Field Work is a podcast that showcases frank, realistic discussions about the benefits and challenges of adopting sustainable ag practices. It’s hosted by two commercial row crop farmers, Zach Johnson and Mitchell Hora. They’re two guys who believe farming needs to become more sustainable but know first-hand what kinds of trade-offs might be necessary. Join them for a great season of conversations starting Wednesday, May 1.

Field Work is a podcast that showcases frank, realistic discussions about the benefits and challenges of adopting sustainable ag practices. It’s hosted by two commercial row crop farmers, Zach Johnson and Mitchell Hora. They’re two guys who believe farming needs to become more sustainable but know first-hand what kinds of trade-offs might be necessary. Join them for a great season of conversations starting Wednesday, May 1.

Coming Soon: Field Work

In this episode, you’ll learn about our hosts and what drives their interest in sustainable agriculture. Zach Johnson, a farmer near Alexandria, Minnesota, also hosts the popular MN Millennial Farmer series on YouTube. Zach’s experiments with cover crops and conservation tillage have been a “disaster” so far. But he really wants to figure out how to make them work. Meanwhile, co-host Mitchell Hora has seen a lot of success with conservation practices on his southeastern Iowa farm and in his role as a soil health consultant. Their different geographies and perspectives set the table for lively conversations.

In this episode, you’ll learn about our hosts and what drives their interest in sustainable agriculture. Zach Johnson, a farmer near Alexandria, Minnesota, also hosts the popular <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp0rRUsMDlJ1meYAQ6_37Dw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MN Millennial Farmer</a> series on YouTube. Zach’s experiments with cover crops and conservation tillage have been a “disaster” so far. But he really wants to figure out how to make them work. Meanwhile, co-host Mitchell Hora has seen a lot of success with conservation practices on his southeastern Iowa farm and in his role as a <a href="http://continuumagllc.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">soil health consultant</a>. Their different geographies and perspectives set the table for lively conversations.

Meet Zach and Mitchell

Conservation tillage can provide a lot of benefits. It increases water filtration, reduces erosion, and improves soil productivity. But some farmers worry about weed control challenges and lower yields. University of Minnesota extension specialist Jodi DeJong-Hughes joins Zach and Mitchell to talk about conservation tillage, including a recent study she did assessing different tillage practices. And North Dakota farmer Mike Langseth, who participated in the study, weighs in with his experiences. But will Zach’s “friend” be persuaded to reduce tillage on his farm? Resources: Upper Midwest Tillage Guide University of Minnesota Soil Management and Health North Dakota State University Strip Till Guide

Conservation tillage can provide a lot of benefits. It increases water filtration, reduces erosion, and improves soil productivity. But some farmers worry about weed control challenges and lower yields. University of Minnesota extension specialist Jodi DeJong-Hughes joins Zach and Mitchell to talk about conservation tillage, including a recent study she did assessing different tillage practices. And North Dakota farmer Mike Langseth, who participated in the study, weighs in with his experiences. But will Zach’s “friend” be persuaded to reduce tillage on his farm? Resources: <a href="https://extension.umn.edu/soil-and-water/soil-management-and-health#upper-midwest-tillage-guide-1233360" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Upper Midwest Tillage Guide</a> <a href="https://extension.umn.edu/soil-and-water/soil-management-and-health" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">University of Minnesota Soil Management and Health</a> <a href="https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/crops/strip-till-for-field-crop-production" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">North Dakota State University Strip Till Guide</a>

Conservation Tillage: Should Zach's "Friend" Give It a Try?

We explore the benefits and downsides of drain tile with Rodney Rulon, an Indiana farmer, and Matt Helmers, the director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center at Iowa State University. Drain tiles dry out and warm up fields, boost productivity, and extend growing seasons, which can make them important economically. But they can also have negative effects on water quality. Zach and Mitchell talk with their guests about how to offset some of those negative effects within the farm’s system. Resources: Drainage Water Quality Impacts Study Study looking at impacts of nitrogen application timing and cover crop inclusion on subsurface drainage water quality

We explore the benefits and downsides of drain tile with Rodney Rulon, an Indiana farmer, and Matt Helmers, the director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center at Iowa State University. Drain tiles dry out and warm up fields, boost productivity, and extend growing seasons, which can make them important economically. But they can also have negative effects on water quality. Zach and Mitchell talk with their guests about how to offset some of those negative effects within the farm’s system. Resources: <a href="http://agwatermgmt.ae.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/agwaterdocuments/gilmore-city-25-year-summary.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Drainage Water Quality Impacts Study</a> <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330048400_Impacts_of_nitrogen_application_timing_and_cover_crop_inclusion_on_subsurface_drainage_water_quality" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Study looking at impacts of nitrogen application timing and cover crop inclusion on subsurface drainage water quality</a>

Drain Tile: Friend or Foe?

There are a lot of big questions to consider for farmers interested in trying out cover crops. Perhaps the most important one, according to cover crop coach Steve Groff, is this: what do you want to accomplish? Zach and Mitchell talk with Steve about the benefits of cover crops, the roadblocks to their adoption, and why he thinks farmers need cover crop mentors.

There are a lot of big questions to consider for farmers interested in trying out cover crops. Perhaps the most important one, according to cover crop coach Steve Groff, is this: what do you want to accomplish? Zach and Mitchell talk with Steve about the benefits of cover crops, the roadblocks to their adoption, and why he thinks farmers need cover crop mentors.

Cover Crops Part 1: What Newbies Should Consider

Sometimes the hurdles to sustainable practices come from people right in a farmer’s network: family, landowners, neighbors, seed dealers, and lenders. Bryan and Lauren Biegler, farmers in Minnesota, join Zach and Mitchell to discuss how they fought back the image of being “hippie farmers” as they started strip tilling and planting cover crops. Mollie Aronowitz, a land manager at the People’s Company in Iowa, and Randy Dell from the Nature Conservancy also offer helpful insights into landlord/farmer dynamics around conservation. Resources:  Bryan and Lauren Biegler People’s Company Collaboration is Key for Farmers and Landowners

Sometimes the hurdles to sustainable practices come from people right in a farmer’s network: family, landowners, neighbors, seed dealers, and lenders. Bryan and Lauren Biegler, farmers in Minnesota, join Zach and Mitchell to discuss how they fought back the image of being “hippie farmers” as they started strip tilling and planting cover crops. Mollie Aronowitz, a land manager at the People’s Company in Iowa, and Randy Dell from the Nature Conservancy also offer helpful insights into landlord/farmer dynamics around conservation. Resources: <a href="http://www.mnfarmliving.com/2015/11/mn-agriculture-bryan-and-lauren-biegler-incorporating-new-farming-practices.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bryan and Lauren Biegler</a> <a href="https://peoplescompany.com/contact" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">People’s Company</a> <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/provide-food-and-water-sustainably/food-and-water-stories/farmers-and-non-operating-landowners-achieve-sustainable-future/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Collaboration is Key for Farmers and Landowners</a>

Landowners, Lenders and More: How to Get Stakeholders on Board with Change

Nutrient management is an art as much as it is a science. And nitrogen, in particular, can be a difficult nutrient to manage. Understanding how it behaves in soil systems can help farmers increase its uptake and minimize nitrogen loss to the environment, where it can pollute water. University of Minnesota extension specialist Brad Carlson and Minnesota farmer Mark Bauer have been working together for years to figure out the best plan for nutrient stewardship on Mark’s farm. They share their insights with Zach and Mitchell and get nerdy about nitrogen. Resources: Nitrogen Smart

Nutrient management is an art as much as it is a science. And nitrogen, in particular, can be a difficult nutrient to manage. Understanding how it behaves in soil systems can help farmers increase its uptake and minimize nitrogen loss to the environment, where it can pollute water. University of Minnesota extension specialist Brad Carlson and Minnesota farmer Mark Bauer have been working together for years to figure out the best plan for nutrient stewardship on Mark’s farm. They share their insights with Zach and Mitchell and get nerdy about nitrogen. Resources: <a href="https://extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/nitrogen-smart" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nitrogen Smart</a>

Nutrient Management: Find That Nitrogen Sweet Spot

Many farmers have heard the alarming statistic that we’re losing topsoil to erosion about 10 times faster than it can be replenished. We want to keep our soil healthy and intact so we can continue farming and be more resilient in the face of increased severe weather events. In this episode, Zach and Mitchell talk to Jim Isermann of the Soil Health Partnership, an initiative of the National Corn Growers Association. Jim tells the guys that building soil health takes time, but it’s something every farmer can improve, whether they’re starting with high quality or poor quality ground. Resources: Soil Health Partnership

Many farmers have heard the alarming statistic that we’re losing topsoil to erosion about 10 times faster than it can be replenished. We want to keep our soil healthy and intact so we can continue farming and be more resilient in the face of increased severe weather events. In this episode, Zach and Mitchell talk to Jim Isermann of the Soil Health Partnership, an initiative of the National Corn Growers Association. Jim tells the guys that building soil health takes time, but it’s something every farmer can improve, whether they’re starting with high quality or poor quality ground. Resources: <a href="https://www.soilhealthpartnership.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Soil Health Partnership</a>

Don’t Treat Your Soil Like Dirt

Farmers collect a lot of data on fields, inputs, and yields. But many questions remain about how to use the data and who to share it with. Zach and Mitchell talk to Charles Baron of Farmers Business Network and John McGuire of Simplified Technology Services about what farmers have to gain or lose in sharing their data, especially when it relates to sustainable ag practices.

Farmers collect a lot of data on fields, inputs, and yields. But many questions remain about how to use the data and who to share it with. Zach and Mitchell talk to Charles Baron of Farmers Business Network and John McGuire of Simplified Technology Services about what farmers have to gain or lose in sharing their data, especially when it relates to sustainable ag practices.

How Can Data Boost Sustainable Ag?

Cover crops blanket the soil from the time you harvest one crop until you plant the next. And there’s a long list of benefits they provide: they can replenish soil in between planting, prevent soil erosion, slow water down, pull moisture deeper into the soil, and increase soil organic matter over time. For Doug Adams, an Iowa farmer and soil conservation technician at USDA-NRCS, cover crops also provide a way to recycle his nutrient dollars. In this episode, he tells Zach and Mitchell about how much he hates seeing valuable fertilizer leak out of his system, as it’s never coming back. “If I can get a good cover crop established,” he says, “it will help sequester some of those nitrates and other fertilizer and keep it from getting flushed out of my system.” Also in this episode: Mitchell explains what it means to “keep it squatchy,” and Zach weighs in on how to speak Minnesotan to earthworms.

Cover crops blanket the soil from the time you harvest one crop until you plant the next. And there’s a long list of benefits they provide: they can replenish soil in between planting, prevent soil erosion, slow water down, pull moisture deeper into the soil, and increase soil organic matter over time. For Doug Adams, an Iowa farmer and soil conservation technician at USDA-NRCS, cover crops also provide a way to recycle his nutrient dollars. In this episode, he tells Zach and Mitchell about how much he hates seeing valuable fertilizer leak out of his system, as it’s never coming back. “If I can get a good cover crop established,” he says, “it will help sequester some of those nitrates and other fertilizer and keep it from getting flushed out of my system.” Also in this episode: Mitchell explains what it means to “keep it squatchy,” and Zach weighs in on how to speak Minnesotan to earthworms.

Cover Crops Part 2: Recycling Your Nutrient Dollars

Hosted by two commercial row-crop farmers and a dairy farmer, Field Work is a podcast that provides space for frank, realistic discussions about the benefits and challenges of sustainable agriculture. Hosts Zach Johnson, Mitchell Hora, and Tara Vander Dussen (who joined the team in season four) explore the successes and challenges farmers experience as they adopt new practices, while still getting into the weeds on the difficulties.

There are a lot of technologies available these days like sensors, geo-mapping, robots, and all sorts of other big data tools. The idea behind them, of course, is to make farming more efficient, and ultimately more profitable. Those technologies can also help growers farm more sustainably. Mitchell and Zach talk with precision ag expert Raj Khosla and Illinois farmer Michael Ganschow and try to parse how good some of the tech really is at this point, especially when it comes to nitrogen sensors. Zach and Mitchell also contemplate a world where robots take over. Skynet is becoming aware, people. Resources: Raj Khosla at Colorado State Michael Ganschow The Illinois Nutrient Research &amp; Education Council

There are a lot of technologies available these days like sensors, geo-mapping, robots, and all sorts of other big data tools. The idea behind them, of course, is to make farming more efficient, and ultimately more profitable. Those technologies can also help growers farm more sustainably. Mitchell and Zach talk with precision ag expert Raj Khosla and Illinois farmer Michael Ganschow and try to parse how good some of the tech really is at this point, especially when it comes to nitrogen sensors. Zach and Mitchell also contemplate a world where robots take over. Skynet is becoming aware, people. Resources: <a href="http://soilcrop.agsci.colostate.edu/faculty-2/rajiv-khosla/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Raj Khosla at Colorado State</a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-ganschow-9a8443111/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Michael Ganschow</a> <a href="http://illinoisnrec.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Illinois Nutrient Research &amp; Education Council</a>

Precision Ag: Hype or Hope?

Our production team is taking a break the week of Independence Day. We’ll be back with more great conversations July 10th.

Our production team is taking a break the week of Independence Day. We’ll be back with more great conversations July 10th.

Field Work Mini-Vacation

Consumers are demanding more sustainably grown food. So are big food companies. But how willing are they to offset the costs — and the risks — that farmers bear as they change up their practices? Zach and Mitchell talk with Jerry Lynch, the chief sustainability officer at General Mills, about supply chain incentives for growers. Resources: General Mills Regenerative Agriculture Initiative

Consumers are demanding more sustainably grown food. So are big food companies. But how willing are they to offset the costs — and the risks — that farmers bear as they change up their practices? Zach and Mitchell talk with Jerry Lynch, the chief sustainability officer at General Mills, about supply chain incentives for growers. Resources: <a href="https://www.generalmills.com/en/Responsibility/Sustainability/Regenerative-agriculture" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">General Mills Regenerative Agriculture Initiative</a>

Consumers Want Sustainably Grown Food, But Who Pays? 

Many farmers care about soil health, water quality, and about being good neighbors to each other and to people in nearby towns and cities. But sometimes it may feel like what farmers do individually doesn’t make much of a difference. In this episode, Zach and Mitchell talk about what it looks like when farmers start working together, as well as with others in their watersheds. Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser, Texas A&amp;M research scientist Liz Haney, and the ag director at the Environmental Initiative in Minneapolis, Greg Bohrer, weigh in. Resources: Cedar River Watershed Partnership Cover Crop Insurance Incentives Midwest Row Crop Collaborative Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)

Many farmers care about soil health, water quality, and about being good neighbors to each other and to people in nearby towns and cities. But sometimes it may feel like what farmers do individually doesn’t make much of a difference. In this episode, Zach and Mitchell talk about what it looks like when farmers start working together, as well as with others in their watersheds. Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser, Texas A&amp;M research scientist Liz Haney, and the ag director at the Environmental Initiative in Minneapolis, Greg Bohrer, weigh in. Resources: <a href="https://environmental-initiative.org/work/cedar-river-watershed-partnership/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cedar River Watershed Partnership</a> <a href="https://environmental-initiative.org/work/cover-crop-insurance-incentives/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cover Crop Insurance Incentives</a> <a href="http://www.midwestrowcrop.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Midwest Row Crop Collaborative</a> <a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/technical/nra/ceap/https://" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)</a>

Beyond the Wind Break: Sustainable Ag at a Community Scale 

Field Work host Zach Johnson has tried planting cover crops a few times on his heavy clay soils in Central Minnesota, but has had nothing but failures. In this episode, Ken Franzky, an agronomist with Centrol Crop Consulting, gives Zach some insights into how to try again. Ken tells Zach and Mitchell that his recs on aerial applications, herbicide rotations, and seed mixes vary a lot by geography. “I haven't seen a cover crop system that's a one size fits all approach,” he says.

Field Work host Zach Johnson has tried planting cover crops a few times on his heavy clay soils in Central Minnesota, but has had nothing but failures. In this episode, Ken Franzky, an agronomist with Centrol Crop Consulting, gives Zach some insights into how to try again. Ken tells Zach and Mitchell that his recs on aerial applications, herbicide rotations, and seed mixes vary a lot by geography. “I haven't seen a cover crop system that's a one size fits all approach,” he says.

Cover Crops Part 3: Can They Work Up North?

We know that corn and soybeans are the most economically viable crops we have on farms, at least in the Midwest, and that’s why they dominate the ag systems here. But there are efforts underway to add in a third crop. Third crops can be helpful for breaking up weed cycles, fixing more carbon and nitrogen in the soil, and possibly even increasing yields. Zach and Mitchell talk with farmer Darin Voigt along with Nick Jordan, a professor of agricultural ecology at the University of Minnesota, about how to integrate third crops and what the roadblocks may be to doing so.

We know that corn and soybeans are the most economically viable crops we have on farms, at least in the Midwest, and that’s why they dominate the ag systems here. But there are efforts underway to add in a third crop. Third crops can be helpful for breaking up weed cycles, fixing more carbon and nitrogen in the soil, and possibly even increasing yields. Zach and Mitchell talk with farmer Darin Voigt along with Nick Jordan, a professor of agricultural ecology at the University of Minnesota, about how to integrate third crops and what the roadblocks may be to doing so.

Third Crops: Can They Pay?

For our last episode of the season, we bring you our first live show ever, recorded at Farmfest in Morgan, Minnesota. Zach and Mitchell round out the season by bringing back some pals you heard from in earlier episodes, including their dads. Nathan Johnson and Brian Hora reflect on how their challenges with farming have been different from their sons’ and how the new generation is leading the charge of experimenting with sustainable practices. Field Work friend Jodi DeJong-Hughes, a University of Minnesota soil scientist, also returns to the show. (With her usual wit, she says she’s just glad she didn’t get killed off after episode 1). She and cover crop expert Cody Nelson of Soil RX deftly answer tough audience questions about how and why to adopt sustainable practices. Finally, Zach reveals that he and Mitchell have, in fact, achieved their goal of procuring a helicopter. Be sure to listen all the way through to find out what happens to it.

For our last episode of the season, we bring you our first live show ever, recorded at Farmfest in Morgan, Minnesota. Zach and Mitchell round out the season by bringing back some pals you heard from in earlier episodes, including their dads. Nathan Johnson and Brian Hora reflect on how their challenges with farming have been different from their sons’ and how the new generation is leading the charge of experimenting with sustainable practices. Field Work friend Jodi DeJong-Hughes, a University of Minnesota soil scientist, also returns to the show. (With her usual wit, she says she’s just glad she didn’t get killed off after episode 1). She and cover crop expert Cody Nelson of Soil RX deftly answer tough audience questions about how and why to adopt sustainable practices. Finally, Zach reveals that he and Mitchell have, in fact, achieved their goal of procuring a helicopter. Be sure to listen all the way through to find out what happens to it.

Season Finale: Generational Perspectives on Farming

Farmers Zach Johnson and Mitchell Hora are back with more honest and authentic conversations about the ups and the downs of sustainable agriculture. They’ll explore how farmers’ failures with cover crops and strip till can give way to revelations, and how producers on the frontlines are figuring out how to pay for costly technologies like bioreactors to make their farms more sustainable. This season, Zach and Mitchell also look beyond row crops and start examining trends in animal agriculture. The new season launches March 11, 2020.

Farmers Zach Johnson and Mitchell Hora are back with more honest and authentic conversations about the ups and the downs of sustainable agriculture. They’ll explore how farmers’ failures with cover crops and strip till can give way to revelations, and how producers on the frontlines are figuring out how to pay for costly technologies like bioreactors to make their farms more sustainable. This season, Zach and Mitchell also look beyond row crops and start examining trends in animal agriculture. The new season launches March 11, 2020.

Coming Soon: Field Work Season Two

Field Work hosts Mitchell Hora and Zach Johnson kick off Season 2 by catching up on what happened in their fields since they last met up in the studio. Zach tells Mitchell last fall was full of challenges due to constant rain. Down in tropical Iowa, Mitchell’s harvest was pretty uncomplicated. They discuss the new things they’d like to try this year and important considerations, like how to properly pronounce the word “wheat.” Be sure to listen to the end of the show, past the conclusion of the music, for a super funny voicemail left on Field Work’s new hotline.

Field Work hosts Mitchell Hora and Zach Johnson kick off Season 2 by catching up on what happened in their fields since they last met up in the studio. Zach tells Mitchell last fall was full of challenges due to constant rain. Down in tropical Iowa, Mitchell’s harvest was pretty uncomplicated. They discuss the new things they’d like to try this year and important considerations, like how to properly pronounce the word “wheat.” Be sure to listen to the end of the show, past the conclusion of the music, for a super funny voicemail left on Field Work’s new hotline.

Back in the Saddle

The “New Mexico Milk Maid,” Tara Vander Dussen, reaches people around the world with her social media posts shedding light on the dairy industry. She’s even had the chance to speak before the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Committee on World Food Security. Tara tells Zach and Mitchell about the challenges of farming in the dry southwest, the latest sustainable technologies on dairy farms, and what it’s like to be an international ambassador for American dairy farmers

The “New Mexico Milk Maid,” Tara Vander Dussen, reaches people around the world with her social media posts shedding light on the dairy industry. She’s even had the chance to speak before the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Committee on World Food Security. Tara tells Zach and Mitchell about the challenges of farming in the dry southwest, the latest sustainable technologies on dairy farms, and what it’s like to be an international ambassador for American dairy farmers

A Chat with the New Mexico Milk Maid

What is strip tilling? I 13 and I love tractors and anything else farming.

A question

I learn something every episode!  Keep it up!

Great show!

Field Work

 Crop prices ain’t what they used to be, so some farmers have sought out additional sources of income. On this episode of Field Work, Zach Johnson and Mitchell Hora talk to Pat Duncanson, a fifth generation corn and soybean farmer in Minnesota who has installed multiple solar panels on his land. We also hear from Fritz Ebinger, who works with farmers to assess their options for solar panels or wind turbines.

Crop prices ain’t what they used to be, so some farmers have sought out additional sources of income. On this episode of Field Work, Zach Johnson and Mitchell Hora talk to Pat Duncanson, a fifth generation corn and soybean farmer in Minnesota who has installed multiple solar panels on his land. We also hear from Fritz Ebinger, who works with farmers to assess their options for solar panels or wind turbines.

Solar, Wind and Cranky Neighbors

Water plays an important role in all of our lives. But how much do we actually understand key water topics, like the share of Americans who get their water shut off or the biggest causes of pollution? Field Work co-host Zach Johnson talks to Andi Egbert from the American Public Media Research Lab as well as Kinsie Rayburn and Drew Slattery from Farm Journal’s Trust in Food initiative about research into average Americans’ and farmers’ understanding of key water issues.

Water plays an important role in all of our lives. But how much do we actually understand key water topics, like the share of Americans who get their water shut off or the biggest causes of pollution? Field Work co-host Zach Johnson talks to Andi Egbert from the American Public Media Research Lab as well as Kinsie Rayburn and Drew Slattery from Farm Journal’s Trust in Food initiative about research into average Americans’ and farmers’ understanding of key water issues.

Water + Us

Rick Clark

Farmers often get the advice that they should “start small” when it comes to conservation practices. But Indiana farmer Rick Clark of Clark Land and Cattle is proof that you can do regenerative ag at scale. He raises no-till soybeans, no-till corn, and has had great success planting cover crops on his 7,000 acre farm. What’s more, this is the first year that all his acres will be grown without chemicals as he transitions to organic. Field Work co-host Mitchell Hora visited Clark’s farm to learn about his journey as a farmer. And he learned the secrets to Rick’s massive cost savings of $670,000 a year.

Farmers often get the advice that they should “start small” when it comes to conservation practices. But Indiana farmer Rick Clark of Clark Land and Cattle is proof that you can do regenerative ag at scale. He raises no-till soybeans, no-till corn, and has had great success planting cover crops on his 7,000 acre farm. What’s more, this is the first year that all his acres will be grown without chemicals as he transitions to organic. Field Work co-host Mitchell Hora visited Clark’s farm to learn about his journey as a farmer. And he learned the secrets to Rick’s massive cost savings of $670,000 a year.

Rick Clark’s 7,000 Acre Investment in Regenerative Ag

Like much of the world, agriculture is facing a lot of uncertainty and change from COVID-19. In this bonus episode, Field Work host Mitchell Hora hops on the mic in his home studio to talk to AgriTalk host Chip Flory about the biggest challenges and solutions facing farmers right now. The two talk about the pork, dairy, and ethanol industries and the role sustainable agriculture could play as farmers assess how to diversify their crops and boost their bottom lines.

Like much of the world, agriculture is facing a lot of uncertainty and change from COVID-19. In this bonus episode, Field Work host Mitchell Hora hops on the mic in his home studio to talk to AgriTalk host Chip Flory about the biggest challenges and solutions facing farmers right now. The two talk about the pork, dairy, and ethanol industries and the role sustainable agriculture could play as farmers assess how to diversify their crops and boost their bottom lines.

Agriculture in a Time of Pandemic

After a big bet on growing asparagus backfired, the Nuss family had to rethink their approach to running Nuss Farms. Tim and Tyler Nuss, the 5th generation on the farm and the hosts of The Modern Acre podcast, join Mitchell Hora and Zach Johnson to talk about how their family decided to embrace regenerative agriculture. Featuring: pastured poultry, diversifying your business, how to change an old school farmer’s mind, and a really bad chicken joke.

After a big bet on growing asparagus backfired, the Nuss family had to rethink their approach to running Nuss Farms. Tim and Tyler Nuss, the 5th generation on the farm and the hosts of The Modern Acre podcast, join Mitchell Hora and Zach Johnson to talk about how their family decided to embrace regenerative agriculture. Featuring: pastured poultry, diversifying your business, how to change an old school farmer’s mind, and a really bad chicken joke.

A Visit with the Hosts of The Modern Acre

The word “organic” is familiar to a lot of consumers -- in the last decade we’ve seen a rise in organic foods in our grocery stores and markets. And there’s a whole raft of standards, developed by federal regulators, that farmers have to meet in order to certify as organic. That kind of check list does not exist for food grown according to “regenerative” principles, which are gaining traction in conservation circles. Field Work hosts Mitchell Hora and Zach Johnson talk to Eric Jackson from Pipeline Foods and Sara Harper from Grounded Growth about the differences, markets and challenges of regenerative and organic practices.

The word “organic” is familiar to a lot of consumers -- in the last decade we’ve seen a rise in organic foods in our grocery stores and markets. And there’s a whole raft of standards, developed by federal regulators, that farmers have to meet in order to certify as organic. That kind of check list does not exist for food grown according to “regenerative” principles, which are gaining traction in conservation circles. Field Work hosts Mitchell Hora and Zach Johnson talk to Eric Jackson from Pipeline Foods and Sara Harper from Grounded Growth about the differences, markets and challenges of regenerative and organic practices.

Regenerative vs. Organic

Edge-of-field practices like bioreactors, buffers and wetlands filter a farm’s runoff before it reaches nearby waterways. Mitchell Hora and Zach Johnson bring on Professor Amy Kaleita from the Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering to explain how edge of field practices work and who might be able to install them on their land. Farmer Mike Ehlers also joins the show to talk about his experience installing a bioreactor and why conservation practices are important to him. Also included: kayaking in drainage ditches, magic wood chips, and a dead zone in the Gulf of New Mexico.

Edge-of-field practices like bioreactors, buffers and wetlands filter a farm’s runoff before it reaches nearby waterways. Mitchell Hora and Zach Johnson bring on Professor Amy Kaleita from the Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering to explain how edge of field practices work and who might be able to install them on their land. Farmer Mike Ehlers also joins the show to talk about his experience installing a bioreactor and why conservation practices are important to him. Also included: kayaking in drainage ditches, magic wood chips, and a dead zone in the Gulf of New Mexico.

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