Into the Weeds

Dr. Erin Silva (University of Wisconsin – Madison) is one of the country’s leading experts in organic no-till. This is a great conversation that will get you started on the right foot as you work to increase soil health and decrease erosion.

Sandy Syburg (seaberg) is a man on the move. He’s an organic farmer, a member of CROPP cooperative (otherwise known as organic valley) who he grows feed for, president and co-owner of Purple Cow organics, an organic fertilizer company, and If that wasn’t enough, he also runs a school bus company in his home town, Oconomowoc, WI. He won’t tell you he’s busy though, ‘life is full and interesting’ as he says. Today we get an update on spring in Southeastern Wisconsin, talk about Covid19, and hear what Sandy’s excited about this season: corn in 60 inch rows. Let’s hop out and visit with Sandy, keeping 6 feet of distance of course. This episode is one of seven in which we take a digital road trip, checking in via phone with growers from Missouri on up to Canada about how they and the communities they live in are reacting to Covid-19. So hop in, buckle up, and hit the virtual road with us for this special spring 2020 series of Into the Weeds podcasts: Road trip edition. Show notes - Regen ag podcast: http://regenerativeagriculturepodcast.com/ - Mike Rowe podcast - “The way I heard it”: https://mikerowe.com/podcast/ - Organic Valley podcast: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/back-to-the-roots-podcast

Mark Cornelius wears a lot of hats. He was an organic and biological farmer for many years near Odon, IN, runs a crop insurance business, operates a couple elevators, and is now a landlord, renting out the certified organic land that he once cropped. We check in with Mark to hear what this season has in store for him and his neighbors in Indiana, how he sees Covid19 changing the landscape around him, and talk a little bit about what it takes to be a successful organic farmer. We’re here in southwestern Indiana where the planters are running. Let’s pull off here and say hi to Mark. This episode is one of seven in which we take a digital road trip, checking in via phone with growers from Missouri on up to Canada about how they and the communities they live in are reacting to Covid-19. So hop in, buckle up, and hit the virtual road with us for this special spring 2020 series of Into the Weeds podcasts: Road trip edition.

Kade McBroom is a farmer, small business owner, and former Regional Program Representative for the Pipeline Foods Farm Profit Program. Many of you have seen Kade in our Going Organic video series or heard him in Episode 5 of Into the Weed’s first season. But as a quick recap, Kade is a farmer is Southeast Missouri who started his organic transition in 2018 but has he stayed the course? Today we find out. We’ll check in about transition, the response to Covid-19 in Missouri (and how homeschooling is going for Kade’s family), and hear how this season is moving along. We’re here in the bootheel of Missouri where spring is in full swing. Let’s put it in park and visit with Mr. McBroom. This episode is one of seven in which we take a digital road trip, checking in via phone with growers from Missouri on up to Canada about how they and the communities they live in are reacting to Covid-19. So hop in, buckle up, and hit the virtual road with us for this special spring 2020 series of Into the Weeds podcasts: Road trip edition. Show notes - Going Organic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsVjeBPR5rw&list=PLHXCuautDHqraov_x7pG4FARzLYVP0Q0N - Previous podcast: https://www.pipelinefoods.com/blog/into-the-weeds-episode-5

Jason Charles is one of the cofounders of Pipeline foods and is currently Vice President of food ingredients. But unlike the other cofounders, Jason is also a farmer. He was born and raised on a 12,000 acre organic farm in Southeast Saskatchewan that he still helps to run. He’s worked as a grain merchant for many years, first for a couple of the bigs and eventually starting his own organic marketing company, Charles Commodity Consulting, which was the first purchase made by Pipeline Foods. Today we talk about how the season is looking north of the border and how Covid-19 is impacting Jason, his farm, and Pipeline Foods. We’ll also look forward to organic market trends. This episode is one of seven in which we take a digital road trip, checking in via phone with growers from Missouri on up to Canada about how they and the communities they live in are reacting to Covid-19. So hop in, buckle up, and hit the virtual road with us for this special spring 2020 series of Into the Weeds podcasts: Road trip edition. Show notes - Mercaris webinar and report: https://mercaris.com/posts/organic-outlook-corn-wheat-face-supply-glut-soy-market-expected-to-remain-strong

Gary McDonald has been consulting with transitioning and certified organic farmers for over 30 years, and farming himself for many of those. His home range is south central IL, but I’ve seen Gary present and inspire across the Midwest. He’s a row crop cultivation guru, a tireless organic advocate and educator, and a consistent champion for productive, biologically active organic farms. I always appreciate, and am sometimes challenged, by Gary’s thoughts and perspectives. Today we talk about what some are calling the ‘war’ with Covid19, when to work your fields, the connections between soil health and human health, foundational soil health principles, and much more. We’re here, in central Illinois, as Gary gets ready for a great season. Pull up a chair and let’s listen in. This episode is one of seven in which we take a digital road trip, checking in via phone with growers from Missouri on up to Canada about how they and the communities they live in are reacting to Covid-19. So hop in, buckle up, and hit the virtual road with us for this special spring 2020 series of Into the Weeds podcasts: Road trip edition. Show notes - Video series with Gary McDonald talking row crop cultivation: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr2Fb2Gh3HiEMqJRcvoQyNv2G7jDcoaHy - Consulting contact info – 217-341-5073:

BJ McNeil owns and operates Rocking Z Acres outside of Wessington, SD. A fourth generation farmer, Bj has never let the phrase, “that will never work” slow him down. Whether it was going no till on 4,000 acres at once, being the first farmer in his county to plant round up ready beans or getting into cover crops in a big way even when his neighbors continued to shake their heads at his appetite for the next thing. And now that appetite has a full plate: organic transition on 100% of his sizeable south Dakota farm. Today we check in with BJ about what led him to go organic and resources that he’s found helpful. We also hear about Covid19 in his neighborhood which is harder hit that you might think. Oh, and we also talk about a record breaking cannonball run. To hear about that and more, keep your dial tuned right here. Here we are, there’s BJ in his truck, put it in park and let’s say hello. This episode is one of seven in which we take a digital road trip, checking in via phone with growers from Missouri on up to Canada about how they and the communities they live in are reacting to Covid-19. So hop in, buckle up, and hit the virtual road with us for this special spring 2020 series of Into the Weeds podcasts: Road trip edition. Show notes - OGRAIN – listserv and conference: https://ograin.cals.wisc.edu/ - Record-breaking Cannonball run: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/11/us/speeding-tickets-cars-coronavirus.html

Angela Knuth and her husband Kerry own and operate Knuth Farms near Mead, Nebraska. They’re fourth generation farmers who are dedicated to regenerative agriculture, diversification, quality, and innovation. Speaking of innovating, the Knuths decided to start exploring going organic a couple years ago and are now in transition. Today we catch up with Angela to talk about that transition, hear how their spring is going, and discuss carbon markets. We also talk about the cloud of covid19 hanging over all of us right now and get a take on what it’s looking like for farmers in Nebraska. So let’s pull onto this gravel driveway and visit for a little while. This episode is one of seven in which we take a digital road trip, checking in via phone with growers from Missouri on up to Canada about how they and the communities they live in are reacting to Covid-19. So hop in, buckle up, and hit the virtual road with us for this special spring 2020 series of Into the Weeds podcasts: Road trip edition. Show notes - NORI – carbon markets: https://nori.com/ - Knuth farms website: https://knuthfarms.com/who-is-knuth-farms/

In this episode, Anders talks to Matt Leavitt, lead organic agronomist with Albert Lea Seed House in Albert Lea, MN about all things organic seed. We covered the differences between Non-GMO and organic seed, regulations you need to know about, organic breeding, and how to select the best seed for your operation.

As the name of our podcast suggests, weeds are always top-on-mind for all farmers, but especially organic growers. Successfully addressing weed challenges can be the difference between a bumper crop and tilling a weedy field under. In this episode, Dr. Joel Gruver from Western Illinois University talks about the principles and practices of effective organic weed control, sharing lessons learned from 13 years doing applied large-scale research in organic row crops. Joel is a wealth of knowledge and keeps things easy to understand and refreshingly practical. Let’s jump in. Show notes: Weed Zapper website: https://theweedzapper.com/ Lasco Lightning Weeder website: https://www.lightningweeder.com/ A good YouTube video following a farmer using a Lasco Lightning Weeder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTSn8gDEheY Excellence in Organic Weed Control: Insights from the Field – Dr. Joel Gruver’s great publication that shares the experiences of farmers and agronomists throughout the Midwest: http://incantare-effect.com/images/portfolio/print/organic_booklet.pdf Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Organic Weed Control Video Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5v5mi3djmDtVQW3bGPiAFflHO4W35Maz Pipeline Foods Ride Along Video Series – follows Eric Madsen as he grows organic corn in 2019: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHXCuautDHqp1b0KNS0-_2aMhWl5VbEcb Steel in the Field – older but very relevant publication from SARE on mechanical weed control equipment: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=2ahUKEwi8ps6rt-rlAhVSMH0KHSIPD4kQFjABegQIAhAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sare.org%2Fcontent%2Fdownload%2F29730%2F413972%2FSteel_in_the_Field.pdf&usg=AOvVaw04tft1paKGhWeW4oCrVM2N A YouTube video of Joel cultivating his soybeans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIfN3EB6zCo&feature=youtu.be Field pics from Dr. Gruver: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNMIWWPx92VHSBlSYy0iF0rFWWaMR63ptNvKSaluPQuMv-LnZkWJiVUmV5-VgTgpA?key=VmhLNENlYXFidzhUU3BkbmFSZlhldFFzUFA4ODd3 Idea Farm Network – listserv and community: https://www.regenerateillinois.org/ifn A couple Dr. Gruver presentations Organic Crop Rotations at OGRAIN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD04FlEyu54 Organic Weed Control at Albert Lea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkFD02Ir2sk Soil Organic Matter at a SARE event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8K-e1I4Ju4

Chad Stannard runs Pipeline Food’s Non-GMO program and is an expert in all things Identity Preserved. In this episode we cover our seed programs, contracts, and best practices in growing and conditioning Non-GMO crop. Show notes: Seed brochure: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/581e1e7c4402439b5609162e/t/5d6fdbee66eaad00015af185/1567611896688/6-5-19+Pipeline+Foods+Grower+Booklet.pdf Inputs page (seed and fertility: https://www.pipelinefoods.com/inputs

Tim Raile’s roots in St. Francis, Kansas go deep. He and his son, Michael, are the 4th and 5th generation to operate the now 8,500 acre Raile Farm that spans the Kansas and Colorado border. After a couple decades of conventional no-till corn and wheat production, Tim decided to start slowly transitioning his ground to organic in 2015. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about the reasoning behind his transition, dig into the shifts in thinking and management required and also touch on getting involved in organic policy and what priorities we should be working on at the nation’s capital, among other topics. Thanks for tuning in. Show notes: Tim Raile’s website: https://www.raile.farm/ The USDA’s OREI (Organic Research and Education Initiative) program: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/organic-agriculture-research-and-extension-initiative Ways to get involved in policy and lobbying for organics: https://www.pipelinefoods.com/resources/#policy-get-involved Organic wheat breeding project that Tim mentioned: https://www.hpj.com/crops/organic-wheat-k-state-joins-heartland-plant-innovations-and-others/article_2c7d0fb6-0e5d-5354-982e-947dd6ae9df6.html Clif Bar/Organic Valley/King Arthur Flour endowed chairs in organic plant breeding: https://www.clifbar.com/article/investing-in-organic-s-future and https://www.clifbar.com/press-room/press-releases/clif-bar-and-company-and-king-arthur-flour-s-1-5-million-organic-endowment-for-wsu-s-bread-lab National Geographic article on growth in organic farms: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/future-of-food/organic-farming-crops-consumers/ Pipeline Foods Podcast on organic crop insurance: https://www.pipelinefoods.com/blog/into-the-weeds-episode-3

Paul Dietmann isn’t your average ag lender. Besides attending the MOSES organic farming conference for 25 years running, he’s had a fascinating and incredibly varied career: 11 years as a county ag agent, 5 years as director of the Wisconsin Farm Center, wrote a popular book on farm financial management, even served as Wisconsin’s Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. These days Paul is a Senior Lending Officer in the Mission Financing group at Compeer Financial, a member-owned rural lending cooperative and Farm Credit System Institution serving Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Today we talk about Fearless Farm Finances, the economics of transition, and how to set yourself up for success when going organic. Show notes: Paul’s co-authored book: Fearless Farm Finances: Farm Financial Management Demystified - https://mosesorganic.org/fearless-farm-finances/ Paul and Anders presentation on ‘Organics 101’ for the Agronomy Society of America’s CCA (Certified Crop Advisor) program - https://www.certifiedcropadviser.org/education/classroom/classes/658 The OGRAIN financial management guide (Turning Grain into Dough) and OGRAIN Compass - https://www.cias.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/graintodoughfinal071119web.pdf

When his dad transitioned the family farm, near Madison, SD to organic in 1976, Charlie was just getting out of high school. As Charlie puts it, “There was no textbook. There was no manual. There were no organic premiums, there was no market. We basically did it for the philosophy of it.” Over the years, as their farm has grown to 2,500 acres, Charlie and his family have seen the industry grow and change and have successfully ridden the wave. It hasn’t been without its challenges though: Charlie suffered pesticide drift damage six times in eight years. Today we hear Charlie’s story, get some great advice, and dig into his experiences with drift, how he’s dealt with it, and cover what you need to know to avoid, or react to drift events. Show Notes: A picture of Charlie’s fields and rotary hoe on the morning of the podcast recording: https://www.dropbox.com/s/aqtoxeqwfvlv7nn/IMG_4321.jpg?dl=0 DriftWatch – register your transitional and organic fields to avoid a drift event: https://driftwatch.org/ A good straightforward take on prevention and suitable reaction to drift events from MOSA, an organic certifier: https://mosaorganic.org/education-resources/organic-cultivator-newsletter/preventing-and-dealing-with-pesticide-drift-on-organic-farms A guide from Purdue to help you identify what was sprayed based on what injury you’re seeing: https://ag.purdue.edu/btny/weedscience/Documents/WS-56.pdf Legal counsel on prevention and what options you have if an event occurs: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/2f29ee903a2aaca26971eaa71/files/55ecf462-0389-4967-bc77-f32ac6615173/Chemical_Drift_Prevention_Tipsheet_final_1_.pdf https://gallery.mailchimp.com/2f29ee903a2aaca26971eaa71/files/cd4953b1-43c0-496a-8d2c-25b3ff31df6a/Chemical_Drift_Response_Tipsheet_final_1_.pdf Time Stamp 0 – Season 2 intro 0:45 – Into the Weeds Welcome 2:00 – Charlie Johnson Intro 2:58 – Interview begins and Johnson Farm introduction (crops, rotation, fertility, advice, etc.) 18:00 – Charlie’s experience with drift; advice on prevention and reaction 40:15 – What do you enjoy the most about being an organic farmer? 43:05 – Parallel production: arguments for and against 48:26 – Episode ends

We stayed close to home for the most recent podcast, interviewing members of our merchant team to answer some of your most frequently asked questions. Where are our locations? What do we buy? What do our contracts look like? What advice do we have for growers working with us, or any other grain buyer for that matter? We get into the weeds of how working with Pipeline Foods is different and what you can expect when working with us.

In this episode of Into The Weeds, Pipeline Foods' Erin Heitkamp guest-hosts and explores trends in the world of farmland investing and management with Steve Bruere and Dave Muth of Peoples Company. Together, they discuss the consumer and regulatory drivers to focus on longer-term land values and environmental returns, support for new farmers entering the space, and where organic fits in the larger scheme of things.

Will Glazik is a bridge-builder. He has one foot in the organic world, being raised on a diverse organic grain and livestock farm where he learned the value of rotation as well as how to use cover crops. His other foot is in the conventional world, working as an agronomist for BCS, a soil testing lab and full-service retail operation in Illinois. Will received his B.S. in Crop Science from the University of Illinois and is a Certified Crop Consultant (CCA) - 4R NMS. He’s spent the last few years building both his conventional and organic consulting base and is able to take lessons from each system and apply it to the other. If he wasn’t busy enough already, he also manages the IDEA Farm Network, a farmer-led learning community that meets in-person and through an online listserv. In all his spare time, he also runs a distillery/brewery with his brothers called Silver Tree Beer and Spirits. Today we talk about a few misconceptions about organic farming and how Will addresses them in his work. We also continue to discuss the challenges we all face relating to tillage, weed control, and fertility. If you have follow-up questions or would like to be added to the IDEA Network Listserv, get in touch with Will directly at w.glazik@gmail.com.

Kade McBroom is a farmer, small business owner, and Regional Program Representative for the Pipeline Foods Farm Profit Program. Living and working in Southeast Missouri, Kade isn't exactly surrounded by organic farmers, making his decision to transition some of his land to organic a popular topic at the coffee shop. In this episode we talk about why Kade made the decision to transition, growing pains, how T1 is going, and how to deal with the cultural and agronomic barriers to going organic. A bonus for this episode is that you can reach out to Kade with any questions or comments that came up for you. He'd love to hear from you: kmcbroom@pipelinefoods.com or give him a call at 573-714-3900.

We’re fascinated by transition stories. What was the seed that grew into the decision to start the journey towards organic? What challenges were faced along the way and how were they addressed? What advice would a farmer who’s gone through transition have for others thinking about it? Today we introduce a new category of podcast: On the Farm, where we’ll hear from farmers about their transition experiences and dial down into the production, marketing, and planning processes that have spelled success. Today we hear our first of many On the Farm profiles from Joel Layman, a farmer in South Western Michigan who made the decision to go organic five years ago, and has slowly transitioned more and more of his operation to organic management. In our conversation today, we cover a lot of ground – from his motivation to make the jump to his piecemeal approach to getting through the transition to weed control and fertility strategies. Joel is one of the hundreds, maybe thousands, of farmers out there excited about this new adventure into organic and is looking to the future with hope, and with optimism.

Guest: Ginny Kaupang, Senior Account Executive and VP of Crop Insurance Organic farmers haven’t always had access to crop insurance, and if they did, it was rarely worth it. That’s all changing thanks to years of advocacy and education by folks like Ginny who are working hard to protect organic farmers from risk and make sure it’s an even playing field for American farmers. Ginny runs us through the programs that are relevant for organic farmers and provides invaluable information on navigating the system to insulate your operation from risk.

Guest: Allen Philo, BioStar Renewables Although our crops needs stay the same through transition and into organic production, how we deliver the nutrients and why changes drastically. A new mindset and a new set of tools are necessary, but it’s not as complicated as you might think. Allen takes us through some of the basic theory of soil fertility through the transition and gets beyond the ‘how’ to start exploring the ‘why’.

Guest: Eric Jackson, Chief Executive of Pipeline Foods Eric shares the genesis story of Pipeline Foods – what inspired him to found the company, what makes Pipeline unique, and what our collective vision is for a future with healthy soils, resilient rural communities, and informed consumers.

This Pipeline Foods original podcast series is hosted by Anders Gurda, Manager of Agronomy Solutions. It provides in-depth interviews with organic farmers and experts, and covers a wide variety of topics and stories related to organic row crop production. We know that you have plenty of windshield time in your profession, so wanted to give you something to listen to and think about as you plant, cultivate, harvest, and spend those hours on the road. In these episodes, we wander into the weeds so that you don’t have to.