Episode 102: The Learning Experience of Regenerative Ag with Dr. Allen Williams
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Release Date: 02/01/2024
Episode 146: Building Biology with Cover Crops and Mycorrhizae with Joe Ailts
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Joe Ailts is an agronomist and regenerative farmer in northwest Wisconsin with a deep passion for soil health and plant physiology. On his three-acre home farm, he grows competitive giant pumpkins, sweet corn, and market pumpkins using a regenerative approach that includes cover cropping with rye and Sudan grass. His experience in competitive pumpkin growing has fueled his interest in soil biology, leading him to experiment with mycorrhizal fungi inoculation and nutrient-dense crop production. Through his agronomy company, Ailts Agronomy, Joe works with row crop farmers to integrate soil...
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Episode 145: Proving Regenerative Ag Grows Nutrient-Dense Fruit with Herb Young
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
After decades of working in conventional agriculture, Herb Young immersed himself in regenerative practices and planted a regenerative citrus orchard in Georgia. Herb has meticulously researched techniques to improve soil health and crop resilience and implemented them on his farm. His grove serves as a living research farm, where he conducts trials on soil microbiology, nutrient density, and pest management to push the boundaries of what’s possible in citrus production. Squeeze Citrus is Herb Young’s brand, where he grows and sells regeneratively farmed citrus, focusing on nutrient...
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Podcast Extra: Ask Me Anything with John Kempf from February 13
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Join us for an engaging webinar with John Kempf, renowned crop health consultant and founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture. In this Ask Me Anything format, growers had the opportunity to ask John their pressing questions about topics impacting their farm. Drawing from his extensive research and firsthand experience, John provided insights and practical solutions to help growers achieve healthier, more resilient crops. In this episode, John and the audience discuss: How early-season sap analysis can help optimize fruit tree nutrition and quality How anion exchange capacity, selenium...
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Episode 144: The Regenerative Blood Business with Gavin Heywood
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Gavin Heywood is an Australian farmer and entrepreneur from New South Wales, whose family has worked on the same land for over 120 years. He runs a unique business, Serum Australis, which supplies animal blood for medical diagnostics, research, and commercial applications while managing his farm with holistic grazing practices. Gavin’s journey into the blood industry began with his background in laboratory work and an early attempt to sell goat serum, which led to his discovery of a larger market for horse blood. Alongside his business, he is committed to regenerative agriculture, using...
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Episode 143: Growing Prescription-Quality Wheat with Bob Quinn
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Bob Quinn is an organic farmer and researcher with a Ph.D. in plant biochemistry. Bob introduced and trademarked Kamut, an ancient wheat variety with anti-inflammatory properties. His research highlights its higher nutrient density and benefits for those with wheat sensitivities. Bob grew up on a wheat farm in Montana, and transitioned to organic farming in the 1980s. After selling his businesses, he founded the Quinn Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to regenerative organic research and food as medicine. His work focuses on soil health, nutrient density, and the connection between food...
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Episode 142: Harnessing Technology for Regenerative Grazing with Jason Rowntree
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Jason Rowntree is a professor of Animal Science at Michigan State University, where he has spent the last 16 years studying regenerative grazing systems and their impact on soil health, ecosystems, and beef nutrient density. Jason currently leads a $19 million research project across 60 U.S. ranches, using remote sensing and on-ground monitoring to measure carbon sequestration, water cycles, and biodiversity. His goal is to create economic incentives that support farmers and ranchers in adopting regenerative practices. In this discussion, John and Jason discuss: How nutrient density in beef...
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Episode 141: Using Systems-Based Research in Regenerative Agriculture with Cindy Daley
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Dr. Cynthia Daley is a respected leader in sustainable agriculture who works to bridge the gap between academic research and practical regenerative farming practices. She has spent decades advocating for more innovative approaches to agriculture, critiquing outdated university methodologies that fail to support ecological farming systems. As the founding director of the Center for Regenerative Agriculture at California State University, Chico, Cindy has led efforts to transition academic programs toward regenerative principles and foster collaborations with pioneering farmers. In this...
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Episode 140: Generations of Regeneration with Benina Burroughs
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Benina Burroughs began farming almonds with her father in 2002. Now, as CEO and co-owner of Burroughs Family Farms, she has innovated ecological practices in nut growing. She transitioned the entire farm to organic 2015 and has received dual regenerative certifications from the Regenerative Organic Alliance and Regenified. Benina has led efforts to diversify operations, adding organic olives, walnuts, and pasture-raised poultry, and continues to advance sustainable practices. Burroughs Family Farms is located in California’s Merced County, and has been family-operated since 1906, evolving...
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Episode 139: From DJ to Full-Time Regenerative Farmer with Andy Cato
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Andy Cato is a musician and regenerative agriculture advocate, best known as one-half of the electronic music duo “Groove Armada.” After reading about the environmental problems caused by industrial food systems, Andy sold his music publishing rights, purchased a depleted farm in southwestern France, and embarked on a journey to restore its health through trial, error, and regenerative techniques. Today, Andy is the co-founder of Wild Farmed and a prominent voice in sustainable agriculture. Wild Farmed connects a network of farmers through transparent, traceable supply chains, enabling...
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Podcast Extra - Highlights from the Year
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
This special episode of the Regenerative Agriculture Podcast highlights insights from nine of this year’s guests who are driving innovation in regenerative farming. From practical techniques to transformative ideas, these clips showcase the power of regenerative practices to improve soils, ecosystems, and farm profitability. Featured Guests: Rick Clark: No-till organic farming pioneer Erin Martin: Food as medicine advocate with FreshRX Dr. James White: Expert in plant-microbe symbiosis Amy Williams: Champion of regenerative cotton in fashion Keith Berns: Innovator in multi-species...
info_outlineAllen Williams is a 6th-generation farmer and founding partner of Grass Fed Insights, Understanding Ag, and the Soil Health Academy. He has consulted with over 4,000 farmers and ranchers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South America, and other regions on operations ranging from a few acres to over 1 million.
Allen and his colleagues specialize in whole farm and ranch planning based on regenerative agriculture concepts. Their approach creates significant “value add” and prepares the landowner for multiple revenue stream opportunities that stack enterprises and acres, enhancing profitability and investment value.
In this episode, John and Allen discuss:
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The ideals we seek for a highly functioning soil
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Fungal vs bacterial dominate soils
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Primary drivers of ecosystem development
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The relationships between mycorrhiza fungi, aggregates, and protozoa
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Implementing regenerative practices into your specific situation
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The three rules of adaptive stewardship
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The performance of livestock in ecosystems
Additional Resources
To learn more about Allen’s enterprises, please visit: https://soilhealthacademy.org/ or
https://understandingag.com/
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: https://www.advancingecoag.com
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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: https://youtu.be/n9U6GwbYPDk