Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Keith Berns, co-founder of Green Cover Seed, is a key figure in the regenerative agriculture movement. Raised on a farm in South Central Nebraska, Keith was a teacher for 10 years before returning to the family farm in 1998, where he and his brother Brian adopted no-till techniques. In 2006, they got introduced to multi-species cover crops, which transformed their farming approach. Inspired by the positive effects of diverse cover crops on soil moisture retention, plant health, and livestock, Keith and Brian co-founded Green Cover Seed in 2009. The company has since grown significantly,...
info_outline Episode 131: Controlling Your Own Supply Chain with Dave FischerRegenerative Agriculture Podcast
Over the past two decades, Dave Fischer has successfully developed a sustainable cattle farm and a direct-to-consumer meat business, Fischer Farms. Dave’s background in industrial engineering and supply chain management has significantly influenced his approach to farming. He’s built an efficient distribution system that caters to local universities, restaurants, and other institutions. Dave's commitment to quality, sustainability, and local sourcing has positioned Fischer Farms as a leading provider of high-quality beef and pork in his region of Southern Indiana. In this episode, John and...
info_outline Episode 130: A New Direction in Florida Citrus with Benny McLeanRegenerative Agriculture Podcast
Benny McLean has decades of experience in citrus. As the Director of Grove Operations at Uncle Matt’s Organic, Benny has played a pivotal role in transforming the company’s approach to farming. Growing up in a farming family, Benny has always had a close connection to the land, which has informed his deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of agriculture. Over the years, he witnessed the adverse effects of conventional farming practices, including soil degradation and diminishing returns. This led him to explore regenerative approaches to farming. Benny’s commitment to...
info_outline Episode 129: A Multi-Generational Journey in Regenerative Agriculture with Jay and Chris BrandtRegenerative Agriculture Podcast
The Brandt Family Farm is a diverse grain farm supporting three generations. Founder Dave Brandt was a leading force in regenerative agriculture for five decades, pioneering no-till farming and cover cropping in the 1970s. Dave's innovative practices focused on improving soil health, and his advocacy made a significant impact on farming across the U.S, until his death in 2023. Over the years, the Ohio-based farm has become a model for sustainable agriculture, influencing national practices and inspiring countless farmers. Jay and Chris Brandt, Dave's son and grandson, continue this legacy,...
info_outline Episode 128: Scaling A Regenerative Dairy Farm with Blake and Stephanie AlexandreRegenerative Agriculture Podcast
In this episode, John explores the inspiring story of Blake and Stephanie Alexandre, fourth-generation dairy farmers from Crescent City, California. Their dairy farming journey began in 1992, and they've since expanded their operation from 500 to over 9,000 acres across three counties. Driven by their deep-rooted passion for farming, and influenced by their immigrant parents and family traditions, the Alexandres transitioned to organic farming in the late 1990s. By 2001, they achieved certification as one of California's earliest organic dairies, reviving practices that date back over a...
info_outline Episode 127: Food as Medicine with Erin MartinRegenerative Agriculture Podcast
On this podcast, John and Erin talk a lot about the idea of Food as Medicine. Erin Martin works firsthand with food prescribed as medicine and has seen incredible health outcomes in her patients, including: Complete reversal of chronic diabetes within 6 months Maximum weight loss of 117 pounds An average decrease in healthcare cost of $10-20,000 per patient As the Director of FreshRX in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Erin provides local regenerative produce to patients whose doctors have prescribed food to cure their health problems. In this episode, Erin and John discuss: How food as...
info_outline Podcast Short #8: Sap Analysis Insights and Strategies with Rachelle MossRegenerative Agriculture Podcast
In this episode, John interviews Rachelle Moss, Senior AEA Agronomist, about using sap analysis in conjunction with AEA products and consulting. Rachelle explains how the team manages the influx of sap reports–sometimes dozens in a single day–and how she uses them to make agronomic recommendations, which involve foliar applications, fertigation, and other nutrient management strategies. They also discuss tools for tracking and updating sap data, and how that enables efficient collaboration and rapid assessments of nutrient trends across multiple fields. Additional Resources To learn more...
info_outline Episode 126: The Benefits of Pasture Cropping with Colin SeisRegenerative Agriculture Podcast
Colin Seis is a prominent figure in regenerative agriculture, renowned for his innovative pasture cropping solutions in Australia. His family's introduction to agriculture began when his four-times-great-grandparents were sent to Australia as convicts and eventually became successful farmers. Colin grew up on a farm held by his family for many generations in Australia, inheriting a wealth of agricultural knowledge from his father. However, after having witnessed the detrimental effects of conventional farming practices, he sought to find a better way. This led to the development of pasture...
info_outline Podcast Short #7: Assessing the Efficacy of Regenerative Products with Kish JohnsonRegenerative Agriculture Podcast
In this episode, John Kempf speaks with Kish Johnson, Director of Partnerships and Expansion at Advancing Eco Agriculture. Kish shares insights into AEA's international expansion and maintaining high product standards for global distribution. The conversation touches on Kish's diverse background, including his time in the UK and the Middle East, as well as how these experiences have shaped his approach to agriculture today. They also discuss the evolution of AEA from a consulting company to one that also manufactures better-performing agricultural product offerings. Kish emphasizes the...
info_outline Episode 125: The Benefits and Challenges of Intercropping with Lana ShawRegenerative Agriculture Podcast
Lana Shaw is the Research Manager at the South East Research Farm in Saskatchewan, Canada. She has been with the research farm since 2010, overseeing its transformation from a poorly funded facility into a center for innovative agricultural research. Lana holds a master's degree and has a background in government work related to agriculture. Her work focuses on practical, applied experiments that benefit local farmers, with a particular interest in intercropping and companion cropping to improve soil health and agricultural sustainability. Lana comes from several generations of Canadian...
info_outlineDale Strickler is an agronomist at Green Cover Seed and prominent author primarily focused on soil health. Dale grew up on a family farm outside Colony, KS, and received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agronomy from Kansas State University. Dale has been an advocate for the use of cover crops for over three decades and continues to experiment, achieving increasingly exciting results.
Dale has published two books, The Drought-Resilient Farm and Managing Pasture. His third book, The Complete Guide to Restoring Your Soil, will be released later this year.
In this episode, Dale and AEA Founder John Kempf discuss:
- Dale’s agricultural background and what inspired his fascination with cover crops.
- His experiences with heavy clay soil and implementing a subsurface, drip-irrigated pasture.
- How regenerative practices can affect water-holding capacity of soils and restore small water cycles.
- Dale’s most memorable moments in his consulting work with growers across the country.
- Hand cropping, intercropping, and other practices forgotten by mainstream, mechanized agriculture.
- The reason farmers need to be “thinking like a scientist” and the power of self-education.