The Cutting Edge Podcast

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The Cutting Edge: A Podcast in Search of New Crops For Wisconsin

UW-Madison Extension


    • Jan 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 48m AVG DURATION
    • 52 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Cutting Edge Podcast

    Episode #50: UMHDI Hazelnut Breeding Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 86:43


    An update on hazelnut breeding in the Upper Midwest from breeders Emily Delorean and Scott Brainard

    Episode #49: Hemp Processing And Manufacturing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 60:05


    An interview with three entrepreneurs in the hemp fiber and grain processing industries. Trey Riddle is the Chief Strategy Officer of IND Hemp in Fort Benton, Montana; James Forbes is Co-Founder of Tiger Fiber in St. Louis, Missouri; and Alex Mootz is the President of Complete Agronomy Solutions in Adams, Wisconsin. IND Hemp: https://indhemp.com/ Tiger Fiber: https://tigerfiberhemp.com/ Complete Agronomy Solutions: https://www.completeagsolutions.com/

    Episode #48: Field Notes, UW Hemp Research Updates

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023 48:40


    Recorded at the UW Arlington Agricultural Research Station during the 2023 Hemp Field Day, this episode features Assistant Professor Shelby Ellison and her students/staff as they share preliminary results from SARE and USDA SAC-NIFA grant projects. Each speaker shares their work in about 5 minutes and then takes a few questions. In the order you hear them, the speakers and their topics are: Shelby Ellison - Grain/fiber trials Cheyanne Mattie - Midwest hemp pest survey Phillip Alberti - High cannabinoid hemp variety trial Sean Kim - Anthocyanin production Ademola Aina - Feral hemp collection Grace Connolly - Companion cropping Dan Heider (Research Program Coordinator) - IR4 program Shelby Ellison lab: https://alternativecrops.horticulture.wisc.edu/ Emerging Crops hemp webpage: https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/hemp/

    Episode #47: Agrivoltaics Part III, Agronomic Research

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2023 59:32


    In this third and final episode on agrivoltaics, we dive into the agronomic research studying different types of cropping and grazing systems that may be compatible with solar arrays. We talk to Sarah Moser of Savion, a solar development company, and Eric Romich of Ohio State University about their collaboration "Between the Rows." Then we talk to Brad Heins, Associate Professor of Dairy Management at the University of Minnesota, to get the latest information on grazing cattle underneath solar panels.

    Episode #46: Agrivoltaics Part II, UW Kegonsa Solar Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2023 34:18


    In Part II of our series on agrivoltaics, we discuss the UW-Madison Kegonsa Research Campus solar project. This project is a collaboration between UW-Madison and Alliant Energy to develop a small-scale solar and agrivoltaics project for research and education purposes on the university-owned Kegonsa Research Campus in Stoughton, WI, just south of the main campus. Joining us are Josh Arnold, Campus Energy Advisor with the UW Office of Sustainability, and Amanda Thomas, Engineer and Project Manager at Alliant Energy.

    Episode #45: Agrivoltaics Part I, InSPIRE Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2023 15:00


    Kicking off our series on agrivoltaics - the use of land for both agriculture and solar photovoltaic energy generation - is an interview with James McCall, Energy and Environment Analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). James gives an overview of the InSPIRE project, which explores the environmental compatibility and mutual benefits of solar development with agriculture and native landscapes. The InSPIRE project is funded by the US Department of Energy and managed by NREL. For more information on the program, check out https://openei.org/wiki/InSPIRE

    Episode #44: Mulberries Part II, Very Mulberry and Habitera Farms with Anil and Smita

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 53:14


    A conversation with Anil and Smita, co-founders of the Very Mulberry brand and Habitera Farms, an 80-acre commercial mulberry farm in the Bay Area of California. Habitera Farms is the only large-scale commercial mulberry farm in the United States today. It opened for business this spring and operates primarily as a U-Pick farm. For pictures of the farm and the Himalayan Purple Mulberry, visit: https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/programs/the-cutting-edge-podcast/ Very Mulberry: https://verymulberry.com/about/

    Episode #43: Mulberries Part I, Current Research and Historical Context

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 60:39


    A conversation with Eliza Greenman, fruit explorer and Germplasm Specialist at the Savanna Institute, and Scott Brainard, Tree Crop Breeder at the Savanna Institute and post-doc at UW-Madison, about the history of mulberries and current research to develop improved varieties for agroforestry systems. https://www.savannainstitute.org/

    Episode #42: Day-Neutral Strawberries and Seedless Table Grapes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2023 37:54


    Amaya Atucha, Associate Professor and Fruit Crop Specialist at UW-Madison, shares the latest research on day-neutral strawberries and table grapes at UW. This episode is the audio recording of a presentation Amaya gave during a winter webinar series. To watch the video recording, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5aIcZaR9qw. For more information on growing fruit in Wisconsin, visit https://fruit.wisc.edu/ More information and resources on day-neutral strawberries and table grapes can be found at www.emergingcropswi.org

    Episode #41: Compeer Financial

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2023 49:47


    Co-hosted with Jacob Grace from the Savanna Institute, this episode features Paul Dietmann, Senior Lending Officer in the emerging markets loan program at Compeer Financial, who works with farmers marketing their products directly to consumers or in value-added agriculture. Compeer Financial: https://www.compeer.com/specialists/emerging-markets-industry-experts Savanna Institute: https://www.savannainstitute.org/perennialaf/

    Episode #40: Silver Springs Foods

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2023 49:05


    An interview with Eric Rygg, President of Silver Springs Foods and Huntsinger Farms, the largest grower and processor of horseradish in the world, based in Eau Claire, WI.

    Episode #39: Winter Camelina as a Cover Crop

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 19:38


    An interview with Ruth McCabe and Emery Davis, conservation agronomists at Heartland Co-op, an agricultural co-op based in Des Moines, Iowa with over 70 locations around Iowa. Emery also farms with his family in southeastern Iowa. https://www.heartlandcoop.com/

    Episode #38: Winter Camelina as an Oilseed Crop

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2023 67:01


    An interview with three people in the vanguard of winter camelina commercialization efforts as an oilseed cash crop in the Upper Midwest. Colin Cureton is Director of Adoption and Scaling at the University of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative. Matthew Tentis is a 3rd generation farmer on White Barn Acres near Kellogg, Minnesota focused on raising cattle and regenerative agriculture. David Kiesner is Director of Business Development at Millborn Seeds, a specialty seed company dealing with over 1200 unique species of seed, located in Brookings, South Dakota. https://forevergreen.umn.edu/ https://www.driftlessgrown.com/members/white-barn-acres https://www.millbornseeds.com/

    Episode #37: Chippewa Valley Bean

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2023 39:26


    Chippewa Valley Bean Vice President Charles Wachsmuth talks about the history of the family business, current markets, and what makes them unique in the world of kidney beans. Located in Menomonie, WI, Chippewa Valley Bean is the world's largest processor of kidney beans, exports to 35 countries worldwide, and has tripled in size over the last 12 years. They are two-time winners of the Governor's Export Achievement Award. Chippewa Valley Bean: https://www.cvbean.com/

    Episode #36 - Aronia Berry Markets

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2022 59:49


    An interview with Dale Hilgenkamp and Dean Duval about current and future markets for aronia berries. Dale Hilgenkamp is an aronia farmer near Omaha, Nebraska and president of the American Aronia Berry Association. Dean Duval is an aronia farmer in Castana, Iowa as well as a board member of the association with a focus on research and development. American Aronia Berry Association: https://americanaronia.org/

    Episode #35: A Ho-Chunk Perspective on Hemp

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 16:07


    Forrest Funmaker of the Ho-Chunk Nation talks about the significant of their partnership with UW-Madison to conduct hemp variety trials at Whirling Thunder Farm near Tomah, Wisconsin. The partnership is made possible by a Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education (SARE) grant. Ho-Chunk Nation website: https://ho-chunknation.com/

    Episode #34: Hemp Research Updates

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 42:25


    An interview with Dr. Heather Darby and Phillip Alberti on the latest in hemp research. Dr. Heather Darby is an Agronomy Specialist for University of Vermont Extension. Phillip Alberti is a Research Program Manager in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Resources: University of Vermont Extension Hemp Research Reports https://www.uvm.edu/extension/nwcrops/research Midwestern Hemp Database https://extension.illinois.edu/hemp/midwestern-hemp-databases Ellison Lab, UW-Madison https://alternativecrops.horticulture.wisc.edu/

    Episode #33: Bambara Groundnut

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 35:22


    An interview with Dr. Jed Colquhoun about his research on the Bambara groundnut. The Bambara groundnut is a new crop to the United States but commonly grown in its native Africa as a subsistence crop. Jed shares his successes and challenges during his early work breeding this legume for Wisconsin. Dr. Jed Colquhoun is Professor in the Department of Horticulture and IPM Program Director at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

    Episode #32: Mint Production(For Oil)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 56:16


    Four experts from Indiana join us for a conversation on growing peppermint and spearmint for oil. Doug Matthys is a mint farmer in South Bend, Indiana at Shady Lane Farms, a fourth-generation family farm growing mint on about 1000 acres. Dr. Elizabeth Long, Assistant Professor in the Department of Entymology at Purdue University, studies plant-insect interactions to inform IPM strategies in specialty crops, with a focus on the Asiatic garden beetle grub in mint fields. Petrus Langenhoven is a Horticulture and Hydroponic Crop Specialist at Purdue University working on the management of verticillium wilt in mint. Dr. Stephen Meyers, Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University, conducts research on weed management strategies in mint. Links: https://ag.purdue.edu/department/arge/industry/mint/mint-growers.html

    Episode #31: Haskaps (aka Honeyberries)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 78:42


    A conversation with two experts on haskaps (aka honeyberries). First up is Bernis Ingvaldson, who owns and operates The Honeyberry Farm with her husband Jim in Bagley, MN, about two hours south of the Canadian border. They grow about two acres of honeyberries along with many other alternative fruit crops. Next is a conversation with Dr. Bob Bors, Assistant Professor of Plant Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan and North America's premier haskap breeder. Bob has been breeding haskaps for over 20 years, with a focus on mechanical harvesting, and has released 10 varieties in that time. The Honeyberry Farm website and online nursery: http://honeyberryusa.com/index.html University of Saskatchewan Fruit Program https://research-groups.usask.ca/fruit/?utm_source=fruit&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=2019-02-28

    Episode #30: Cider Apples

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2022 68:34


    An interview with Dan Bussey and Deirdre Birmingham about cider apples and hard cidermaking. Dan Bussey is an apple historian, orchardist, cider maker, and author of the seven volume series "The Illustrated History of Apples in the United States and Canada." He has a special interest in heirloom apples and loves to get creative with his cidermaking. Deirdre Birmingham and her husband own and operate The Cider Farm, an organic cidery in Mineral Point, WI. Together, they craft fine ciders and apple brandy from true cider apples grown on their farm. Links: www.theciderfarm.com/ www.jakkawpress.com/book/the-illust…ates-and-canada

    Episode #29: Hazelnut Insect Pests

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2022 54:40


    An interview with Hailey Shanovich about her work understanding insect pests of hazelnuts in the Upper Midwest. Hailey is a Natural Resource Science PhD Student and Research Assistant in the Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota. Link to Hailey's presentation at the 2022 Upper Midwest Hazelnut Growers Conference: https://www.midwesthazelnuts.org/uploads/3/8/3/5/38359971/umhdi_2022_bugs_driving_you_nuts.pdf

    Episode #28 - Hazelnut Breeding Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2022 46:17


    In this episode we get updates from hazelnut researchers Mark Hamann and Dr. Lois Braun at the University of Minnesota and Jason Fischbach at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Mark Hamann is a Research Technician at the University of Minnesota and works as an assistant to Dr. Lois Braun. Prior to working at UMN, he worked at Badgersett Research Farm in Canton, MN. Dr. Lois Braun is a Research Scientist in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota and works on hazelnut breeding, agronomics and propagation. She is also co-leader of the Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative. Jason Fischbach is an Outreach Specialist with UW-Madison Extension who focuses primarily on hazelnut research and commercialization efforts and co-leads the Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative. Links: https://www.midwesthazelnuts.org/

    Episode #27 - Hazelnut Breeding Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022 55:17


    An interview with Dr. Julie Dawson, Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture at UW-Madison, and Dr. Scott Brainard, Research Associate at UW-Madison and Tree Crop Breeder at Savanna Institute, about recent progress in breeding American and hybrid hazelnuts.

    Episode #25: Day In The Life Hazelnuts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 34:45


    Join hazelnut researcher Jason Fischbach as he traverses the state of Wisconsin to visit hazelnut research trials, farms, and processing facilities. Heading south from Ashland, his first stop is the Kickapoo Culinary Center in Gays Mills where Pete Lammers describes hazelnut feeding trials in cooperation with Iowa State University. Then Paul Ronsheim, grower and board member of the American Hazelnut Company, talks about roasting the nuts and processing for oil. Continuing south, Jason visits the Savanna Institute's North Farm, the new Demonstration and Research Facility in Spring Green dedicated to agroforestry practices. Then on to UW-Madison's West Madison Agricultural Research Station, where Jason describes the joint performance trials happening there. And finally to Stoughton, the site of one of three Wisconsin production trials begun in 2011 to evaluate hazelnut germplasm and conduct performance trials.

    Episode #26: UW Hemp Trials

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 32:56


    A conversation with Jerry Clark about the University of Wisconsin industrial hemp trials being conducted in Chippewa County, WI.

    Episode #24: Elderberry

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2021 50:29


    A conversation about elderberry production.

    Episode #23: Wildlife Plots

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2021 41:38


    A conversation about establishing wildlife food plots on your property using both conventional crops and native plants.

    Episode #22: Saffron Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 50:09


    The Vermont saffron researchers are back for episode three, this time with a focus on saffron production in the field or high tunnel.

    Episode #21: Currants

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2021 61:26


    A conversation with Eric Wolske with the University of Illinois about black, red, and white currant production.

    Episode #20: Carbon Farming

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 47:02


    A conversation with UW-Madison Energy Specialist Tim Baye about ways farms can participate in the carbon economy.

    Episode #19: Natural Wild Rice

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 52:46


    A discussion about harvesting and care for natural wild rice with guests from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

    Episode #18: Grimo Hazelnuts

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2021 49:54


    A conversation with Linda Grimo from Grimo Nut Nursery in Niagra-on-the-Lake, Ontario about hazelnut germplasm they sell.

    Episode #17: Saffron Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2021 38:50


    Part 2 of the Saffron series, this time focusing on marketing.

    Episode 16: Cut Flowers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2021 49:03


    A conversation about production and sale of cut flowers for CSA, farmstands, and weddings.

    Episode #15: Lavender

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2021 48:44


    Growing lavender in Wisconsin

    Episode #14: Saffron

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2021 48:55


    An interview with University of Vermont researchers about growing saffron in the northern United States

    Episode #13: Chestnuts Part 3 - Marketing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2021 47:41


    A conversation about chestnut processing and marketing with Roger Smith of Prairie Grove Chestnut Growers

    Episode #12: Chestnuts Part 2 - Production

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 47:01


    An interview with Tom Wahl about chestnut production in Iowa and beyond.

    Episode #11: Chestnuts Part 1 - Breeding

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2020 54:41


    An interview of Ron Revord and Greg Miller about breeding chestnuts for the Midwest USA

    Episode #10: Winter Spinach

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2020 72:08


    Hosts Jason Fischbach and Ashley Olson interview Chris Duke of Great Oak Farm and Bill Warner of Snug Haven Farm about production and sale of spinach in high tunnel greenhouses during the winter months in Wisconsin.

    Field Notes: Mechanical Harvest of Hybrid Hazelnuts

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2020 39:09


    On site in southern Wisconsin testing olive and blueberry harvesters in hedgerows of hybrid hazelnuts.

    Episode #9: Elderberry

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2020 47:29


    An interview with Chris Patton and Natasha Simeon about elderberries in the Upper Midwest.

    Episode #8: CBD

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2020 53:10


    An interview with Dr. Shelbie Ellison about efforts to develop hemp for CBD in Wisconsin.

    Episode #7: Naked Barley

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2020 47:00


    A discussion on efforts to establish hulless (aka naked) barley as a new food crop for WI (and the USA)

    Field Notes: Hazelnuts July 27

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2020 22:16


    Field notes from Jason Fischbach on doing yield ratings, harvest timing, and wildlife scouting.

    Episode #6: Prairie STRIPS

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2020 52:39


    An interview about the Prairie STRIPS conservation practice for farmlands.

    Episode #5: Malting Barley

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2020 48:51


    A conversation with the Oregon State malting barley team about the emerging field of terroir-based barley production

    Episode #3: Hops

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2020 48:31


    An interview with Peggy and Randy Urness of Fine Bine Farm.

    Episode #2: Hazelnuts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2020 53:19


    An interview of Jason Fischbach and Lois Braun about hazelnuts in the Upper Midwest.

    Episode #1: Industrial Hemp

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2020 44:37


    An interview Dr. Heather Darby from the University of Vermont about industrial hemp. Dr. Darby describes plant physiology and the different uses for hemp - fiber, grain, and oil. She talks about the different growing practices for each end use, goes over the results of recent seeding rate and planting date trials, shares where to find high quality seed, talks marketing strategies, and discusses her views on the sustainability credentials of the crop. Dr. Heather Darby is an Agronomic and Soils Specialist for the University of Vermont Extension. She received her MS from the University of Wisconsin in Agronomy and her Ph.D. in Crops and Soils at Oregon State University. She was raised on a dairy farm in northwestern Vermont.

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