Listen Now

Buckle up. There's a lot to unpack in this conversation with David Brandt's 50 year soil health journey. The listen is worth it... and then some. Brandt's focus on soil health systems and continuing willingness to learn and expand his knowledge has provided the farm with economic stability, the ability to weather global weirding, and allowed the operation to bring younger generations on - even in the face or urbanization pressures.

Cover crops aren't just for large scale commodity crop production. Smaller scale specialty crop farmers can integrate covers throughout their intense and diverse cash crop rotations to manage their lands in a more sustainable/regenerative manner. Join Kevin Allison, Marion County SWCD, and Dan Perkins, Perkins Good Earth Farm, as they talk about big picture strategies for cover crop inclusion.

Sweet corn farmers Chuck Mohler from Northern Indiana and Tom and Victor Hackman from Southern Indiana agree: cover crops are a benefit on any farm.The Hackmans moved from a wheat cover crop on no-tilled sweet corn to a cereal rye cover crop about 5 years ago. They like the way the rye residue helps to conserve soil moisture - even without irrigation. The residue also suppresses weeds - often helping them eliminate post-emergence herbicide applications.Mohler also agrees that cereal rye is a good cover crop; one of many that he uses on his heavier soils. And after early corn is harvested, he plants a cover crop of sudangrass and oats; watering and fertilizing as if it were a cash crop.

Beyond grazing, opportunities abound for those with out infrastructure like fencing and watering facilities to use cover crops for forage. Purdue Extension Forage Specialist Keith Johnson and Cisco Seed Forage Agronomist Greg Downing talk haylage, species breeding, timing and more.

Did you know that 70% of pollination in watermelon crops comes from NATIVE bees and other pollinators? It makes economic and environmental sense to focus on Integrated Pest Management as a core strategy to control pests and improve yields. Join Elizabeth Long and Laura Ingwell, Purdue Entomology, and Dennis Nowaskie, Southwest Purdue Ag Center, as they discuss the impacts of neonics and fungicides - including from prior and neighboring commodity crops like corn and soybeans.

When we talk about pollinator strips, we typically think about bees and butterflies. However, pollinator strips also attract a host of other beneficial insects that bring value to crop production. Listen to Rick Clark, West-central Indiana Farmer, and Christian Krupke, Purdue University Professor of Entomology wax poetic about the positive impacts of planting insect habitat.

Amanda and Jacob Baird, beginning pumpkin farmers join University of Illinois Extension Educator Nathan Johanning and long-term no-till pumpkin farmer Rod Johnson of Hobart, Indiana to learn the tips and tricks of successful u-pick no-till pumpkins - from cover crops to dealing with rodents.

It's April and lawns may have greened up, but that doesn't mean cover crops are actively growing. Understanding effects of night time low temperatures, that different cover crops species may break dormancy at different times, and other considerations are key to successful termination.Walton, Indiana farmer Cameron Mills and Pierceton, Indiana farmer Jamie Scott talk about key considerations in their farming operations - including Plans A, B, C, and D...Their plans change because they are always looking ahead. Jamie and Cameron also talk about looking ahead to fall... and winter. Some residual herbicides can affect emergence. In addition some may affect root growth to an extent that cover crops may not overwinter well. These Penn State articles may prove useful in making those residual herbicide selections: Corn SoybeansThese articles from Penn State may be usefull

Mike and Susan Brocksmith of Vincennes, Indiana received the American Soybean Association Conservation Legacy Award at the 2020 Commodity Classic.They have always been strong conservationists. With time consuming hog and cow-calf operations, Mike began no-tilling in 1977 as a way to save time. Through the 80's, 90's, and on the Brocksmiths continued to evolve their operation.In addition, Mike and Susan use their farm as a field classroom for Susan's students from Vincennes University, as well as groups of farmers and agronomists.

Vole damage to crops is dependent on several variables - palatability and density of cover crops, soil types, field borders, and... raptor perches.Abby Prieur and Megan Zagorski recently wrapped their Masters Studies at Purdue University where they focused on practices and field qualities that could impact the probability of vole damage in Indiana cropfields.They discuss their findings and how farmers, agronomists and others can use this information to help focus scouting and management efforts.

In 2019, a lot of new clients walked through the doors of USDA Service Centers looking for options on their prevent plant acres - for resources on managing those fields. Many turned to cover crops for the first time. Even though each of the podcast guests was representing a conservation organization - a consistent theme was tapping into a vast network of experienced soil health farmers as a resource.These interviews were recorded at the 2020 IASWCD Annual Conference and included 5th generation farmer and USDA-NRCS Chief Matt Lohr, Northern Indiana Farmers and SWCD Supervisors Cameron Mills and Andy Ambriole, and former Indiana NRCS State Conservationist and now International Soil and Water Conservation Society Board Member Jane Hardisty.

Decatur County, Indiana farmer Kevin Horstman is a relative rookie to soil health farming, but with the help of neighbors Roger Wenning and son Nick, he hopes to ramp up his farming system in 5 years to levels similar to those achieved by the Wennings in 25 years.These farmers are joined by CCSI Agronomist Joe Rorick and Indiana USDA-NRCS Soil Health Specialist Stephanie McLain to talk about where they go for information on practices, the money saved on fuel, equipment, fertilizer, herbicides... and labor. This cropping system saved Roger's farm in 1983. Fast forward to 2018 - struggling with manpower, Kevin convinced an older generation to try no-till and cover crops, His family went from "being efficient" with 6 guys planting down to 3 and saved $3000 in fuel alone that first year.

By strategically planning a cover crop and high-density grazing system, growers can stretch winter feedstocks, improve pasture utilization, and improve the health of their livestock - both above and in the soil.Jason Tower, Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center Superintendent, and Robert Zupancic, Southeast Indiana USDA-NRCS Grazing Specialist, discuss various considerations in both pasture management and livestock integration in a cropping system - from cool season vs warm season cover crops to how different livestock utilize forages and even baleage.

About 50% of the farmland in Indiana is rented. Twenty-five percent of the leased property is owned or co-owned by women.The image of a farmer has been embossed as an older male. However, more women are becoming farmland owners through family inheritance, marriage, and property purchases. Stepping into a male-dominated industry can be intimidating for some women. Organizations like American Farmland Trust (AFT) and Women for the Land (W4TL) are available to help women with any questions they may have about farming and managing their property.Often women are surrounded by men in the farming industry and don’t feel empowered to speak up. Women may feel this way talking to a male farmer or a male family member. W4TL and AFT have created robust women’s networks where women can feel at ease, share, and learn from each other.Women4theLand State Coordinator Heather Bacher and American Farmland Trust Midwest Regional Director Jen Fillipiack discuss those networks, some of the research behind their founding - and stories of empowerment to advance adoption of soil health practices

4Rs: Right Source. Right Rate. Right Time. Right Place.Across Indiana, farmer-leaders along with policy specialists, private industry, public agencies, and non-profits are pushing out information on 4R nutrient management and soil health systems to give farmers options that will work profitably and efficiently in their operations.Christy Wright, Corteva AgriScience; Seth Harden, Indiana TNC; and Justin Schneider, Indiana Farm Bureau talk about their organizations' roles in promoting practical soil health practices to a wide variety of farmers and landowners.

Over 19 million acres of cropland were not planted in 2019 due to extreme weather, leaving many farmers facing extreme weed pressure in those fields. Dr. Aaron Hagar, weed specialist from the University of Illinois discusses options to limit weed impacts.Key to management is prevention of weeds from forming viable seed that could impact crops well beyone 2021.

US corn and soybean planting has progressed at its slowest pace in decades. Farmers facing decisions on prevented planting also face decisions on managing fields for this summer.Many groups advocated for the use of cover crops in unplanted fields to prevent erosion, reduce further nutrient losses, and protect/improve soil health. One issue farmers will face is finding quality seed.A 'perfect storm' of weather, forage losses, and increasing cover crop acreage has led to very tight seed supplies.Scott Wohltman, Cover Crop Chair for the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and agronomist for La Crosse Seed discusses these issues along with decisions being made on his own Illinois family farm.

Northwest Ohio / Northeast Indiana farmer Allen Dean and Indiana Ag Nutrient Executive Director Ben Wicker as they discuss upward trends in conservation adoption indicated by the latest Ag Census.According to the latest Census of Agriculture, Indiana farmers are among the most productive and efficient in the U.S. Indiana ranked No. 3 in the nation in acres planted of cover crops. Indiana farmers planted 936,000 acres of cover crops in 2017, up 57 percent from 2012. Additionally, farmers practiced reduced tillage on 4.1 million acres, which was up 1 million from five years ago.

Indiana/Ohio Farmer Allen Dean and Indiana Ag Nutrient Alliance Executive Director Ben Wicker as they discuss the harsh erosion that occurred over winter/spring of 2019.Both gentlemen agree that the use of cover crops and no-till can help prevent the same thing from happening in future years.Even on Dean's fields where cover crop establishment was particularly good, he still saw benefit from prior seasons' use of cover crops such as cereal rye.Download and read the podcast supplement, including information from teh Indiana Climate Change Impact Reporthttps://www.hoosieragtoday.com/category/hat-soil-health-podcast/

Penn State Professor of Entomology John Tooker discusses the evolution of neonicotinoid insecticide use and its effect on the health of crop land soils and beneficial insects.Many seed treatments aren't necessary - not because the insecticidal part of the seed treatment can't kill insects; it is that the insect pests are relatively common. Most of the insect species that are targeted by the neonicotinoid insecticidal coatings are secondary pests. "They are the secondary pests because they are not the primary concern, they are a secondary concern. Their populations are sporadic, and they can be pretty hard to find. Just from that perspective, deploying insecticide when there is no need seems unecessary to me and perhaps even wasteful," said Tooker.Download and read the supplement, including links to more info.Hoosier Ag Today