AgEmerge Podcast Episode 116 Soil Health Medley

We’re focusing on the soil health principles that so many of our guests encourage growers to adopt and where it’s so important for us to first understand our context, knowing what plants and animals flourish in our specific environments. From there we work to not disturb the soil, reducing and eliminating both mechanical and chemical disruption. Next, we focus on armoring the soil by keeping it covered at all times. As well as keeping a living root in the soil to feed that soil biology. Then we add diversity, including diversity of plants, insects, microbes, wildlife and finally adding livestock to the land. From understanding water and mineral cycling, to how energy flows Monte says often, the practices may vary from location to location but the principles remain the same.
On the AgEmerge Podcast we strive to bring content that help growers understand how they can adopt, improve and regenerate their soils. After all, soils really are the foundation of the work we are doing and it’s also the life work of many of our podcast guests. Some of our guests have had major epiphanies when it comes to soil health. And the great thing is, they put their money where their mouth is and share what they’ve learned. This podcast is meant to whet your appetite by revisiting some of the great guests we’ve had to understand how they shifted their paradigms, how they’ve come to the conclusion that adopting these changes were and are necessary in our production systems.
We’ve picked out some great highlights, with Dr Dwayne Beck from the Dakota Lakes Research Farm, Conservationist Jay Fuhrer, Entomologist Dr. John Tooker, Erin Martin founder of Conscious Aging Solutions, and Dr. Allen Williams from Understanding Ag. These folks are a powerhouse of knowledge so let’s jump right in.
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INTROS TO SPEAKERS
We start off with Dr. Dwayne Beck from Dakota Lakes Research farm. Dr. Beck’s work on developing and promoting diverse no-till cropping systems plays an important role in allowing producers to dramatically improve their profitability while also protecting soil and water resources; enhancing wildlife habitat; reducing net carbon dioxide emissions; improving air quality and having other positive impacts.
Another power hitter in the line-up is Conservationist Jay Fuhrer. Jay’s approach to solving the problems of soil health is, as he says, doing most of his work with a spade, in a field with his clients. From cover crops to water cycling Jay has it covered. Oh and don’t miss this important quote, Jay says, “diversity is the holy grail to go after.
Next Dr. Tooker Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Entomology at Pennsylvania State University discusses his research studying relationships among plants, invertebrate herbivores, and natural enemies, he’s challenging us to truly observe what’s happening not only in but around our fields, using the power of observation while pausing to explore all the possible factors affecting our system.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about how soil health affects human health and that’s where our guest Erin Martin of Conscious Aging Solutions shares how she’s studying the soil health - human health connection. She has a powerful desire to uncover how food plays such a significant role in our aging process. Erin is passionate about soil health and exploring how food is medicine. Her successful FreshRX Oklahoma program is successfully helping people struggling with diabetes to source local, regeneratively raised food to address their health concerns.
Finally we wrap up with Dr. Allen Williams a 6th generation family farmer and founding partner of Understanding Ag, the Soil Health Academy, and Regenified. Dr. Allen says the very first thing we have to do is transform our minds before we can start transforming practices because if we don't understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it, we’ll be hard pressed to see success.