Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

Adam Chappell is a regenerative grower and cover crop advocate from Cotton Plant, Arkansas. Adam started growing with his dad and brother on their 7,500 acre property in 2005, but by 2009 pigweed issues alone had nearly pushed them into bankruptcy. Knowing there had to be a better way, Adam began educating himself about the power of regenerative agriculture, implementing a cover cropping strategy that he claims saved the family farm. Today, Adam’s operation grows a variety of broadacre crops and continues to make strides in ecological health and crop performance. Throughout their conversation, Adam and AEA Founder John Kempf discuss: Adam’s start in agriculture and how cover cropping brought the farm “from the brink of bankruptcy to a profitable enterprise.”  Adam’s current methodologies for crop rotation and cover cropping. How the adoption of regenerative practices has contributed to improved profitability. Adam’s background in entomology and ecology and the shifts in insect populations he has seen over time. Questioning the necessity of soil testing and becoming wary of “sales tools.” Implementing Dr. Norman Lupo’s root intensification method and other row spacing strategies.  Livestock integration and the story of Adam’s first purchase of cattle. Why Adam’s goals for the future include “getting smaller.”

Rick Clark is a fifth-generation farmer from Warren County, Indiana. Driven by a desire to work alongside mother nature, Rick has been implementing regenerative practices on his farm for almost a decade. Rick’s commitment to soil health has allowed him to grow his operation to 7000 organic, no-till acres, in part by employing a variety of cover cropping and weed control techniques. In their conversation, Rick and John Kempf discuss: Rick’s journey to a fully organic operation Conventional agriculture’s “dependency on chemistry” and the best practices for conventional burn down  Rick’s humbling experiences experimenting with cover crops in the early days How planting multiple cash crops together could be the future of agriculture  Handling foxtail and other difficult weeds through regenerative practices   The power of diversity and rotation in a no-tillage system Rick’s take on farm economics and how he  is saving almost $1.7 million a year in inputs 

Tim Parton is a regenerative agriculture advocate and Farm Manager at Brewood Park Farm in the United Kingdom. Tim has been implementing regenerative practices on his 300-hectare estate for over 15 years. He has received several accolades for his work, such as being named the Arable Innovator of the Year by British Farming Awards and receiving the Farm Innovator of the Year award from Farmers Weekly. Throughout their conversation, Tim and John discuss: Tim’s background and retreat from intensive pesticide use.  How balancing plant nutrition helped Tim cultivate canola seedlings that are resistant to flea beetles. Tim’s experience with Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (or BYDV) and how he manages aphids in an ecological system. Foliar application systems and their economic impacts. Increases in commodity fertilizer prices and what this means for the financial viability of regenerative agriculture. How Tim has managed to not apply any NPK fertilizers for more than a decade. The cultural management practices that have replaced fungicide applications on Tim’s farm. The importance of carbon sequestration, educating consumers, and sharing information among growers.

James Johnson is a fourth-generation farmer in New Mexico and the Vice President of Carzalia Valley Produce. When James finally took over the family farm in the early 2000s the outlook of his operation seemed grim. After many years of trial and error with various practices, James found the Advancing Eco Agriculture team where he discovered the benefits of regenerative agriculture. Thanks to his partnership with AEA, James achieved an outstanding yield of 1,490 lbs/acre for Pima Cotton at the end of harvest season 2020 while his county average was 880 lbs/acre! In this episode, James and AEA founder John Kempf discuss: The shift in agronomy management on James’ farm over the last 20 years. James’ first encounter with John Kempf and the similarities in their personal stories. The long-term effects of herbicide, insecticide, and pesticide use on crops from the perspective of a self-declared “recovering glyphoholic” Solving onion thrips and western flower thrips pressure with regenerative foliar applications, rather than insecticides. James’ observations on chlorpyrifos and diazinon—how their use affects non-target species and overall soil biology. The technology James uses as a self-proclaimed early adopter, including evapotranspiration platforms and an AI robot that pulls weeds.

Dale Strickler is an agronomist at Green Cover Seed and prominent author primarily focused on soil health. Dale grew up on a family farm outside Colony, KS, and received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agronomy from Kansas State University. Dale has been an advocate for the use of cover crops for over three decades and continues to experiment, achieving increasingly exciting results. Dale has published two books, The Drought-Resilient Farm and Managing Pasture. His third book, The Complete Guide to Restoring Your Soil, will be released later this year. In this episode, Dale and AEA Founder John Kempf discuss: Dale’s agricultural background and what inspired his fascination with cover crops. His experiences with heavy clay soil and implementing a subsurface, drip-irrigated pasture. How regenerative practices can affect water-holding capacity of soils and restore small water cycles. Dale’s most memorable moments in his consulting work with growers across the country. Hand cropping, intercropping, and other practices forgotten by mainstream, mechanized agriculture. The reason farmers need to be “thinking like a scientist” and the power of self-education.  

John Fagan is the Chairman & Chief Scientist at the Health Research Institute, also known as HRI Labs, in Fairfield, Iowa. HRI provides testing services that focus on the nutritional value and biofunctionality of food sources. HRI’s research and collaboration efforts continue to help grow the global regenerative agriculture movement in myriad ways. Throughout their discussion, Fagan and John discuss: The scope of Fagan’s work at the Health Research Institute.  How chromatography, mass spectrometry, and other analytical tools allow Fagan to identify plant and animal compounds. Fagan’s research in comparing conventional vs organic production methods and his key takeaways. The diversity and variability of plant compounds and their potential for innovation in the world of agriculture. Fagan’s tentatively named “Farmer Led Innovation Network” and how it is combining cutting-edge science and data collection.   How evidence of glyphosate presents across different crop types, agricultural products, and soil profiles. The evolution of glyphosate detection and what science can tell us about glyphosate levels in our food. Check out the glyphosate research mentioned by Fagan here: https://johnkempf.com/perspective-on-glyphosate-challenges/

Nicole Masters, an internationally recognized agroecologist from New Zealand and director of Integrity Soils, shares her expertise on regenerative agriculture. She discusses the fascinating world of microbial dynamics in soil health and how tailored microbial applications can improve crop outcomes. The impact of epigenetics on soil memory and plant communication emerges as a key theme. Masters also explores innovative practices like bio-priming, which enhances soil resilience and plant immunity. Her insights emphasize the vital role of empathy and mindset in fostering sustainable agricultural practices.

Harriet Mella is an independent Austrian researcher known for her work uncovering the unexplained phenomena of plant growth and development. Informed by her background in microbiology, mycology, and biochemistry, Harriet has a unique capacity to describe little-known connections between emerging biological research and agriculture. During the interview, Harriet and John discuss:  Observations on epigenetic expressions and the role of optimal nutrition. The flexibility of plant architecture and its direct correlation with microbiome health. Harriet’s insights on zodiac rhythms, humic substances, Biodynamic methods, and numerous first-hand agricultural experiences. When a plant is no longer absorbing nitrate and how this affects water use efficiency and carbon cycling. Harriet’s findings on biophotonics and dark septate endophytes, and her explanation of their impact on plant health.   Building stable humic substances during the winter months with the assistance of specific fungal groups. Harriet Mella’s new online course, “Carbon Micro Cycling,” explores the connections between soil carbon and soil fertility. Sign up for the course on Kind Harvest today! https://kindharvest.ag/courses/ra-cc-carbon-course/

Steven Bierlink is an apple grower located in Quincy, WA. When Steven returned to work on his family operation after graduating with a business degree, he was driven to meet the many challenges their orchard faced. Looking for solutions to bitter pit, cork spot, and lenticel rot, Steven sought out the management practices that could renew the health of their orchard. Today, Steven abides by meticulous observation in his management practices that have brought many exciting successes, notably on his Honeycrisp blocks which have packed out at a stunning 160 bins per acre. On this episode, Steven and John discuss: Overcoming bitter pit in Honeycrisp apples by altering the interplay among excessive potassium applications, calcium timing, and manganese availability.  Steven’s focus on observation resulted in a shift away from his previous conventional operational methods.  How Steven balances data collected from fruit analysis and sap analysis to maximize marketable fruit production. Managerial philosophies for happy, engaged employees, healthy work-life balance, and why he chooses to maintain a smaller-scale farm. Virtually elimination of alternate-year bearing, through a combination of pruning, bud and spur management, PGR’s, nutrition, and lime-sulfur sprays. The importance of growers owning the decision-making process, working alongside consultants.

Jason Hobson is one of the initial Regenerative Agriculture Consultants at AEA, working alongside John Kempf in the early years and becoming the Chief Executive Officer in 2015. Jason joined AEA in 2011 and quickly became the lead consultant for larger scale operations, building relationships with distributors and other partners along the way. He gained his knowledge of soil fertility and plant nutrition through hands-on experience, developing a passion for agronomy and regenerative practices that fuels him today. Throughout their conversation, Jason and John discuss: How one Wendell Berry book would change Jason’s career path forever. AEA’s approach to nutrient and crop management, how it differed from conventional wisdom. Highlights from the last decade of working together: organizational victories and new agronomic discoveries. Jason’s thoughts on the “layering of silver bullet solutions” and how farms can degrade in search of a cure. Common themes among growers and organizations that have seen success while working with AEA. The fallacy of nitrogen and other limiting factors for healthy crops.