XtremeAg: Cutting The Curve Podcast

Why would you spend money planting a crop you can't sell? That's the question Kelly Garrett is asking as he kicks off XtremeAg's new Cover Crop Series with TJ Kartes of Bio-Till. Standing in a five-way cover crop mix on Kelly's western Iowa farm, the two get into what these plants are actually doing below ground and whether the benefits justify the cost. Kelly's got cattle to graze his covers, but what about farmers who don't? And when it comes to corn-on-corn acres, could choosing the right species make more of a difference than just getting something green in the field? Kelly and TJ dig into some interesting possibilities that might have you rethinking your cover crop plan.    

Agriculture has plenty to worry about—but are we focused on the right things? Damian Mason sits down with Chad Henderson, Matt Miles, and Tommy Roach for a wide-ranging conversation about the issues that could have a lasting impact on American agriculture. They dig into agriculture’s shrinking political influence, the growing disconnect between farmers and consumers, fragmentation within the industry, questions surrounding land-grant universities, and whether agriculture needs a better approach to public communication. Along the way, the crew debates food policy, social media misinformation, consumer expectations, and agriculture’s role in national security. And somehow, a serious discussion about the future of farming also turns into an investigation of one of modern food’s great mysteries: How exactly do you milk a cashew? Pull up a chair for a candid look at the challenges agriculture may need to start paying more attention to.   Presented by Nachurs.

Calls for American agriculture to diversify sound great—but what exactly are farmers supposed to grow instead? Damian Mason sits down with Kelly Garrett, Adam Ullrich, and Galynn Beer (Tidal Grow) to dig into the economics and realities of moving acres away from corn and soybeans. From wheat, oats, rye, and sorghum to sweet corn and even a little talk about flax and buffalo, the group explores where diversification might actually pencil out. But growing another crop is only half the battle. Farmers still need buyers, storage, transportation, infrastructure, and enough demand to keep a promising alternative from becoming the next oversupplied commodity. The conversation also tackles marginal farmland, government support, regional advantages, water limitations, logistics, and why the smartest diversification strategy might look completely different from one farm to the next. So, can American agriculture really diversify—or are corn and soybeans simply too deeply rooted in the system? This episode is presented by Tidal Grow AgriScience

“That won’t work here.” It might be one of the most common phrases in farming—and one of the most dangerous. Damian Mason joins Matt Miles, Chad Henderson, and Todd Kimbrell to talk about what happens when farmers challenge conventional wisdom and try something anyway. From Y-drops and liquid fertility to cover crops, strip-till, planter setups, and pushing planting dates, they’ve all seen ideas dismissed because they supposedly wouldn’t work in a particular region. Sometimes the skeptics were right. Other times, those “crazy” ideas changed the way they farm. The guys dig into regional differences, learning from other growers, managing risk, and why being willing to fail is part of finding the next thing that works. After all, there’s only one good way to find out whether “that won’t work here” is actually true.   Presented by Nachurs.

Are nutrient regulations headed for American agriculture? Damian Mason sits down at The Granary table with Kelly Garrett, Todd Kimbrell, and Tommy Roach to dig into a topic farmers may want to get ahead of. From nitrate concerns in Iowa and Nebraska to phosphorus issues around Lake Erie and the Chesapeake Bay, the guys discuss why nutrient management is attracting more attention—and what future regulation could actually look like. Pounds-per-acre limits? Water monitoring? Application restrictions? More recordkeeping? But regulation isn’t the only reason to rethink fertility. The conversation turns to nutrient use efficiency, cutting unnecessary nitrogen, drainage tile, soil mineralization, and the dollars that leave the farm every time nutrients leave the field. Can farmers maintain yield while applying less—and could better nutrient management actually improve the bottom line? Pull up a chair. This one gets into the water, the soil, the regulations, and, naturally, a little manure. This episode is presented by Nachurs.