The Prairie Farm Podcast

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All things conservation, prairie, gardening, hunting, and farming. From the fore-most voices of conservation and prairie to your casual backyard garden lovers, we’ve picked some of the most interesting brains around. Don’t miss it.

Nicolas Lirio & Kent Boucher


    • Feb 25, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 55m AVG DURATION
    • 342 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Prairie Farm Podcast

    Ep. 335 (Coffee Time) The New FARM BILL!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 36:22


    It's finally here! Farm Bill Updates are coming. Kent was home with the kids, so the one and only Judd McCullum joined Riley and Nicolas to talk about the new Farm Bill. Our Hoksey Auction (filter with the keyword "Lynnville")   Hoksey Native Seeds (for prairie mixes, wildflowers, and more!)

    Ep. 334 Why Are Farmer Suicide Rates So High and What Can We Do About It

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2026 88:27


    Dr. Karen Vanderhoff joins us to discuss what she is seeing in the health crisis of Midwest farmers. The suicide rates are very high compared to other occupations, and we want to know why and what we can do about it.   hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP mixes, hunting habitat mixes, and backyard pollinator mixes)

    Ep. 333 (Coffee Time) Are Things ACTUALLY More Expensive Than They Used To Be?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 41:10


    There's a lot of talk about how the price of living has shot through the roof. But is that actually true?? It's a complicated question that involves things like quality of life, inflation, hourly wages, median vs average, and more. We dive into this on Coffee Time Wednesday this week. You won't want to miss it. Hoksey Equipment Auction (You can filter by saying 50 mile radius with 50153)   Hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP Mixes, Backyard Pollinator Mixes, Hunting Habitat Mixes)

    Ep. 332 Which Prairie Species to Grow If You Want to Start a Prairie Farm

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 126:33


    Laura Walter, of the Tall Grass Prairie Center, joins us to discuss the new species she is trying to grow at her facility. Also, which species is no one else growing that she has available for new growers. We also talk about hemiparasites and more.   hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard pollinator mixes, CRP mixes, hunting mixes, and more!)

    Ep. 331 (Coffee Time) These Iowa Politicians Killed a Bill That Could Enhance Water Quality...

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 48:50


    There was a push at the Iowa Capitol to put the Buffer Strip Pollinator Program into a bigger setting for farmers to put onto their land. But it was killed in subcommittee. Why? We're trying to find out. Check out another riveting episode of Coffee Time Wednesday on The Prairie Farm Podcast. hokseynativeseeds.com (for buffer strip pollinator mixes, backyard prairie mixes, CRP mixes, and a lot more!)

    Ep. 330 Where Does Your Produce ACTUALLY Come From

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 119:46


    Produce in America is grown at unprecedented scale in human history. But how is it done. Who grows it, and how does it get to our tables? Should any changes be made to the system? We sit down with Seth Oren, who has been on produce farms all across America, and he gave us the inside story. hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard pollinator and prairie grass and all your other native seed needs)

    Ep. 329 (Coffee Time) Looming Farm Crisis -- These Crops Are Losing The Most Money

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2026 48:31


    Crop prices are freaky right now. We sit down and walk through the different major crops in America and if any farmer is making any money on their acres. hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP mixes... because CRP at least cuts you a check)

    Ep. 328 This Lady Changed Midwestern Beer Culture and Now Want To Bring the Same Reform to Cancer and Nutrition in Iowa

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2026 108:49


    Megan McKay is a legend in the Midwestern beer world. She founded Peace Tree and helped push legislation to allow for the microbreweries we love today. But what is she doing now? She is working hard to change the way Iowan's look at food, their health, food deserts, and cancer. hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard pollinator mixes, and all your other prairie and wildflower needs)

    Ep. 327 (Coffee Time) Iowa's Proposed Healthy Water Bill and Congress' E15 Fuel Issues

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 51:21


    A lot going on in the world of conservation and ag this week. First, we dive into the new Healthy Water Act that the Iowa Democrats have put forward. Secondly, we discuss the E15 Fuel issue that the federal legislators are "figuring out". Both of these policies would have major ramifications for the Midwest. One for our health, and the second for our economy. hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie, buffer strip mixes, hunting habitat mixes)

    Ep. 326 How to Start Farming as a Young Farmer and the Nuts and Bolts of the Farm Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026 81:50


    Chase Brown, a 6th generation farmer in Illinois, joins us to discuss billionaires that gobble up land, farm organizations that aren't benefitting farmers, and how he would start farming if he was a new farmer today. hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie, CRP, and hunting habitat)

    Ep. 325 (Coffee Time) Which Apps Are Good For Us and Secretary Burgum Pulls Grazing Permits

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 71:09


    Join another riveting episode of The Prairie Farm Podcast Coffee Time Wednesday! This week Kent and Nicolas argue over ecological regulation, and we discuss which of the world's greatest apps are net negative and net positive.   hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard pollinator mixes, CRP mixes, native pasture mixes, hunting habitat mixes, and more)

    Ep. 324 The Raw and Unfiltered Story of Inheriting a Prairie Farm Overnight

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2026 93:53


    In this episode Kent interviews Nicolas about his story of going from reluctant farm kid to Bible college to prairie farm CEO. Be warned, this interview is unfiltered and is as authentic as Nicolas and Kent know how to be. hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie and hunting habitat and CRP and wildflower needs)

    Ep. 323 (Coffee Time) The New Prairie Strips Pilot Program

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 50:04


    Welcome back to another absolute banger Coffee Time Wednesday! This week the whole gang is back together-- Kent, Riley, and Nicolas. They discuss the new pilate prairie strips program that is currently being tested in Iowa. Need prairie or wildflower mixes. We've got them at hokseynativeseeds.com. We have pollinator mixes, hunting habitat mixes, CRP mixes, Prairie Strip Mixes, Perennial Food Plot mixes, Native Pasture Mixes, and a lot more.

    Ep. 322 Getting Access To Hunting and What Is Deer Camp??

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2026 62:40


    Lyndsey Braun, Doug Duren, and Brock Rosenkranz join us to discuss the issues with hunting access and the joys of Deer Camp. hokseynativeseeds.com (for hunting habitat mixes, backyard prairie mixes, and more native seed needs)

    Ep. 321 (Coffee Time) What is Going On With These Beef Prices??

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 29:00


    Welcome back to another riveting Coffee Time Wednesday! This week Nicolas and Riley sit down to discuss what is going on with these beef prices and when will they come down. hokseynativeseeds.com (for pasture mixes, CRP mixes, and more native seed needs)

    Ep. 320 The Extinction of Caribou on the Lower 48 and Are Mountain Lions a Threat to Humans?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2026 120:29


    Power couple, Bart George and Dr. Brook Lang, join us to discuss Bart's study on Mountain Lions' interaction with humans, Dr. Lang's interactions with grizzly bears, and cat poop coffee. We deeply enjoyed this episode, and you will as well! hokseynativeseeds.com (for prairie and wildflower mixes)

    Ep. 319 (Coffee Time) The Biggest Conservation Wins and Biggest Conservation Disgraces of the Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 61:05


    Welcome back to another Coffee Time Wednesday! We review the best podcasts, best wins in conservation, worst personal losses, and the worst conservation disgraces of the year. You'll love to hear these. hokseynativeseeds.com (for prairie mixes and other native seed needs)

    Listen to the Land: Conversations about Conservation w/Doug Duren and Guests Ep. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2025 67:37


    Welcome to another installment of Doug Duren's "Listen to the Land". He joins Nicolas and Kent, and brought guests Ben and James O'Brien to recap the deer derby and discuss what it takes to pass conservation on to the next generation.

    Ep. 318 How to Get Pheasants on Your Land with The Bearded Uplander and Joy of All Trades

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2025 65:05


    Tim and Joy join us again, this time at the same time, to talk hunting, bird numbers, bird habitat, and dogs. hokseynativeseeds.com (for Pheasant Habitat Mixes and Perennial Native Food Plots)

    Ep. 317 (Coffee Time) Christmas Morning on the Farm in the 1940s, The Absurdity of Christmas Lights, and the Hazards of Antibacterial Soap

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2025 34:30


    Merry Christmas! Enjoy your festive peppermint mocha while tuning into this week's Coffee Time Wednesday!   Sign Up for the Iowa Prairie Network Winter Conference  

    Ep. 316 Gubernatorial Candidate Zach Lahn

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2025 99:48


    Zach Lahn joins us to discuss the future he envisions for Iowa, ag consolidation, chemical poisons, and more. Hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie mixes, pollinator mixes, habitat mixes, and more)

    Ep. 315 (Coffee Time) The NFL, Bearded Uplander, and Smiley

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 49:18


    We had the privilege of being joined by previous guest Mike Swartzlander, Tim Brown (The Bearded Uplander), and former Hawkeye and NFL player, Parker Hesse, for another riveting episode of Coffee Time Wednesday. hokseynativeseeds.com (for pheasant habitat, CRP mixes, and backyard prairie mixes)

    Ep. 314 What Do Prairie Strips Accomplish? And Practical Incremental Changes for Conservation On Your Farm

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 93:12


    Tim Youngquist of Iowa State University and Practical Farmers joins us to share his experience on the Prairie Strips program at Iowa State and what farmers are able to do practically to bring income while boosting conservation. hokseynativeseeds.com (for prairie strip mixes and backyard prairie mixes and all your other native seed needs)

    Ep. 313 (Coffee Time) Stiff Goldenrod's Role in a Prairie and The Dead Zones of the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 26:41


    Another exciting episode of The Prairie Farm Podcast where Riley and Nicolas take a deeper look into the infamous "dead zones" in the water around the world. hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie and hunting habitat mixes)

    Ep. 312 What Does Leaving Your Leaves Actually Do??

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 72:08


    David Mizejewski, from Natural Wildlife Federation, joins us to talk conservation, but specifically why leaving your leaves even matters. hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie mixes and other fun habitat mixes)

    Ep. 311 Iowa' Wildlife Action Plan, Soybean Farming, Prairie Snow Fences

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 40:16


    Nicolas is down with Tuberculosis and Dysentery... again. But don't worry because Riley and Kent are as healthy as two fine horses and are here to talk current events in Prairie Country.     Keep snow off the road --> Order Prairie

    Ep. 310 Can You Make a Food Forest in Your Own Yard?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2025 89:04


    We joined some of the crew from Abundant Design to discuss creating food forests in your own yard. We had a great time and we believe you will as well. hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie mixes and other native seed)

    Ep. 309 (Coffee Time) Is Fast Fashion Actually Cheaper?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 32:22


    Happy Thanksgiving! Another riveting episode of The Prairie Farm Podcast. This week, we have an intriguing question from a guest that had us thinking about the Thanksgiving Holiday. hokseynativeseeds.com (to fight consumerism with conservation)

    Ep. 308 Hunting Pheasants with Steve Hanson and Ryan Lynton

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2025 70:28


    We had the privilege of hosting Steve Hanson and Ryan Lynton (Upland Social Podcast) for a pheasant hunt and naturally we had to get them on the podcast. We discuss bird numbers in Iowa, land prices and trends, and whatever else came up in the conversation. This was supposed to be a coffee time episode, but the conversation was too good to not make it a full length episode. Enjoy!

    Ep. 307 (Coffee Time) Who's Responsibility is it to Pay for Iowa's Water Monitors

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2025 23:51


    Welcome back to another riveting episode of Coffee Time Wednesday! This time we discuss the responsibility of Iowa's Water Monitors and the organizations who are making it happen. Hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP and Backyard Prairie Mixes) Izaak Walton Foundation The Article We Read

    Ep. 306 Gubernatorial Candidate Brad Sherman

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2025 83:49


    Brad Sherman was kind enough to open his house to us and sit down for a full conversation on the state of Iowa. We discuss taxes, schools, small farms, water quality, cancer, and a lot more. We deeply enjoyed it and believe you will as well! hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie mixes and hunting habitat)

    Ep. 305 (Coffee Time) Why Are Young People Leaving the Midwest?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2025 48:24


    Welcome back to another riveting episode of The Prairie Farm Podcast- Coffee Time Wednesday! We deeply enjoyed this conversation, and we believe you will as well.   hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP mixes, hunting habitat mixes, and backyard prairie mixes)

    Ep. 304 Why to Burn Your Fields in the Fall with Jeremy French and Pete Ehryalde

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2025 95:22


    Welcome back to another in depth, nerdy episode of The Prairie Farm Podcast. You'll love this one. We dive deeper into the science of fire and its historic use. hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP and other prairie mixes)

    Ep. 303 (Coffee Time) Soybean Price Update, Longleaf Pines, Shortgrass Prairie Shortage

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2025 39:59


    Welcome back to another riveting episode of Coffee Time Wednesday! This week we're back with a soybean update for the markets and what that means for the future of ag in the midwest, as well as the current shortgrass prairie shortage. hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie and pollinator mixes)

    Ep. 302 Prehistoric Prairie Director's Cut Pt 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2025 156:06


    What happened to the prairie? Kent does a historical deep dive to find out exactly what happened to the prairie and why. Then Nicolas and Kent argue about what's the best way forward. We had a great time with this podcast, and we believe you will as well. Hokseynativeseeds.com (for native seed to help restore the prairie and habitat that was once here)

    Ep. 301 Lab Grown Meat is Inevitable

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2025 32:37


    Join us for another riveting episode of Coffee Time Wednesday, as we discuss the impending demise of meat as we know it. We greatly enjoyed this conversation and believe you will as well. hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie and pollinator mixes and hunting mixes)

    Ep. 300 Prehistoric Prairie Director's Cut (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2025 102:58


    Nicolas and Kent relisten and join you to discuss the second episode of The Prehistoric Prairie. If you haven't already listened to it, enjoy. If you have, we highly recommend listening again!   hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP mixes, backyard prairie, and native pasture mixes)

    Ep. 299 (Coffee Time) Self Driving Cars, Tractors, and Agriculture Accidents

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2025 44:56


    This week we dive into the what does the world look like on the road in 10 years. Agriculture is often a dangerous job, and vehicle collision is a big part of that. Join us for another riveting episode of the Prairie Farm Podcast. hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie mixes, hunting habitat, and bee and butterfly gardens)

    Ep. 298 Prehistoric Prairie Director's Cut (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2025 100:43


    Kent, Riley, and Nicolas sat down and listened to the Prehistoric Prairie docuseries they made in 2023. At the very end they give commentary on it. We discuss part 1 "The Ice Age" and what questions we have two years later. We greatly enjoyed this conversation, and we believe you will as well. Hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie mixes, hunting habitat, and more)

    Ep. 297 (Coffee Time) John Deere's Ethanol Tractor and Kent's Toe Fungus

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2025 45:25


    Welcome back to another great episode of Coffee Time Wednesday. We had a great time discussing energy, John Deere, ethanol, and more. hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP mixes, switchgrass, backyard prairie mixes)

    Ep. 296 Gubernatorial Candidate Julie Stauch

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2025 60:48


    Julie Stauch generously sat down with us at Smokey Row in Des Moines to discuss Iowa's water quality, our public schools, vouchers, rural poverty, and a lot more. It was a great conversation. Whether you agree with her or not, we hope you will enjoy our conversation. And let the record show, we really enjoyed our time with her. She was lovely.   hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard prairie mixes and all your native prairie and wildflower needs)

    Ep. 295 (Coffee Time) What the Government Shutdown Does to Conservation

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2025 26:22


    Welcome back to another riveting episode of Coffee Time Wednesday. Kent is gone this week, so Riley and Nicolas take on topics much too big for them without Kent to make sure they don't get canceled. They discuss how government spending affect conservation, and what it will take to longevity to our conservation practices in the US. Hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP mixes, Backyard Prairie Mixes, and Hunting Mixes)

    Ep. 294 Hairy Sheep, Vallet Nightmares, and a Little Announcement

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2025 75:31


    Our good friend, Judd McCullum, joins us to discuss his new hairy sheep and a philosophical discussion on consumerism. We are deep into harvest, so we don't have our normal guest lineup right now, but we deeply enjoyed this podcast and believe you will as well.   hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP Mixes and Native Pasture Mixes)

    Ep. 293 (Coffee Time) The Soybean Crisis... China, Trump, and the Agriculture Midwest

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2025 48:03


    Another riveting episode of Coffee Time Wednesday. We dive DEEP into the soybean price market, and what is causing China to turn away our soybeans. Are soybeans something we should even be growing? What is the current administration doing about it? We jump into all of these topics and more...   Hokseynativeseeds.com (for native pasture mixes and bee and butterfly mixes)

    Ep. 291 Cows Eat Milkweed, and Are Brushy Prairies That Bad? with Chris Helzer (The Prairie Ecologist)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2025 95:57


    Chris Helzer is the Director of the Nature Conservancy in Nebraska and a fantastic blogger/photographer, The Prairie Ecologist. We had a great time with him, and we believe you will as well!   Hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP mixes and for hunting habitat mixes)

    Ep. 291 (Coffee Time) Is AI Using Too Much Water?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2025 35:56


    Join us for another exciting episode of Coffee Time Wednesday! This week we discuss how much water AI data centers are using, and if AI is a net positive or net negative force in our world.   Hokseynativeseeds.com (for native pasture mixes and backyard prairie mixes)

    Ep. 290 Inheriting a 500 Acre Prairie Farm Over Night

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2025 65:16


    Nicolas sits down to interview Kent to discuss the pressures of taking over the farm after Carroll passed and what Kent learned from Carroll in their time together.   Hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP mixes, Backyard Prairie mixes, and Hunting Habitat mixes)

    Ep. 289 (Coffee Time) The SNAP Cuts and Harvesting Prairie

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2025 54:01


    Give us some grace on this topic. It's hard to discuss SNAP because it's a complicated topic, but with how related to agriculture it is, we thought it necessary to discuss.   Hokseynativeseeds.com (for backyard pollinator mixes and CRP mixes)

    Ep. 288 Our Soil Will Save the Earth and Humanity

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2025 51:21


    Josh Tickell, a film director, explains why making these movies actually helps in the aid for conservation. Nicolas had some connection issues, but we enjoyed the podcast nonetheless and believe you will too!   hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP Mixes, Native Pasture Mixes, and Backyard Prairies)

    Ep. 291 (Coffee Time) 12 BILLION Dollar Settlement for PFAS (Forever Chemicals)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2025 33:47


    Join for another riveting episode of The Prairie Farm Podcast: Coffee Time Wednesday!    hokseynativeseeds.com (for CRP Mixes, Backyard Prairies, and Hunting Habitat)

    Ep. 286 The Actual Numbers of the Declining Wildlife in the Midwest

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2025 68:39


    Dave Hoffman, Wildlife Research Staff of Iowa, joins us to discuss the declining numbers of faun in the Midwest and what he thinks should be done to improve the numbers.   Don't forget the Iowa Sportsman Club Raffle. Tickets are cheap, and you'll want to see what they have!   Hokseynativeseeds.com (for Habitat Mixes, CRP Mixes, and all your other native seeds)

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