Soil Talks™ Podcast

Modern agriculture isn’t just under pressure; it may be experiencing model collapse.In this episode of the Soil Talks™ Podcast, Mark Shepard, author of Restoration Agriculture and Water for Any Farm, explains why today’s agricultural research and production systems may be built on a flawed foundation.From monocultures and annual disturbance to hydrology, agroforestry, and perennial systems, Mark breaks down:• Why annual monocropping disrupts ecological function• How “model collapse” happens in agricultural research• The economic math behind restoration agriculture• Why yield is not the same as profit• How to transition land without going bankrupt• What the Midwest could look like in 100 yearsThis is not theory.This is field-tested restoration agriculture at scale.📘 Mark Shepard’s Books (Available at Acres USA):Restoration Agriculture👉 https://www.acresusa.com/products/restoration-agricultureWater for Any Farm👉 https://www.acresusa.com/products/water-for-any-farmLearn more about Mark’s work:Restoration Agriculture Development (RAD)👉 https://restorationag.comForest Agriculture Nursery👉 https://forestag.comIf you believe agriculture can be both profitable and ecologically restorative, subscribe and join the conversation.#ModelCollapse #RegenerativeAgriculture #RestorationAgriculture #Agroforestry #SoilHealth #Permaculture #Farming

For decades, turf and landscape management has relied on synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. But is that system sustainable?In this episode of Soil Talks™, Chip Osborne, founder of Osborne Organics and a national leader in organic land management, explains the “chemical treadmill” and why feeding the soil, not the plant, is the future of resilient turf systems.We discuss soil biology testing, compaction and gas exchange, organic vs synthetic nitrogen, PFAS regulation, climate resilience, and why NPK-only agronomy often fails long-term performance goals.Whether you manage sports fields, municipalities, farms, or private landscapes, this conversation explores how soil health, microbial activity, and cultural practices drive profitability and sustainability.If you want measurable biology, real agriculture, and long-term system design this episode is for you.Partner plug:Get your soil tested and understand what’s happening beneath your feet at www.mysoildna.comContact Chip at www.osborneorganics.com#SoilHealth #OrganicTurf #SoilBiology#RegenerativeAgriculture #TurfManagement#LandManagement #BeyondNPK#SustainableLandscaping #GroundsManagement#SoilTesting #mysoildna

Every farmer knows the frustration following the book, applying the right NPK, investing in chemistry, only to watch soil resilience disappear.In this powerful episode of Soil Talks™, RMBA Founder Mark sits down with Gary Zimmer, the godfather of biological farming, to expose the broken mindset of modern agronomy and chart the path forward for the next agricultural revolution. Topics Covered:Why “perfect lab numbers” still lead to dead soilThe six foundational rules of biological farmingHow calcium drives the entire mineral and biological systemThe link between dairy cow digestion and soil biologyWhy regenerative and organic aren’t enough and “biological” is the futureHow farmers can earn the right to cut inputs, pesticides, and nitrogen⚡ Key Quote:“Soil isn’t a factory. It’s a massive living digestive system and we’ve been feeding it like it’s dead.”🎯 Who It’s For:Farmers ready to move beyond NPK, consultants rethinking soil health, and anyone tired of the chemical treadmill.🔗 Watch the full episode on YouTube:👉 Rocky Mountain BioAg® Soil Talks™ Channel🧠 Join the Movement:Subscribe to the Biological…Beyond Organic® Newsletter on LinkedInEnroll in the Soil Fundamentals CourseFollow @RockyMountainBioAg on all major platforms#SoilTalks #BiologicalFarming #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilHealth #GaryZimmer #RockyMountainBioAg #BeyondOrganic

For decades, farmers and agronomists have been forced to guess what’s happening inside the crop or wait days to weeks for tissue results that can change before the lab report even arrives.In this episode of Soil Talks™, Brandon sits down with Xavier Hebert-Couturier, CEO & Founder of Picketa Systems, the team behind a handheld tool that uses light + AI to reveal what the human eye can’t: real-time nutrient status inside the leaf.We unpack how the Picketa “Lens” is closing the gap between scouting and action turning every field visit into a tissue test in about a minute and why this matters for:Faster, better decisions in-season (no more waiting on labs)Reducing wasted fertilizer and improving nutrient efficiencyHelping agronomists move from “diagnosing” to building a real planSupporting more precise, measurable transitions toward regenerative & biological systemsA future where sensing + application get tighter… all the way to automationXavier also shares how Picketa scaled from a university capstone project to a venture-backed ag tech company, why most ag tech fails, and what it will take to build the most reliable plant nutrition sensing system on earth.Learn more about Picketa Systems:Website: www.picketa.comEmail: info@picketa.comIf you got value from this conversation, please leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts it helps us bring on more CEOs and innovators shaping the future of agriculture.

For decades, lawn care has been built on schedules, products, and chemical fixes, yet lawns continue to decline, thin out, struggle with disease, and require more inputs every year.Why?Most lawn programs ignore the most important part of the system: soil biology.In this episode of the Soil Talks™ Podcast, we sit down with Rob Gaunt, Plant Pathologist and ISA Arborist, to break down The Green Philosophy a soil-first approach to lawn and landscape care that moves beyond chemicals, beyond guesswork, and into biological function.This conversation challenges the traditional lawn care model and explains why fertilizers and chemicals often fail long-term when biology is missing from the system.In this episode, we explore:• Why lawns fail even when “everything is done right”• How chemical programs mask problems instead of fixing them• What living soil actually means in turf systems• The role of microbes, fungi, and roots in long-term lawn health• Why biology, not products, drives resilience• How a soil-first approach changes the way we manage turfRather than focusing on quick fixes, this discussion looks at lawns as biological systems, not chemical equations. When soil biology is ignored, inputs increase and results decline. When biology is restored, systems stabilize and begin to regenerate.Whether you’re a homeowner frustrated with recurring lawn problems, a lawn care professional looking for better outcomes, or someone managing turf at scale, this episode provides a foundational framework for understanding why lawns fail and what actually fixes them.Soil Talks™ Podcast is where we break down soil biology, plant health, and regenerative systems one conversation at a time.📞 Have questions about your lawn or soil system?Our team is happy to help: 1-877-874-2334

Some farms are sitting on thousands of pounds of nutrients, and their crops are still starving. Why?Because the missing link isn’t fertilizer. Its function.In this episode of Soil Talks™ Podcast, Brandon Kail sits down with Tom Vander Heiden, GM of Ag at ST Biologicals, bringing 43+ years in agriculture and 15+ years in soil microbiology, to break down what most soil conversations never address:• Why standard soil tests miss the living system• The biology gap when nutrients exist but plants can’t access them• Why carbon, water, and oxygen drive everything downstream• How manure diversity was regenerative long before the term existed• Why soil health can’t be fixed at 60 mph only with a shovelOne line from this episode says it all:“The greatest limiting factor of yield… is the farmer’s shadow.”This isn’t theory.It’s field-tested biology, economics, and decision-making explained for growers who care about profitability, resilience, and legacy.🎧 Listen now and rethink how soil actually feeds crops.

Most agricultural systems weren’t designed to fail. They were designed around inputs instead of engines.For decades, fertility conversations have centered on NPK.But yield plateaus, rising input costs, drought stress, and disease pressure all point to the same reality:NPK was never the engine. Biology was.In this episode of Soil Talks™ Podcast, we sit down with the team from Purple Cow Organics / BioActive Ag to unpack what actually drives soil performance at scale without slogans, shortcuts, or ideology.We break down:Why NPK alone cannot create resilience, even when “balanced”The difference between inputs and functional soil systemsWhy limited-species biology fails under real-world stressHow microbial diversity and functional redundancy stabilize yieldsWhat growers actually see in Year 1 and what takes timeHow biology improves nutrient efficiency, drought tolerance, and long-term ROIThis conversation isn’t anti-fertility.It’s systems-first.If you grow crops, manage land, advise growers, or make agronomic decisions this episode will change how you think about soil, inputs, and profit.🎧 Watch or listen now on Soil Talks™YouTube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts

Regenerative agriculture only works when the economics are in place.In this episode of Soil Talks™ Podcast, we sit down with Taylor Henry, CEO of Acres U.S.A., to discuss the aspect of regenerative farming that many people tend to overlook: finances, debt, and decision-making.Taylor shares his unconventional journey from law enforcement into agriculture and breaks down why regenerative systems often fail, not because the biology is wrong, but because the economic model is misunderstood.This conversation goes beyond soil health theory into:Why debt itself isn’t the enemy but unmanaged systems areThe biggest misconceptions holding regenerative farmers backHow technology should support farming decisions, not replace fundamentalsWhy long-term thinking separates profitable farms from struggling onesHow consumer expectations are shifting and what that means for producersWhy financial literacy may be the most important skill for the next generation of farmersIf regenerative agriculture is going to scale, it must be measured, economically viable, and decision-driven. This episode explains what that really means.🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube📚 Learn more about Acres U.S.A. and agricultural education

In this episode of the Soil Talks™ Podcast, we sit down with Josue Diaz (Betteravia Farms / BoniPak Produce) and Dr. Christopher Height to unpack what actually happens when a large-scale operation transitions from conventional inputs to biological systems, under real-world pressure.This isn’t a conversation about ideology.And it’s not “biology vs fertilizer.”It’s a conversation about constraints.• Increasing regulatory pressure on nitrogen• Water scarcity and efficiency• Input volatility• Yield protection under stress• And the reality that soil health decisions now have to pencil out fastWhat stood out most in this discussion wasn’t belief.It was measurement.When biology is measured, not assumed:Active carbon becomes visibleNitrogen use efficiency improvesWater-holding capacity changesInput dependency declinesAnd resilience shows up sooner than most expectBetteravia Farms’ experience shows that biology doesn’t replace agronomy it changes how decisions are made.This episode is for:• Farm operators managing scale• Consultants working inside real constraints• Ag leaders navigating regulation, water, and margin pressureIf you’re asking:“How do we keep producing at scale when the rules of the game have changed?”This conversation is required listening.

Can biology really pay? Dr. Curt Livesay (Alchemy BioScience, Dynamite Ag) breaks down the data behind crop stress mitigation with silica, nitrogen efficiency, and post-harvest nutrient removal testing. We dig into nutritional density trends, ROI, manure’s real value, and how to separate useful biologicals from marketing—using independent testing and fieldproof.Subscribe for more Soil Talks™: https://youtube.com/@RockyMountainBioAg?sub_confirmation=1Full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVD04wz0u2J9qqu3L0zcZ9V8_YVzpr81What you’ll learn• Why silica matters for stress resilience (heat/drought/salt)• N use efficiency: timing, placement, and common leaks• Post-harvest nutrient removal testing to plan fertility• Nutritional density: what’s changing and why• Biologicals: independent testing, real-world criteria, ROI• Manure as a systems tool (and what it really covers)• Commercializing peer-reviewed science without the hypeChapters00:00 Intro02:41 Stress mitigation & silica05:34 Nitrogen efficiency (rate/timing/placement)08:34 Soil testing & nutrient management nuance11:16 Post-harvest removal testing (grain analysis)24:23 Nutritional density & plant growth29:08 Biological tools & independent testing34:23 ROI testing farmers can run42:24 Commercializing science → field tools47:07 Profitability first, ethics & claims51:53 Challenging conventional practices57:56 Agronomy myths to retire1:03:11 Future: biology-first, site-specificLinks mentioned• Alchemy BioScience / PiKSi Dust® (guest’s company)• Reach out To Dr. Curt www.dynamiteag.com• Rocky Mountain BioAg® resources & BBO™ courseCTA👍 Like the episode if it helped📝 Comment your biggest agronomy myth to test next season🔔 Subscribe & turn on notifications for new Soil Talks™ Podcasts#SoilTalks #SoilHealth #RegenerativeAgriculture #Agronomy #NitrogenEfficiency #Silica #Biologicals #SoilMicrobiome #SustainableFarming #FarmProfitability

Microalgae, Microbes & Measurable Gains with Cassidy Million, VP Ag Sciences @ PhycoTerra®What this episode delivers: a clear, field-ready look at how photosynthetically-derived microalgae feed native microbes, improve aggregation, and lift yield without overhauling your program. We separate myth from mechanism, show where microalgae fit in the regen stack, and outline how to verify results fast.Guest: Cassidy Million, M.S. (Plant Pathology), VP of Ag Sciences at PhycoTerra®. Cassidy translates peer-reviewed biology into practical agronomy: microbial activation, carbon flow, water handling, and ROI.Key takeawaysActivation, not replacement: why feeding the existing microbiome outperforms sugar spikes.Structure gains you can see: aggregate stability, infiltration, and residue handling improve when biology is fed.Proof over promise: simple before/after checks (cup test, slake, root windows) + optional biomass/F:B tracking.Adoption playbook: when to apply, how to pair with covers & moisture, and how to avoid “boom → bust” programs.Chapters00:00 Welcome & today’s outcomes02:05 PhycoTerra® in one sentence (what it is / what it isn’t)04:10 Cassidy’s path: plant pathology → soil function05:35 Why microalgae feed the right microbes (diverse carbon, not just sugar)08:30 Native microbe activation vs. “bugs in a jug”10:20 Where it fits vs. composts, humics, and traditional amendments12:30 Carbon flow → aggregation, infiltration, root access15:10 Microbial diversity & stress tolerance (heat, salts, drought)17:15 Field results & persistence beyond 30–60 days20:45 Water retention, rooting pattern, and crop response30:20 Adoption traps: impatience, no habitat, no measurement32:00 What’s next for microalgae in regen programs39:30 Final playbook: how to trial, track, and scaleLinks• PhycoTerra®: https://phycoterra.com/• Rocky Mountain BioAg® (host): https://www.rockymountainbioag.com• Subscribe on YouTube Soil Talks™ PodcastTry this on your acresPrep habitat: moist, aerated, living roots.Feed biology (microalgae) → avoid sugar spikes.Measure: cup test + slake + root photo (before, then 7–10 days after).If two signals improve twice, scale to more acres.Powered by: Rocky Mountain BioAg®, Biological…Beyond Organic®#SoilTalks #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilHealth #Microalgae #PhycoTerra #SoilBiology #Agronomy #RegenAg #WaterInfiltration #SoilStructureDisclosure: This episode discusses third-party products in the context of biological soil function and field measurement.

What does it actually look like to take a conventional, hay-focused operation and turn it into a resilient, biology-led system in one season? In this episode, Brandon sits down with Joel Leman, GM of Ballantine Farms (Durango, Colorado), to unpack the full transition: rotational/mob grazing in arid conditions, using goats to knock out thistle without herbicides, deploying virtual fencing (GPS collars) to increase stock density, and partnering with RMBA to add biology only when habitat is ready.