Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

Jason Hobson is one of the initial Regenerative Agriculture Consultants at AEA, working alongside John Kempf in the early years and becoming the Chief Executive Officer in 2015. Jason joined AEA in 2011 and quickly became the lead consultant for larger scale operations, building relationships with distributors and other partners along the way. He gained his knowledge of soil fertility and plant nutrition through hands-on experience, developing a passion for agronomy and regenerative practices that fuels him today. Throughout their conversation, Jason and John discuss: How one Wendell Berry book would change Jason's career path forever. AEA's approach to nutrient and crop management, how it differed from conventional wisdom. Highlights from the last decade of working together: organizational victories and new agronomic discoveries. Jason's thoughts on the "layering of silver bullet solutions" and how farms can degrade in search of a cure. Common themes among growers and organizations that have seen success while working with AEA. The fallacy of nitrogen and other limiting factors for healthy crops.

Alvin Peachey is an Amish organic dairy farmer from central Pennsylvania. Over the course of more than a decade, Alvin has grown his operation to 90 100% grass-fed cows on 92 acres, implementing regenerative practices that flips the script of the status quo for dairy farmers. In this thought provoking and practical conversation, Alvin and John discuss: Alvin's background as a dairy farmer starting with only 25 cows and 10 replacements. The difference between rotational grazing and management-intensive grazing. How Alvin tracks and manages his cost of production and how his economic models diverge from the mainstream. Unique approaches to creating balanced and diverse nutritional profiles, not just in grazable forages, but also in stored winter feeds. Important considerations for maximizing sugars and proteins in baleage. The genetic and structural qualities Alvin looks for in dairy cows. Alvin's thoughts and observations on the financial future of dairy farming. "For the crop production acres, we have no budget on fertilizer… because we have unlimited potential, so why would we have a budget? Right?" -Alvin Peachey

Jesse Frost is the Co-Owner of Rough Draft Farmstead in central Kentucky and host of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast. Jesse's rich background in researching and experimenting with no-till practices lead to his first book, "The Living Soil Handbook: The No-Till Grower's Guide to Ecological Market Gardening," which will be published this summer. Throughout their conversation John and Jesse discuss: How Jesse got his start as a farmer and how a mission to uncover regenerative techniques lead to a promising career in market gardening. The economic opportunities surrounding market gardening, including the positive impact of collaboration and Jesse's thoughts on land ownership. The best way to strategize and implement a direct-to-consumers business model. Two management styles that work for no-till growers on a smaller scale: Jesse's thought on the basic cover crop model and the deep compost mulch system An overview of the four different types of compost: inoculating compost, fertilizing compost, nutritional compost, and mulching compost. The current state of the average farmer's psyche and the power of relationships and community building. Jesse's current intercropping practices and how they are implemented for pest and disease control. Pre-order Jesse's book here: https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook/d9z5gkf1bbnhu0w5xxb3trngiqhwgo Check out "The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm: Human-Scale Methods for Intensive Commercial Production and Ecological Health" by Daniel Mays here: https://www.frithfarm.net/book.html

Jon Stika is an agronomist and former soil health instructor with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Officially retiring in 2015, Jon now spends his time as environmental consultant for those looking to gain insight on the biological systems of agriculture. Jon is also the author of "A Soil Owner's Manual: How to Restore and Maintain Soil Health," which was published in 2016, yet continues to have an impact on agricultural thought leaders around the globe. Throughout their conversation, Jon and John discuss: Jon's realization that soil is not a chemical system, but a biological one. The impact of using synthetic fertilizers for several decades and how this has "sidelined" the true biology of our fields. What it means to be energy inefficient and the impact on mainstream agricultural systems and practices. Jon's 15-year journey to a regenerative approach; how rapid implementation and economics can inspire other growers to transition to integrating biological methodologies. The differences between building soil from the foundational bedrock versus the act of regenerating soil. Jon's belief in the power of educating beyond the growers, working with lenders, banks, agronomists, and landowners to help them understand and support the transition to regenerative agriculture. How models used in mainstream agriculture—and even sustainable agriculture—operate on a foundation of "dysfunctional soil." Pick up a copy of Jon's book, "A Soil Owner's Manual: How to Restore and Maintain Soil Health," today! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30084638-a-soil-owner-s-manual

Jay Fuhrer is a Conservationist & veteran Soil Health Specialist from the Natural Resources Conservation Services, located out of Bismarck, North Dakota. With over 4 decades of experience, Jay's work has been critical to the widespread implementation of regenerative agriculture across the globe. Of his many contributions, Jay is most known for developing the 5 Soil Health Principles: establishing soil armor, minimizing soil disturbance, continuing live plant and root presence, and integrating livestock grazing systems. Throughout their conversation, Jay and John discuss: Jay's early years at the NRCS, and his desire to move forward with agriculture's best interest at heart. The story of how Jay and his colleagues started a 150-acre demonstration farm with a focus on natural resource education. Examples of new research and discoveries being made at Menoken Farm, including the implications of water hydrology systems and the power of encouraging soil biology. Jay's observations from conducting Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and measuring infiltration rates over the years. Assisting growers by "starting with the geology" and how Jay's soil recommendations are rooted in the history of the land. Proper livestock integration and the benefits of diversity when it comes to grazing. The shortcomings of agricultural system labels and Jay's reasoning for working with growers of all backgrounds. Jay's concerns with shrinking native range land in the Dakotas and why he believes it is an ecosystem that we should maintain into the future.

Ben Taylor-Davies is a farmer and regenerative agriculture consultant from the United Kingdom. Ben was a conventional agronomist until his wife persuaded him to apply for an award through the Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust which enables farmers to travel and learn agricultural methods from around the globe. This ignited Ben's passion for regenerative agriculture and discovering better ways to treat soils, crops, and livestock. Ben currently shares his stories, both personal and professional, on his website RegenBen.com. He is also currently finalizing his first book, "MORE-ON: How to get off the UK agriculture's treadmill of input farming." Throughout their conversation, Ben and John discuss: How the Nuffield scholarship program allowed Ben to broaden his views on successful ways to farm from around the globe. The current management practices being implemented on Ben's 500-acre farm in the UK and how these practices have evolved over the years. Ben's "three free things" (sunlight/energy, precipitation, and carbon dioxide) and why they should be priority number one for all growers. Perspectives on carbon dioxide delivery and how farmers can improve their CO2 supply. The vast diversity of soil types and climates found within the UK. The UK's current mainstream agricultural methods and financial shortcomings of managing an ecosystem through high input costs. John and Ben discuss their recommended reading lists for growers. Check out Ben's website at www.regenben.com! For more information on his latest book, go to https://www.regenben.com/about/the-book/

Cannon Michael is a 6th generation family farmer in California's Central Valley. When Cannon first started working at the Bowles Farming Company, it was a broad-acre row crop operation, focused on cotton, barley, and alfalfa. After 15 years of overhauling the farm's management practices, Bowles now incorporates both organic and conventional methods as he raises a vast array of vegetable crops: tomatoes; watermelons; garlic; onions; herbs; and many more. Throughout their conversation John and Cannon discuss: The major changes over the 160-year history of Cannon's family farm, as well as the current scope and scale of his growing operation. What it means to be a grower in California: The culture of innovation, interacting with a rigorous business climate, strict regulations, and interest in promoting fair practices for people and the environment. A prediction around agriculture's decentralized, technology-driven future and how it will impact growers. The power of branding partners, communication, and the advantages of telling your story to end consumers. How bandwidth and a fluctuating environment can lead to significant limitations on operational efficiencies.

Jay Hill is a conventional farmer and agricultural visionary from the American Southwest. Jay is a new breed of American farmer, focused on reinvigorating the industry through a new perspective on what is possible for large-scale growers. Through his social media presence and weekly podcast, Jay is calling on farmers across the globe to abandon their old ways of operating and take back the role of "business owner" from outdated intermediaries. Throughout their conversation, John and Jay discuss: How Jay's growing operation has evolved over the years to be less resource exhaustive. Why farmers need to position themselves as both marketers and business owners Jay's transition from "Price Taker" to "Price Maker," and how partnerships in processing give growers more control over their operation. The public perception of American farmers and what needs to be done change the narrative. Strategies to incentivize growing a more nutritious and agronomically beneficial product, and the role of the federal government in this process.

Dwayne Beck, pioneer of no-till agriculture, discusses irrigation systems, water infiltration, lake bottom soils, nutrient cycling, and the benefits of no-till options for all crops. The podcast also explores advancements in crop rotations, fertilizer placement, macropore flow, soil health, micro-rizzle fungi, pest management, weed control, alternatives to tilling soils, and the use of precision agriculture in regenerative farming.

Rick Haney is a renowned researcher at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the creator of the Haney Soil Analysis, an innovative extraction procedure to assess overall soil health and plant mineral availability. Today, John sits down with Rick to hear his story and discuss a future of agriculture centered around agronomic realities and biological processes. Throughout the episode, John and Rick cover a wide array of topics: The journey Rick took to discover an improved system for analyzing soil health, eventually leading to the development of his namesake soil assay. How Rick's work and an emphasis on data can help growers save an average of $20 per acre in nitrogen applications. Over-fertilization and what soil respiration says about the fertility of a field. Rick's battle with calibrations and the industry's collective leaps in agronomic understanding since the 60's. The work of Dr. Richard Mulvaney, namely the Illinois Soil Test, and how it compares to Haney's soil nitrogen report. The shortcomings of mainstream agronomic research and the power of "listening to nature." The importance of using water and biological activity as the gauge of soil mineral release rather than acids and extractants to judge soil mineral content. Why many growers are routinely able to reduce Nitrogen and Phosphorus inputs. The importance of looking at real yields rather than soil test data as the sign of a well-functioning fertility program. The power of embracing new developments in ag research and the future of in-field sensors.