Productive Plains: The secret is in the soil
WildAg Podcast
What makes the Great Plains such a productive agricultural hotspot? And why are some fields just more productive than others no matter what? It turns out the secret is in the soil. This month we are joined by Dr. Ray Ward, founder of Ward Laboratories, to discuss how our soils came to be and how a better knowledge of your soil can lead to healthier farms and ecosystems overall. With a PhD in Soil Fertility and personal farming experience, Dr. Ward shares how practices like cover crops and diversifying an operation can lead to massive benefits – in soil health, water quality, wildlife...
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Nitrates & Human Health with Dr. Jesse Bell
WildAg Podcast
This month we are joined by Dr. Jesse Bell, Claire M. Hubbard Professor of Water, Climate, and Health in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the School of Natural Resources within the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also serves as the director of the Water, Climate and Health Program at UNMC and the director of Water, Climate and Health at the University of Nebraska’s Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. Following our previous episodes on nitrate...
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Nitrogen Stewardship & Profitability: A Conversation with Sentinel Ag
WildAg Podcast
This month we are joined by Jackson Stansell, Founder and CEO of Sentinel Ag. Following our previous episode on nitrate issues in drinking water with Crystal Powers, Andy and Nate chat with Jackson about how his team at Sentinel is tackling the nitrate issue head on – while also helping farmers be more profitable and efficient. From being good stewards of our land and natural resources to the importance of rural prosperity for the benefit of all, we cover the ins and outs of nitrogen in farming and how new innovations are helping to build a healthier future for people, wildlife, and the...
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Shaping the Heartland: The Evolution of Working Landscapes
WildAg Podcast
This month we are joined by Dr. Larkin Powell, Director of the School of Natural Resources at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. With years of research experience in the Great Plains and beyond, Dr. Powell narrates the story of how our agricultural landscapes have changed over time and the opportunities and challenges that come along with these changes. We also discuss Dr. Powell's upcoming book, "The Best of Intentions: A story of landscape change in the Great Plains." Resources: Dr. Larkin Powell [, , , ] Dr. Andrew Little [, ...
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The Carbon Market - What Farmers Should Know
WildAg Podcast
Joining us this month on the podcast are Gabriella Scolio and Jacob Penner from The Nature Conservancy to talk about carbon markets and what it means for farmers in the Midwest. We learn about what a carbon credit is, why companies are interested in carbon credits and how they are measuring their emissions, and how and why farmers might want to get involved. Resources: The Nature Conservancy [, ] Dr. Andrew Little [, Nathan Pflueger [] AWESM Lab [, ] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [, ] ...
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From Habitat to Land Taxes: A Landowner's Conservation Journey
WildAg Podcast
Joining us this month on the podcast is a local Nebraska landowner, Merlyn Nielsen, to talk about his experiences implementing conservation practices on his farmland. From creating habitat to hunt pheasants and improve sustainability to a tip for reduced land taxes, Merlyn shares the joys and benefits of his conservation projects as well as some of the barriers encountered along the way. Resources: Dr. Andrew Little [, Nathan Pflueger [] AWESM Lab [, ] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [, ] ...
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Hunting Access, Hometown Impact
WildAg Podcast
Have you ever struggled to find areas to hunt? Especially in Nebraska, where over 97% of the state is privately owned land, access to hunting can be difficult to come by. We know from previous research that a lack of access is also a top reason why people stop hunting or don't start at all. But public access programs like Open Fields and Waters and the Nebraska Community Access Partnership are tackling this issue head-on. For any hunter interested, these programs provide access to quality private lands to hunt; for landowners, it's another way to bring in a little extra income. This month we...
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Got Nitrates? Clean Water for Healthy Communities
WildAg Podcast
This month we are joined by Crystal Powers, Research and Extension Communication Specialist at the Nebraska Water Center, to talk all about nitrates in our water systems. We talk about what nitrates actually are, best practices for keeping them out of our water supply, and how to mitigate them once they are there. Resources: (, ) Crystal Powers [] Dr. Andrew Little [, Nathan Pflueger [] AWESM Lab [, ] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [, ] Watch these podcasts on If...
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No Lazy Coyotes: Why Messy Habitat is Good
WildAg Podcast
This month we are joined by Chris Helzer, Director of Science and Stewardship at The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska, to talk about the importance of habitat diversity. Whether you have a small urban yard or 10,000 acres with cattle, Chris walks us through why messy, shifting habitat is ideal and how to create it. Resources: [] Chris Helzer [, ] Dr. Andrew Little [, Nathan Pflueger [] AWESM Lab [, ] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [, ] Watch these podcasts on If you...
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The Wild Turkey Today with Dr. Mike Chamberlain
WildAg Podcast
This month we are joined by Dr. Mike Chamberlain, National Wild Turkey Federation Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia to talk about the state of the wild turkey across the country and what the future looks like for this iconic bird. Resources: Dr. Mike Chamberlain [, ] Dr. Andrew Little [, Nathan Pflueger [] AWESM Lab [, ] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [, ] Watch these podcasts on If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us! ...
info_outlineThis month we are joined by Dr. Jesse Bell, Claire M. Hubbard Professor of Water, Climate, and Health in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the School of Natural Resources within the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also serves as the director of the Water, Climate and Health Program at UNMC and the director of Water, Climate and Health at the University of Nebraska’s Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. Following our previous episodes on nitrate issues in drinking water, Andy and Nate chat with Dr. Bell about the specific health risks associated with nitrates in drinking water. They dive into what the science tells us about adverse health outcomes, who should be concerned, and things we can do to help mitigate against these risks.
Resources:
Dr. Jesse Bell [website, academic profile]
Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]
Nathan Pflueger [website]
Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]
Watch these podcasts on YouTube
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Music by Humans Win
Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin