Podcasts about midwestern bioag

This week's episode covers the latest in agriculture, including updates on egg news, tariffs, and a special National Ag Week interview with former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, now CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation. We also dive into USDA's recent decision to streamline U.S. pork and poultry processing, along with the latest weather and market updates. In our first interview, Tom Vilsack shares his insights on the current state of agriculture and his vision in his new role. Plus, we speak with Midwestern BioAg's Director of Agronomy, Brandon Meiners, about how the company is partnering with farmers to improve soil health through regenerative practices and their product portfolio. Follow us daily with agriculture content on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube in addition to our weekly videos!

In this engaging episode of the Acres U.S.A. Podcast, hosted by Taylor Henry, Gary Zimmer discusses his journey with Midwestern BioAg, including the reasons behind selling the company and the innovative practices being explored today. Gary shares insights into challenges faced by the company, including the complexities of training employees, integrating knowledge into fertilizer products, and the financial burdens of transitioning ownership. The conversation delves into the potential of anaerobic digesters on large farms, the benefits of biologicals and regenerative practices, and the unexpected successes in regions like North Dakota. Gary also touches on the future of agriculture, the importance of education in farming, and how new models of farming can be developed. Tune in for an in-depth exploration of organic farming, innovative fertilizer solutions, and the evolving landscape of eco-agriculture.Important Links from Today's Episode:Members site: https://members.acresusa.comAcres U.S.A. Homepage: https://www.acresusa.com/Access Eco-Ag 2024 Recordings: https://conference.eco-ag.com/24recordingsAcres U.S.A. Memberships: https://eco-farming.com/Gary's Books at the Acres U.S.A. Bookstore: “The Biological Farmer”      “Advancing Biological Farming”

In this episode of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast, Mark Jewell sits down with Brandon Meiners, Director of Agronomy at Midwestern BioAg. They explore the transformative power of intentional leadership, the importance of creating a strong organizational culture, and fostering meaningful relationships in agribusiness. Brandon shares his journey of personal growth, how he learned intentionality from his wife, and how small, consistent habits can lead to long-term success.Brandon also discusses the pivotal role of culture in agribusiness, emphasizing that real culture is built on trust and transparency, not just positivity. His insights into leadership, work-life balance, and the importance of relationships offer actionable advice for listeners looking to cultivate thriving teams and organizations.Key Takeaways:Intentionality in Leadership: Small, daily habits create the foundation for leadership success.Culture Beyond Positivity: Real culture is based on strong relationships, trust, and transparency.Work-Life Balance: A strong work-life balance is crucial for personal and professional success.The Power of Delegation: Effective leaders empower others by delegating tasks strategically.Notable Quotes:"Being faithful in little leads to being faithful in much.""Culture isn't just positivity—it's built on trust, transparency, and relationships.""Leaders have a moral obligation to create environments where people can thrive."Stay tuned for more valuable insights on how to lead intentionally and build lasting relationships in agribusiness!

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/

Gaji Balakaneshan is President of Midwestern BioAg, a 40-year old leader in soil health and one of the 100 largest agricultural retailers in the U.S. Since joining in March of 2021 as Vice President – Finance, Gaji has helped lead the sales organization and develop strategic and commercial opportunities for the business. He brings over 16 years of experience in strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, sales and operations planning, financial modeling, and analysis. Previously, Gaji worked with CF Industries in multiple roles, including Product Manager, Corporate Strategy and Development Manager, and Senior Financial Analyst. There, he helped manage 7 million tons of UAN sales. Prior to that, he was a financial analyst at a venture capital-backed renewable chemical startup and an Equity Research Associate covering chemical and agriculture companies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University in Medford, MA. In this insightful episode, host Mark welcomes Gaji Balakaneshan to explore the nuances of intentional leadership within the agribusiness sector. Their dialogue delves deeply into the transformative power of intentional practices in business leadership, especially when navigating the challenging landscape of regenerative agriculture and the shifting dynamics of the Ag retail space.Gaji emphasizes the importance of understanding one's direction and remaining thoughtful in the face of operational firefighting that often consumes leadership bandwidth. Key themes discussed include the delicate balance of performance management, fostering an enriching company culture, and strategic talent acquisition in an often understaffed industry. Gaji shares his unique insights on leveraging individual strengths, even if they don't align perfectly with a predefined role, underscoring the value of adaptability and transparency in leadership.Key Takeaways:Intentional leadership involves being thoughtful and acknowledging the direction of the company, avoiding the trap of merely reacting to ongoing emergencies.Cultivating a sustainable work culture and retaining talent requires candid communication and the ability to showcase genuine transparency as a leader.Recognizing the importance of individuals who contribute to the culture of a company, beyond solely performance metrics, is key to long-term success.Gaji values the importance of self-awareness in maintaining energy and productivity, acknowledging personal tendencies and taking necessary breaks.Understanding and accepting one's vulnerabilities can not only humanize a leader but also bolster trust and relatability within the team.Notable Quotes:"I prize transparency quite a lot, although not phenomenal about doing that right now." - Gaji Balakaneshan "It's a roll of dice to how much more people can handle it for how long." - Gaji Balakaneshan "You have to think about, here are the things I need to get done. Here are the things that are most important for me to do." - Gaji Balakaneshan "I've always kind of felt like I'm faking it. How did I get here? What's going on?" - Gaji Balakaneshan on imposter syndrome "People want to be around some of those high performers, right?" - Gaji Balakaneshan discussing the influence of top talentTune in to the full episode for a comprehensive understanding of Gaji Balakaneshan's insights on intentional leadership and the transformative impact it has on agribusiness practices. Stay updated with the "Intentional Agribusiness Leader" podcast for more inspiring content centered around leadership, management, and the pursuit of purposeful change within the industry.

Welcome to Barn Talk What happens at the barn, Stays in the barn, But not today! We're letting it all out! In today's episode we're diggin' in the dirt. Soil health, Regenerative Ag, Biologics. These and a whole lot of others are the hot lingo at just about every farm conference these days. New products and new companies are popping up with the promise of fixing all of your grain farming ills. Well, Today we are going to talk to the president of Midwestern BioAg. A company that has been beating the drum on soil health for more than 30 years. We'll get his take on the industry today and where he thinks we're headed. Use BARNTALK for 10% OFF your next order https://farmergrade.com  SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST ➱ https://bit.ly/3a7r3nR   SUBSCRIBE TO THIS'LL DO FARM ➱ https://bit.ly/2X8g45c  SUBSCRIBE TO BARN TALK CLIPS ➱ https://bit.ly/3BlZnqq   LISTEN ON: SPOTIFY ➱ https://open.spotify.com/show/3icVr4KWq4eUDl7Oy60YMY  ITUNES ➱ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/barn-talk/id1574395049 Follow Behind The Scenes

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis talks with Gary Zimmer, co-owner of Otter Creek Organic Farm in south-central Wisconsin and founder of Midwestern BioAg, a fertilizer company focused on biological and organic farming methods. Gary is also a co-founder of Rye Revival, an organization that aims to bolster the use of rye. Gary and Mike talk about rye's health benefits and its use as an animal feed and a cover crop. Related ATTRA Resources: ·         Organic Small Grain Production Overview ·         No-Till Case Study, Brown's Ranch: Improving Soil Health Improves the Bottom Line ·         Cover Crops and Their Impact on Soil Health, Crop Productivity ·         Cover Crops and Water Infiltration  Other Resources: ·         Zimmer Ag Consulting ·         Rye Revival Contact Mike Lewis at mikel@ncat.org. Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast. You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. 

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis talks with Gary Zimmer, co-owner of Otter Creek Organic Farm in south-central Wisconsin and founder of Midwestern BioAg, a fertilizer company focused on biological and organic farming methods. Gary is also a co-founder of Rye Revival, an organization that aims to bolster the use of rye. Gary and Mike talk about rye's health benefits and its use as an animal feed and a cover crop. Related ATTRA Resources: ·         Organic Small Grain Production Overview ·         No-Till Case Study, Brown's Ranch: Improving Soil Health Improves the Bottom Line ·         Cover Crops and Their Impact on Soil Health, Crop Productivity ·         Cover Crops and Water Infiltration  Other Resources: ·         Zimmer Ag Consulting ·         Rye Revival Contact Mike Lewis at mikel@ncat.org. Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast. You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. 

Fuel prices, freight charges and avian influenza are driving up prices for organic fertilizer, according to Steve Lundeen with Midwestern BioAg. Lundeen manages the Milledgeville, Illinois location. Supply is tight for chicken litter because of the depopulation of big flocks and it's hard for trucks to go in and out with biosecurity measures, he says. High commodity prices make for an ideal time to start transitioning your farm to organic if that's something you're interested in. He sees organic acres increasing because of the value-add to consumers. He's also seeing interest in 'soil health' products, such as calcium to extract nutrients from the soil, which can be cheaper than adding nutrients. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carbon markets -- it's a fairly new phrase that we've been getting used to and learning more about. Indigo Ag is a player in that space. Indigo Ag offers farmers technology to track their carbon credits. And they connect credit buyers with the carbon credit supply chain. Ryan Stockwell is the senior manager of grower and partner advocacy for Indigo Ag. He shares what carbon markets entail. You can learn more about Indigo Ag's new collaboration with Midwestern BioAg here: https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2022/03/18/helping-farms-tap-carbon-credits/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on how an already disrupted supply chain is further impacted by the Russia-Ukraine war. Fertilizer is a key part of that conversation. Gaji Balakaneshan is the chief operating officer at Midwestern BioAg.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on how an already disrupted supply chain will be further impacted by what's happening between Russia, Ukraine and the rest of the world. Fertilizer is a big part of that conversation in the agriculture sector. Gaji Balakaneshan is the COO of Midwestern BioAg. He says the Russia, Belarus and Ukraine region is a huge player in ag from crops to fertilizer production. After the invasion, Midwestern BioAg halted fertilizer sales when all of its vendors pulled their prices, he explains. "I think everybody is on edge. We were, as an industry, not well positioned leading up to this in general. And this is just more fuel to the fire of what's going on in the fertilizer world." He says sales will return this week after price adjustments. Balakaneshan also lays out some silver linings amidst this crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Among the highlights of the inaugural Edible-Alpha® Live! event, held online December 9, Tera interviewed agriculture pioneer Gary Zimmer and his daughter Leilani Zimmer Durand. As the founder of Madison, Wisconsin-based Midwestern BioAg, Gary is considered the father of “biological farming”—essentially the first iteration of regenerative agriculture—which focuses on balancing soil biology, chemistry and structure to produce greater, higher-quality yields. When Gary started the company in 1983, his approach was virtually unheard of in the U.S. Convincing organic dairy farmers that the ticket to more efficiency and profitability was improving their soil required a lot of education. But as Midwestern BioAg's processes and nutrient-rich and carbon-based fertilizers got great results, the company grew steadily, expanding beyond just dairy farms and beyond Wisconsin. Gary and Leilani also wrote the book on biological farming—literally—which helped spread his philosophy and practices around the world. Still, investors weren't lining up to jump in. Gary bootstrapped the endeavor, including establishing the fertilizer processing arm, landing no outside capital and getting by on debt financing. And when he couldn't convince university researchers to help him test his innovations, he established his own organic, 100% grass-fed dairy farm for in-house R&D and demos. Today, the company continues to thrive, and Gary now works with some of the world's largest farms, both organic and conventional, on incorporating biological farming. He also has his hand in many tangential projects, including processing ventures, a new consulting business with Leilani and an initiative to revitalize rye as a vital soil-regeneration crop. He's also thinking about succession plans if ever he opts to slow down. Next, Tera asked Gary and Leilani what's next for regenerative agriculture. This led to a great discussion on what the term truly means, its potential benefits for the planet, the role big food companies can play, how Big Ag needs to evolve, and how eco-minded consumers are a driving force for change. They also discussed the challenges and opportunities for food and farm entrepreneurs today and the need for more impact investment to further these endeavors. Visit the Edible-Alpha® YouTube channel to watch the extended Video Podcast that includes audience Q&A!

Among the highlights of the inaugural Edible-Alpha® Live! event, held online December 9, Tera interviewed agriculture pioneer Gary Zimmer and his daughter Leilani Zimmer Durand. As the founder of Madison, Wisconsin-based Midwestern BioAg, Gary is considered the father of “biological farming”—essentially the first iteration of regenerative agriculture—which focuses on balancing soil biology, chemistry and structure to produce greater, higher-quality yields. When Gary started the company in 1983, his approach was virtually unheard of in the U.S. Convincing organic dairy farmers that the ticket to more efficiency and profitability was improving their soil required a lot of education. But as Midwestern BioAg’s processes and nutrient-rich and carbon-based fertilizers got great results, the company grew steadily, expanding beyond just dairy farms and beyond Wisconsin. Gary and Leilani also wrote the book on biological farming—literally—which helped spread his philosophy and practices around the world. Still, investors weren’t lining up to jump in. Gary bootstrapped the endeavor, including establishing the fertilizer processing arm, landing no outside capital and getting by on debt financing. And when he couldn’t convince university researchers to help him test his innovations, he established his own organic, 100% grass-fed dairy farm for in-house R&D and demos. Today, the company continues to thrive, and Gary now works with some of the world’s largest farms, both organic and conventional, on incorporating biological farming. He also has his hand in many tangential projects, including processing ventures, a new consulting business with Leilani and an initiative to revitalize rye as a vital soil-regeneration crop. He’s also thinking about succession plans if ever he opts to slow down. Next, Tera asked Gary and Leilani what’s next for regenerative agriculture. This led to a great discussion on what the term truly means, its potential benefits for the planet, the role big food companies can play, how Big Ag needs to evolve, and how eco-minded consumers are a driving force for change. They also discussed the challenges and opportunities for food and farm entrepreneurs today and the need for more impact investment to further these endeavors. Visit the Edible-Alpha® YouTube channel to watch the extended Video Podcast that includes audience Q&A!

Our Guest:Mark has pioneered energy and sustainability solutions across academic, private, public and non-profit sectors. As the Rob and Melani Walton Chair for Sustainability Solutions at Arizona State University, Mark leads an effort to make measurable impacts on sustainability and influence decision making toward global solutions.Mark was at the forefront of developing environmental markets including the acid rain emissions trading program and early markets for carbon credits. He also led strategy and marketing with Midwestern BioAg. Recently, Mark has been involved in sustainable agriculture, understanding the impacts of soil health on crop production and the environment. He has held positions of influence with the White House, RAND Corporation, Pegasus Capital Advisors, Proteus Environmental Technologies and the University of Southern California.Our Host:Braven is currently founder & CEO of Three Good, and Chairmen of the Board for La Visual. Over the past twenty years, Braven has founded six technology and agency businesses in several verticals: two of which he has successfully exited. Braven graduated from Biola University with a B.S. in Business Management while subsequently growing his first company La Visual, 700% year-over-year for 3 consecutive years.Aside from his work as a Serial Entrepreneur, he’s an engaging speaker who has had the privilege of speaking on branding, leadership, and entrepreneurship at: UCLA, Techstars, AIGA, and the Redondo Beach Convention Center. Early in his career as an award-winning branding expert and designer, his design work and business ventures have been featured in: AIGA, BrandNew, PRINT, ID Magazine, New York Times, Forbes, Los Angeles Times, and SoCal Tech. He’s currently a contributing writer for The Startup and a member of the Forbes Business Council. He has worked closely with the C-suite for over 15 years advising fellow C-level executives from fortune 1,000 and 500 companies on how to build brand equity and create culture. Throughout his career, He’s had the privilege to help develop world-class brands like Emirates Airlines, Intuit, WME | IMG, News Corp., MySpace, Discovery Channel, Sony Pictures, Lincoln, Toyota, FOX, Yahoo!, Billabong and Seven Denim.Refrences:George Bernard Shaw on Transformative change:QUOTE: “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”Book: Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire, Rebecca HendersonLink: https://www.amazon.com/Reimagining-Capitalism-World-Rebecca-Henderson/dp/1541730151Article: 5 Economists Redefining… Everything. Oh Yes, And They’re WomenLink: https://www.forbes.com/sites/avivahwittenbergcox/2020/05/31/5-economists-redefining-everything--oh-yes-and-theyre-women/#494f7659714aBook: Pigs, Johanna StoberockLink: https://www.amazon.com/Pigs-Johanna-Stoberock/dp/1597090441Threegood.com@threegoodrRead Braven's Articles

In this special episode I sit down with my Dad and his partner, Luz Elena Morey, to talk about their organic farm, bakery and transformation center - Heaven On Earth. If you’re interested in nutrient rich organic farming, building community (near and far), Wwoofing, living off grid, gluten free + vegan baked goods, the healing arts, drama therapy, manifestation, and more… This. Episode. Is. For. You! Lyndell Knapp is one of the pioneers of organic farming in Wisconsin and specializes in nutrient rich organic farming methods that produce more biologically nourishing crops. Being inspired by the science of organic farming, as taught by J.I. Rodale in the seventies, Lyndell proceeded to help convert his family's conventional farm into one of Wisconsin's first certified organic farms. Lyndell was also one of the first consultants for Midwestern BioAg, teaching farmers about organic farming techniques and helping them transition from conventional chemical farming to safer, ecological farming techniques. For over thirty years, Lyndell has been engaging in creative thinking and living perspectives, inspired by the work of Earl Nightingale, Norman Vincent Peale and Napoleon Hill. He remembers encouraging his daughter, Jenna Knapp, since her teens, that she was ahead of her time and at the head of the curve. He now co-directs Heaven on Earth, an organic farm, bakery and transformation center, with his partner, Luz Elena Morey. Luz Elena Morey, MA, RDT., (pronounced Luce Elayna) is a Colombian-born musician, teacher, performer, theatre director and professional trainer. A Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) with NADTA (North American Drama Therapy Association) Luz Elena specializes in helping people release trauma symptoms and embody their inner-wisdom-sourced essence, which is creative, dynamic and evolving. Luz Elena has facilitated transformational expressive-arts programs for people of all ages for over 35 years. Her goal is to support others and co-create cultures that exude love, harmony and beauty. More information about Luz Elena is at https://innerwisdomuniverse.org Learn more about Wwoofing opportunities at Heaven On Earth here. To work on the farm, in the bakery, and at the farmer's market with Lyndell and Luz Elena, please apply via Wwoof USA here. To receive personal coaching from Lyndell about nutrient-rich organic farming methods that produce more biologically nourishing crops, please email luzelenamorey@gmail.com to book your time with Lyndell at $50/hour. He can help you from a distance. To receive support, guidance, and deep healing from Luz Elena learn more about her 2020 Be Bright Now Program here. Email luzelenamorey@gmail.com to apply - Limited to three people. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mentalwealthandwellness/message

This week, we present a follow-up to the interview I conducted last week, in Episode 27, with Gary Zimmer. I hope you enjoy the chance to dive deeper into some of the topics raised in the previous episode.  Gary has been a key figure in the development of regenerative agriculture in America, is a sought-after speaker, and is the author of both The Biological Farmer (now available as an updated and expanded second edition), and Advancing Biological Farming. He is the founder of Midwestern BioAg, a consulting and fertility provision company headquartered in Madison Wisconsin. Gary's consulting has largely been in broad-acre crops and dairy, but the powerful information he offers can be universally transferred to any crop. Gary's analogies between ruminant digestion and soil mineralization helps us understand concepts in biological farming.  This talk is sprinkled with fast-paced wisdom, anecdotes, research, and philosophy. The conversation centered on three topics which are critical to every farm:   Trace Minerals Gary's preferred trace mineral nutrition sources and distribution methods A lively discussion on sap, tissue, soil and dairy ration testing Using mineral inputs when and where needed, with purpose, based on data   Nitrogen Management Nitrogen management is NOT merely a numbers game Digestibility and solubility are the critical considerations in N management The use of various nitrogen stabilizers such as polymer coatings, humates and carbohydrates The use of S, Mg and Mo to stabilize nitrogen in the soil Growing crops without purchased nitrogen Removing N availability as a limiting factor by growing N   Carbon A perceived N response which is actually caused by solubilizing carbon and releasing CO2 The economics of mineral balance in terms of yield bump vs. yield loss How to best think about cover crops and their use   Thank you to Gary for joining us twice and hope everyone enjoys the show!   Support For This Show & Helping You Grow This show is brought to you by AEA, leaders in regenerative agriculture since 2006. If you are a large-scale grower 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.   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. You can email John directly at John@regenerativeagriculturepodcast.com.   Sign Up For Special 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 our email list.

Gary Zimmer’s impact on modern regenerative agriculture technique and proliferation is hard to overestimate -- with an enthusiasm and zeal that are positively infectious -- we are privileged to have him as a guest on the podcast. Zimmer is the founder of Midwestern BioAg, a company which advocates similar principals to Advancing Eco Agriculture, while focusing on dry soil amendments. He farms with his family in Sauk County, Wisconsin and is the author of two seminal books on biological agriculture, which I highly recommend: The Biological Farmer (now available as an updated and expanded second edition), and Advancing Biological Farming. In this episode, Gary: Provides stories and insights from his decades-long career Clarifies the distinction between soil-correction and crop-fertilizer Reiterates the need to focus on biology in our soils and to use crop variation Warns against simply replacing fertilizer sources point-for-point when transitioning to organic production The discussion is lively, informative and short. Thus, we decided to invite Gary back for a follow up episode which will air next week, where Gary and I dive deeper into specific actionable steps growers can take to better manage nitrogen and trace mineral nutrition delivery from the soil. Hope you enjoy! John   Support For This Show & Helping You Grow This show is brought to you by AEA, leaders in regenerative agriculture since 2006. If you are a large-scale grower 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.   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. You can email John directly at John@regenerativeagriculturepodcast.com.   Sign Up For Special 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 our email list.

Midwestern BioAg is a company that provides farmers with consulting and products (mostly inputs) that help improve yields, resiliency and profitability by using biological farming methods i.e. treating the farm like an ecosystem and preserving the long-term health of the soil.

Midwestern BioAg is a company that provides farmers with consulting and products (mostly inputs) that help improve yields, resiliency and profitability by using biological farming methods i.e. treating the farm like an ecosystem and preserving the long-term health of the soil.

Allen Philo is the specialty crops consultant for Midwestern BioAg, a biological fertilizer company in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, where he works with fruit and vegetable growers around the country to help them develop approaches to optimizing soil conditions for plant growth. He also runs a pasture-based livestock farm north of Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Allen was one of the first guests on the Farmer to Farmer Podcast, and I’ve had request after request to bring him back. Allen digs into cover cropping, from the biology and theory behind it to the nuts and bolts about how to make it work on the farm. We discuss how cover crops work to get sugar-rich calories into the soil to feed the microbes, and how you can use cover crops to create microclimates to break down crop residues. Allen shares nuts-and-bolts details how he and his clients have used cover crops to disrupt pest cycles, reduce pest and disease pressure through rapid biological cycling, and control annual and perennial weeds. We also discuss the tools and techniques that Allen recommends for managing cover crops, from establishing a strong stand to managing the resulting mass of vegetation. Cover crop selection, practical approaches to cover crop blends, and using cover crops to manage the pre-harvest interval for manure applications are also on the table. The Farmer to Farmer Podcast is generously supported by Vermont Compost Company.