Dirt Road Discussions

George Rohrbacher found himself in the middle of nowhere, with only the lights from his tractor, pondering how he was going to save his farm. Farm markets in the late 1970s were tanking, and very little rain had fallen on his newly acquired dry farm. And then, out of nowhere, he decides to risk it all on a board game. You will not want to miss this.

Yes, it is absolutely true! Back in 1948, biologists threw beavers out of airplanes over Idaho's rugged backcountry with parachutes to help them rebuild ponds and other water structures. This podcast will have you laughing as Ben Goldfarb, environmental journalist, author, and "Beaver Believer," tells how it all went down. Ben also shares how biologists are seeking healthy strategies for beavers to coexist with their human neighbors.

If you raise animals on the island of Kodiak (Alaska), it comes as no surprise to see a hog, cow, or horse get brought in by plane or ferry. Kelli Foreman, Assistant Executive Director at Kodiak Baptist Mission, took everything she learned from her upbringing in Nebraska to be a goat farmer while raising a family in this unique part of the country. With three boys and a whole slew of farm animals to raise, it's no wonder her days start when the rest of us are still in bed.

Imagine placing a couple feet of water over your cranberry vines, letting Mother Nature freeze the top 14 inches or so, and then draining the water under the ice to give the vines an air pocket to protect them from harsh Wisconsin winters. This is only one crazy step in the world of cranberry production. Amber Bristow, a 5th generation Wisconsin cranberry farmer and social media influencer @CranberryChats shares her story of leaving her job with a minor league baseball team to return home to her family's cranberry farm.

It is undeniable that farming is physically demanding work, and it becomes even more challenging when a disability affects someone working in agriculture. Limitations can occur due to an accident, disease, genetic conditions, etc. Paul Jones,  National AgrAbility Project Manager, shares how the AgrAbility program, which is funded as part of the Farm Bill, finds incredible solutions to help men and women continue their desire to remain working on the farm, even when it seems improbable.

People all over the country follow Andrea Flemming on social media for one main reason - she keeps it real when it comes to farming. If there are days to cry over sick animals, she talks about it. If there is a success, she talks about it. Most importantly, she does not shy away from discussing the importance of mental health in a challenging industry. Known as "ThatFitAgvocate," Andrea, a fifth-generation farmer from Minnesota, shares how her social media posts started as a hobby but have grown to so much more.

Horses are part of our culture in so many ways. They carry riders for leisure, horse shows, rodeos, and much more. Likewise, horses are being used  for therapy with children and adults. When Hurricane Ian raced across Florida, it went past the city of Ocala, which is the horse capital of the world triggering an emergency response to get feed to horses. Louisa Barton, known as the "Brit With The Bit" talks about how she came into the horse world, what it's like living in Ocala, and how it has changed her life as well as so many others.

Local Brewing Distilleries have become popular across the county with the shiny brewing vats and pipes visible to patrons at the bar. To build a brewery is not only a labor of love, but a lot of labor, science, and good business instincts. Owners and brewers Davis and Hailee Gove share how they set up Jim Dandy Brewing in the middle of the country's largest barley and hops agriculture sector. Their background in microbiology, chemistry, and artistry made brewing a perfect fit for this couple.

Is it true that reindeer prefer moss over carrots? Can they see with ultraviolet vision? How far can they swim? Is it legal to drive reindeer through Canada? Why must you make reservations months ahead to be with the reindeer during the Christmas season? This fun, high-energy podcast with Erika Bowie, general manager of Leavenworth Reindeer Farm takes us on a journey of all things reindeer.

Children know them as culinary finger puppets, but olives are a growing industry that may surprise you. Whether it is black, green, extra virgin, or refined, olives and olive oils have an interesting history and process to get them in our food. Ciriaco Chavez, Director of Agriculture & Innovation at Redlands Farm Holding, tells us the ins and outs of this "survival" fruit and what it takes to get dozens of different variations out to consumers.

One time a year, over 40 million turkeys are purchased for Thanksgiving dinner tables. How do turkey farmers plan for this yearly push and make it go off without a hitch? Owner, Ronny Lee and daughter, Charli Decker are turkey farmers in  New Jersey who raise and sell these festive birds directly from their farm. They talk about turkeys, the history of Thanksgiving, and a few common misconceptions

It is impressive how ranchers who graze on public lands provide excellent land management services, while also saving taxpayers money. It is important to acknowledge the invaluable role that ranching plays in public land management and the positive impact it has on conservation and natural resources. Danny Munch, an esteemed economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, sheds light on this matter with his insider's perspective, providing us with a better understanding of the benefits that ranchers bring to the table.

Of all the things we have imported from Europe, the Quagga Mussel is an accidental stowaway that threatens all U.S. waters. They can clog city water-intake structures, agriculture pipes, and create havoc on docks, buoys, boat hulls, and beaches. An estimated $500 million a year is spent managing them in the Great Lakes alone. Bruce Johnson, Lieutenant AIS Field Operations Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, shares in behind-the-scenes work to control these aquatic pests.

Yaks can't wait for the first day of winter! They get giddy as the first snowflakes hit their noses. This is especially true for Kent Sutton's Yak farm in Archer, Idaho. Not meant to be a cow rancher, Kent decided to become a Yak farmer after watching Brad Pitt in "Seven Years in Tibet". After many years and adventures with these charismatic animals, he hasn't regretted his decision. Listen and laugh as he tells his story.

We live in a world of information overload. Unfortunately, not all information is accurate. Farmers now have the added job of addressing misinformation on agriculture practices that fills our social media channels daily. Shay Meyers, CEO of Owyhee Produce and social media influencer, shares his experiences of leveraging social media to counter false narratives and promote his family's operations.

Clams and Oysters aren't your traditional farm operation. Your farm may be under 4 feet of water or 6 inches of water depending on the tide. Kyle Sturgis, Farm Manager with Shore Breeze Farms LLC, teaches us more about this aquatic venture to meet the needs of seafood lovers everywhere.

Why have we been taught to fear bugs in general? Is it a cultural thing, or DNA thing? Introducing Jason Thomas, a University of Idaho Extension entomologist. He loads his vehicle with all kinds of little creatures and takes them to schools with a mission to help people know how to interact with our bug world. He has a message for everyone the next time they pick up a shoe to squash anything that scurries near the house.Link to the Idaho Insect Identification Website: insectid.uidaho.eduFind out more about the Pest Friends Board Game by emailing Jason Thomas as jasont@uidaho.edu

Whether you are spitting out sunflower seeds at a ball game or walking by a 13ft flower, running a sunflower farm has a fascinating story. Bethany Gotts, the owner of Quey's Maze, has a passion for sunflowers and wanted to bring that to the public for a different spin on agritourism. She hosted the first year of the Quey's Maze Sunflower Festival, where people can come to take photos among the flowers and even take some home with them.

Mushrooms are easy to grow, but hard to master. They find their way to your salad and burger, and yet over 50% of specialty mushrooms consumed in the United States are imported. Luc Lalire, CEO,  and Will Beeson, COO, with MycoLogic want to help Americans learn and be able to grow mushrooms locally. From Hollywood myths to unknown facts, you will be amazed at how much you never knew about this fungi.

Crowds have gathered all over the world to watch cranes lift an entire farm unit off of a semi-truck as it is being delivered to a city, resident, or school. Those who thought farming wasn't possible for them can now hook in water and electricity to these freight farms and it's time to grow food! Dave Harris, Head of Plant Sciences, and Brooke Smith Account Executive of Freight Farms tell us how over 600 of these new-age farms have been delivered all over the world.