CCSI-HAT Soil Health Podcast

Recorded on 9/17/24, Delaware County farmer Joe Hamilton and Fayette County farmer Andrew Bernzott discuss the steps they take when picking up a new field or farm. Hamilton returned to a full-tillage corn/soy family farm after spending 12 years as a mechanical engineer. Bernzott took over a 30-year no-till farm. Both farms are now in a 100% no-till / 100% cover crop system.Both start by taking soil samples, paying close attention to base saturation of calcium and magnesium in addition to phosphorus and potassium needs, because if soil fertility isn't taken to critical levels, one really doesn't have a starting point. Both concentrate on getting cover crops seeded and discuss the details of their strategies, including the importance of covers in their use of poultry litter for phosphorus needs.

Recorded in May 2024, Scott Gabbard, Purdue On The Farm (POTF) Coordinator, and Sarah Brackney, Purdue Ag and Natural Resources Extension Educator (Daviess County) discussed current and future activities of POTF.The POTF has created more opportunities for Extension Educators like Sarah to work with farmers as they create their own on-farm trials with POTF assistance. These efforts are leading to more insight for Purdue staff on farmers' research requests. It is expected that 30-40 Educators will be doing this work across the state each year. These educators have taken soil samples at various depths, pulled leaf foliar samples, scouted for weed/insect/disease pressure. By working closely with plant and pest diagnostic lab, their efforts have helped researchers identify counties exhibiting those pressures. The farmer-participants receive in-season reports on their fields as well as aggregated data with insights from researchers. This has provided opportunities for farmers to as "what if" questions on conservation practices. When a farmer has an idea of a conservation practice, the POTF team has been able to set-up demonstrations - for example, strips of balansa clover seeded at different rates by members of the Purdue UAV team. This has provided an element of learning side-by-side, in essence a bottom-up side of research and extension. Those interested in working with POTF can either reach out to their county Extension or go to the Purdue On The Farm Website

On 08/14/24, FarmAdvisors a truly farmer-designed and farmer-led mentoring program was launched (www.FarmAdvisors.Ag). Four of the founding farmers talked about the development of the program: Jim Mosely, former Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; Rodney Rulon, Hamilton County; Mike Brocksmith, Knox County; and Aaron Johnson, Orange County.The rollout occurred just under a year from the first meeting of farmers - along with a few ag advisors. Rulon - led a group of six individuals, including Brocksmith and Johnson, who met almost weekly OVER PLANTING SEASON to develop a business plan and key points of the program.The farmers involved have dedicated their time and passion to "pay it forward' to help ensure that farmers adopting a soil health practice are SUCCESSFUL.

08/03/24 - Aaron Johnson, Vice-president of Riverview Farms out of Orleans, Indiana - and manages their crop production systems - has been planting double-crop CORN after wheat for several years - with very respectable yield results. Jeremiah Windell, a precision agronomist with Advanced Agrilytics out or Corydon, IN has been working with Aaron for years, including their double-crop systems.Johnson typically plants double crop corn sometime between June 25 - July 1, because of accumulation of GDUs when the double crop is planted, he often uses 109-113 day varieties. He's seen soil organic matter rise faster in a wheat/double crop corn vs wheat/soybean cover crop. Between deeper roots and heavier residue, they have seen returns in subsequent years.

Recorded on 06/18/24 - Hans Schmitz, CCSI / Purdue On The Farm Soil Health and Climate Smart Ag Specialist, and Austin Pearson, Midwest Regional Climate Center Climatologist, talk about what causes a heat dome, the potential of a "flash drought' and steps you can take to build soil health - and therefor resiliency - for your farm.When the podcast was recorded, Indiana was experiencing and early season heat dome. Because of tough spring planting conditions, crop staging was all over the map. Because the crops planted later had not grown to reach deeper soil layers, they were more at risk for the affects of heat and drought. In addition, stress degree days (over 88F) restricted crop growth.Avoiding effects of rapid onset drafts include implementing soil health principles: Maximizing Soil Cover (residue), Minimizing Disturbance, Maximizing Living Roots Year-Round, Maximizing Bio-diversity. Those principles help increase soil organic matter, retain moisture, and improve soil function.

Southeast Purdue Ag Center (SEPAC) Superintendent Joel Wahlman and Purdue Entomology research Christian Krupke talk about the work of establishing field-scale regenerative ag plots - alongside existing tillage systems. The projects not only incorporate no-till and cover crops, but also IPM to reduce insecticide and herbicide treatments as well as the impacts of seed treatments on the soil ecosystem. The plots will incorporate a long-term, multidisciplinary approach to research on acres much larger than "traditional research" and will be available for demonstration to farmers, landowners, and other stakeholders. At SEPAC, the long history of no-till and cover crop research makes the leap easier than some of the other PACs that have focused more heavily on higher tillage systems.

Not everyone "leads from the front". Some people make an indelible impact on their day to day efforts. For those who aren't the "front of the room" speakers, this podcast is for you - because you, like Fred Woods get to make a difference every day. Fred Woods was one of those individuals. In this podcast, join Barry Fisher, an independent soil health consultant and one of the first people hired at a newly-fledged USDA-NRCS Soil Health Division, along with Chris Lee, Southwest Indiana NRCS Area Conservationist, as they talk about the long-lasting impressions Fred made upon their careers and conservation ethics.

In this very special episode, David's son Jay Brandt talks with Oklahoma regenerative farmer-rancher Jimmy Emmons about the about the many seeds David planted across the globe and his lasting impact on farming. Not only did Dave's farming practices change the family farm's soil classification from a Cardigan Clay to a "different performing product", he changed the lives of countless people worldwide through his honesty, humility, and great sense of humor. Learn how David and Jay discussed the changes they were seeing on the farm - through a chemists lens and a farmers eye - and how he encouraged people like Jimmy to "just try it somewhere." Also learn about one of David's passions: working with the Dominican Sisters on the Fields of Sinsinawa (WI).

In 1993 the inaugural National No-Till Conference was held in Indianapolis. In 2024, the conference returned to Indy. Expecting 200 attendees, some 800 people attended in that first year and really fast-tracked the adoption of no-till systems. Mike Lessiter, son of Frank Lessiter, founder of No-Till Farmer magazine and the conference talks about that initial conference as well as the history of no-till and the need for farmers to form networks to ensure their success in adoption of the systems. In addition, Hans Kok consultant out of Indiana (and present at the launch of CCSI), talks about the significance of no-till systems and the impacts of the conference - including farmers sharing information about their stumbles... to help others avoid them.

Father-Son duo Cameron and Devon Churchill, Harrison County Indiana, are joined by Pete Huff, Wallace Center/Pasture Project for a slightly mind-bending conversation on grazing croplands. Just for a couple of teasers, the Churchill's have used intensive regenerative grazing to decrease round bale consumption in the cow calf operation from 2000+ to 700-750 bales! They are also turning cattle out into stalk ground after harvest to graze AND take advantage of hoof action to increase seed-soil contact of broadcast cover crops, improving stand establishment. Meanwhile, Huff provides information on additional resources - from grazing exchanges to practical management guides. Take a listen!

Bio Strip-till is using a cover crop that will winter kill on rows combined with overwintering cover crops in the middles. Soil Health Specialist and farmer Barry Fisher, Fisher Soil Health, and Research Agronomist John Pike, Pike Ag LLC talk about the ways this kind of system is not only a great alternative to traditional strip-till, but also the impressive results John has seen in his research and feedback from farmers he works with. This system can provide the seed-bed ready results many farmers search for as well as improved soil armoring, nutrient cycling, and weed management.

Saving time is critical during fall harvest. So is managing residue to ensure an even template for the following season's crops. In this episode, southwestern Indiana farmer Ray McCormick and Needham Ag Technologies' Phil Needham had called in to the podcast earlier in the spring to discuss the importance of uniform residue spread for even nutrient distribution, even soil temperature and moisture, and even armoring of the soil surface. In Ray's case, that even distribution also helps emergence of cover crop that is seeded from his combine's head - which save him that critical time during fall harvest.

It's a soundbite filled podcast. Fascinating generational discussions made this recording into a 2-parter. Carrying on from Part 1, Pat Bittner and his father John are joined by Aaron Krueger and his grandfather Ronald. In some ways, it's back to the future - the discussions revolved around pastured proteins, protection of biomes, adopting regenerative ag principles, along with the challenges faced on these farms.

The conversation was fascinating... and became a two-parter. In Part 1, we visit with two southwestern Indiana families who use regenerative agriculture practices on their farms. Pat Bittner and his father John Bittner are joined by Aaron Krueger and his grandpa Ronald Krueger. The four farmers share stories that range from their farms’ histories to the results of the soil health practices they implement for their crops and land.

Betsy Bower, a Ceres Solutions Co-op Agronomist, and Mark Kingma, a farmer in NW Indiana and board member of the IASWCD, talk about irrigation system efficiency, the tools used for measure moisture, and the benefits of soil health systems for irrigation and water use efficiency. Kingma uses moisture sensors to manage water applications and they have shown how improved soil health has positive impacts on infiltration and rooting depths of crops.

There’s a new program bringing Purdue to the farm to help you make decisions and improve your operation. Purdue On The Farm connects farmers with Extension educators and researchers. Dan Quinn, Purdue Extension Corn Specialist, joins CCSI’s Hans Schmitz and Bryan Overstreet on this episode. They discuss the four pillars of the Purdue on the Farm program: crop scouting, surveys, demonstrations, and research. They also talk about how you can become involved with research and demonstrations, as well as the resources readily available for you to succeed in your farming operation.

Planting time is also a time for terminating cover crops, and that’s the topic for the latest CCSI-HAT Soil Health Podcast. Kosciusko County farmer Jamie Scott and Purdue Professor of Weed Science Bill Johnson discuss scouting and troubleshooting cover crop termination issues. They discuss the need for patience to avoid poor termination and expensive resprays. That means taking into account the way weather conditions affect active growth of plants as well as effectiveness of herbicides. They also talk about the better herbicide modes of action for challenging weather conditions and other issues, such as avoiding tank mixes that reduce herbicide efficacy.

When farmers encounter challenges, they bring out their most creative and innovative solutions. Beginning farmers and those farming on a small scale can experience several challenges in getting started in their operations, and support is crucial.Join the conversation to learn how Liz Brownlee, farmer and past president of the Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition, found that support as a beginning Indiana farmer. She’s joined by Elli Blaine, director of the Urban Soil Health Program, who talks about her work with farmers throughout the state as they rejuvenate their urban landscapes. They provide information on marketing, equipment, conservation practices, available resources and more.

Thinking outside the box about a farm’s economics can lead to opportunities, including those created by climate-smart agriculture. Michael Morrow, executive director of the Indiana Farmers Union and land steward who farms with his family, and Hans Schmitz, Conservation Agronomist for the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative, dive into adopting climate-smart strategies, from carbon markets and agrivoltaics to no-till and cover crops. Morrow and Schmitz discuss securing a farm for the future, reducing volatility and increasing security, the activities of the Indiana Farmers Union and CCSI, the Climate Action Committee, hemp, and how their organizations support farmers in implementing climate-smart practices.

Crops were challenged this past year with intense rains followed by long dry spells, and soil's ability to hold water is one characteristic that will be important for farming in the future. Hans Schmitz, the lead agronomist for CCSI, and Austin Pearson, climatologist for the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (mrcc.purdue.edu), talk this episode about the effects of recent weather events, the differences between climate and weather, what the historical data shows, and what all that means for Indiana farmers.