The Grow Down on Soil Health
Welcome to “The Grow Down on Soil Health” podcast, where we dive deep into sustainable farming practices designed to enhance both your land and your bottom line. Join host Ben West, Ph.D., executive director of Farmers for Soil Health, and a diverse lineup of guests from various agricultural backgrounds as they share entertaining stories, invaluable soil health management techniques, and the incredible benefits cover crops can bring to your farm.Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, such as planting cover crops, to improve the environment and...
Cover Crops in the Midwest: From Slugs to Nutrient Stratification
On today’s episode, we have Hans Schmitz here to share his knowledge on the role cover crops play in farming systems affected by a common variable: the weather.
You’ll learn more about the role of cover crops in 4R management systems, nutrient stratification in no-till systems, and slug problems. Hans will also share some of the benefits his farmers have seen with cost-share programs.
Meet the Guest:
Hans Schmitz currently serves as both a technical advisor with Farmers for Soil Health and a technical assistance specialist with Indiana Ag Nutrient Alliance. His e...
From Soil to Store: How Sustainability is Shaping Farming’s Future
In this episode, we have Mark Eastham, sustainable products lead at leading grocery retailer Ahold Delhaize USA. Mark gives us a better understanding of the retailer's perspective on sustainability.
Learn why sustainable practices matter to retailers and how that impacts your operation, as well as what these retailer-supplier partnerships mean for the future of agriculture.
Editor’s Note: At the time of recording, the pilot referenced at around the 22-minute mark was with Kellanova. Since then, Kellanova has been acquired by Mars Snacking.
Meet the Guest:
Mark Eastham is su...
Soil Health, Water Quality, and the Path Forward
Today’s episode features NRCS Minnesota State Conservationist, Troy Daniell, who will help us take a closer look at the present and future impacts of soil health practices, such as cover crops, on the water cycle and agriculture as a whole.
Learn how regenerative agricultural practices and technical assistance can help farmers improve profitability, meet market demands, and protect their soil.
Meet the Guest:
Troy Daniell is the NRCS State Conservationist for Minnesota. His conservation agriculture career spans nearly 30 years and five states. Troy will share how he has seen increased adoption of reg...
Progress Starts with a Problem: A Practical Look at Soil Health Consulting
For today’s episode of “The Grow Down on Soil Health,” we have Lee Briese with us to break down what any farmer should expect when a crop consultant steps onto their field.
Learn how regular visits, strong relationships and a problem-first approach can help farmers make steady progress towards their soil health goals, one acre and one issue at a time.
Meet the Guest:
Lee Briese is a Certified Crop Advisor and a Crop Consultant with Centrol in North Dakota. With nearly 30 years of experience, he helps farmers choose the right tool for th...
How to Find Solutions for Conservation Barriers
On today’s episode of “The Grow Down on Soil Health,” we have Jeff Chandler here to dive into the impact of conservation barriers and how to find the solutions to overcome them.
Learn how better technology, support from peers who’ve been through the same challenges, and hands-on help in the field can give farmers the confidence and know-how they need to try conservation practices, like planting cover crops, for the first time.
Meet the Guest:
Jeff Chandler is both a Research Coordinator for the North Carolina Soybean Producers Associat...
From Field to Fuel: Conservation for a Cleaner Future, and Why it Matters to Farmers
In this episode of “The Grow Down on Soil Health,” we have Bill Leigh with us to discuss not only how cover crops, soil health and conservation practices are changing the future of farming and driving opportunities with ethanol and low-carbon markets, but also why these practices matter to farmers on the ground.
Hear Bill share how farming is not a hobby; it is a living, so farmers have to make a profit out of it. Learn about how cover crops can help farmers with weed control and good soil health indicators, like earthworms. Farmers don’t often...
From Practice to Profit: The Role of New Technology and Farming Practices on Profitability
In this episode of The Grow Down on Soil Health, we are joined by Courtney Yuskis to explore how new technology and farming practices are shaping farmer profitability and adoption decisions. Courtney breaks down why there’s no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to conservation, especially when weighing the cost of adoption versus return on investment.
Hear Courtney share how technology and innovative platforms are helping farmers make more informed decisions about when and how to adopt practices like cover crops. She also explains how programs such as Farmers for Soil Health, with its direct...
Putting Farmers First: The Farmers for Soil Health Approach
In this episode of The Grow Down on Soil Health, we sit down with Jack Cornell, Director of Supply Chain Resilience at the United Soybean Board (USB), to explore how farmer stewardship and sustainable supply chains are at the heart of Farmers for Soil Health. Jack shares how his personal journey, from Ohio to Hawaii and back, shaped his passion for conservation, and even how his tradition of “Hawaiian Shirt Fridays” reflects a bigger story about connection, community, and stewardship.
Jack and host Ben West, Executive Director of Farmers for Soil Health, dive into what sets the prog...
On the Ground with Farmers: Conservation, Data, and Trust
On today’s episode of “The Grow Down on Soil Health,” we have Aidan Walton here to discuss the interconnected impact that trust, technology and dedicated conservation specialists have on the adoption of conservation practices in his home state of Illinois.
Learn about what drives farmer decisions and how neighbors can impact the start of trying something new. Aidan speaks on honesty and big data, highlighting whether more tillage passes are profitable or not and the most profitable nitrogen application range.
Meet the Guest:
Aidan Walton is both a precision conservation specialist for the Pr...
Bridging the Gap: Economics, Efficiency, and Farmer Trust
In this episode of The Grow Down on Soil Health, we are joined by Greg Goodwin to explore how economics, efficiency, and trust play a critical role in the future of conservation. Greg breaks down how funding conservation transitions, improving farm efficiency, and earning farmer trust are essential to bridging the gap between farmers and supply chains.
Hear Greg share about how advisors can build and maintain trust with farmers, why efficiency is as important for profitability as it is for environmental gains, and how shared value can be created between farmers and the supply chain beyond...
Family Legacy of Cover Crops and Wildlife
In this episode of The Grow Down on Soil Health, we are joined by Ryan Heiniger to explore how family, wildlife, and conservation come together to shape a farm legacy that benefits both the land and future generations. Ryan reflects on his journey back to Iowa after years away, the role of his children in carrying forward a fifth-generation farm, and how conservation and profitability can be woven into family farming traditions.
Hear Ryan share how habitat restoration shaped his approach to farming, why conservation resonates deeply with farmers as both a lifestyle and an economic choice...
Cover Crops: A Valuable Tool for Today’s Farmer
On today’s episode of “The Grown Down on Soil Health,” Olivia Caillouet, Ph.D., and Erin Gundy detail the benefits of cover crops, highlighting why they are a game-changer for sustainability and soil health.
Caillouet is the soil health program manager at the University of Missouri’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture, a partner of Farmers for Soil Health. She has a background in agricultural education and extension and an extensive understanding of cover crop adoption and sustainable agriculture.
Gundy’s academic background is in agronomy. She is currently a soil health educator with the Soil Health...
Starting Cover Crops: A 5-Step Guide with Kristin Poley
Today on “The Grow Down on Soil Health,” Kristin Poley guides you through a practical and easy-to-follow five-step process for establishing cover crops in your fields. Topics covered include:
How to establish both short-term and long-term goals. Identifying a test area. Selecting species that align with your goals and equipment.Developing both an initial and backup termination plan.The importance of patience and thorough note-taking.Poley has a background in entomology with a focus on pest management. She has extensive experience in various commodities, including tree fruit, vegetables and row crops. Poley is the director of research and ag...
Insights from the Field with Stefan Maupin
In today’s episode of The Grow Down on Soil Health, we explore soil health and sustainable agriculture practices with Stefan Maupin, the executive director of the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Council. Maupin discusses what is needed to enhance cover crops in Southern states, the reasons behind the popularity of certain sustainable practices in different regions, and the role organizations play in bridging the knowledge and accessibility gap between sustainable practices and farmers.
Having grown up on his family’s row crop farm in Dyer County, Tennessee, Maupin spent over 20 years with the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, where he u...
