Roots + Ruminants

This week on the show, Jared and Justin sit down with Rich Blair, a longtime pro in the cattle and commodities world. They chat about where the cattle market's been, where it's headed, and everything in between. Hear about everything from price swings to industry trends and what it takes to stay steady in a changing game. Go give it a listen!

Jared and Justin are back with this year's spring catch-up conversation! They dive into current planting conditions, cattle prices, and the ever-changing value of land. They also chat about the importance of community support for farms and ranches, and how they're handling new challenges in the industry. Tune in to hear all this, plus some fun as they answer questions from their new card game!

Jared and Justin are reunited for a classic podcast episode this week! Joining them is Doug Crowell, a retired police officer turned Fort Worth Stockyards tour guide. Doug shares his rich family history, personal experiences, and deep knowledge of the famous stockyards. Hear the three of them chat about historical cowboy culture, the influence it's had on today's entertainment industry, and much more. Don't miss it! 

Jay Algiere, a first-generation rancher based near De Soto, Missouri, has worked to build his operation from the ground up. Along the way he has documented his passion and progress on his YouTube channel @AlgiereRanch. In this episode, Jay joins Justin to talk through how he got started in ranching and where he hopes his operation might go in the future. Listen in to this live consult as Justin and Jay work together to build a forage plan for his ranch. They talk through all the nitty gritty details like what to plant, when to plant it, what equipment to use, what prep needs to be done first, and more. Go listen!

Jared and Justin were part of a learning session at Commodity Classic a few weeks ago! Listen to their session, Diverse Crop Rotations: Not Such a Steep Mountain to Climb, as an episode of the podcast now! Recorded at 2025 Commodity Classic

We're live at Commodity Classic 2025! Jared and Justin are chatting with a few guests from around the country. These guests include a newlywed couple from Kansas, a representative from U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action, a father and son duo from Montana, the Nebraska Corn Growers Association Secretary, and a few students from South Dakota State University. This exciting episode is one you don't want to miss!

“The Wakeboarding Farmer” Quentin Connealy joins Jared and Justin this week to share insights from his operation in Tekamah, Nebraska. Connealy enjoys sharing agricultural content across different social platforms, all while running an operation where he's always looking for new opportunities and keeping an open mind – something that isn't always common in our industry. Tune in to hear about some of his agricultural practices and what he's learned along the way! Find Quentin on X at @Qconnealy19.

Justin and honorary host Alex Guttormsson talk to special guest Cole Sonne from Sonne Farms on this week's episode. Cole and his dad run a cattle and crop operation in Mount Vernon, South Dakota, and Cole shares their experiences online through his YouTube channel. Content creation has given Cole awesome industry opportunities, both on and off the farm. Tune in this week to hear Cole share a little bit about this and how he got started with content creation in college. Subscribe to Sonne Farms on YouTube at @SonneFarms.

For our first official guest of the new year, Justin chats with rancher Matt Feldhaus about his cow-calf operation and different feeding practices. Feldhaus runs a ranching operation in the Coteau Hills of South Dakota where he brings his YouTube followers along with him on his channel, Ranching Sodak. Hear the pair chat about how Feldhaus got into Wagyu beef and his approach to YouTube. Tune in!

It's what you've all been waiting for! Buckle up to review the predictions that Jared and Justin made for 2024, as well as what they think might happen in the coming year. Will mustaches or mullets be more popular? Will we get to the bottom of the drone mysteries? Hear all this (and some actual agriculture predictions) to start off your year!

Jared and Justin are back again chatting about more things related to the U.S. food industry. This week they focus more on the meat industry as a whole, covering both a little bit of the history and future outlook. Hear how certain health and political trends can affect production and consumption across the country. Also hear the two tell some funny stories about college and their careers. You don't want to miss this one!

Jared and Justin are catching up this week on current happenings in agriculture and politics following recent events. Hear the pair discuss how changing incentives could impact commodity agriculture and grazing systems, as well as the role of seed oils and ethanol in the future of farming. Tune in for an in-depth look at where the agricultural industry might be headed following the election.

Justin is going solo this week with special guest Karl Palmberg, a retired Air-Force Veteran who runs a farm near Larchwood, Iowa. Karl is working towards fully organic practices and specializes in grass-fed beef and the science behind sustainable farming. Tune in to hear to Karl talk about how his time in the Air Force relates to his experiences on the farm and his approach to farming as a whole.

We are headed north! Well, not actually, but this week our guest joins us from all the way up in Alberta, Canada. Jolene Noble from Jackknife Creek Land & Cattle joins Jared and Justin to dive into swath grazing and what it looks like on her operation. Hear how she and her family use swathing to help reduce feed, labor, and handling costs on their cattle operation. Tune in!

Ohlde Cattle Company has been breeding “cattle with a purpose” near Palmer, Kansas for years. This week Tim Ohlde and his wife Trudy join Jared and Justin to discuss the history and details of beef genetics. Tune in this week to hear the four discuss everything from breeding functional traits in cattle to innovative grazing techniques using rye and triticale. 

Bison are back! This week Jared and Justin are talking about bison marketing and production with third generation producer Kadyn Nolz. Kadyn helps run his family's bison farm near Hartford, South Dakota, where they have been raising and breeding buffalo for years. Tune in to learn more about their unique operation!

Alexandre Family Farm is an entirely grass-based dairy farm in Crescent City, California. Their mission is to farm in harmony with nature, and in doing so they produce A2/A2 organic milk that is rich in nutrients and easier for human digestion than your typical milk found in the grocery store. Blake Alexandre, along with Jared and Justin, dives deep into the dairy industry, grass-based dairying, their milk production, and the practices that make their farm, and products, unique. This one's interesting!

Jared and Justin are going back to their roots today and just chit chatting about all things agriculture. Listen to them dive into ag policy and what's happening in our world, and about how things are going on their own operations. You won't want to skip this one! 

Will Harris from White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia joins Jared and Justin this week to talk all things grass, cows, and money. Harris runs an operation focused on radically traditional farming where he uses regenerative and humane farming practices. Listen to this week's episode to hear the three discuss why Will turned away from industrial agriculture techniques and how his operation morphed into what it is today.

This week hosts Jared and Justin discuss crop rotations, cattle, and other hot topics along with guest Craig Bieber. As Jared said, Craig "paints the picture" of what his operation looks like and describes the history of how his practices have evolved over the years. Tune in to hear the cattle and forage discussion between these three gentlemen. 

Luke Hiebert is from the same area as our host, Jared. Jared, Justin and Luke spend this episode chatting about the spring they've had so far (spoiler: it's thrown them some curveballs) and problem solving for real-life scenarios Luke's experiencing on his farm. Plus, there's a graze it, harvest it, rent it out scenario with conflicting answers. Just three real farmers talking about real farm things. You won't want to miss it! 

Grazing hogs and honeybees... well, kind of. Listen to hosts Jared and Justin chat with Rob Dowdle of Dowdle Family Farms in Steens, Mississippi about how he raises pigs, cattle, and honeybees. Throughout the episode, the guys discuss the details of raising honeybees, how Rob is trying to accomplish year-round grazing with his livestock, what it's like to be from a "humble" state like South Dakota or Mississippi, and a few things in between. Tune in! Find Dowdle Family Farms on YouTube and FacebookFollow Roots + Ruminants on social and watch full episodes on YouTube! Facebook: Roots + Ruminants PodcastX: @RootsRuminantsInstagram: @RootsAndRuminantsPodcastTikTok: @RootsAndRuminantsPodcastYouTube: @RootsAndRuminants 

Dodge Slead of Lebo, Kansas is no stranger to unique farming strategies – even if that strategy means NOT farming. Yes, you read that right.Dodge and his wife run a bison and beef operation, as well as traditional row crop farming. On this episode, he breaks down why he decided to try bison farming, how he manages his livestock, why he felt called to take a year off from growing crops entirely, and how he kept his farm afloat in that year off. Tune in! 

All your questions will be answered on July 2nd at the Renovo Rally plot day in Brookings, South Dakota. The event will feature sessions on incentive programs, product info, breakthrough crop strategies, and more. And of course, there will be plot tours, warehouse tours, and a great meal. Get all the details and register to attend at www.renovoseed.com/plot/.

No guest this week, there are too many spring things to catch up on! Jared and Justin are filling us all in on where their own operations sit this spring, what they're hearing from other farmers and ranchers, and how they prioritize when everything needs to be done at once. Just two farmer friends chatting about everyday farm things - what more could you want?

“We're believing in a system that's been here for millennia. We're just trying to learn some lessons from natural systems that have always been here, and that built the topsoil we're farming now.” Mic drop. Christof Just shifted his operation in 2019 when a heavy prevent plant year changed his plans. Tune in for his insight on what he's learned, what he's trying next, and why he thinks we can all learn from the past. 

Graeme Finn is an Australian native who brought his extensive agriculture knowledge and livestock background to Canadian agriculture. He is a huge proponent for year-round grazing, but he questions whether practices like this are considered sustainable agriculture, or simply survival agriculture? Tune in!

"At what point do the ducks become limited?" - a real question asked by our hosts on this episode. Spoiler alert: never. Ducks Unlimited joined Roots + Ruminants at Commodity Classic to talk through their mission, incentive programs available in the ag space, and to enlighten Jared with a new word - herbivory. Tune in! You won't want to miss this lighthearted episode. 

We're live at Commodity Classic 2024! Jared and Justin chat with four guests from the show - a Tennessee farmer, a Kansas farmer,  a national sorghum board member, and a soil and water conservation employee. This lively episode gives a quick view of all facets of ag across the country. 

We're coming at you with a double episode today. Jared Luhman of the Herd Quitter podcast is making waves by interviewing "farmers and ranchers who aren't afraid to think for themselves and do things a little bit differently." Sounds familiar, right? Tune in for this in-depth episode to hear all about why JR (IYKYK) quit the herd, how JD diversifies his operation, and who's really in control of the carbon movement in ag. Head over to Herd Quitter wherever you get your podcasts for more like this!

As is true to form on Roots + Ruminants, we feature those who question the quo. And AJ Munger of Eagle Pass Ranch is no different. He hails from a six generation (soon to be seventh generation) cattle ranch in Highmore, SD. The ranch has gone through many changes and phases through the generations, but the constant over time is that the ranch continues to be home to a progressive cattle operation managed by a family with a vision of the future. Tune in to hear about why they calve in May, how they're the only seedstock producer with intake data on every female in the cowherd, and how they continue to challenge the status quo.  

Van Mansheim, a farmer since 2011 and board member on the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, shares how he prioritizes crop diversity on his farm. As someone who is relatively new to the industry, Van has the benefit of a fresh perspective – never looking at things with a “we've always done it this way” mindset. Hear how he prioritizes soil health, water infiltration, crop diversity, and how he fed 500 head of cattle for 90 days of winter and didn't start a tractor once. Insane!

Run it back! The 2023 predictions episode was one of our most popular of the year, so Justin and Jared are back at it to check the scorecard on their predictions and make some new forecasts for 2024. From land and commodity prices, to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, to the most popular cover crop mix – you won't want to miss what Justin and Jared think is in store for 2024. 

Zack Smith, AKA the Stock Cropper, is the co-creator of autonomous grazing machines, developed from the desire to harness the natural cycles of a plant-animal ecosystem. The autonomous grazing concept grows healthier animals and healthier soils, all with a lower carbon footprint. Hear from Zack on autonomous grazing, rural community sustainability, and more!

Lynn Fahrmeier is a Missouri farmer involved in everything from traditional row crop production, to drone application of seed and chemicals, to cover crops, to raising Katahdin sheep.  He's not afraid to try new things, and he shares with Justin and Jared some of what he's learned in his decades of farming. Lynn even gives a peek into the possible future of his farm, and it's not what you might expect. We'll give you a hint...  there's solar panels and livestock involved. Tune in for this fascinating episode! 

Sara Bauder is an SDSU Extension Forage Field Specialist, and she sits down with Justin and Jared to talk all things forage, and to share about the Northern Plains Forage Association. Join the association at their annual meeting on December 1! Meeting details are available here: https://fb.me/e/1exveJuRv

Yes, you read that right. Hosts Justin and Jared sit down with Vivian Georgalas of AgSpire to discuss five grants that are providing new and added income sources for farms and ranches across the country. Many of these grants operate differently from other government or carbon programs in the fact that they don't necessarily require "added" practices to be eligible for incentive payments. Tune in for details!

Meet Roots + Ruminants third international guest, Steven Bennett. Steven is the International Sales Manager for PGG Wrightson, a New Zealand-based seed company. Hosts Jared and Justin got together with him at the Western Seed Trade Association meeting to talk all things brassicas.

David Larson is a Minnesota farmer, and he's putting Jared and Justin to the test with a fall-themed graze it, harvest it, rent it challenge. If you've ever been to a pumpkin patch and your mind was spinning about all the ways you could use the seasonal crops and expansive acres, this episode is for you. 

Walker Farms is located outside the Twin Cities in Minnesota, and they market all their products direct to the customer. Tune in to hear how Andy Walker continues to innovate their products and processes to meet customer needs.

Justin is at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. Tune in to hear a special dairy-themed graze it, harvest it, rent it challenge, Jared's bingo card for the show, and an update on show vs production genetics in the dairy industry.

Apparently we're giving away 300 gallons of rye whiskey now? Tune in to find out why. You'll also hear about an art gallery unveiling Justin and Jared attended (yes, you read that right), and the latest graze it, harvest it, rent it scenario. Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/34_R16KdFD0

Wilde Air Service is a Brookings, SD based aerial application company focused on serving their customers well and finding a way to get the job done - even the hard jobs. Tune in to this episode of Roots + Ruminants to hear from Tom and Brodie about a day in the life of flying on cover crop seed, chemicals, and more.

Compost tea is created by extracting beneficial microorganisms from compost using a brewing process. This tea is essentially a vitamin boost for the crops, helping them fight pests and diseases. Brian Fruechte, a farmer in western Minnesota, started making his own compost tea to boost his cash crops, and he's sharing all about the what, the why, and the how of his process. And bonus: Brian is the brother of co-host Justin Fruechte – our first family feature on the podcast!

Justin and Jared are LIVE on video with their first edition of graze it, harvest it, rent it: a new challenge where they're given three cropping scenarios and have to assign a strategy to each one: graze it, harvest it, or rent it out. They also talk state fair and silage harvest.  Tune in, or catch the video version on YouTube at Roots and Ruminants: https://www.youtube.com/@RootsAndRuminants

Ever heard of taking two grain crops and crossing them to make a forage? Meet Triticale: the valuable rye/wheat cross that has the vigor and hardiness of rye, with the agronomics and quality of wheat. Racey Padilla is the Small Grains Research Director for the largest triticale breeding program in North America, TriCal Superior Forage.  His farmer-first perspective fuels his breeding efforts – he's always trying to improve the stress tolerance and feed quality of the crop. Come along with Justin and Jared on this fascinating interview to learn about the behind-the-scenes of triticale breeding!

When an animal is sick, one of the first things you look at is: what are they eating? Is there a toxin in their food? Is the ration off? Are we missing something in their diet? So when Roy Thompson's health was rocked with an autoimmune disease, he decided to do the same and take a long hard look at his nutrition and using food as medicine. Listen in as he shares about his multi-year journey to transforming his health, and how he transformed his farm along the way. 

Podcast host Jared Knock was a recent speaker during the TEDx Sioux Falls event. Listen in as he shares about the TEDx experience, dives into what he spoke about during the event, and more.

Jacob Van den Borne farms in Brussels and The Netherlands, primarily supplying potatoes to McDonalds for their famous french fries. But he's not sticking to the status quo. With over 80 field locations and farms in two countries, he has plenty of opportunities to try new things – like precision agriculture tools and even growing a carbon neutral french fry! Tune in to this fascinating episode to learn more about Jacob's operation, farming regulations in The Netherlands, how he manages 80+ field locations, and more! Find Jacob online at www.vandenborneaardappelen.com/.

Although regenerative ag can sound overwhelming, simplicity is the name of the game at Continuum Ag. Hear from their Chief Agronomist, Carolyn King, about their approach, and what they're seeing as the next big thing in regenerative ag.