Episode 110: Stock Cropping and Regenerative Innovation with Zack Smith

Zack Smith is a fifth-generation farmer from northern Iowa. He is the owner and operator of Smith Seed and Agronomy, LLC, and co-founder and CEO of Stock Cropper, Inc. Zack previously worked in seed production and chemical retail as a certified crop advisor and then as a seed rep while farming on the side. He eventually became interested in soil health and started experimenting with strip-tilling and using cover crops, which marked the beginning of his shift toward regenerative agriculture. Zack recently developed a system called “stock cropping,” a regenerative farming system that raises row crops in conjunction with multiple species of livestock simultaneously in the field. He and his business partners, Sheldon Stevermer and Lance Peterson, went on to develop the Cluster Cluck 5000, an autonomous, self-moving barn.
In this episode, Zack and John discuss:
The concept of stock cropping and its benefits to plant and soil health
Developing barns for mobile grazing that integrate multiple species of livestock
Implementing a rotational grazing system with frequent moves to optimize animal impact and pasture utilization
Developing high-quality pasture mixes using cool-season and warm-season species
The importance of innovation and collaboration in advancing regenerative agriculture practices
Additional Resources
To learn more about stock cropping and the Cluster Cluck 5000, visit thestockcroppe... and check out their youtube channel at / @thestockcropper
About John Kempf John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA). A top expert in biological and regenerative farming, John founded AEA in 2006 to help fellow farmers by providing the education, tools, and strategies that will have a global effect on the food supply and those who grow it.
Through intense study and the knowledge gleaned from many industry leaders, John is building a comprehensive systems-based approach to plant nutrition - a system solidly based on the sciences of plant physiology, mineral nutrition, and soil microbiology.
Support For This Show & Helping You Grow Since 2006, AEA has been on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable with regenerative agriculture.
AEA works directly with growers to apply its unique line of liquid mineral crop nutrition products and biological inoculants. Informed by cutting-edge plant and soil data-gathering techniques, AEA’s science-based programs empower farm operations to meet the crop quality markers that matter the most.
AEA has created real and lasting change on millions of acres with its products and data-driven services by working hand-in-hand with growers to produce healthier soil, stronger crops, and higher profits.
Beyond working on the ground with growers, AEA leads in regenerative agriculture media and education, producing and distributing the popular and highly-regarded Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, inspiring webinars, and other educational content that serve as go-to resources for growers worldwide.
Learn more about AEA’s regenerative programs and products: www.advancinge...
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VIDEO: To learn more from John Kempf about regenerative agriculture, watch this conversation between John and three AEA grower partners about how regenerative agriculture is changing lives and conventional farming: • How regenerative agric...

[@survivalpodcasting]

One of the top podcasts I have heard this year. Just awesome.

[@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754]

I can remember lance asking on how cows function because he's working on this weird idea. It was really cool to see that you got this thing brought to life. Good job!

[@jasontucker3295]

10 hogs per acre. That is the number I came up with a couple years ago. My family doesn't hear a word I say. If approaching family about changing anything be careful and go very slow while respecting their foolish prejudices. Great stuff here.

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

Another excellent conversation, I'm only 10 minutes in and I've discovered that there is another tie here, this stack cropping stuff was created on February 9th, 2020, interesting, that's my birthday, also, the same day I release my video on ramp pump, the manual for designing and building ramp pumps. Pumps. Keep getting the number nine coming back this year at phenomenal rates, every episode out of AEA with a 9 in it has been stellar and directly applied to me, 99, 109, I could literally go on all day. Is the number of infinity, and at 2024 nine is showing up to be absolutely infinite! Infinite! Many blessings and much love to John Kemp. Zack Smith and AEA team

[@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754]

Apparently they're just letting everybody Into this comment section party.

[@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754]

When does john get you on to the radio !!

[@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754]

I've heard some people speak against the system.Not like that idiot down in Iowa.Who wants to be the next influencer?But I mean actual legitimate people trying to speak against the system and say well it's not scalable. My rebuttal to them, people was fantastic.Let it stay as a wonderful.Small average direct to consumer small town farm. And then we can get more people on the land producing food for our communities. I know kind of preachy

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

Well I hope Mr Kempf will accept us riff raff! lol @@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

@@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754 Me? I'd be blown away if he even asked.... Remember, we're in the riff raff section... 😂 🌱 I often wonder if he wishes I'd just shut up.. :)

[@Marilou-g5t]

Watch Zach's Stock Cropper in action on his youtube channel...