Podcast Short #6: Key Qualities You Need in an Agronomist with David Miller
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Release Date: 07/16/2024
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...
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Episode 138: Regenerative Grazing and Cattle Breeding with Del Ficke
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Del Ficke has revolutionized cattle breeding and soil regeneration practices during his decades of ranching. Del is the fourth generation to manage his family operation, Ficke Cattle Company, in Pleasant Hill, Nebraska, which was established in the late 1860s. He has carried on its legacy with a focus on sustainability and profitability. In 2015, he trademarked the Grazemaster breed, a composite of multiple breeds tailored for grazing efficiency and minimal reliance on external inputs. Del is also a founding member of the Graze Master Group which provides consulting services for farms and...
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Episode 137: Reducing Inputs Through Timed Nutrient Management with Dan Brown
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Dan Brown is a fifth-generation farmer who grows hazelnuts in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, the primary hazelnut-growing region in the United States. Dan is always experimenting with new growing methods, and views failures as opportunities for learning and growth. This perspective has led to significant successes, such as improving yields while reducing input costs and demonstrating the potential for regenerative practices in hazelnut farming. In this episode, John and Dan discuss: Farming hazelnuts in Oregon’s unique microclimate Tackling soil compaction, erosion, and disease...
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Episode 136: Working With Unique Climate Conditions with Frederik Larsen
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Frederik Larsen is a Danish agronomist who assists farmers in Denmark and Eastern Europe to transition toward no-till systems, cover cropping, and diverse crop rotations. Frederik also practices what he preaches on his family farm, using it as a testing ground for innovative practices like relay planting and companion planting. His work focuses on maximizing sunlight capture, increasing biomass, and enhancing soil carbon cycling in Denmark's climate, characterized by short growing seasons and limited winter sunlight. In this episode, John and Frederik discuss: Implementing relay planting for...
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Podcast Short #11: Building Resilient Farms with Gabe Brown
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Gabe Brown is a renowned advocate and practitioner of regenerative agriculture from North Dakota, who runs Brown’s Ranch and is the co-founder of Understanding Ag. He is recognized for his innovative approach to farming, focusing on enhancing soil health, reducing dependency on synthetic inputs, and using sustainable practices. Gabe transitioned to regenerative agriculture after experiencing years of poor crop yields due to extreme weather events. Today, Brown’s Ranch consists of several thousand acres of native perennial rangeland along with perennial pastureland and cropland. Their...
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Episode 135: Diverse Approaches in Farm Planning with Darren Doherty
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Darren Doherty is the director and co-founder, with his wife Lisa Heenan, of Regrarians Ltd., an Australia-based organization dedicated to advancing regenerative agriculture. They train land managers using their innovative "Regrarians Platform," which integrates elements from permaculture, keyline design, and holistic management to support land stewardship that respects and enhances natural ecosystems. Having worked across diverse climates and landscapes globally, Darren focuses on sustainable land management practices that blend traditional methods with modern techniques. His approach...
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Podcast Extra: Working Cows Podcast Episode 393 with John Kempf
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
In this Podcast Extra, John is a guest on the Working Cows Podcast. The Working Cows podcast gives you something to think about as you seek to maximize the effectiveness of your cattle operation and the joy your family receives from this lifestyle. The host, Clay Conry, is a Western South Dakota native, growing up on a Cow-Calf operation near Belle Fourche, SD. Clay and his family have recently relocated to West Central South Dakota In episode 393, John and Clay discuss John's perspective on what it is going to take to regenerate and relocalize America’s food system. They discuss...
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Episode 134: How a Crisis Led to Change with Tim Parton
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Tim Parton has been the farm manager at Brewood Park Farm, a 300-hectare farm located in South Staffordshire, UK since 2003. Tim shifted towards regenerative agriculture after a serious farming accident and personal health struggles. These experiences deepened his respect for soil as a finite resource, motivating him to farm in harmony with nature. By reducing harmful inputs like herbicides and fertilizers, he has increased biodiversity and improved long-term sustainability on his farm. Tim is critical of chemical farming, believing it offers short-term fixes at the cost of soil health. He...
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Podcast Short #10: Breaking Away from Traditional Agronomy with Jeff Kleypas
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
In this episode, John Kempf interviews Jeff Kleypas, a consultant with Advancing Eco Agriculture. Jeff’s pivotal moment came when he was exposed to the harmful impacts of pesticides during his work as a field agronomy scout. This experience, combined with observations of improved outcomes using biological methods, fueled his shift towards a more sustainable approach. John and Jeff discuss the challenges of shifting from conventional to regenerative agriculture, highlighting the difficulties in reducing nitrogen applications despite clear data supporting the change, and the broader health...
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Episode 133: The Power of Companion Planting with Ian Gould
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
Ian Gould is a leading figure in regenerative agriculture in the UK, whose focus is on incorporating plant diversity into conventional farming systems to improve both environmental health and productivity. His work includes researching how companion planting and varietal differences within the same species, such as wheat, can enhance crop resilience, improve nutrient uptake, and optimize biomass production. In this episode, John and Ian discuss: The role of multi-species cover crops in improving soil health and productivity Innovations in companion cropping and intercropping for increased...
info_outlineIn this episode, John speaks with his friend and colleague, David Miller, Director of Applied Agronomyat Advancing Eco Agriculture. Together, they discuss the essential knowledge and skills required to excel as an agronomist, especially within the regenerative agriculture space.
David shares insights from his 15-year journey in agronomy, emphasizing the importance of big-picture thinking and a deep understanding of both plant physiology and soil biology. He talks about the balance between maintaining a high-level overview of agricultural systems while calling upon detailed, crop-specific knowledge in his work.
This conversation highlights the need for agronomists to understand the timing of various applications relative to the specific growth stages of plants. David provides examples from pecan and cotton farming, illustrating how precision nutrient management and timing can significantly impact crop yield and health.
Additional Resources
To learn more about AEA, please visit: https://advancingecoag.com/
To learn more about AEA’s approach to agronomy, please watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dShMf8VmrM
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