and cover crops, what he did to survive tough times in the 1980s, and how the interest in soil health is bringing new economic opportunities to his community.

“My message has always been when we work together, we all benefit. We're providing soil health benefits with cover crops and no-till and all that. But we're also working with our neighbors to add to that benefit and help them at the same time. And, you know, we don't have to be in competition all the time, do we? Why don't we think about our community a little bit.” - Ray Gaesser

Ray first gained experience with no-till on a farm he worked at in Indiana. After moving to his own operation in Iowa he began to integrate that same practice in the 1990’s. He is still hesitant to plant his corn into a green cover crop and prefers to have the cover crop terminated prior to planting. His soybeans on the other hand get planted “green or nearly green.” This difference is based on past experiences and successes. He admits that “not every practice fits for everyone” and that as a farming community we need to try new practices to continue to “invest in our next generations.”

“It's a process and we continue to adapt and to learn and to find opportunities.” - Ray Gaesser

This Week on Soil Sense:

Meet Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser as he reflects on his soil health journey and his desire to support other farms in his community today
Discover Ray’s experience with adopting soil health building practices, no-till and cover crops

Strip Till in Diverse Rotations with Jason Swede Sep 07, 2023

Show notes

Farms are complex systems and everyone’s soil health journey is different. For some, one change or new piece of equipment can really be the missing piece that starts bringing everything together. Western New York farmer Jason Swede shares about his crop rotation, how strip tillage has been a game changer for them, his experiments with things like biostrips, how he approaches cover crops, and much much more. He shares how these practices including growing a diverse mix of crops has helped him to maintain a profitable business while building healthier soils.

“Looking back at it, I think we were tilling ourselves into a position where we weren't getting good crops… We felt like we had to have that perfect seedbed. And we'd till the ground and it wasn't quite right. We'd till it again and then we'd till it again if we had to. And we were putting compaction layers in there that I don't think our crops could get through. And once we went to strip till, it completely changed everything for us. I think our roots were going deeper, getting into moisture that we weren't seeing other times of the year, and just everything kinda came together for us.” - Jason Swede

Jason grew up on the farm and although he went to school for ag business, he has always loved farming. Jason farms with his father, brother, nephew and son on 4,500 acres. It’s a diversified crop farm where they grow corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa and processing vegetables like sweet corn, peas and string beans. They are also partners in a dairy operation and own an alfalfa pelletizing plant. Continuing to improve their biostrip protocols, dialing in their planting green technique and adjusting their fertility is what the future holds for their operation.

“We're working on a study that is comparing planting green with early burn down with no cover crops. It's a four year study that we're playing around with to see the differences over time. And first year I think we saw a yield drag with planting green, but it was our first time trying it and I think as time goes by, we're gonna learn some things. I'm more interested in seeing what happens with soil health planting green continually for four years to see what the long-term effect is.” - Jason Swede

This Week on Soil Sense:

Meet Western New York farmer Jason Swede
Explore his soil health journey in incorporating crop rotation, strip tillage, and experiments with things like biostrips, planting green and cover crops

Swine Manure and Cover Crops with Gary Asay Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

Trying new ideas on the farm, especially those that involve innovative approaches, will not always be easily understood by neighbors or other people who drive by. But for those willing to follow their own curiosity, the benefits can far outweigh the costs. Illinois farmer Gary Asay talks about his farming system that combines no-till, cover crops and hog manure. Gary farms in Henry County in Northwest Illinois. There’s a lot of hard-earned wisdom in Gary’s path to getting into no-till, and the impact that has had on his farming operation.

“A lot of people look at what I do and … they think I'm crazy. You know, it can't be done. We want to tell people it can be done. No-till cover crops is not easy. A lot of people expect just to go out there and have a prescription, you do this at a certain time and everything works just right. With cover crops you gotta manage even better. So it is a challenge and it takes time, but I do believe the benefits are good enough to keep working at it.” -Gary Asay

Soil erosion and maintaining the soil’s nutrition along with less need for equipment have motivated Gary to incorporate these practices. He has been in continuous no-till for over 20 years and started incorporating cover crops in 2010. He began raising hogs as a kid in 4-H, and after many years he finally sold his hog operation to a young farmer getting into the business, but he still uses the manure from that operation as a major source of his fertilizer.

“I feel more and more that it is very important to keep that microbiome in the soil healthy and working for you...every time I dig in the soil, I was turning up earthworms and seeing the holes in the soil from the earthworms that they leave. It tells me that, you know, there's a lot going on underground and the microbiomes are a part you can't really see but they have added benefits there too.” - Gary Asay

This Week on Soil Sense:

Meet farmer Gary Asay from Henry County in Northwest Illinois
Discover how Gary incorporates no-till, cover crops and hog manure in his operation and his journey to that end

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