Podcasts about acres usa

In this episode of the Acres USA podcast, host Taylor Henry talks with Jeff Poppen, better known as the Barefoot Farmer. Jeff shares his 50-year journey in organic and biodynamic farming at Long Hungry Creek Farm in Tennessee. They discuss Jeff's book 'Barefoot Biodynamics,' his philosophies on soil ecology, community-supported agriculture, and sustainable food production. Jeff delves into the principles and practices of biodynamics, including the use of cow manure, composting, and effective tillage. He also reflects on his early inspirations, the role of livestock on farms, and his efforts to create a self-sufficient, community-focused farm. Whether you're an experienced farmer or someone passionate about sustainable agriculture, this insightful conversation offers valuable wisdom and practical tips.Important Links from Today's Episode:Members site:https://members.acresusa.comAcres U.S.A. Homepage:https://www.acresusa.com/“Barefoot Biodynamics”:https://bookstore.acresusa.com/products/barefoot-biodynamics?_pos=1&_sid=3beb36e37&_ss=rAccess Eco-Ag 2024 Recordings:https://conference.eco-ag.com/24recordingsAcres U.S.A. Memberships:https://eco-farming.com/

Sergio Dabdoub, Representante de ventas DASA. Originario de Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Sergio es un apasionado de viajar, conectarse con la naturaleza, leer y ayudar a los demás. Egresado del Tecnológico de Monterrey de la carrera de Comercio Internacional, cuenta con una especialización en cultivos sin suelo por la Universidad de Almería, en España. Ha colaborado como autor de artículos para la revista Acres USA y ha participado en misiones tecnológicas en España, Cuba y Estados Unidos. Actualmente, es coach en agricultura regenerativa ydirector de la empresa Novedades Agrícolas DASA. No te pierdas el contenido y el trabajo de Sergio en redes sociales, donde comparte su experiencia y conocimientos: • Instagram: @sergio.dabdoub • TikTok: @sergiodabdoub50 • Facebook: Sergio Dabdoub

In this 239th episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Adam and I discuss attending small town tree lighting ceremonies and building new barrel garden planters. We also discuss the 2024 Acres USA Eco-Ag Conference including new trends in Regenerative Agriculture and homestead and small farm business ideas. Adam attended all four days of the conference, and he had a chance to attend presentations from Gabe Brown, Mark Shepard, and even Joel Salatin. He got to shake hands and rub elbows with a lot of leaders in the Regenerative Agriculture world Adam will lead the way and give us a recap of what he learned and what interesting things are coming down the pike in the Regenerative Agriculture space. I am curious if Joel Salatin talked about his new position as an advisor in the new administration and ant new policies he will be pushing. At the same time, our audience provided some good feedback and interaction with us, and Adam and I had a chance to brainstorm about what we would do to start a small business on a 8-agre homestead. Adam has an 8-acre homestead and has had a lot of irons in the fire, and I had a 10-acre homestead before moving to The Landing. We come up with some interesting ideas, and our listeners appreciated the brainstorming session. For links, support and other information, check out the Small Scale Life website at https://smallscalelife.com. Special Guest: Adam Rick.

Join host Taylor Henry, of Acres USA, as he engages in a deep and insightful conversation with Steve Diver, an expert with 40 years of experience in horticulture, farm management, and soil consultancy. Steve elaborates on the importance of biofertilizers and shares practical insights into their integration into farming practices. Highlights include discussions on sustainable farming practices, the significance of cover crops, microbial inoculants, and innovative biofertilizer recipes.  Important Links from Today's Episode: Members site: https://members.acresusa.com Acres U.S.A. Homepage: https://www.acresusa.com/

Lawrence Mayhew has become one of our most requested podcast guests, thanks to his in-depth understanding of soil's inner workings and the dynamics of soil geo/bio/chemistry. Lawrence spoke at the country's premier regenerative agriculture conference, ACRES USA, in Madison Wisconsin. We asked Lawrence to join us to discuss his presentation, entitled “Biological Carbon Fertilizers.” As usual he was full of enthusiasm, delving into everything from the importance of balancing soil nutrients to the incredible role of enzymes in plant systems. We also spent some time discussing his definition of the phrase “biological buffers,” and what it means as it relates to dynamic soil systems. As always, we had a bunch of fun and laughs while he shared his expertise with us. Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.comPodcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/ 

In this episode of the Acres USA podcast, host Taylor Henry sits down with Matt Powers, a prominent figure in the Eco Agriculture community. Powers discusses his recent event on soil science, his extensive work in regenerative agriculture, and his revolutionary new book on regenerative soil microscopy. He also delves into his educational background, highlighting his transition from teaching high school to becoming a leading advocate for sustainable farming. Powers shares insights on the importance of live soil testing, the benefits of mycorrhizal fungi, and the future of DNA testing in agriculture. Additionally, he expresses his excitement for the upcoming Acres USA EcoAg conference and the opportunity to meet fellow regenerative agriculture experts. Join us for a deep dive into the innovative practices shaping the future of eco-agriculture. Register for the 2024 Eco-Ag Conference Here: https://conference.eco-ag.com/conference- Other Important Links from Today's Episode: Members site: https://members.acresusa.com Acres U.S.A. Homepage: https://www.acresusa.com/ Matt's Website: https://www.thepermaculturestudent.com/ Matt's Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Jg0zsgjNxjltlFjE0YvNw “Regenerative Soil” : https://bookstore.acresusa.com/products/regenerative-soil?_pos=1&_sid=ad82cc05b&_ss=r

Join Taylor Henry, owner and CEO of Acres USA, in this insightful episode of the Acres USA podcast. Taylor sits down with Jay Fuhrer, a veteran with over 40 years of conservation work through the NRCS. Jay shares his incredible journey, from his humble beginnings on a mixed farming operation in the Northern Plains to managing Menoken Farm, a conservation demonstration farm. Learn about Jay's commitment to promoting soil health principles, his innovative practices in sustainable and regenerative farming, and his family's farming legacy. This episode dives deep into soil conservation, innovative agricultural techniques, the historical context of farming in the Northern Plains, and the importance of plant diversity, cover crops, and livestock management in modern eco-agriculture. Don't miss this enriching conversation! Register for the 2024 Eco-Ag Conference Here: https://conference.eco-ag.com/conference- Other Important Links from Today's Episode: Members site: https://members.acresusa.com Acres U.S.A. Homepage: https://www.acresusa.com/ Menoken Farm: https://menokenfarm.com/

Welcome to the Acres USA Podcast, hosted by Taylor Henry, owner and CEO of Acres USA. In this episode, Taylor talks with Jordan Green, co-founder of FarmBuilder, about his journey in sustainable farming, particularly pasture livestock farming and regenerative agriculture. Jordan shares his experiences managing seasonal poultry production, strategies for maintaining cash flow, and the benefits of leasing farm land. They discuss the advantages of raising hogs in forests, sourcing feed, and the unique practices that have contributed to Jordan's success. Additionally, the conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of scaling farming operations, the importance of relational marketing, and the potential benefits of agricultural policy changes. Tune in to gain valuable insights into sustainable farming practices and the future of eco-agriculture. Jordan will be hosting a workshop at our 2024 Eco-Ag Conference in Madison, WI December 2-5. Jordan will be presenting on pastured pigs, how to get started, how to build a scalable farm business from it. Register for the 2024 Eco-Ag Conference Here: https://conference.eco-ag.com/conference- Other Important Links from Today's Episode: Members site: https://members.acresusa.com Acres U.S.A. Homepage: https://www.acresusa.com/ Jordan's FarmBuilder Website: https://farmbuilder.us/

Register for the Acres USA conference coming up on December 2-5, 2024. And if you can't make those dates or its already passed, you can purchase the event recordings as well!Can a digital bookstore and learning community reshape the world of farming? On our latest episode Taylor Henry, owner of Acres USA, makes a compelling case. He takes us through his journey into regenerative agriculture, sparked by Acres USA's rich catalogue. Taylor shares how Acres USA is redefining what it means to learn the craft of farming, offering an education that could rival, and even surpass, the traditional university path.We also dive into the upcoming Acres USA conference, where leaders and learners come together to inspire, innovate, and transform the future of agriculture. Taylor explains why it's essential for farmers to see themselves as entrepreneurs and how Acres USA equips them to do just that.In this episode, we cover: How Acres USA's bookstore sparked Taylor's journey into regenerative farming. The history of Acres USA and its role in pushing forward organic and regenerative ag. How they're marrying archival and historical knowledge, with the latest thinking in regards to agriculture. Why Taylor believes the offerings of Acres USA can rival the traditional university system when it comes to learning the business of regenerative farming. Why farmers need to see themselves as entrepreneurs. What's in store at the upcoming Acres USA conference where leaders in the field will be sharing insights and regenerative farmers can gather to learn from each other. Some exciting innovations that can showcase the health benefits of regeneratively grown beef. And much more...Register for the Acres USA conferenceMore about Taylor, Acres USA, and the Acres USA Podcast:Taylor Henry is the owner and CEO of Acres USA, which he acquired in 2023. He is also the visionary behind Henry Pastures, a regenerative farm in Wisconsin. Originally setting aside his farming dreams, Taylor's journey began in law enforcement and later led him into entrepreneurship. Eventually, he returned to his passion by establishing Henry Pastures, a 200-acre regenerative farming operation dedicated to holistic land management and sustainable practices. Taylor also works in real estate, helping others pursue land ownership with a focus on regenerative agriculture.Agrarian Futures is produced by Alexandre Miller of You Should Have a Podcast, who also wrote our theme song. This episode was edited by Keith J. Nelson.

Welcome to the Acres USA Podcast! In this special webinar episode, hosted by Paul Meyer, we delve into sustainable farming, regenerative practices, and technological innovations in eco-agriculture. Our special guest, John Kempf, founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) and executive editor of Acres USA magazine, shares his insights on adopting new agricultural technologies and the philosophical thoughts behind them. We explore the role of technology in agriculture, especially during the COVID era, and discuss the importance of in-person interactions at events and conferences. John also covers topics such as plant health, the use of artificial intelligence in agronomy, and the development of technology that supports regenerative agriculture. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation! John Kempf will be an Eco-Ag presenter at our 49th Annual Eco-Ag Conference on December 2-5 in Madison, WI. He brings many years of experience within the Regenerative/Sustainable Agriculture realm. You will not want to miss this once in a lifetime experience! Register for the 2024 Eco-Ag Conference Here: https://conference.eco-ag.com/conference- Other Important Links from Today's Episode: Members site: https://members.acresusa.com Acres U.S.A. Homepage: https://www.acresusa.com/ John Kempf's Website: https://johnkempf.com/ Advancing Eco Agriculture Website: https://advancingecoag.com John's Podcast “Regenerative Agriculture Podcast”: https://regenerativeagriculturepodcast.com/

If you know anything about homesteading, you know who Joel Salatin is. Joel has been farming and teaching about farming for decades, and he brings his wealth of experience to this conversation for the new homesteader. What is the bigger picture of homesteading? How can you make money on a homestead? What should you avoid when purchasing land? If you are hoping to start a homestead or have already started your homesteading journey, this episode is full of the encouragement and practical knowledge you need! In this episode, we cover: How starting a homestead in 2024 is different than previous generations You don't need as much land as you think to start a homestead If you can only have one stream of income from your homestead, do this! Can you actually save money raising your own meat? The top small farm mistakes to avoid What to look for when shopping for homestead property How to expand your farm offerings if you want to make a living on your homestead An explanation for the rise in agrotourism and the opportunity it presents to homesteaders The importance of building a strong community among farmers and homesteaders What is the point of homesteading anyways? View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT JOEL Joel Salatin calls himself a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer. Others who like him call him the most famous farmer in the world, the high priest of the pasture, and the most eclectic thinker from Virginia since Thomas Jefferson. Those who don't like him call him a bio-terrorist, Typhoid Mary, charlatan, and starvation advocate. With 12 published books and a thriving multi-generational family farm, he draws on a lifetime of food, farming, and fantasy to entertain and inspire audiences around the world. He's as comfortable moving cows in a pasture as addressing CEOs at a Wall Street business conference. He co-owns, with his family, Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia. Featured in the New York Times bestseller Omnivore's Dilemma and award-winning documentary Food Inc., the farm services more than 5,000 families, 50 restaurants, 10 retail outlets, and a farmers' market with salad bar beef, pigaerator pork, pastured poultry, and forestry products. When he's not on the road speaking, he's at home on the farm, keeping the callouses on his hands and dirt under his fingernails, mentoring young people, inspiring visitors, and promoting local, regenerative food and farming systems. Salatin is the editor of The Stockman Grass Farmer, granddaddy catalyst for the grass farming movement. He writes the Pitchfork Pulpit column for Mother Earth News, as well as numerous guest articles for ACRES USA and other publications. A frequent guest on radio programs and podcasts targeting preppers, homesteaders, and foodies, Salatin's practical, can-do solutions tied to passionate soliloquies for sustainability offer everyone food for thought and plans for action. RESOURCES The Lean Farm books by Ben Hartman Selling the Invisible by Harry Beckwith The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer by Joel Salatin Polyface Micro by Joel Salatin Looking to earn an income from your YouTube channel? Join my YouTube Success Masterclass today! Explore all of my course offerings including sourdough, sewing, blogging, and YouTube CONNECT Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms | Website | Instagram | Facebook Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you'd like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

Join Taylor Henry, host and CEO of Acres USA, as he converses with Nigel Palmer, author of 'The Regenerative Grower's Guide to Garden Amendments.' In this insightful episode, they delve into Nigel's approach to sustainable and regenerative gardening practices. From the current projects in his southern New England garden to his journey in organic farming, Nigel shares valuable knowledge about garden amendments, soil health, and the impact of regenerative practices. Discover the importance of minerals, biological amendments, and organic matter, along with practical steps for fermenting plant juices and creating nutrient-rich compost. Tune in to learn how simple, nature-aligned practices can transform agricultural systems and promote ecological balance. Register for the 2024 Eco-Ag Conference Here: https://conference.eco-ag.com/conference- Other Important Links from Today's Episode: Members site: https://members.acresusa.com Acres U.S.A. Homepage: https://www.acresusa.com/ Link to “The Regenerative Grower's Guide to Garden Amendments” in our Online Bookstore: https://bookstore.acresusa.com/products/the-regenerative-growers-guide-to-garden-amendments?_pos=1&_sid=6a00ffa77&_ss=r Nigel's Website: https://www.nigel-palmer.com/

Join host Taylor Henry on the Acres USA podcast as he engages with Megan Neubauer, co-owner of Pure Land Farm in McKinney, Texas. Discover how Megan transitioned from a biology and science background to a successful 'pick-your-own' agritourism model, addressing challenges like severe weather and urbanization. Learn practical strategies for running a thriving farm close to a heavy populated city, utilizing innovative organic marketing and community engagement. Megan shares detailed tips on farm operations, soil health, and sustainable practices, along with her vision for nationwide agritourism and developing an online course for farmers. Gain insights from her book, “Pick Your Own Farming”, and understand how agritourism can boost profitability and connect the public to agriculture. Megan will be a presenter at the Acres U.S.A. Eco-Ag Conference on December 2-5 in Madison, WI. She will be presenting on the topic of starting up your own “Pick you own” farming model, while discussing trials and tribulations that she and her team have encountered along their journey. She brings a hands-on approach and experience to this niche type of farming. Register for the 2024 Eco-Ag Conference Here: https://conference.eco-ag.com/conference- Other Important Links from Today's Episode: Members site: https://members.acresusa.com Acres U.S.A. Homepage: https://www.acresusa.com/ Link to “Pick-Your-Own Farming” in our Online Bookstore: https://bookstore.acresusa.com/products/pick-your-own-farming?_pos=1&_sid=348eee29a&_ss=r Link to the Pure Land Farm Page: https://purelandorganic.com/

Join host Taylor Henry on the Acres USA podcast as he engages with Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms, a pioneer in regenerative agriculture. This insightful episode explores Joel's innovative rotational grazing, sustainable farming practices, and the role of local food systems in creating resilient agricultural environments. Discover how Joel tackles environmental challenges while reducing external dependencies, shares his effective marketing strategies, and discusses the significant impact of technology on modern farming efficiency. Gain inspiration from Joel's reflections on influential figures and ideas shaping the regenerative farming movement, and understand the growing influence of health-conscious consumerism in agriculture. This episode is essential for anyone interested in sustainable farming, technological adaptation, and transforming agriculture into a thriving, eco-friendly enterprise. Joel Salatin will be at our 49th Annual Eco-Ag Conference in Madison, WI on December 2-5. Go register online to attend! Joel brings decades of experience with trial and error methods to revolutionize the way the world farms. Joel will be a keynote speaker at this year's conference, you will not want to miss this opportunity to see him speak! Register for the 2024 Eco-Ag Conference Here: https://conference.eco-ag.com/conference- Other Important Links from Today's Episode: https://members.acresusa.com https://www.acresusa.com/ https://polyfacefarms.com/

The Natural Gardener, John Dromgoole, joins the Soil Sisters in the KLKT studio in Lockhart, TX. John shares his origin story from his early days in South Texas to his influential career in Austin creating a world-class gardening destination known for its pioneering work in organic gardening and sustainable living. The conversation covers a wide range of topics including radio broadcasting, the benefits of organic gardening, planting tips and techniques, composting, urban gardening, and the role of community in spreading natural gardening knowledge. John emphasizes the importance of being open to learning from nature, communicating with plants, and using sustainable practices to nurture the soil and environment.  Connect with The Natural Gardener  in Austin, TX, and get monthly gardening tips.TIME STAMPS:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:16 John Dromgoole's Gardening Journey 02:01 From Radio to Retail: A Unique Path 06:26 Organic Gardening and Learning in Austin 09:52 The Importance of Soil and Microbes 11:26 Communicating with Plants 18:06 Birds and Biodiversity in the Garden 20:48 Cover Crops and Soil Health 22:53 Understanding Weeds and Soil Health 24:08 Recommended Reading for Sustainable Agriculture 25:29 The Visionary Farmer: Malcolm Beck 26:23 Partnership and Potting Soil 27:28 Composting and Organic Techniques 29:17 Urban Gardening and Worm Farms 31:53 Fruit Trees and Espalier Techniques 39:00 Seaweed Benefits and Gardening Tips 43:48 Composting at Home 47:08 Organic Gardening Advocacy 50:18 Conclusion and Future Plans

In this Acres USA podcast episode, we throwback to Dr. Arden Andersen, a unique blend of physician and agronomist, who consults with major farming operations worldwide. Dr. Andersen discusses the interconnection between human health and agricultural practices, emphasizing sustainable farming, nutrition, and the harmful impacts of processed foods and pesticides. He shares his background in family medicine, public health, and agriculture, and the importance of consumer choices in driving agricultural changes. The episode highlights the role of nutrient-dense food in preventing chronic diseases and the significance of proactive health management through diet, exercise, and lifestyle adjustments. Important Links from Today's Episode: https://members.acresusa.com https://www.acresusa.com/

Join host Taylor Henry, owner and CEO of Acres USA, as he delves into a fascinating discussion with Kevin Wolz of Canopy. This episode explores Kevin's journey from Illinois' prairies to agroforestry, the founding of the Savannah Institute, and the work and vision behind Canopy. Learn about the innovative Canopy Compass tool for mapping farm suitability, the benefits and challenges of integrating tree crops into conventional farming, and how agroforestry practices like alley cropping and silvopasture can transform agricultural landscapes. Whether you're a farmer, rancher, or eco-agriculture enthusiast, this podcast episode offers valuable insights into sustainable and regenerative farming practices. Don't miss the opportunity to discover how Canopy is paving the way for a more resilient farming future.  Important Links from Today's Episode: https://members.acresusa.com https://www.acresusa.com/ https://www.canopycompass.com/

Join Taylor Henry on the Acres USA podcast as he delves deep into the world of sustainable and regenerative farming with Gary Zimmer. This episode explores the formation of Midwestern BioAg, the challenges and innovations in eco-friendly agricultural practices from the 70s to present. Learn about the pivotal role of soil mineralization and the significance of key minerals such as calcium and boron. Gary Zimmer enriches the discussion with his expertise on cover crops, crop diversity, and bio-based fertilizers, reflecting on both the historical and modern landscape of farming. Discover how Midwestern BioAg's pioneering efforts in fertilizer formulation and soil health have translated into improved soil and crop vitality, offering valuable insights for educators and practitioners in the field of agriculture. Important Links from Today's Episode: https://members.acresusa.com/ https://www.acresusa.com/ https://bookstore.acresusa.com/

In this episode of the Acres USA podcast, you will hear Will and Jenni Harris's Keynote presentation from a recent Eco-Ag Conference. Will and Jenni share the story of White Oak Pastures and how it was started. They discuss the transition from conventional to regenerative farming, the importance of community, and the succession of the family farm. Will Harris provides a historical overview of the farm, its practices, and the philosophy behind regenerative agriculture. Jenny Harris elaborates on her journey back to the farm and the diverse business ventures she and her family have undertaken. Together, they emphasize the integration of land, animals, and community in sustainable farming. Important Links from Today's Episode: https://members.acresusa.com/ https://www.acresusa.com/ https://bookstore.acresusa.com/

Thanks for joining us today, we've got a great conversation for you with agronomist, author, and regenerative consultant, Dale Strickler. With over 30 years of experience in agronomy, pasture management, and soil and crop advising Dale has developed highly effective systems for numerous ranches, even in challenging climates and soil types. And what you'll want to listen for is Monte and Dale's conversation about the water cycle, what we've done to it, and the major impact it's had on our entire soil system. So join us as we tap into Dale's vast expertise and insights. Author and consultant Dale Strickler has more than 30 years of experience in agronomy, pasture management, and soil and crop advising. He has developed highly effective grazing systems for numerous ranches with a range of often challenging climates and soil types. Dale also designs crop rotations and advises on cover crop planning to improve soil, maximize crop yields, and reduce the need for expensive crops inputs. He currently serves as lead agronomist for the nation's premier cover crop–specific seed company and is a featured speaker at many conferences and grazing schools around the country and globally. Strickler is the author of the books, The Drought Resilient Farm, Managing Pasture, and The Complete Guide to Restoring Your Soil, which was named a top ten farming book for 2021 by Modern Farmer. Dale's articles have appeared in publications like Mother Earth News, Acres USA, Stockman Grass Farmer, and Grit. John Kempf has featured Dale on the Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, and you can read about his work at No-Till on the Plains, Mongabay, and the Atlanta Business Journal and in many Kansas news articles. As President of the Kansas Graziers Association, Dale advocates for greater rancher profits, autonomy, and best pasture practices. Dale is also on the regional advisory committee of the Kansas Water Office and is working on reducing soil erosion and water pollution in area water basin rivers and streams. Dale Strickler grew up on a farm and ranch near the small town of Colony, Kansas. He attended a small high school with 29 members in his graduating class and then received BS and MS degrees from Kansas State University in Science Education and Agronomy. Dale taught agronomy in higher education for 15 years, then entered into private industry. He has worked as an agronomist for Land O' Lakes, Star Seed, and Valent USA before landing his role with Green Cover Seed, the nation's premier cover crop–specific seed company. From 1997 to 2019 he operated his own ranch and, over the years, tested and refined his techniques for optimal land management. The unique management methods used on his farm earned awards, such as the 2013 Water and Energy Progress Award Model of Innovation from the State of Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau Natural Resources Award in 2015, and the 2014 Kansas Bankers Association Conservation Program Water Conservation Award. Awards began early when the Strickler family won the American Royal Farm Family of the Year in 1986, and in 2020, after 30 years away, Dale moved back to the area where he was raised. He now resides in Iola, KS, a short drive from his ancestral family farm, now operated by his brother, and where he still maintains a small herd of cattle. https://www.regenerativewisdom.com/ Also, check out their upcoming ranching school: https://www.regenerativewisdom.com/ranching-school Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we'll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast? Send your questions or suggestions to kim@asn.farm we'd love to hear from you.

Join us in this episode of the Acres USA Podcast as host Taylor Henry, owner and CEO of Acres USA, sits down with Maureen Ashe, author of 'Holding the Lines.' Maureen shares her journey and experiences in sustainable and regenerative farming. They discuss the beauty of Pierce County and Maureen's early days in farming. Learn about her family's farming history, their shift from conventional to horse-powered farming, the challenges they faced, and the joys of raising horses.  They also touch on Maureen's adventures in Europe, steeplechase riding in Ireland, and how these experiences shaped her perspective on farming. An insightful conversation on the hard work and dedication that goes into sustainable agriculture and the enduring bond between humans and animals. Get your copy of ‘Holding the Lines' at our online book store!  Important Links from Today's Episode: https://members.acresusa.com/ https://www.acresusa.com/ https://bookstore.acresusa.com/

Insights from 'A Farmer's Guide to the Bottom Line' by Charles Walters In this special episode of the Acres USA podcast, Taylor Henry shares a recording from Acres USA founder Charles Walters. The recording features an overview of Walters' book, 'A Farmer's Guide to the Bottom Line,' which compiles stories and knowledge gained from decades of visiting small farms and his own business experiences.  Walters provides practical advice for small farmers on running their farms ecologically and successfully. Topics discussed include the challenges faced by farmers, the importance of direct selling, and the pitfalls of commodity farming. Walters also addresses the significance of having a robust business plan and harnessing the power of small businesses in agriculture.  The episode concludes with a Q&A session where Walters interacts with the audience, discussing the shift towards sustainable and organic farming, and the potential threats posed by large corporations. Thanks for listening! Pick up your copy of 'A Farmer's Guid to the Bottom Line' at: https://bookstore.acresusa.com/ Check out more archival content like this at: https://members.acresusa.com/

This episode of the Acres USA podcast, hosted by Taylor Henry, features Gary Zimmer sharing his experiences with sustainable dairy farming and nutrition. The discussion covers his work in Hawaii with pineapple hay, the challenges of insecticides, and his journey from college to practical farming. Key topics include quality forage, mineral balance, soil health, cow comfort, optimal feeding strategies, the impact of stray voltage, and the use of sexed semen. Additionally, the podcast delves into best practices for transitioning livestock from a grain to a grass-based diet, emphasizing a gradual shift to medium-quality grass to prevent health issues. The episode explains the benefits of organic farming and the importance of proper animal rearing in achieving sustainable agricultural practices.

In this episode of the Acres USA podcast, host Taylor Henry interviews Harriet Behar, an organic inspector and educator, about sustainable farming practices and the prevention of organic fraud in the supply chain. Behar shares her extensive experience with organic farming, describing her work on her certified organic farm and her involvement with the National Organic Standards Board and the Organic Farmers Association. The discussion focuses on recent regulatory changes to strengthen organic enforcement and improvements in organic livestock standards, highlighting the importance of maintaining integrity in the organic certification process.

This is the first podcast of a series with Gary Zimmer, where Acres owner and CEO, Taylor Henry, will sit down with Gary and discuss what steps led him to where he is at currently in his life. On this episode, they talk about how Gary was raised on a dairy farm over on the East side of Wisconsin. They discuss Gary's time at the University of Madison, Wisconsin, his experiences in Hawaii, becoming a professor in Winona, finding his way back to Wisconsin, and buying a farm in the Spring Green area. Through the conversations, they discuss how he came to found Midwest BioAg and how he became a staple Acres USA author and presenter at our yearly Eco-Ag conference in December.

Embark on a journey exploring regenerative farmscapes with myself, Kara Kroger, and the insightful Peter Bresny of Psycho Chicken Eco Farm. Together, we traverse the evolution from conventional to regenerative agriculture, uncovering the power of holistic farming practices. We promise a journey of enlightenment; from the role of energy efficiency and biological fertility to the perils of chemical dependencies, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone passionate about the future of farming, food, and our planet.As we chart the course through our discussions, we honor the legacies of visionaries like Charles Walters  of Acres USA and Rachel Carson author of Silent Spring, who've sparked a community eager for change. We examine the pivotal moments and conferences that have stitched together a tapestry of knowledge, encouraging soil-centric farming that mirrors the robustness of nature itself. The heartrending tales of bees decimated by insecticides and aquatic devastation serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of our actions, while the success stories of farmers like Jimmy Emmons in Oklahoma illuminate the path toward a regenerative horizon.Concluding the episode, we celebrate the microscopic marvels beneath our feet – the soil bacteria. These tiny but mighty organisms are the unsung heroes of plant growth and nutrition, shaping the health of our soil and, ultimately, the food on our plates. The conversation surges with passion, emphasizing the importance of consumer choices and the interconnectedness of our well-being with that of the earth. Prepare to be inspired, challenged, and above all, equipped with knowledge that transcends the boundaries of conventional agriculture.

When Vincent started a small microgreens farm in Hawaii he was not sure of how to be a farmer! Fortunately he discovered the ACRES USA publication and traveled halfway across the country to participate in the ACRES conference where he had the chance to meet the founding partner of EarthWorks, Jerry Brunetti. Vincent tells many great Jerry stories and talks about how he discovered how a soil really works. He was growing organic produce but wasn't happy with the quality of his product, so he discovered how best to manage the soil from a mineral and carbon standpoint. One of the things that he discovered in that process, besides growing a better product, is he saved a lot of money. One of the goals of EarthWorks is to help turf managers reduce inputs. Even though Vincent is talking about farming he is still a soils manager as are all golf course and sports turf managers. This is a fun and entertaining podcast with a little agronomy sprinkled in!Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/ 2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

Jerry Brunetti and Joel Simmons founded EarthWorks in 1988 and together they built a leading soil and plant fertility company. Jerry, who we lost to cancer in 2014, was one of the leading voices in sustainable agriculture and was a prolific speaker and writer. In this podcast we share a talk Jerry gave at an Acres USA seminar in the late 90's. It is introduced by Fred Walters, EarthWorks Podcast veteran and former owner of ACRES USA. Jerry talks about the importance of fractal geometry, the physical and biological process in the soil that allows for the soil to open enough to allow air and water to work through the profile. He also shares his thoughts on mycorrhiza and the glomalin, the material excreted by the mycorrhiza fungi, that helps keep moisture held around the root system. Jerry was ahead of his time and a very dynamic and passionate speaker. This is evident as you hear him speak about: the importance of re-mineralizing soils, biological soil management, the soil's ability to sequester carbon, and the incredible life under our feet.Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/ 2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

Sarah Day Levesque is the Founder and Managing Director of RFSI – Regenerative Food Systems Investment – and has spent more than 15 years working to connect agriculture and food systems stakeholders to the information and networks they need to be successful. For the past six years, Sarah has worked closely with a community of ecological farmers in her role leading the development and execution of educational and event experiences at Acres USA. In late 2018, Sarah started Regenerative Food Systems Investment to address to address a lack of attention, awareness, and capital being given to investment opportunities in regenerative agriculture and food.  Before joining Acres USA in late 2016, Sarah spent a decade in agricultural media, where she played a key role in the development of successful event and media brands, including Women in Agribusiness and Organic & Non-GMO Forum, and also served as Editor-in-Chief of Global AgInvesting Media. Sarah holds an M.S. in Agriculture and Resource Economics and an M.S. in International Agricultural Development from University of California, Davis. When she's not working, you can find her running, hiking, coaching youth basketball, or playing ball with her family. Links: RFSI Forum 2023 (Use code THEMODERNACRE at checkout for 10% off!) Sarah on LinkedIn Rate & Review the NEW Spotify Feed Join the fitness challenge on Twitter Sponsor: This episode is presented by DPH Biologicals. Learn more at DPHBio.com. Check out Mick's e

In this podcast, we're sharing one of our amazing guests from the Value-Added Summit, Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm, located in Swoope, Virginia. Joel talks to us about the benefits of and techniques involved with an effective, game-changing implementation of a value-added strategy on farms. Joel Salatin is an American farmer, lecturer, and author.  He raises livestock at Polyface. Joel's philosophy of farming emphasizes healthy grass on which animals can thrive in a symbiotic cycle of feeding. He has authored twelve books including Folks, This Ain't Normal, You Can Farm, Salad Bar Beef, and Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal.  Join us to hear this riveting conversation with Michael and Joel from the Value-Added Summit!  You'll hear:  What “Value-Added” means to Joel 2:18 Why farmers start practicing value-added 6:01 Mindset shifts that are necessary to start going forward with effective marketing 13:37 Agriculture entertainment, or “agritainment” Polyface does 34:08 What ended up being a value-added dud that Joel anticipated being a big success 41:33 Great value-added experiences and/or products Joel has come across in his travels 46:51 What the future holds for value-added, and what farmers should be focusing on 1.05:42 Advice Joel has for farmers who are wanting to take their farm to the next level but find it difficult taking the next step 1.09:33 About the Guest: Joel Salatin calls himself a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer. Others who like him call him the most famous farmer in the world, the high priest of the pasture, and the most eclectic thinker from Virginia since Thomas Jefferson. Those who don't like him call him a bio-terrorist, Typhoid Mary, charlatan, and starvation advocate. With a room full of debate trophies from high school and college days, 12 published books, and a thriving multi-generational family farm, he draws on a lifetime of food, farming, and fantasy to entertain and inspire audiences around the world. He's as comfortable moving cows in a pasture as addressing CEOs in a Wall Street business conference. His wide-ranging topics include nitty-gritty how-to for profitable regenerative farming as well as cultural philosophy like orthodoxy vs. heresy. A wordsmith and master communicator, he moves audiences from laughs one minute to tears the next, from frustration to hopefulness. Often receiving standing ovations, he prefers the word performance rather than presentation to describe his lectures. His favorite activity?–Q&A. “I love the interaction,” he says. He co-owns, with his family, Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia. Featured in the New York Times bestseller Omnivore's Dilemma and award-winning documentary Food Inc., the farm services more than 5,000 families, 50 restaurants, 10 retail outlets, and a farmers' market with salad bar beef, pigaerator pork, pastured poultry, and forestry products. When he's not on the road speaking, he's at home on the farm, keeping the callouses on his hands and dirt under his fingernails, mentoring young people, inspiring visitors, and promoting local, regenerative food and farming systems. Salatin is the editor of The Stockman Grass Farmer, granddaddy catalyst for the grass farming movement. He writes the “Pitchfork Pulpit” column for Mother Earth News, as well as numerous guest articles for ACRES USA and other publications. A frequent guest on radio programs and podcasts targeting preppers, homesteaders, and foodies, Salatin's practical, can-do solutions tied to passionate soliloquies for sustainability offer everyone food for thought and plans for action. Mixing mischievous humor with hard-hitting information, Salatin both entertains and moves people. Seldom using a PowerPoint and often speaking from an outline scribbled in a yellow legal pad, he depends on theatrics, style, and compelling content to hold attention and defend innovative positions. The rare combination of prophet and practitioner makes him both a must-read and must-hear in a time desperate for integrity. leadership, and example. Resources: Website: https://polyfacefarms.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Polyfacefarm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polyfacefarm/   The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor! Harvest Hosts provides a cost-free opportunity for small businesses and farms to increase revenue simply by inviting self-contained RV members to stay one night on their property. In return, Members patronize or donate to the business.  The program is free for farms to join and to share their offerings. There is no requirement to have hook-ups or services, just a place to park one RV.In exchange for the overnight stay, Harvest Hosts Members are encouraged to make a purchase of at least $20 at each host location they visit. Based on a recent survey, Harvest Hosts Members spend an average of $50 per night at each host location they visit. Well-established Hosts are reporting an average of $15,000 in additional annual revenue.  Become a Host For more information on how you can become a Host, contact Harvest Hosts at sales@harvesthosts.com  Be sure to mention the ​​Thriving Farmer Podcast on your application! Become a  Member If you have an RV and are interested in joining as a Member, visit HarvestHosts.com today.

Acres USA is a publishing house that is generally known as the voice of sustainable agriculture. They have published hundreds of publications on subjects ranging from agronomy to raising dairy cows. Fred Walters, the former publisher of Acres USA, shares stories with us about his father Chuck Walters who started the Acres USA monthly magazine and book publishing business. Acres USA is the voice of sustainable agriculture and has made famous many of the top agronomists in the business today like Dr. Willian Albrecht and our own co-founder Jerry Brunetti. This is a unique, fascinating, and entertaining conversation with one of the innovators in all of agronomy.

Today's episode invites Charlie Deist into the discussion: "I'm a writer, sailor, natural mover and radio producer. I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, studied economics at UC Berkeley, and finally found my sea-legs after a stint as staff writer for The Seasteading Institute. In 2018 I became a master-level MovNat certified trainer (Level 3 + aquatics + combatives), and in 2020 I became a Coast Guard licensed captain. I operate a part-time sailing charter business on an Islander 36 in Berkeley, but mainly make my living producing radio, podcasts, and books based on podcast interviews. My writing focuses on the intersection of health and politics, with occasional forays into anthropology and agriculture. I've written/edited several books including Hormetics: Physical Fitness for Free People, Three Sheets to the Wind: The Art of Flying Spinnaker, and most recently, The New Strongman Code: Building Resilient Fitness Community in the Post-COVID Era. My work has been published in BBC.com, Acres USA, Townhall.com, and Erraticus. I host a tribe of natural movers every Saturday morning in a public park for free movement, in nature. We borrow from many different modalities, including MovNat (aka the Natural Method), parkour, yoga, etc., although we swear by none of them. We spend the most time doing groundwork and inventing games, while incorporating the elements as much a possible through barefoot running, open-air "bathing” (a la Hebertisme), and cold water swimming (when high tide allows it)." If you have any interest in exploring the truth outside of the box of popular beliefs about the body and training, then this is the podcast for you. We're on a mission for TRUTH in biomechanics and training the human system, and every episode will dive deep into that. All episodes are recorded live on No Filter Network, an interactive platform that allows viewers to ask questions, and even 'knock' to join the stream live in real time. If you want to ask us questions, debate our ideas, or otherwise, then come join us live as we stream these episodes. To view upcoming livestreams: https://nofilter.net/profile/VxseYlRuzuddOjUQvI83EbCO2C43 From Dr. Will: "Currently I work as a chiropractor in Banff Alberta, however my passion is human movement/biomechanics. I put theory into TEST to find out what works and what doesn't. The Bruce Lee quote “take whats useful and disregard the rest” is how I find movement truth. The ultimate truth is in the movement not the theory, it has to work in reality. Now Running/Gait mechanics and martial arts (especially boxing) is how I test truth in movement; theory is always put to the test! From my teenage years into my late 20s, I spent significant time within mainstream fitness practices such as Crossfit, powerlifting, Olympic lifting, gymnastics, and bodybuilding, not in that particular order. I have also spent time playing soccer, boxing, skiing amongst other sports. Having stacked many injuries in my teens/20s from improper training, I was led on a journey into chiropractic and sports injuries. I have worked with 1000s of injured patients in 8 years of chiropractic practice and have seen many injuries in the gym as a former Crossfit coach for 5 years. I've now spent 1000's of hours learning and practicing systems such as Functional Range Conditioning, Weckmethod and Goata. Goata has my interest at the moment, as I see it as a platform for a new Paradigm in movement. I believe we (Experts) are using incorrect maps of movement, therefore injuries are prevalent in sport and life. I will always test and retest in my own theories in real movement. Join me on my journey to change the movement game for the public and experts." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-art-of-move/message

In this episode of the Direct Farm Podcast, Miranda from Barn2Door and Joe Schirmer of Dirty Girl Produce will discuss tactics that he has used successfully to secure sales before the busy season. This episode is the audio version of a webinar made in partnership with ACRES USA.You can watch the webinar here at:https://www.barn2door.com/webinars/farm-innovator-series-secure-sales-before-the-busy-season

In this episode of the Direct Farm Podcast, we're excited to welcome back Ryan Slabaugh and Jorge Abrego for another podcast at Barn2Door HQ. Ryan and Jorge share the origin story of ACRES USA and the mission they have pursued ever since. Show Notes:https://www.acresusa.com/https://www.barn2door.com/resources

In this episode of the Direct Farm Podcast, we're excited to host Ryan from ACRES USA for the first in-person podcast at Barn2Door HQ. James and Ryan will discuss what will be in store for the attendees of the upcoming Eco-Ag conference in Cincinnati, Ohio this December. Show Notes:ACRES USAEco-Ag Conference DetailsBarn2Door Resources for Farmers

Episode 36 - Ending Our  Dependence on Industrially Produced Food with American Farmer, Joel SalatinJoel Salatin calls himself a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer. Others who like him call him the most famous farmer in the world, the high priest of the pasture, and the most eclectic thinker from Virginia since Thomas Jefferson.  With a room full of debate trophies from high school and college days, 12 published books, and a thriving multi-generational family farm, he draws on a lifetime of food, farming and fantasy to entertain and inspire audiences around the world.  His wide-ranging topics include nitty-gritty how-to for profitable regenerative farming as well as cultural philosophy like orthodoxy vs. heresy. He co-owns, with his family, Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia.  Featured in the New York Times bestseller Omnivore's Dilemma and award-winning documentary Food Inc., the farm services more than 5,000 families, 50 restaurants, 10 retail outlets, and a farmers' market. When he's not on the road speaking, he's at home on the farm, keeping the callouses on his hands and dirt under his fingernails, mentoring young people, inspiring visitors, and promoting local, regenerative food and farming systems. Salatin is the editor of The Stockman Grass Farmer, granddaddy catalyst for the grass farming movement.  He writes the Pitchfork Pulpit column for Mother Earth News, as well as numerous guest articles for ACRES USA and other publications.  A frequent guest on radio programs and podcasts targeting preppers, homesteaders, and foodies, Salatin's practical, can-do solutions tied to passionate soliloquies for sustainability offer everyone food for thought and plans for action. The rare combination of prophet and practitioner makes him both a must-read and must-hear in a time desperate for integrity leadership and example.If you've been affected by mold and want to contribute to our efforts, visit our Patreon or GoFundMe page to donate today.Patreon - patreon.com/exposingmoldGoFundMe - gofund.me/daf1233eTranscript: https://bit.ly/3ojUdbAFind us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YoutubeSponsors: Michael Rubino, The Mold Medic and  All American Restoration,  the first and only mold remediation company in the country specializing in remediating mold for people with underlying health conditions or mold sensitivities. They've quickly become the most recommended remediation company  from doctors and mold inspectors nationwide. Pick up your copy of Michael Rubino's book, “The Mold Medic: An Expert's Guide on Mold Remediation, " here: https://amzn.to/3t7wtaU Support the show (https://www.gofund.me/daf1233e)

Barn2Door has partnered with ACRES USA to produce the Farm Innovator Series. In this first episode Zoe one of Barn2Door's very own Sales Managers Interviewed Tom Bennett of Bennett Farms in Michigan.Acres U.S.A. would like to offer all active military and veteran's a 20% discount off registration to the 46th Annual Eco-Ag Conference December 6-9 in Cincinnati, OH. This conference sets the standard for innovative, practical soil health education, equipping attendees with the tools they need to be ecological and economically successful. Show Notes:The code is: MILITARY20https://www.bennettfarmsmichigan.com/https://www.barn2door.com/blog/2019/11/8/bennett-farms-veteran-farmerhttps://www.barn2door.com/webinars/military-service-prepared-this-farmer-to-serve-his-communityhttps://www.barn2door.com/resources

Two great guests on the podcast this week in Ryan Slabaugh and Sarah Day Levesque of Acres USA, North America's oldest publisher on production-scale organic and sustainable farming. We discussed how to better communicate the importance of soil health for sustainable farming, the lessons regenerative agriculture can learn from organic farming, soil carbon sequestration markets, how to better engage conventional farmers on sustainability, the agtech landscape and more!

In this podcast Jeffrey interviews Ken Roseboro.  Ken has been called “the nation’s reporter on all issues surrounding genetically modified foods” by Acres USA magazine. He has written extensively about GM foods and the non-GMO trend since 1999.  In this interview Ken reports some of the latest organic and non-GMO trends in agriculture and food consumption.  There is definitely cause to celebrate; among other things, sales of organic and non-GMO foods were 13% higher in October, 2020 versus October 2019.  To learn more about Ken and get additional updates visit https://non-gmoreport.com.  The Institute for Responsible Technology is working to protect you & the World from GMOs (and while we’re at it, Roundup®...)  To find out exactly how we do this and to subscribe to our newsletter visit https://www.responsibletechnology.org/

Sally Fallon's Story Journalist, chef, nutrition researcher, homemaker and community activist, Sally Fallon Morell is the author of “Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats.” This well-researched, though-provoking guide to traditional foods contains a startling message: Animal fats and cholesterol are not villains but vital factors in the diet, necessary for normal growth, proper function of the brain and nervous system, protection from disease and optimum energy levels. Mrs. Fallon’s lifelong interest in the subject of nutrition began in the early 1970’s when she read Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A. Price. Called the “Charles Darwin of Nutrition,” Price traveled the world over studying healthy indigenous populations and their diets. The unforgettable photographs contained in his book document the beautiful facial structure and superb physiques of isolated groups consuming only whole, natural foods. Price noted that all of these diets contained a source of good quality animal fat, which provided numerous factors necessary for the full expression of our genetic potential and optimum health. Mrs. Fallon applied the principles of the Weston Price research to the feeding of her own children, and proved to herself that a diet rich in animal fats, and containing the protective factors in old fashioned foodstuffs like cod liver oil, liver and eggs, makes for sturdy, cheerful children with naturally straight teeth and a high immunity to illness. When the youngest of her four children became old enough to attend school full time, Mrs. Fallon applied her writing skills and training in French and Mediterranean cooking to the subject of nutrition and began work on a comprehensive cookbook that would combine accurate information on nutrition with delicious, practical recipes. She teamed with Mary Enig, Ph.D., an expert of world renown in the subject of lipids and human nutrition. First published in 1996, Nourishing Traditions has stimulated the public health and medical communities to take a new look at the importance of traditional foods and preparation techniques in human health, and to reexamine the many myths about saturated fats and cholesterol. The book places special emphasis on the feeding of babies and children, to ensure optimal development during their crucial growing years. Mrs. Fallon is the Founder of the Weston A Price Foundation for Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, a nonprofit nutrition education foundation based in Washington, DC, and editor of the Foundation’s quarterly magazine. (See www.WestonAPrice.org (http://www.westonaprice.org/)) She also founded A Campaign for Real Milk, dedicated to creating consumer awareness of the health benefits of clean, whole unpasteurized milk from grass-fed cows. (See www.realmilk.com (http://www.realmilk.com/)) During the past four years Mrs. Fallon has presented numerous lectures and seminars in Canada, the UK and Australia, as well as the United States. Most recently she was a keynote speaker for the Acres USA annual convention and an all-day seminar in San Francisco sponsored by Radiant Life. She has been a guest of numerous radio talk show hosts including Dr. Robert Atkins, Robert Crayhon, Leyna Berman and Derek McGinty. You'll Learn: Why Sally's co-authored book with Tom Cowan (The Contagion Myth) was instantly banned by Amazon Why Sally supports Terrain Theory over Germ Theory The value of animal fats in our diets Why Spanish Flu of 2018 had nothing to do with an infectious disease The value of eliminating exposure to electrical fields What 5G has to do with convid-19 Why we shouldn't ASSUME any coronaviruses are contagious... ...and much, much more. Sally Fallon's diverse and earthy knowledge was on full display here in this episode - dig in and enjoy! And if you see the value in this material that I do, please subscribe, drop a review, and share this information widely. Thanks in advance for supporting truth, freedom, health, and humanity. Special Guest: Sally Fallon Morell.

Episode 158: Longtime organic farmer Mark Sturges believes that when we create a better habitat for beneficial insects, we create a better habitat for ourselves. Mark is a master compost maker whose compost is filled with life. When Mark creates compost, he encourages the "whole neighborhood" to move in. The cast of characters in Mark's neighborhood are vast and include beetles, rotifers, fungi, nematodes, springtails, enchytraeids, and Beauveria bassiana- an insect "eating" fungi. Mark and I chat about compost tea and how its application can re-invigorate plants, soil, and large areas of land. You'll hear about Mark's successful use of compost tea in a vineyard suffering from a Phylloxera infestation. Mark's tea was sprayed on a Pinot block and the grapes were saved! Mark is a so-called entrepreneurial "Entra-Manure" who fills us on the importance of manure in the compost loop. He tells us why we shouldn't use chemical de-wormers on our animals and what effect these products have on beneficial insects, especially beetles. In turn, a lack of beneficials can lead to devastating impacts on pasture land, soil, animals, and climate. After hearing Mark talk about beetles, maybe you'll obtain Beetle Enlightenment like I did! I now have a deep appreciation for these unsung heroes of decomposition who also have an important role to play in mitigating climate change. Mark Sturges makes and ships organic compost and compost creatures nationwide from his Chili Nervanos farm in Bandon, Oregon. Mark is a writer whose work has appeared in Acres USA. His book of poetry The Return of the Fertilizer King and Other Tales is available online. Mark doesn't have a website. His work is all word of mouth. You can reach Mark at: ChiliNervanos382 (at) gmail.com.

Ken Roseboro, the editor and publisher of The Organic and Non-GMO Report, has been called “the nation’s reporter on all issues surrounding genetically modified foods” by Acres USA magazine. Ken’s articles have appeared in leading food and agriculture publications and websites such as Civil Eats, Sustainable Food News, Prepared Foods, Natural Foods Merchandiser, Food Processing, and World Grain as well as Harvest Public Media, The Huffington Post, Yahoo News, Mother Earth News, and others. He is a contributing editor to EcoWatch, Organic Connections and New Hope 360. Ken is author of Genetically Altered Foods and Your Health and The Organic Food Handbook both published by Basic Health Publications. He has spoken at many conferences including Natural Products Expo West, All Things Organic, Acres USA Conference, The Organic Farming Conference, National Heirloom Seed Expo, and others. Ken is a member of the design team of the Non-GMO Supply Working Group and a founding member of the board of directors of the Iowa Organic Association. Ken also serves on the board of directors of Soil Technologies Corporation. He appears in the award-winning documentary film, GMO OMG. In 2006, Ken received an Award of Merit from Seed Savers Exchange for his efforts to preserve genetic diversity through his publications. 1 hour, 3 minutes

"How Biodynamic Preparations Work" with Hugh Lovel and Brook LeVan Hugh Lovel is a farmer and an international consultant to dairy farms, graziers, broadacre grain growers, and fruit and vegetable producers. As a multidisciplinary scientist, Hugh has introduced comprehensive soil testing using both the Albrecht approach and a total acid digest test that more clearly reveals what is actually present in soils. Above all he has been a leading pioneer of the new science of Quantum Agriculture. Hugh Lovel is the author of A Biodynamic Farm, for Growing Wholesome Food and Quantum Agriculture: Biodynamics and Beyond. He is the original designer of the Field Broadcaster quantum technology and the Quantum Radionic Analyser. His articles appear in Acres USA and related organic farming periodicals such as Acres Australia and biodynamic journals around the world. Brook Levan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sustainable Settings, received a MFA, NYSCC from Alfred University, BFA, Kansas City Art Institute. He is a certified Permaculture designer and consultant and an alumnus of the Institute for Social Ecology (1978). He has consulted, practiced and taught sustainable design, green building, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, wetland creation and art and design. Mr. Levan is a Fulbright Scholar and has extensive research and travel in Africa, Asia and North and Central America. He has held faculty positions at Pomona College, University of Connecticut and James Madison University. He has published, lectured and exhibited internationally. Mr. Levan is a National Advisory Board Member of Solar Energy International and The Wright Way Foundation, and a founding Board Member of the Thompson Divide Coalition. For more information: http://sustainablesettings.org http://quantumagriculture.com

"How Biodynamic Preparations Work" with Hugh Lovel and Brook LeVan Hugh Lovel is a farmer and an international consultant to dairy farms, graziers, broadacre grain growers, and fruit and vegetable producers. As a multidisciplinary scientist, Hugh has introduced comprehensive soil testing using both the Albrecht approach and a total acid digest test that more clearly reveals what is actually present in soils. Above all he has been a leading pioneer of the new science of Quantum Agriculture. Hugh Lovel is the author of A Biodynamic Farm, for Growing Wholesome Food and Quantum Agriculture: Biodynamics and Beyond. He is the original designer of the Field Broadcaster quantum technology and the Quantum Radionic Analyser. His articles appear in Acres USA and related organic farming periodicals such as Acres Australia and biodynamic journals around the world. Brook Levan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sustainable Settings, received a MFA, NYSCC from Alfred University, BFA, Kansas City Art Institute. He is a certified Permaculture designer and consultant and an alumnus of the Institute for Social Ecology (1978). He has consulted, practiced and taught sustainable design, green building, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, wetland creation and art and design. Mr. Levan is a Fulbright Scholar and has extensive research and travel in Africa, Asia and North and Central America. He has held faculty positions at Pomona College, University of Connecticut and James Madison University. He has published, lectured and exhibited internationally. Mr. Levan is a National Advisory Board Member of Solar Energy International and The Wright Way Foundation, and a founding Board Member of the Thompson Divide Coalition. For more information: http://sustainablesettings.org http://quantumagriculture.com

"How Biodynamic Preparations Work" with Hugh Lovel and Brook LeVan Hugh Lovel is a farmer and an international consultant to dairy farms, graziers, broadacre grain growers, and fruit and vegetable producers. As a multidisciplinary scientist, Hugh has introduced comprehensive soil testing using both the Albrecht approach and a total acid digest test that more clearly reveals what is actually present in soils. Above all he has been a leading pioneer of the new science of Quantum Agriculture. Hugh Lovel is the author of A Biodynamic Farm, for Growing Wholesome Food and Quantum Agriculture: Biodynamics and Beyond. He is the original designer of the Field Broadcaster quantum technology and the Quantum Radionic Analyser. His articles appear in Acres USA and related organic farming periodicals such as Acres Australia and biodynamic journals around the world. Brook Levan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sustainable Settings, received a MFA, NYSCC from Alfred University, BFA, Kansas City Art Institute. He is a certified Permaculture designer and consultant and an alumnus of the Institute for Social Ecology (1978). He has consulted, practiced and taught sustainable design, green building, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, wetland creation and art and design. Mr. Levan is a Fulbright Scholar and has extensive research and travel in Africa, Asia and North and Central America. He has held faculty positions at Pomona College, University of Connecticut and James Madison University. He has published, lectured and exhibited internationally. Mr. Levan is a National Advisory Board Member of Solar Energy International and The Wright Way Foundation, and a founding Board Member of the Thompson Divide Coalition. For more information: sustainablesettings.org quantumagriculture.com

A short conversation with Sarah Day Levesque, Director of Events and Media of Acres USA and The Regenerative Food System Investment Forum that will be held in Oakland next Sept 30th - Oct 1st. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Investing in Regenerative Agriculture. Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and exclusive benefits here: https://gumroad.com/investinginregenag Other ways to support my work: 
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- Or buy me a coffee… or a meal! www.Ko-fi.com/regenerativeagriculture -------------------------------------------------------------------- In this short podcast I spoke with Sarah Day Levesque, organizer of the Regenerative Food System Investment Forum, on why she put together the conference and how she managed for the first time to get this group of regen ag stars together in one room. Many people I interviewed in this podcast will be there: David R Montgomery, Eric Jackson, Bert Glover, Paul McMahon, Renee Cheung, Chuck de Liedekerke, Ethan Soloviev, Craig Wichner, Esther Park. I am looking forward to attend too! If you are thinking to attend, Sarah was so nice to share a 15% DISCOUNT CODE with the podcast community: VIP15-KVS Register here: https://rfsi-forum.com SPEAKERS' LIST https://rfsi-forum.com/agenda/#speakers SOIL WEALTH REPORT http://www.soilwealth.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- If you want to discover more visit www.investinginregenerativeagriculture.com 
 If you want to receive an email when I upload a new episode, subscribe here eepurl.com/cxU33P The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.

Record rainfall has resulted in an unprecedented number of unplanted acres in 2019. Farmers must now consider how best to manage these fields for the remainder of the season. In an otherwise fallow year, cover cropping options abound during a unique summer planting window. In this episode of the Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, John Kempf hosts a panel of American Midwestern agronomists and farmers, Steve Groff, David Kleinschmidt, Brad Hobrock, and David Chance, to discuss wet weather, the inability to plant in sodden areas and the options to sow cover crops in empty fields.  David Kleinschmidt, a midwestern agronomist, and owner of Progressive Agronomy Consulting Services, consults with growers across the Midwest where his in-depth knowledge of soils and soil health helps farmers realize better yields. Brad Hobrock is the owner of AgriBio Systems in Illinois where he farms several thousand acres of corn and soybeans. His voice and experience show the issues of cover cropping and weather challenges from a farmer’s perspective. David Chance, the owner of Chance Farms and several thousand acres in Indiana, shares his expertise on cover crop mixes, dry weather planting, and farm subsidies.  Steve Groff, the Cover Crop Coach and founder at Cover Crop Coaching, is based in Pennsylvania. He travels across the country teaching farmers the techniques and value of cover cropping systems. John and his guests outline the challenges farmers are facing this season, with a record number of unplanted corn and soybean acres throughout the Midwest due to excessive rain and flooding. They explain how cover crops can pay for themselves by decreasing the need for fertilizer applications while improving soils and yields in subsequent years.  Listen to hear a broad array of perspectives on:  The benefits and drawbacks of various species and their best uses How to determine your cover crop mix with your goals and budget in mind A comparison of simple one or two-species blends versus a diverse mix of cover crops The differences between cool- and warm-season legumes The value of cover crops in diffusing herbicide residue  The value of cover crops in managing carbon and nitrogen The importance of bacterial and fungal inoculation The role of crop insurance programs  Which cover crops can shift the soil’s microbial population from bacterial to fungal dominance  Which cover crops speed up the bioremediation process of pesticide residues in the soil profile This podcast serves as an invaluable resource for any grower whose planting window has passed without the ability to get in the field and for anyone considering the use of cover crops. The Community Impact Partner for this episode is the NOFA Summer Conference, a three-day conference that offers a wide-range of seminars, workshops, and other educational opportunities. Immerse yourself in a community of like-minded practitioners and curious learners eager to share inspiration and ideas for organic food, farming, health, activism, and beyond. The NOFA Summer Conference is a family-friendly event in Massachusetts where you can bring the whole family to enjoy workshops for adults, kids and teens, over 60 vendors, live music, games, and amazing food! Learn more about the conference and register here.   The Community Impact Partner for this episode is also the Healthy Soil Summit. This August, Acres USA will host the Healthy Soil Summit in Davis, California. Join farmers, consultants, researchers, and others for two days of engaging learning from world-renowned experts in the field of regenerative agriculture including John Kempf, Gary Zimmer, and Brendan Rocky. Wherever you are in your farming journey, this event will provide you the tools to enhance the productivity and profitability of your operation through biological practices. Go to acresusa.com to learn more about the Healthy Soil Summit. Email us at events@acresusa.com or call us at 1-800-355-5313.   Support For This Show This show is brought to you by AEA, helping professional growers make more money using regenerative agriculture since 2006. If you grow on a large scale and are looking to increase crop revenue and quality, email hello@advancingecoag.com or call 800-495-6603 to be connected with a dedicated AEA crop consultant.   Sign Up For Email Updates To be alerted via email when new episodes are released, and get special updates about John speaking, teaching, and podcast LIVE recordings, be sure to sign up for The Regenerative Agriculture Podcast email list.   Feedback & Booking Please send your feedback, requests for topics or guests, or a booking request: production@regenerativeagriculturepodcast.com Email John directly: John@regenerativeagriculturepodcast.com   Credits This episode was recorded by John Kempf, Steve Groff, David Chance, Brad Hobrock, and David Kleinschmidt, and produced by Nathan Harman, Robin Kitowski, and Anna Kempf.

Hosted by Ryan Slabaugh & Ben Trollinger / Sponsored by BCS America Good day and welcome to Tractor Time podcast, brought to you by Acres U.S.A., the Voice of Eco-Agriculture. I’m your host, Ryan Slabaugh, and as always, I want to say thank you to our sponsors, BCS America. Today’s theme is all about happy pigs, and profitable pig operations, and an interesting breed called Guinea Hogs.  First, I’ve got someone to introduce to everyone this episode. It will be the new host of Tractor Time, which I’m proud to say is Ben Trollinger, the new editor at Acres USA. I’m not going too far, but will stay involved helping Ben produce and grow the podcast, while I get to go focus on getting a few new exciting projects up and running. Ben will join before he interviews Cathy Payne, our guest on this episode. Cathy is the author of Saving the Guinea Hogs, a new book that is on sale in the Acres U.S.A. bookstore. First, I recently took a trip to Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania, and got a chance to tour their hog operation. To make sure this episode is all pig-themed, I thought I’d share some audio I got from touring their operation.  Thanks again to our listeners and our sponsor, BCS America. You can find this podcast at ecofarmingdaily.com, acresusa.com, or anywhere podcasts can be played. Thanks, and have a great week.  If you want, shoot a note to Ben at btrollinger@acresusa.com. He’d love to hear from you.

Today’s a quick bonus episode to announce an article we published with Acres USA’s EcoFarmingDaily. It’s called, Making The Case for Organic Certification. https://www.ecofarmingdaily.com/opinion-making-the-case-for-organic-certification-terrance-layhew/

Mike Omeg is a 3rd generation cherry grower who has spent the last few decades farming 350 acres of cherries in The Dalles, Oregon. Mike is an innovator with the vision for new approaches and the analytical mind to measure results. He’s tested myriad techniques in his quest for the best and most profitable methods of growing cherries, and was awarded the Good Fruit Grower award by the Fruit Grower News in 2017. In this conversation, John and Mike delve into the type of bio-intensive system Mike has developed and the data he has collected in his trials. Mike has shown that profitable large-scale agriculture and regenerative practices are entirely compatible and speaks to how his operation has scaled regenerative practices. He also thinks deeply about return on investment, the economic growth of his operation, and discusses the positive impact that regenerative methods have had. Believing that one of the fastest ways to improve soils is to grow a healthy crop, Mike explains his view of the tree as the conduit for putting carbon into our soils more efficiently than mulch or compost. Supported with the correct nutrition, the tree is simultaneously building this year’s crop and boosting nutrient levels in the soil for building future crops. In the episode, Mike gives in-depth information on his experiments with different types of cover crops saying, "When we talk about having a return on our investment, we need to have every seed that goes into that mix be there because we know it’s going to earn us a return - not because we want to feel good that we're maybe doing something that we read in a book was important.” Close to the end of this conversation, Omeg says, “I'm excited for every day to bring new challenges in farming. And focusing upon biological and restorative agriculture has just brought a real sense of joy to me when I walk through the orchard. It's exciting, and I love it.” Mike is truly an important figure in the landscape of stone fruit production. Check out his YouTube channel where he covers not only some of the most innovative stone-fruit production methods, but also a host of other fascinating topics. Whether you grow cherries or cherry tomatoes, you will find this conversation between John and Mike to be fascinating and informative, with lessons that span all of agriculture. Listen to this conversation to hear Mike explain: His very practical experience and cost/benefit analysis with mulch, compost, cover crops and interplanting How mow-and-blow replaced Mike’s use of compost How plant sap analysis influenced his inputs management process Mike’s extensive trials, and thinking process, for finding cover crops suitable for orchard alleyways Specific information on Ajuga (Ajuga reptans), Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia), and Comfrey (Symphytum officinale var. patens) Nutritional defenses against the two major cherry diseases, bacterial canker and powdery mildew that he never imagined possible An interesting anecdote on freeze resistance The value of fish and other inputs on orchard plantings The ROI on a bio-intensive system based on increased cherry size and firmness How biologically intensive practices and large scale production fit together Resources: SeaShield (fish product mentioned by Mike) Mike’s recommended sources for information: YouTube The Farming Ladder by G. Henderson Please remember to support our Community Impact featured partners! Acres USA is North America’s premier publisher on production-scale organic and sustainable farming. For more than four decades they have been helping farmers, ranchers and market gardeners grow food organically and sustainably. Acres USA is dedicated to the mission of educating growers about the benefits of ecological farming, with content that is designed to help you grow your operation in an ecologically and economically sound way. Check out their books, podcast, and monthly magazine!   Support For This Show This show is brought to you by AEA, helping professional growers make more money using regenerative agriculture since 2006. If you grow on a large scale and are looking to increase crop revenue and quality, email hello@advancingecoag.com or call 800-495-6603 extension 344 to be connected with a dedicated AEA crop consultant.   Sign Up For Email Updates To be alerted via email when new episodes are released, and get special updates about John speaking, teaching, and podcast LIVE recordings, be sure to sign up for The Regenerative Agriculture Podcast email list.   Feedback & Booking Please send your feedback, requests for topics or guests, or booking request have a Podcast episode recorded LIVE at your event to production@regenerativeagriculturepodcast.com Email John directly at John@regenerativeagriculturepodcast.com   Credits This episode was Recorded by John Kempf and Mike Omeg, Edited by Nathan Harman, Produced by Nathan Harman, Robin Kitowski, and Anna Kempf.

Good day and welcome to Tractor Time, brought to you by Acres USA, the Voice of Eco-Agriculture. I’m your host, Ryan Slabaugh, and it feels like a spring day here in Greeley, Colorado, where we are recording episode 27 on this 20th day of March in 2019. It’s been a very interesting week in eco-agriculture, and while I don’t want to get too much into the news, it’s worth mentioning that we have a bunch of customers lose buildings to the heavy winds and flooding in the Midwest and out near our offices, we are following another Monsanto trial that decided the behemoth is responsible for informing its users about the potential risks, including cancer, and the European Union has decided to investigate both Monsanto and Exxon’s involvement in climate change denials. So the pressure’s on. A lot of people I’ve talked to think a vacuum is coming, where Roundup will be replaced by something … and we know the toxic race is on, but we sure hope some farmers can find a way to use nutrient-based farming techniques on part of their land. At least, that’s why we are here today. We are going to talk to Jodi Helmer, a journalist, gardener and author of six books, who with Island Press is releasing a new book, Protecting Pollinators (Island Press, available in the Acres U.S.A. bookstore.) We wanted to take this chance to talk bees and butterflies … and even long-nosed bats. We haven’t had an episode dedicated to this topic yet, so we needed one, as we know pollinators are one of the secret ingredients for growing food that we’ve neglected to include in a lot of our commercial agriculture systems. We’ll learn more about where we are with this today, how the protect the bees movement is doing, and what we can do with the land we own, rent and work at to help foster a better environment.

About the guest:  Joel Salatin, 61, calls himself a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer. Others who like him call him the most famous farmer in the world, the high priest of the pasture, and the most eclectic thinker from Virginia since Thomas Jefferson. Those who don’t like him call him a bio-terrorist, Typhoid Mary, charlatan, and starvation advocate. He co-owns, with his family, Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia. Featured in the New York Times bestseller Omnivore’s Dilemma and award-winning documentary Food Inc., the farm services more than 5,000 families, 50 restaurants, 10 retail outlets, and a farmers’ market with salad bar beef, pigaerator pork, pastured poultry, and forestry products. When he’s not on the road speaking, he’s at home on the farm, keeping the callouses on his hands and dirt under his fingernails, mentoring young people, inspiring visitors, and promoting local, regenerative food and farming systems. Salatin is the editor of The Stockman Grass Farmer, granddaddy catalyst for the grass farming movement. He writes the Pitchfork Pulpit column for Mother Earth News, as well as numerous guest articles for ACRES USA and other publications. A frequent guest on radio programs and podcasts targeting preppers, homesteaders, and foodies, Salatin’s practical, can-do solutions tied to passionate soliloquies for sustainability offer everyone food for thought and plans for action. You can read Joel's full bio here: http://www.polyfacefarms.com/joels-bio/   In this episode you'll hear: Who were Joel’s mentors and their lasting impact on his life Why Joel wrote his new book, Your Successful Farm Business: Production, Profit, Pleasure How Polyface is changing their marketing to adapt to a more mature grass-based market Why now is still the best time to start a farm And so much more... Links for further information: More information about Polyface Farms. http://www.polyfacefarms.com/ Polyface’s online meat delivery service https://www.grassfedbrands.com/ Stockman grass farmer - my favorite grazing publication https://www.stockmangrassfarmer.com/index.php Purchase Joel’s newest book https://amzn.to/2XqIV5r

Earth advocate, food and farm activist and interdimensional adventurer is just the tip of the iceberg that floats DAVID YARROW’s boat. He is a frequent contributor in ACRES USA and if sustainable isn’t his middle name it should be!! http://dyarrow.org

Good day and welcome to Tractor Time, brought to you by Acres U.S.A., the Voice of Eco-Agriculture. I’m your host Ryan Slabaugh, and I’m happy to bring you the 26th episode of our podcast. Thanks again to Albert Lea seeds for making this episode possible. A few announcements — Minnesota is the theme of today’s show. Acres USA will be in Minnesota in December for our annual conference, and one of the reasons — other than the great December weather there — is the amount of trailblazing agriculture that is going on in that region. You can learn more about our event at www.acresusa.com — tickets will go on sale later this spring. But before that, we’ll get into some of that agriculture, and talk to some of the country’s original grassfed beef farmers.  Today, we’re going to have two cattlemen on the show to discuss their operations and some current topics, a few of which are creating quite a debate: Matt Maier, with Thousand Hills Cattle in Minnesota, and Will Winter, a teacher of holistic animal medicine and founder of the American Holistic Livestock Association. I met Will at our annual conference a couple years ago, and recognized his trademark cowboy hat and beard. He’s written for our magazine and spoken to our audiences before, and we’re excited to have him on the show today. I met Matt’s team at our conference last year and learned that they had pursued Savory Institute Hub certification, and are — and have been —leading the way with regenerative agriculture. Their cattle were grazing 365 days a year in Minnesota, which is not an easy thing to accomplish, and takes a disciplined system. Will and Matt worked together in Minnesota at Thousand Hills. During our talk, they walked me through the Polar Vortex experience, where temperatures reached -30 on their farm, and their reactions to the Green New Deal, as well as sharing some ideas and inspiration for new cattle farmers.  Here’s a video that shows off the environment at Thousand Hills: https://youtu.be/5ZezvrKOxS4

Earth advocate, food and farm activist and interdimensional adventurer is just the tip of the iceberg that floats DAVID YARROW’s boat. He is a frequent contributor in ACRES USA and if sustainable isn’t his middle name it should be!! http://dyarrow.org

Being raised by a Yugoslavian gypsy woman whose family moved to Puerto Rico and led to her becoming the head priestess in Miami for Santeria, and a father who came from Spanish sailors, probably has something to do with the path that Andy Lopez walked in life. Andy is the Invisible Gardner who talks to the trees, stones, plants and unseen consciousnesses to discover how he can support the Earth to be vibrant and healthy. If you saw him tending the gardens of the rich and famous, he might blend into the scenery. But you would be missing out on some pretty amazing stories. His life is chock full of mystical experiences that he readily shares with curious explorers. Watch this interview with Andy for a winding discussion about vortexes, aliens, near-death experiences, auras, fairies, multiple dimensions, and more! Listen to the Don't Panic! It's Organic! Podcast Read ‘Don't Panic! It's Organic!' More About Andy Lopez Living in the secluded hills of Malibu Canyon is a man known as the “Invisible Gardener.” With a title like that, some confusion is inevitable: Could he be a playful, elf-like man who comes down from the canyon at dawn to sprinkle dew over the ground before others awaken? Or simply a wonderfully unobtrusive groundskeeper who literally fades into the landscape while dutifully taking care of the foliage? Actually, as Andy Lopez explains, he is not the Invisible Gardener at all — nature is. I am just one of her helpers he states. And if I could get more people to do what l am doing instead of consistently destroying the environment, she would have a much easier job. Andy grew up in Puerto Rico where he was first introduced to the use of Organics by his mother who grew her own fruits and vegetables naturally. This exposure to organic gardening techniques laid the foundation of Andy's philosophy and, in 1970, after serving 2 years in the U.S. Navy he entered the University of Florida, in Gainesville, and he currently has a B.S. degree from the University of Phoenix in Business. In 1972, He founded The Invisible Gardener, Inc. with the intention of making an impact on the world's environmental problems and to educate and provide alternatives to chemical products used in the home and the garden. With a common sense approach and an endless enthusiasm, he champions the wisdom of Mother Nature through educational programs. Andrew has served over 200 clients and many are in the entertainment industry such as Martin Sheen, William Shatner, Eddie Albert, Max Call and Olivia Newton-John, to name a few of his past clients. He is also seen on PBS show “New Garden” with two current shows called Andy's Ant Secrets and Organic Tree Care. Mr. Lopez has been featured in journals and publications such as Sunset Magazine, Southern California Home And Garden, The Miami Herald, Acres USA, And Eco-Farm, Rodale's newest gardening book and frequently publishes articles in Organic Gardening, Horticultural Digest and Acres, USA. He is the author of “How to Heal the Earth in your Spare Time” —“Natural Pest Control” and his latest new book — “Don't Panic It's Organic.” Connect with Andy: Web: https://invisiblegardener.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClubIGFan/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/invisiblegardener Twitter: https://twitter.com/andy_lopez Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invisible_gardener/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/invisiblegardener Podcast: https://apple.co/2SPDZnF   YOUR GUIDE TO SOUL NECTAR – KERRI HUMMINGBIRD SAMI I love mentoring women to rewrite the story of their lives through inner transformation, connection to essence, remembrance of purpose, and realignment to authenticity and truth. If you don't want to settle for anything less than a life of passion and purpose, book a Discovery Call and let's talk! Schedule today! http://bit.ly/2CpFHFZ FREE GIFT: The Love Mastery Game, an oracle for revealing your soul's curriculum in every d...

I met a brilliant man in the 1970's a couple of times in Kansas City, Missouri. His name was Charles Walter, Jr. I was living in California at the time (the state was in much better shape than it is under today's maliciously insane state government). His greatness was not because of his intellectual brilliance (lots of brilliant men and women have chosen paths of destruction), as much as the fact that his intelligence and deep perception were combined with a genuine desire to see a better life for generations to come. His focus was agriculture. To him, it was not just our source of food, he also understood it was the origin of economic wealth. A single seed of corn planted in good soil can return hundreds of similar seeds. This is a pure gift from nature, from God. Not a trade or a business deal, but a pure gift, the origin of wealth. Once the gift of corn is received, creativity and labor are added, and it is turned into many useful forms and traded into the economy to become wealth. But it's all possible because of the original gift of nature. Charles connected to his understanding of economics all based on what can happen after nature's gift is received by humans. He said, "to be economical, agriculture must be ecological." So he was responsible for the term Eco-Agriculture. Now the magazine that Charles started, Acres, USA is headquartered in Colorado (www.acresusa.com). It's General Manager, Ryan Slabaugh, a friend of Lost Arts Radio who has been on the show before, is going to be talking with me about where we are in agriculture in America today, with all the GMO's and toxic methods that most farmers use, and what he thinks is going to happen in the years ahead. We'll talk about the Green New Deal, free market capitalism, socialism and a lot more. It's going to be an incredible conversation, so I hope you can be there with us.

Today, we're sharing our report from the Acres USA Conference in Louisville KY. Learn about the value of the Circadian Rhythm, water management, and Joel Salatin's thoughts on feeding the world. Acres USA 2018 Sessions: https://www.acresusa.com/collections/acres-u-s-a-mp3-downloads Our Links: https://intellectualagrarian.com https://terrancelayhew.com https://www.instagram.com/intellectual.agrarian https://www.facebook.com/intellectualagrarian  

Good day and welcome to Tractor Time podcast brought to you by Acres U.S.A., the Voice of Eco-Agriculture. We are happy to be bringing you another episode, our 11th this year and 23rd overall, and I think we’re going to get in at least one more before the end of the year, so stay tuned. It’s about that time. In a couple days, Acres U.S.A. is hitting the road — or getting on a plane, actually — and heading to Louisville, Kentucky, for our 43rd annual Eco-Ag Conference & Trade show. In the office, we’re at that hybrid stage of nervousness, confidence, anxiety and adrenaline, and our days are filled with all the little odd jobs – cutting badges, ordering bags, shipping off our bookstore – and we know a lot of our listeners who will be attending are doing the same. Getting ready for the week away.  So we though it’d be appropriate to preview a few of our upcoming speakers on the show today, and include some of our sponsors. We don’t do a lot of advertising or sponsored stuff on this, so forgive us this one time. Plus, these aren’t your normal sponsorship messages. These are folks just like you – passionate about eco-agriculture and making a difference. And paying the bills, of course. To start, here’s a quick thank you list to the companies and organizations that make our conference, and Acres U.S.A., possible. We don’t thank them enough for their support, so here is a big, giant, thank you to our advertisers, sponsors who make this all possible. Including, those who sponsor this podcast, some of whom we interviewed especially for this episode on all things eco-agriculture: The Savory Institute and their co-founder and CEO Daniela Ibarra-Howell. You can hear an entire interview with Daniela on episode 21. She’s fascinating and her story is inspiring of how we can all see a problem – overgrazing and unsustainable agriculture – and develop a solution that can be applied anywhere in the world. Midwest BioSystems and Edwin Blosser & Company. Edwin is a master at explaining how to use compost on large-scale farms, and we’ll hear from him on that on this episode. He’ll be speaking next week as well, and is just an efficient, patient teacher. Eden Blue Gold. They are passionate about what they do, and the time and effort they’ve put into researching their products. You’ll hear about their process for creating organic inputs for large-scale production. We also want to thank the following folks: Brandt. They have a whole line of sturdy, well-built farm equipment, and we are kind of in love with their slogan: Powerful Value, Delivered. Yep. That about says it all. They stand by their work. Search for Brandt agriculture tools and you’ll see what we’re talking about. Verde Agritech. Verde’s products are derived from an ancient 570 million years old rock named “glauconitic siltstone”, rich in a mineral called glauconite. The production process is 100% natural. Terreplenish is another great supporter of Acres USA. If you are farming corn, or anything that you need help in retaining your nitrogen in your fields, then I’d encourage you to look up Terreplenish. This is what they do. They have a number of biological, sustainable solutions. But we are going to lead off our show with a bit from Wil Spencer at Environotics, who will talk about a subject we don’t discuss often on this show – soil life and biodynamics. We talked in late October on the phone about what the licensed holistic naturopath has learned on the subject Next up, we interviewed James Arpin in late October of 2019 about Eden Blue Gold. The interview may not be what you expect. James wanted to teach us about what he sees as the true differences between plants, animals and humans, and what our similarities, and differences, can teach us about how to interact. How we can heal each other. Here’s James Arden with Eden Blue Gold --    Our third guest today is Edwin Blosser. His company, Midwest BioSystems, lives the word. When we talked about a year ago, he was looking out his office window at harvesters picking black beans that were going off to Chipotle. We talked about large-scale biological inputs, and what he’s learned from a lifetime of farming. If you’re attending our show, Edwin is a must-see, and find him at his booth, too. I started the conversation by asking him to tell us how he got into farming. I couldn’t let this completely be finished though without a soundbite from one of our keynote speakers next week – Daniela with the Savory Institute and legendary grower and author Eliot Coleman are two of them, and our third is Joel Salatin with Polyface Farms. I asked him what he liked better, speaking or farming, and this was his answer. He’ll be leading our conference with a resounding presentation on Thursday night. Now, that’s our show. Thanks for tuning into another episode of Tractor Time podcast, brought to you by Acres U.S.A., the Voice of Eco-Agriculture. Find us at www.acresusa.com, at ecofarmingdaily.com, or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Better yet, come find us in Louisville next week and say hello. Thanks for listening, and have a great week.

Good day and welcome to Tractor Time podcast. I’m your host, Ryan Slabaugh, the GM of Acres U.S.A., and we are excited to bring you another fun hour of conversation about ecology, agriculture, smart farming, human health – and more. I want to thank our listeners. We recently went over the 20,000th download as a podcast, which is exciting for us. The world of eco-growers is always larger than we anticipate, and to us, that means things are changing for the positive. We hear so much about degenerative agriculture and its toxic toll on our world, but there is a silver lining – you. The listeners who are fighting tradition and convention with smart growing tactics, by understanding the soil, are the solution, and slowly but surely, we are making progress. It’s important we all agree on that one. It’s not that we don’t have challenges, and that they are not large and complicated, but we do not that the base-level agreement we want to get to is that the Earth, and its complicated and resilient life forms, will tell us what we need to know to grow our food. But it does require us to listen. Okay, the high horse is getting tired, but it’s true. Our listeners are the silver lining, and one of the brightest spots on that lining is our guest today. Daniela Ibarra-Howell is a native Argentinian, an agronomist by profession, and has more than 25 years of ranching experience. In 2009, she helped start The Savory Institute, headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, and became its CEO in 2011. Since then, she’s served on initiatives as wide as the UN Global Impact study, among a number of other roundtables and think tanks for healthy food and healthy agriculture. They are just too many to name. Daniela will be a big part of Acres USA in the next couple months, a fact that we are very grateful for. She will be speaking at our annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, Dec. 4-7, and keynoting an evening there. She will be featured in the November issue of our magazine, with an interview with Chris Walters. And, of course, we’re proud to have Daniela Howell on the Tractor Time podcast today. Learn more about the Savory Institute at https://www.savory.global/. Learn more about Acres U.S.A. at www.acresusa.com, or read our free, helpful content at www.ecofarmingdaily.com. You can find this contest on both sites, or for free in the Apple Podcast store.

Good day and welcome to Tractor Time podcast brought to you by Acres USA. I am your host, Ryan Slabaugh, and we are excited to bring you another episode – this one will be about advocacy, and how to get involved to make real change happen. Our guest today embodies that sentiment, Judith McGeary. Those who attend our conference every year should know her name, as she is a frequent speaker. But why we ask her to speak is most important – that she is the founder and leader of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, and represents about 1,000 ranchers and farmers in Texas who help advocate for government to better represent all of its constituents, not just the huge corporate farming interests. She’s also a rancher herself at the McGeary Family Farm a couple hours outside of Austin, Texas. How she found her way into this role is something we’ll discuss during the podcast, and her story is inspiring. It involves a career change, and some life-changing moments with farmers and politicians.  Not only does Judith lead FARFA, but she serves as the executive director of the Council for Healthy Food Systems and on the board of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund. And this year, she’s leading the Raise Your Voice Tour to learn more about what type of advocacy farmers and ranchers need the most. We’ll get into that, and more, in this 40-minute talk. You can learn more about FARFA at farmandranchfreedom.org, and their October conference. You can learn more about the Acres USA conference, where FARFA will be presenting, at www.acresusa.com.

Welcome to Tractor Time, brought to you by Acres U.S.A., the Voice of Eco-Agriculture. I’m your host, Ryan Slabaugh, the GM and publisher of Acres USA. Last week, I took a trip. I spent about 36 hours in the car driving from Colorado to Illinois, down to Columbia, Missouri, back to Illinois, and back home to Colorado. For a few days while I was in Missouri, I spent time at a sacred ground to us. At the University of Missouri, hidden among the tall brick buildings, is an open space called “Sanborn Field,” run by a guy named Tim Reinbott. You probably recognize the name if you’ve ever been to our conference. There, Tim has built and preserved what a professor named William Albrecht built there a century ago. Prof. Albrecht started test plots in hopes of showing what happens when you grow corn, continuously without fertilizer or manure, and what that does to the soil. I’ll save you the suspense. It looks terrible. The stalks, miniature compared to the other, more well-fed test plots, were brown and only about two feet tall. The video’s on our website, ecofarmingdaily.com, if you want to check it out, too. But it’s him talking about how, because Missouri’s soil has natural phosphorous and nitrogen, it wouldn’t take much to regenerate that continuous corn plot. But they aren’t going to do it. It’s too good of a reminder. It was near these fields that Charles Walters met William Albrecht for the first time. Charles, while trying to piece together the information that would build the foundation for Acres USA’s belief in ecology-based agriculture, found scientists he kept interviewing telling him about Albrecht. Charles being Charles, he did his research and found out Prof. Albrecht was just down the road a couple hours. He called the university, and they told him not to bother. But, again, Charles being Charles, he got in the car anyway and drove to meet the scientist. When he knocked on the door, a voice boomed out, “Don’t knock when you enter and leave the same way.” Charles walked in – and I learned all this from his son, Fred – and when Charles walked in, without even an introduction, said, “You must be from Western Kansas. You have good teeth.” Albrecht had pioneered research to connect local food to local health. It’s science that more should understand today. He pulled dental records from the military and matched those with the amount of calcium found in the soil and they matched. It’s an incredible study, still available for free on the University of Missouri’s academic research site. Anyway, the conversation sparked a longtime friendship. Charles would edit more than a dozen volumes of Albrecht’s research, and used that research to develop his stubborn and accurate view of agriculture – that the only way to make money, to make farming a viable job, is to work with nature. He met other Albrecht students like Neal Kinsey, and founded a lifetime friendship – in fact, Neal and Charles may have been Albrecht’s last students. In Columbia, we heard from more than a dozen farmers and consultants who employ the Albrecht system of growing, and have proven results. Most of them are using the mineralization techniques Albrecht preached – balancing magnesium and calcium – and advancing on that research with biological techniques of composting and manure and the like. Nobody walked away with a question of whether or not the methods lead to results. The irony – was that all this was being presented in Monsanto Auditorium. Their hold on farmers being educated is not lost, but the biological processes we were sharing in its halls were far more important. In a cynical way, it just reinforced why we were all there, and why Sanborn Field down the street is so sacred. So anyway, all this driving and inspiration got me thinking, that for our next show, we needed to go back in time and dip into our archives, and find a good conversation with Charles Walters. We found one of the last talks of his career, and it was aptly titled, “Then, Today & Tomorrow.” Given in 2006, you will find it’s still relevant today. Charles passed away a couple years later, so I guess we are in his tomorrow. To all those listening, let’s keep up the good work, keep our food connected to nature, and feel blessed to have those who came before us pave such a clear path ahead.      

Good day and welcome to Tractor Time Podcast by Acres USA. I’m your host, Ryan Slabaugh, and today’s guest is Dr. Nasha Winters. I met Dr. Nasha Winters last year at our conference in Columbus, Ohio. I had heard about her talk from the large number of people who walked out inspired. After meeting her, I can understand why. She was unassuming, funny and presented a message about human health that made a lot of sense. About how we create environments in our own body – similar to how we create environments in our physical world – that either promote and foster health, or the opposite – disease and injury. On this subject, she wrote her book, The Metabolic Approach to Cancer, which quickly became a hit with our audience of farmers and good food advocates. So much so, that at last year’s conference, we sold out of her books before her book signing. Oops. We’ll bring more this year, as she is returning to teach a full-day class on her approach to health in Louisville, Kentucky, Dec. 4-7. Dr. Nasha Winters is the founder, CEO and visionary of Optimal Terrain Consulting. She is a naturally board certified naturapathic doctor, licensed accupunturist and a fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology. She lectures all over the world and consults on projects, including the ketogenic diet, which is showing huge promise.  Learn more about her at https://optimalterrainconsulting.com/. Learn more about the 2018 Acres U.S.A. Conference at www.acresusa.com/events.

It’s that sound again – tractors, the voice of Charles Walters, and that happy little strum. It all means we are launching into a second season of Tractor Time Podcast by Acres U.S.A., the podcast for farmers who care about the Earth. My name is Ryan Slabaugh, and I’m lucky enough to be your host for a second season. We have a lot in store this year. We are going to talk about a lot of eco-farming tactics and methods. We’re going to go back in time and listen to age-old talks that still apply today. We’re going to talk about with surveyers about the loss of farmland, and what you and I can do about it. Our goal this year is to also make sure we are talking with young f armers, to better understand how they see themselves fitting into the future of agriculture. Anyway, we’re so excited, we hope you are too.  Today’s episode, like our very first episode, starts with the voice of Charles Walters. Charles started Acres USA in 1971 as a vehicle to report on the challenges facing small farms, and to help give farmers a resource for good, healthy, ecological growing in the face of large-scale toxic takeovers of our methods. In today’s talk that we are re-airing from an Acres USA Eco-Ag conference in 1993, Charles introduces us to Neal Kinsey, who at the time, was new to the Acres USA family, and working on his legendary book, Hands on Agronomy. The book has sold thousands of copies to farmers and growers all over the world. In this talk, again from 1993, Neal talks about the premises of his book, Hands on Agronomy. Enjoy, and thanks for joining us again for another season of Tractor Time. Find all the Tractor Time episodes here, or on iTunes.   

It’s Tractor Time podcast, brought to you by Acres USA, the Voice of Eco Agriculture. This was recorded on Nov. 2, 2017, in Greeley, Colorado. We’re going deep into eco-agriculture this hour. This episode's guest is Edwin Blosser, a longtime instructor in the art of crafting and utilizing high-quality compost in production-scale agriculture. He’ll talk about specific compounds in compost to build, advise about cover crops, and help us connect the dots between profitability and soil structure. But first, I thought I’d share a story. Earlier this week, I got a call from Ulrich Scheyer. For those who don’t know, he’s one of the original advisors to Acres USA, attended our conference early in our history, and now lives in France and leads a team of researchers looking at biodynamics. We’ll share that research at some point once we review it.  His quote, which is really what I wanted to share, has been my beacon of motivation this week. And a lot of you might benefit. Before hanging up, he told me: “There are a lot of cracks showing in conventional agriculture that my generation helped create, but now the real work begins. Find those cracks. And plant as many of your Acres USA trees in them as you can.” Plant as many of our Acres USA trees as we can. And that’s what we try to do every day, but we need help. And that brings us back to today’s guest, Edwin Blosser, who never hesitates to teach, share or explain the tactics that has made him successful. The company he founded, Midwest Bio-Systems, provides compost windrow turners and other equipment, as well as the knowledge needed to economically implement sustainable, organic growing practices. His goal is for farmers to consistently product high-value, highly humified compost. You can learn more at www.midwestbiosystems.com.

Tractor Time is back, after harvest, to get back into the swing of recording and broadcasting interviews with your favorite people in sustainable agriculture. And we’re coming back with some thunder. Our guest today is a good friend of Acres USA. John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture, a crop consulting company, and is an expert in the field of biological and regenerative farming. A resident of Middlefield, Ohio, Kempf is a farmer who grew up in and remains a part of the Amish community. John has always sought alternative approaches to prevent damage to crops, and will be leading a two-day class on biological agriculture in December at the 2017 Acres USA Eco-Ag Conference and Trade Show. His class is our most popular so far, in fact, and is filling up fast. Learn more about us at www.acresusa.com.

  In this week’s podcast, we are featuring Mark Shepard's talk from the 2016 Eco-Ag annual conference in Omaha, Nebraska, where he spoke to a very full hall on his sustainable water practices he uses on his farms. It’s also the subject of his new book that we will be releasing later this fall, so stay tuned for that. It’s under production as we speak. What follows this is Mark’s speech, which lasts just a little more than an hour. We hope you enjoy his talk, and the discussion that occurred between him and the audience last year in Omaha. Mark Shepard is one of Acres USA’s newest authors, whose book, Restoration Agriculture, is No. 1 on our bestselling list. Talk about getting off to a good start. Part of it is the way he deftly explains proven practices on how to holistically repair damaged and broken farmland, something he’s done on his own property. Part of it is the way Mark advocates for the practices and methods that he has developed. He speaks and works with farmers around the country, so speaking in front of our audience is just second nature. Learn more at www.acreusa.com, and at www.ecofarmingdaily.com.

In the Acres USA world, Andre Leu is becoming much more than a household name. Leu, who has written for our magazine for years, published The Myth of Safe Pesticides in 2014. He has spoken on the dangers of pesticides for years several times at our annual conference, and will join us again this year. Leu is currently the president of IFOAM – Organics International, and has more than 40 yeas of international experience in all areas of organic agriculture. He has been one of those human advocates, one of those forces of nature, that are pushing the agriculture movement into healthier directions. We spoke with Andre Leu on Thursday, July 20, from his office in Queensland, Australia. Hosted by Ryan Slabaugh. To learn more about Acres USA, visit www.acresusa.com or www.ecofarmingdaily.com.

Charles Walters, Sr. started a newspaper exclusively devoted to ecologically sound agriculture in the early 1970's. Today it is still a powerful voice for eco-agriculture (www.acresusa.com), letting farmers, and those who would like to be farmers, know that there is a way to make an economically sound business out of producing healthy food. This is an incredibly important contribution to the future of America, where our food supply has become ever more polluted by chemical agriculture and factory food processing since around the time of World War II. Acres USA features educational articles and real-life stories of farmers who are large-scale farmers committed to care for the Earth and producing food that can help us regain our health through clean nutrition. I was fortunate to meet with Charles Walters Sr. twice during his lifetime, and was very impressed with his depth of insight into how to heal American agriculture and the American economy at the same time. Ryan Slabaugh is General Manager of Acres USA, keeping alive the Legacy of Charles Walters, Sr. He is leading an operation that is not only educating farmers and those interested in moving agriculture toward a more sustainable future in harmony with nature through the monthly magazine (subscribe at www.acresusa.com), but is also doing this through the medium of workshops and conferences, two of which are coming up this summer. We will get a chance to talk in some detail about what will be taught at these events, and get into what Acres USA sees as the future of American food and farming. Everyone is concerned about GMO's and chemicals in the food supply. But some like Acres USA are working toward solutions, and I urge you to learn about them and listen in on my conversation with Ryan Slabaugh. His work is a sign of great hope for the future.

We know how busy farmers are this time of year, so we feel especially lucky to have our guest on today’s show. He really needs no introduction, but we’ll give it a shot anyway. Joel Salatin is known around most agricultural circles as the most famous farmer in the world. He calls himself a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer, which is a mouthful, both in words and in meaning. More practically, he’s a successful author and speaker, has written dozens of pieces for Acres USA magazine through the years, has spoken at our Eco-Ag conferences, and through all that, we’ve learned that he is not afraid to be funny, educational, or to step into controversy when he needs to. But his belief in honoring the land and the animals is something we respect the most, and why we are glad to call him a friend.  He spoke to us about the challenges in the eco-agriculture movement growing around the world, and answers some questions about how ecology, agriculture and the food supply can work together. He also talked about how to create a truly "sustainable" farm. "Unless you are generating two salaries from two different generations, you do not have a sustainable farm," Salatin told us.  Hosted by Ryan Slabaugh.

Joel Salatin is a third generation full-time family farmer in Virginia 19s Shenandoah Valley. The farm services more than 5,000 families, 10 retail outlets, and 50 restaurants through on-farm sales and metropolitan buying clubs with salad bar beef, pastured poultry, eggmobile eggs, pigaerator pork, forage-based rabbits, pastured turkey and forestry products using relationship marketing.He holds a BA degree in English and writes extensively in magazines such as STOCKMAN GRASS FARMER, ACRES USA, and FOODSHED. The Polyface Farm has been featured in SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, GOURMET and countless other radio, television and print media.

This week Branden talks with Hilary Boynton and Mary G. Brackett, the author and photographer of The Heal Your Gut Cookbook. Show notes: The Heal Your Gut Cookbook: Nutrient-Dense Recipes for Intestinal Health Using the GAPS Diet: Hilary Boynton, Mary G. Brackett, Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride: 9781603585613: Amazon.com: Books [Two Authors & A Chef - ftcldf Buy Tickets](https://ftcldf.ticketbud.com/two-authors-a-chef) [Massachusetts 2014 Weston A. Price Conferences](http://conferences.westonaprice.org/fall-regional/massachusetts-2014/) [Boston Ferments authors](http://www.bostonferments.com/#!authors/cbs) The Weston A Price Foundation 2014 Conference Registration from Acres USA The Heal Your Gut Cookbook on Facebook Rate us on iTunes. Thanks for your support! Send your feedback to podcast@fermup.com or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.

Joel Salatin, 56, is a full-time farmer in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. A third generation alternative farmer, he returned to the farm full-time in 1982 and continued refining and adding to his parents’ ideas. The farm services more than 5,000 families, 10 retail outlets, and 50 restaurants through on-farm sales and metropolitan buying clubs with salad bar beef, pastured poultry, eggmobile eggs, pigaerator pork, forage-based rabbits, pastured turkey and forestry products using relationship marketing. He holds a BA degree in English and writes extensively in magazines such as Stockman Grass Farmer, Acres USA, and Foodshed. The family’s farm, Polyface Inc. (“The Farm of Many Faces”) has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic, Gourmet and countless other radio,television and print media. Profiled on the Lives of the 21st Century series with Peter Jennings on ABC World News, his after-broadcast chat room fielded more hits than any other segment to date. It achieved iconic status as the grass farm featured in The New York Times bestseller Omnivore’s Dilemma by food writer guru Michael Pollan and the award-winning film documentary, Food Inc. Thanks to our sponsor, Hearst Ranch. “I think that this young generation, people from ages 17-30, is realizing that they are going to have to be the re-generation generation… many young people are ready to embrace a farming vocation if they feel like they can make a living at it.” [2:30] “If the young people can’t get into farming, then the old people can’t get out!” [5:30] — Joel Salatin on Greenhorn Radio

Mark Shepard is an agriforester and permaculturist He founded and manages Forest Agriculture Enterprises and runs New Forest Farm an 106-acre commercial scale perrennial agricultural ecosystem that was converted  to a self suffecient food forest from a row-crop annual grain farm. Trained in mechanical enigineering and ecology, Mark has combined these two passions to develop equpment and processes for the cultivation, harvesting and processing of forest-derived agricultural products for human foods and biofuel. Mark is a certified permacultlure designer  who took his training directly from permaculture founder Bill Mollison .  As a student of Mollison, Mark brings a robust masculinty into his permaculture work, working with the larger patterns of the land rather than focusing on the rather dainty features that are often put  forward  by American permies. Mark teaches agroforestry and permacluture around the world. He lives with his family in Richland County Wisconsin Mark is the author of Restoration Agriculture, Real World Permaculture for Farmers which was published by ACRES USA this past year. It's a remarkable work of agricultural writing, one that I hope everyone will make the time to read in the near future.  You can pick up a copy from Amazon through the show notes at www.bdnow.org I want to thanks Anders Skarlin bdnow and Steve Diver of bdnow and agri-synthesis.com for submitting questions for Mark that made this conversation more valuable for everyone.  As usual, if you'd like to hear more of these podcasts, please take the time to leave a positive comment at bdnow.org or at the bdnow podcast page at itunes which you can link to through the show notes at bdnow.org Around the globe most people get their calories from annual agriculture - plants that grow fast for one season, produce lots of seeds, then die. Every single human society that has relied on annual crops for staple foods has collapsed. Restoration Agriculture explains how we can have all of the benefits of natural, perennial ecosystems and create agricultural systems that imitate nature in form and function while still providing for our food, building, fuel and many other needs - in your own backyard, farm or ranch. This book, based on real-world practices, presents an alternative to the agriculture system of eradication and offers exciting hope for our future.

In this episode of the Go Ye International podcast, I take the listeners into a new realm, a new world of discovery pertaining to the methods and proven success of one of the rarest treasures the State of Texas has inside its borders.  The following interview is with Gene Sollock of the Sollock Farm in Iola, Texas--east of College Station.  This step by step instructional audio and video program will encourage and better equip those farmers and ranchers to better succeed in sustainable beef production. Swapping the current practices for the grass-fed system by lowering over head increases profit margins while lowering risk related to beef production.  This 2.5 hour interview contains detailed information for those interested in starting an intensive, rotational paddock, grass-fed'grass-finished cattle operation in a manner that can put the profit back into production while the rising cost of conventional feed lots, bales of hay, and wasted acreage that predominate the cattle industry today cause farmers and ranchers to go broke and risk losing their operation.  The Gene Sollock Paddock System is the way to go for those starting up, those looking to improve or THOSE ABOUT TO GIVE UP. Intensified Management Grazing (IMG), or eco-farming, is the best way to accomplish a sustainable and profitable operation. For those serious about starting or converting their operation, during May 2008- July 2009, the infrastructure will be finished, the forage will be established waiting for the installment of 20 head of cattle by August 2009 with a decent profit to follow 12-18 months latter ($10K-$16K).  Within five years of continued forage development, the potential sales on the same 20 acres with just 20 head of cattle per year have a potential profit margin of *$20K-$30K per year depending on the marketing strategy.  With natural variables considered and the forage going well, the amount of cattle in this 20 template can be increase to 40 head--even 50 head under optimal conditions--bringing in a potential *$40K- per 18 months.  Having an initial $25K-$30K investment on leased land or within your existing acreage using these figures and direct sale marketing over the course of 10 years there will be a substantial stream of cash flow to retire on and/or expand the operation.  THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. *These figures have been achieved on paddock pastures established over a few years of forage development and reliability by using direct marketing business plans.  Gourmet restaurants and direct sale ‘foodies’ are increasing the demand for local, grass-fed beef. This is not a quick fix.  This is not a get rich system.  It takes time and initial inputs to establish the conditions for successful and sustainable year-round forage.  This is an investment for near and far future returns. Using this amazing answer for the natural, sustainable, and profitable way to feed more cattle with less overhead on less land than currently thought to be possible while making more profit than ever imagined from the same 20 acres, once the forage is flourishing year round (with all things considered).  The potential of this 20/20 plan will start you thinking outside the box and launch you into a better way to preserve the family farm (or start one).  Sustainable agriculture is economically sound and environmentally sensible producing equity in a society where it is implemented.  Sensible and secure food is superior. Related Links: Gene Sollock's MIG Audio Files (approx. 2hrs:35mins)( http://cid-da54361c865e0258.office.live.com/browse.aspx/.Public ) Download:People can download the two part audio interview:Gene Sollock's MIG_Part 1 of 2(http://cid-da54361c865e0258.office.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Gene%20Sollock%5E4s%20MIG%20Audio%20Files/Gene%20Sollock%5E4s%20MIG%5E_Part%201%20of%202.mp3)Gene Sollock's MIG_Part 2 of 2(http://cid-da54361c865e0258.office.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Gene%20Sollock%5E4s%20MIG%20Audio%20Files/Gene%20Sollock%5E4s%20MIG%5E_Part%202%20of%202.mp3) Video Playlist:Gene Sollock's Instructional Video Program Playlist (This plays all in order until finished: about 2 hrs.) (http://www.youtube.com/user/boscois?feature=mhum#g/c/0739EF221C3B5B6F ) Video Channel:*Gene Sollock YouTube Videos (Click here for all of them listed together)( http://www.youtube.com/user/boscois?feature=mhum#g/u ) Acres USA   www.acresusa.comThe publication most often read by organic and eco-farming. Outstanding articles and reference books, including the Dung Beetles by Charles Walters.  http://www.acresusa.com/books/closeup.asp?prodid=1639&catid=27&pcid=2 Allen Nation's   www.stockmangrassfarmer.comA must-read to learn about IMG (intensified management grazing); schedule of their top-notch conferences. Chandler's Texas Plant and Soil Lab   www.txplant-soillab.comA great place to get help with fertility when transitioning from inorganic to organic fertilizer. Ask for Mr. Chandler's organic interpretation report. You will be amazed at how a good blend helps. Dr. Elaine Ingham's Soil Food Web   www.soilfoodweb.comThis is the place to learn about soil biology - what you have, what you need, how to get what you need! Fascinating work! This keeps the 'snake-oil' salesmen out of your life. Jo Robinson's   www.eatwild.com An on-going discussion of the health benefits and scientific research of grass-fed beef. Ross Farm   www.rossfarm.com/beef/graze.html Star Haven Farms    www.texasgrassfed.com/ THE WAR ON BUGS: The secret history of pesticides revealed, Will Allen"The secret history of pesticides revealed: how farmers and consumers have been conned by government, industry, and war-mongering jargon into choosing toxic food."   www.thewaronbugsbook.com Tommy Carroll Paddock System Consultant  (713) 899-3606If you want a professional plan, call him. Pharo Cattle Company  www.pharocattle.com USDA   www.usda.govThese are the people who know more about types of soil, cultural practices, agriculture programs in your area.  

I hope you’ll enjoy this Deep Roots Radio interview with Andrew French about breeding and raising heritage-cross pigs in the frigid Wisconsin climate. Andrew is owner/farmer of Full Boar Farm in Boyceville, Wisconsin, and a frequent contributor about sustainable farming to magazines such as ACRES USA. His objectives? Happy, healthy pigs; restoring the land; and, […]