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Episode 147: Cutting Costs with Technology and Biology with Justin Wylie

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

Release Date: 03/20/2025

Podcast Extra: Field Talks with John Kempf and Cole Neese show art Podcast Extra: Field Talks with John Kempf and Cole Neese

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

Join AEA founder John Kempf for Field Talks, a series of in-the-field conversations. This episode features Cole Neese, a corn and soybean grower in Indiana. Together, they explore real-time agronomic insights, crop progress, challenges, and success stories from the growing season. In this episode, John and Cole Neese, a farmer from West Central Indiana, discuss: Excessive Rainfall Challenges: Cole faced persistent wet conditions, saturating soils and delaying corn and soybean emergence. Success with Accelerate on Soybeans: Applying Accelerate at R2 increased soybean pod counts by 50-80%,...

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Episode 157: Farmers of Life, for Life with Grant Breitkreutz show art Episode 157: Farmers of Life, for Life with Grant Breitkreutz

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

Grant Breitkreutz is a farmer from Minnesota who transitioned from conventional practices to a soil health–focused approach. Alongside his wife Dawn, he transformed their farm through no-till, diverse cover crops, adaptive grazing, and continual learning. He’s known for asking “why,” experimenting boldly, and sharing openly what’s worked and what hasn’t. Grant is a key voice in agriculture because he proves what’s possible when farmers take ownership of their decisions and data. His operation is profitable, resilient, and community-driven. He mentors others, helps lead the...

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Episode 156: Data-Driven Regeneration with Jonathan Lundgren show art Episode 156: Data-Driven Regeneration with Jonathan Lundgren

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

Jonathan Lundgren is an agroecologist, farmer, rancher, and beekeeper, and founder and director of the Ecdysis Foundation and Blue Dasher Farm. Ecdysis Foundation is leading the Thousand Farms Initiative, providing data to validate regenerative agriculture’s impact on soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. His work challenges conventional farming by fostering farmer-scientist collaboration and advocating for sustainable practices that address global ecological issues. In this episode, John and Jonathan discuss: How fully regenerative farms can store carbon equivalent to seven...

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Episode 155: Rethinking Agriculture, Health, and the Science That Connects Them with Robert Verkerk, Ph.D. show art Episode 155: Rethinking Agriculture, Health, and the Science That Connects Them with Robert Verkerk, Ph.D.

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

Robert Verkerk, Ph.D., is an environmental scientist and the founder of the Alliance for Natural Health, with over 40 years of experience studying the interplay between human health, agriculture, and ecosystems. His work focuses on promoting regenerative agricultural practices and natural health solutions, emphasizing the need to reconnect food production with ecological and human well-being through science-based advocacy and policy reform. His contributions to regenerative agriculture are vital because they bridge the gap between soil health, food quality, and human health, challenging...

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Episode 154: Soil, Sheep, and Superior Grapes with Ivo Jeramaz show art Episode 154: Soil, Sheep, and Superior Grapes with Ivo Jeramaz

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

Ivo Jeramaz, a mechanical engineer turned vintner, immigrated from former Yugoslavia (now Croatia) to Napa Valley, where he rediscovered his ancestral connection to farming. Initially resentful of agriculture due to its demands in his youth, Ivo’s perspective shifted dramatically within weeks of arriving in Napa, where he embraced grape growing and winemaking as a fulfilling life’s work, now leading Grgich Hills Winery with a commitment to regenerative practices. Raised in a family that produced much of their own food and clothing, Ivo brings a deep-rooted appreciation for self-sufficiency...

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Podcast Extra: Our Food Systems Should Heal the Earth with Alana Mooi, Zach Bush, MD and John Kempf show art Podcast Extra: Our Food Systems Should Heal the Earth with Alana Mooi, Zach Bush, MD and John Kempf

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

In this Podcast Extra episode, John Kempf joined an Earth Day conversation hosted by Farmer's Footprint, alongside Managing Director Alana Mooi and Founder Zach Bush, MD. Together, they explore the urgent need to regenerate our soil and food systems, emphasizing the deep connection between agriculture, human health, and the health of the planet. The discussion highlights how food systems must be understood as a web of relationships with the Earth, and how healing the land is inseparable from healing ourselves. They offer insights into why working with nature, rather than against it, is...

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Podcast Extra: Ask Me Anything with John Kempf - April 14 show art Podcast Extra: Ask Me Anything with John Kempf - April 14

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

This Podcast Extra episode is from John's Ask Me Anything webinar from April 14. Drawing from his extensive research and firsthand experience, John will provide insights and practical solutions to help growers achieve healthier, more resilient crops. In this discussion, the topics cover: Nutritional management with copper, nitrogen, potassium, and calcium prevents wheat and barley lodging better than PGRs.  Soil aeration and oxygen flow enhance paramagnetism more effectively than paramagnetic rock powders. Side-dressing potassium, like potassium nitrate, benefits soil biology more than...

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Episode 153: Soil, Science, and the Politics of Knowledge with Dr. Anna Krzywoszynska show art Episode 153: Soil, Science, and the Politics of Knowledge with Dr. Anna Krzywoszynska

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

Dr. Anna Krzywoszynska is a social scientist at the University of Oulu in Finland who studies how farmers and scientists can collaborate to foster regenerative agriculture. An expert on soil knowledge and values, with experience farming organically in Italy, Dr. Krzywoszynska examines the knowledge systems shaping food production. Currently, she’s investigating how to transform agricultural research to support local communities, including turning research stations into hubs for collaboration between farmers and scientists. Her projects aim to align scientific inquiry with local needs,...

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Episode 152: Family Farming and Modern Economic Realities with Mike Omeg show art Episode 152: Family Farming and Modern Economic Realities with Mike Omeg

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

Mike Omeg is a fifth-generation farmer who grew up on a diverse family farm in Oregon, initially producing cherries, hay, cattle, apricots, apples, and wheat. Over time, he honed in on fresh cherry production. The scale of his operation leaped 10x—from 350 acres to 3,600 acres—when he became a partner with Orchard View Cherries, where he is now the director of orchard operations.  Mike’s journey reflects a pragmatic approach to regenerative agriculture, balancing family farm traditions with the economic realities of modern agriculture. By affiliating with Orchard View Farms, he...

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Episode 151: People, Purpose, and Pasture with Clay Conry show art Episode 151: People, Purpose, and Pasture with Clay Conry

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

Clay Conry is the host of the Working Cows Podcast. Clay’s journey into podcasting stems from a blend of personal experience growing up on a South Dakota ranch, a love for conversation, and a desire to capture the wisdom of ranchers, influenced by his background as a youth pastor and his participation in the High Plains Ranch Practicum. Over seven years, Clay has built a platform that delves into regenerative agriculture, emphasizing holistic management and the importance of human and environmental relationships. In this episode, John and Clay discuss: The importance of managing personnel...

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Justin Wylie is a fifth-generation farmer in California’s Central Valley, who manages pistachios and citrus with his family. His journey to regenerative agriculture began around 2012, driven by his growing skepticism of conventional systems. When his son was born in 2013 and faced severe health challenges, including respiratory issues and an autism diagnosis, Justin and his wife took a radical approach, eliminating toxins from their son’s diet. This led to dramatic health improvements and deepened Justin’s commitment to connecting human health with regenerative farming.

Today, Justin leads sustainability initiatives within the American Pistachio Growers, working to create a roadmap for regenerative practices. He emphasizes data-driven approaches, reduced chemical inputs, and innovative research on how plant interactions affect crop yield. His work focuses on improving soil health while maintaining economic viability for farmers.

In this episode John and Justin discuss: 

  • How Justin’s son’s severe health challenges led him to explore regenerative agriculture

  • Justin’s work with American Pistachio Growers to develop a regenerative farming roadmap

  • Using real-time data and technology to improve farm efficiency

  • Reducing input costs by $600-$800 per acre compared to conventional methods

  • Emphasizing the importance of not reducing fertility inputs too quickly in the transition to regenerative systems​

  • Cover cropping with diverse species to help reduce soil salinity

  • Using humic acids, seaweed extracts, and micro-nutrients rather than conventional nitrogen fertilizers

Additional Resources
To learn more about Justin Wylie, please visit: https://wyliefarming.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