The Grow Down on Soil Health
Welcome to “The Grow Down on Soil Health” podcast, where we dive deep into sustainable farming practices designed to enhance both your land and your bottom line. Join host Ben West, Ph.D., executive director of Farmers for Soil Health, and a diverse lineup of guests from various agricultural backgrounds as they share entertaining stories, invaluable soil health management techniques, and the incredible benefits cover crops can bring to your farm.
Cover Crop Management During a Strong El Niño
In this webinar, DTN meteorologist John Baranick discusses the key weather factors shaping the fall and winter seasons as a building El Niño is forecast to become one of the strongest on record. He explains how El Niño may influence regional weather patterns and what those conditions could mean for cover crop establishment, management, and decision-making heading into the 2027 growing season.
Feeding the Soil: Cover crops, crop rotations and more with Dr. Marshall McDaniel
In this webinar, Dr. Marshall McDaniel, Associate Professor of Soil-Plant Interactions at Iowa State University, explores how cover crops, diversified crop rotations, and perennial groundcovers can improve soil health. Drawing on his research, Dr. McDaniel discusses how these practices influence soil carbon, nitrogen, and microbial biomass, along with considerations for effectively managing perennial groundcovers in corn and corn-soybean systems.
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The Ripple Effect of Cover Crops with Trey Hill
Trey Hill owns and operates Harborview Farms, a multigenerational farm in Rock Hall, Maryland, on the Delmarva Peninsula.
About 25 years ago, Hill began experimenting with cover crops. Initially skeptical, he was convinced after seeing improvements in soil structure, moisture retention, water quality and overall field performance.
Hear Hill discuss how successful cover cropping requires paying close attention to the land, remaining open to change and continuing to learn from each growing season.
The Ripple Effect of Diverse Cover Crops with Stephen Kraszewski & Kurt Vollmer, Ph.D.
Hear from Stephen Kraszewski, owner of Mason Farms Produce in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, and Kurt Vollmer, Ph.D., extension specialist for weed management at the University of Maryland Wye Research and Education Center, as they share insights on integrating cover crops into farming operations.
The Risks and Rows Between Intention and Adoption
Today’s episode features Maria Teresa Tancredi, Ph.D., a senior soil health specialist with the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and a Farmers for Soil Health Minnesota technical advisor. She’s here to share what she’s learned from both her research and her direct work with farmers on the technical and social barriers to cover crop adoption.
The Swine to Soil Connection with Jamie Burr
National Pork Board Chief Sustainability Officer Jamie Burr joins this episode of Soil Sense to share about the importance of soil health, conservation, and sustainability in the pork industry.