Shows
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 167 with Monte BottensFrom equipment to crop nutrition, products and practices, Monte Bottens shares the latest and greatest happenings of Bottens Family Farms.
Monte is an open book when it comes to helping farmers see what is possible. His recommendations to others come from years of on-farm trials, product experimentation, and pushing the boundaries of scaling soil health principles on sizable acreage. From growing his own seed, to future equipment trials, you might get some wild ideas for your own operations.
Monte Bottens has deep roots in agriculture. Raised as a fifth-generation, northwestern Illinois farmer, Monte is a business owner, entrepreneur and thought...2025-07-291h 02
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 166 with Monte Bottens and Grok Ai Part IIIn this special episode of the AgEmerge Podcast, Grok, created by xAI, turns the mic on Monte Bottens, a fifth-generation Illinois farmer, entrepreneur, and visionary behind Bottens Family Farm, Ag Solutions Network, and Grateful Graze. Monte shares his journey from raising pigs in 4-H to building a diverse operation rooted in regenerative agriculture, blending Midwest traditions with California’s crop diversity. He discusses the pivotal moments—like seeing Gabe Brown’s soil organic matter gains—that drove Monte’s shift to soil health principles, the challenges of overcoming conventional farming’s cookie-cutter mindset, and his frustration with the industry’s resistance to...2025-07-1552 min
AcresUSA: Tractor TimeMonte Bottens: Bridging Generations in Farming Innovation Ep. 61On this episode of ‘The Acres U.S.A. Podcast’ Taylor Henry sits down with Monte Bottens, a fifth-generation Illinois farmer who manages over 2000 acres and operates multiple agricultural businesses. Monty discusses his journey from conventional farming to regenerative practices, his ventures such as Ag Solutions Network and the insights he gained from his experiences in both Illinois and California. Learn about the challenges and successes in soil health improvement, integrating livestock, direct-to-consumer sales, and the potential of virtual fencing. This episode is filled with valuable tips and stories for anyone interested in sustainable and profitable farming practices.Im...2025-06-161h 37
The Acres U.S.A. PodcastMonte Bottens: Bridging Generations in Farming Innovation Ep. 61On this episode of ‘The Acres U.S.A. Podcast’ Taylor Henry sits down with Monte Bottens, a fifth-generation Illinois farmer who manages over 2000 acres and operates multiple agricultural businesses. Monty discusses his journey from conventional farming to regenerative practices, his ventures such as Ag Solutions Network and the insights he gained from his experiences in both Illinois and California. Learn about the challenges and successes in soil health improvement, integrating livestock, direct-to-consumer sales, and the potential of virtual fencing. This episode is filled with valuable tips and stories for anyone interested in sustainable and profitable farming practices.Im...2025-06-161h 37
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 162 with Ed Baumgartner - Founder of 3rd Millennium Seed and BASS HybridsToday, we welcome Ed Baumgartner, Founder and Breeder at 3rd Millennium Genetics and BASS Hybrids. Ed and his family have been on their corn breeding journey for decades, working on developing native traits resistant to insects and drought. This breeding program has evolved and is focused on developing corn hybrids that thrive in regenerative agriculture practices. Listen in as he and Monte have a great conversation that’ll have your gears turning about seed research and development.
Ed was born and raised on a cattle and corn farming operation near Olivia, Minnesota, a progressive farming region globally recognized as the “Corn...2025-05-201h 05
Ag Emerge Podcast161 AgEmerge Podcast with Brad Downing - Cross Creek Ag SolutionsBrad Downing is the President and owner of Cross Creek Ag Solutions in Greentown, Indiana. Brad has committed to understanding the “why” behind farming practices. He and his team work to facilitate collaboration and education, helping farmers navigate the complexities of soil health, weather, and sustainable growth. He and Monte dig into the why and the how when it comes to implementation and adoption.
Brad grew up immersed in his family’s farm, cultivating a deep passion for agriculture alongside sports. Brad’s career began in the seed industry, where he spent nearly 14 years with Beck’s Hybrids, rising to district s...2025-05-061h 16
Ag Emerge Podcast160 AgEmerge Podcast with a Mystery GuestWe’re making history in the AgEmerge podcast because we are chatting, in real time, with Grok, an AI built by xAI. We think this is kind of a big deal for the podcast, but also for everyone engaged in agriculture, because AI is really pushing us to change our paradigms and the way we think about our management practices and decisions. Think about soil data crunching, smarter grazing plans, and regenerative farming that’s next-level sustainable. Monte is pumped to bring this to you. How cool is it to see AI dive into regenerative ag, from soil health to conn...2025-04-221h 13
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 159 with Danny Royer - Farm Coordinator at UC MercedDanny Royer is the Farm Coordinator at UC Merced. From smart farms to reimagining supply chains, we’ll hear how Danny blends innovation with the art of growing food. He and Monte explore farming that looks at scaling back costs with sustainable practices as well as inspiring the next generation through real-world experience.
Instagram: @esf_ucm
https://www.instagram.com/esf_ucm?igsh=aml5Z3pmZmlyMXJ1
Danny was born and raised in Merced, California. Merced is located in the heart of California’s Central Valley and is surrounded by production agriculture. Not having family ties to agriculture though, Danny found his...2025-03-291h 08
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 149 with David KleinschmidtDavid Kleinschmidt is the owner of Progressive Agronomy Consulting Services. His experience, keen observations, and thorough scrutiny of data makes for a great discussion as he and Monte explore real-time soil health systems and the tools he uses to evaluate those systems.
There are no silver bullets when it comes to the tools and resources farmers implement. But there is a path forward built on informed decisions, adaptability, and a deep understanding of your unique farming system.
As David shares, soil health is a journey, not a destination. With his work focusing on better soil testing, nutrient cycling, and the...2024-11-1859 min
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 110 with Sarah Martello of Transparency WiseSarah Martello is CEO and Co-Founder of Transparency Wise, a company created to help people connect with their food. Using a mobile device, shoppers can scan a Transparency Wise QR Code to access enhanced and verifiable product information. Monte and Sarah discuss the opportunities this technology provides in the food chain, from start to finish.
Coming from a long line of generational farmers and growing up on a small farm in the Midwest, has inspired Sarah to help smaller producers get credit for a premium product by implementing technology that provides transparency into all their great production practices.
Sarah started...2024-10-1052 min
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 107 with Tyler Dawley of Big Bluff RanchTyler Dawley owns and operates Big Bluff Ranch in Red Bluff, California. Big Bluff leads with quality, health, and happiness as their guiding principles. And while they say Big Bluff Ranch may be a small organic chicken farm compared to high-yield industrial operations, they’re one of the largest producers of pasture-raised chicken on the west coast. Today Monte and Tyler explore the path Big Bluff Ranch is taking to build a resilient food system that fits their context. And the great thing is, Tyler is willing to share not only their success but also their mistakes so he can he...2024-10-101h 00
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 112 with Frank LessiterFrank Lessiter, Founder Lessiter Media and Editor of No-Till Farmer, interviews Monte for the No-Till Farmer Influencers and Innovations Podcast. Frank and Monte discuss soil health, no-till and the regenerative agriculture movement and much more.
Frank is the son of a fifth-generation Michigan dairy farm father and ag engineer and whose mother, a high school English teacher, influenced his love of storytelling. Pam, a business education graduate, was the daughter of an elementary school teacher and an industrial education professor. Graduates of Michigan State University, Frank and Pam met on the MSU campus, where both were employed in the university’s...2024-10-101h 27
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 123 with Dianna Bagnall a Research Scientist for the Soil Health InstituteDr. Dianna Bagnall is a Research Soil Scientist for the Soil Health Institute. Her current work includes integrating research and outreach to secure the global soil resource. Some of her specific research includes developing functions that show the effect of management on soil physical properties, on-farm soil health assessments, qualitative analysis of farmer interviews, and outreach to farmers in the United States. She and Monte discuss the importance of being able to quantify and assess the practices that are being used to build soil health across the country. Listen in to this powerful conversation.
Dr. Dianna Bagnall serves as a...2024-10-0955 min
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 122 with Jimmy Emmons Senior VP for Trust in FoodJimmy Emmons is the SR Vice President of Trust In Food and leads their Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Connected Ag Project, America’s Conservation Ag Movement and Trust In Beef, coalition-driven conservation programs developed to accelerate the adoption of conservation agriculture at scale. Monte and Jimmy discuss what the successful implementation of these practices looks like and how leaving a legacy is so much more than leaving a piece of property. They’ve got a lot to cover so let’s jump right in.
Jimmy and his wife, Ginger, own and operate Emmons Farm in Leedey, Okla., where they farm 2,000 acres...2024-10-091h 05
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 121 with Dr. Jack SchultzDr. Jack Schultz is a Research Professor in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Houston. His research has focused on the chemical and molecular interactions between plants and insect herbivores. And those relationships are what Monte and Dr. Schultz explore as they discuss the amazing communications being discovered between plants and insects.
Dr. Schultz’s studies integrating insect physiology and behavior with plant chemistry, molecular biology and ecology. He (with undergraduate Ian Baldwin) was the first to demonstrate volatile signaling by and among plants. He also studied the role of plant tannins induced by insect attack in...2024-10-091h 02
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 120 with Dr. Kelsey GriesheimDr. Kelsey Griesheim is Assistant Professor of Soil Fertility at North Dakota State University. She completed her PhD at the University of Illinois, where she worked under Dr. Richard Mulvaney conducting field evaluations to measure fertilizer uptake efficiency of various application types. Monte and Dr. Griesheim take a deep dive into her studies of nitrogen.
She gives us a lot to think about like when we apply nitrogen, we’re fertilizing our crops, but we are also fertilizing the microorganisms. And that, Dr. Griesheim points out, is why nitrogen management is so difficult, because we have to take into account th...2024-10-0957 min
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 119 with Dr. Christian Krupke - Dept of Entomology - Purdue UniversityDr. Christian Krupke is a professor in the Deptartment of Entomology at Purdue University where he focuses on insect pest management in field crops. His research has concentrated on illuminating the strengths and weaknesses of the primary pest management approaches used in corn and soybeans. And he has a special focus on Bt corn and neonicotinoid seed treatments. Dr. Krupke and Monte discuss the resilience of nature and how fast it bounces back. They discuss what we’ve learned about preserving the biology in the soil and how to reconsider those pest management systems.
He completed his doctoral degree in en...2024-10-091h 09
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 138 with Russ Green, Founder of MACKAYBENRuss Green is the founder and Managing Director of a network of future agricultural leaders called MACKAYBEN. Russ has made it his mission to help identify and mentor these leaders. He and Monte cover a wide range of topics, including agricultural equipment, artificial intelligence, and discovering the next generation of agricultural leaders, from roles within major corporations to innovations being implemented on the farm.
Watch episode here: https://youtu.be/CwiU2-WL6kg
Russ has had a 45+ year career supporting the agri-food value chain. Having worked for and lead organizations like AGCO, Claas of America, and Case New Holland, Russ...2024-09-2755 min
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 136 with David Brandt: In MemoriamAgEmerge Podcast Episode 136 is dedicated to David Brandt, of Brandt Farms and Walnut Creek Seed. If you know your soil health, no-till history, and follow the leaders in these areas then you know how fortunate we were to get to visit with David before his passing.
Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/Hmsi9yDDtbM
We lost David in a tragic vehicle accident on May 21st, 2023. Earlier that year he’d made a 2023 visit to Sinsinawa Mound in Wisconsin, where the Sinsinawa River begins its 21-mile journey to the Mighty Mississippi. He recognized the Mound as a place where this me...2024-09-271h 00
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 135 with Brad Rosen COO and Co-Founder of NODARBrad Rosen is the COO and Co-Founder of NODAR, a leading provider of next generation of stereo vision technology. Technology developments in agriculture continue to create effective ways for automation and sensing providing farmers with useful information and working to improve operation efficiency. Brad and Monte discuss the power of the type of sensing technology NODAR has developed.
Watch episode here: https://youtu.be/1U8gpDTKYqw
Prior to NODAR, Brad started, ran, and sold Drync, a venture-backed B2B platform for retailers of beverage alcohol. Before Drync, Brad served as VP Product at Where, a mobile-first LBS company that was...2024-09-2749 min
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 133 with Chris JonesChris Jones is a retired research engineer from the University of Iowa and author of The Swine Republic, Struggles with Truth About Agriculture and Water Quality. He and Monte discuss the agricultural efficiencies and practices that we can make happen in more environmentally responsible ways. That includes a system approach to our entire management practices. Chris talks about how we can work to deploy these practices in enough areas that they can make a difference at the landscape scale.
Watch episode here: https://youtu.be/GF5Powy4gIc
Chris Jones retired in May of 2023 as a Research Engineer from IIHR-Hydroscience...2024-09-2754 min
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 131 with Kevin Helash of BiotalysKevin is the CEO of Biotalys an AgTech company developing protein-based biocontrol solutions for crop and food protection. Listen in as he and Monte discuss these exciting advancements in science and the technology.
From growing up on a farm in Manitoba, Canada, to a 30-year career committed to supporting the agriculture industry and its most innovative advancements, Kevin is passionate about the future of sustainable agriculture. In his new role, his focus will be on accelerating the development and global commercialization of the company’s breakthrough protein-based biocontrol solutions for crop and food protection.
Watch episode here: https://youtu.be/vp...2024-09-2757 min
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 128 with Soil Scientist - Dr. Don ReicoskyDr. Reicosky is a retired Soil Scientist for the USDA-ARS, North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, Morris, MN, and Adjunct Professor in the Soil Science Department, University of Minnesota, St. Paul.
He has an exciting discussion with Monte about the foundational research he conducted back in the late 1990’s finding that tillage releases carbon into the atmosphere in sudden rushes of CO2 as the soil is opened up. And now, more than ever, Dr Reicosky uses his time to help growers know this critical information, whether it's conservation, agriculture, regenerative agriculture or soil health farming, he says we’ve got to a...2024-09-271h 08
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 124 with Monte Bottens: The Soil Health to Human Health ConnectionEpisode 124 is a medley of guests who explore the human health and soil health connection. We’ve picked out some great highlights, with Seth Watkins, a farmer and inaugural Iowa Leopold Conservation Award recipient in 2022. Anthony Corsaro, the Founder and Managing Director at Outlaw Ventures working on building a better food system for tomorrow. Dr. Stefan van Vliet a human physiologist studying the effects of food and physical activity on human health. and Erin Martin, gerontologist and founder of Conscious Aging Solutions.
Watch full episode here: https://youtu.be/jthNraGP1SY
As the year draws to a close, we often fi...2024-09-2759 min
Ag Emerge PodcastAgEmerge Podcast 141 with Dale Strickler of Regenerative WisdomDale Strickler is an author and regenerative consultant with over 30 years of experience in agronomy, pasture management, and soil and crop advising. Dale developed highly effective systems for numerous ranches, even in challenging climates and soil types. And what you’ll want to listen for is Monte and Dale’s conversation about the water cycle, what we’ve done to it, and the major impact it's had on our entire soil system. So join us as we tap into Dale's vast expertise and insights.
He has developed highly effective grazing systems for numerous ranches with a range of often challenging climat...2024-09-271h 16
Working Cows - Regenerative Ranching to Maximize Profitability and Soil HealthEp. 318 – Monte Bottens – Soil Health from Tillage Ground ZeroMonte Bottens of the Ag Emerge Podcast joined me to discuss his soil health journey. We discuss his experiences with consolidation, integrating livestock, and adopting soil health principles.
Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Sea-90!
You can reach them at www.sea-90.com or (770) 361-6092
At Home Continuing Ed:Regen Ag 101 by Understanding Ag
2023-08-191h 07
No-Till Farmer PodcastSoil Health, No-Till & The Regenerative Agriculture Movement With Monte BottensIn this episode of the No-Till Farmer Influencers & Innovators podcast, brought to you by Crop Vitality and Thio-Sul, editor Frank Lessiter sits down with Monte Bottens, a northwest Illinois no-tiller and the current CEO of Ag Solutions Network. Bottens talks about all things soil health and regenerative agriculture, including cover crops, ideal row widths, biologicals and his cattle operation.2023-06-021h 25
Ag Emerge Podcast105 AgEmerge Podcast Adrián Ferrero Co-Founder & CEO of Biome MakersThanks for joining us, today we are excited to welcome Adrián Ferrero, he is the Co-Founder & CEO of Biome Makers. With recognition from the Spanish Government, Illumina Accelerator, and MIT Technology Review —Adrián is a self-described entrepreneur on a mission to improve the world. And he is doing just that as he and his company work to have an impact on how we look at and utilize the soil. He says, “this work at the end of the day helps to improve the way we are farming, the way we preserve and restore the life of the soil, and al...2023-03-1458 min
Ag Emerge Podcast104 AgEmerge Podcast With Mike Callicrate - Callicrate Cattle Co & Ranch Foods DirectThanks for joining us, today we are excited to welcome Mike Callicrate a farmer-rancher, business entrepreneur, and family farm advocate. Mike’s knowledge, experience, and sheer will to make things happen will help you connect the dots in the world of farming, ranching, processing, ag tech, and ag markets. He and Monte have a robust conversation that will have your gears turning and probably have you asking, do these guys ever sleep?
A native of Evergreen, Colorado, Mike began his career by earning a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Colorado State University in 1975. After college, he started farming and...2023-02-281h 00
Ag Emerge Podcast103 AgEmerge Podcast With Ridge Shinn Executive Director of the Northeast Grass-fed Beef InitiativeThanks for joining us, today we are excited to welcome Ridge Shinn, Executive Director of the Northeast Grass-fed Beef Initiative and co-author of the book Grass-Fed Beef for a Post-Pandemic World.
He’s been a leader in the shift from feedlot production to raising cattle on a diet of 100% grass and forages. Today Monte and Ridge talk about everything from soil health, to cover crops to beef genetics, to available markets. It’s a great discussion wrapped up with a powerful message about the impacts of running ruminants on the land.
Watch episode: https://youtu.be/3PgoWjOmDt0
Ridge Shinn is the...2023-02-141h 00
Ag Emerge Podcast100 AgEmerge Podcast With Gabe BrownThanks for joining us and welcome to our 100th AgEmerge Podcast. It's hard to believe we've recorded 100 episodes with some of the great change makers in agriculture, from scientists, and researchers, to medical doctors and ag entrepreneurs, we’ve tried to bring you the full gamut of all things regenerative agriculture. Today is a pinnacle for us as we host Gabe Brown, our first on-stage AgEmerge Keynote speaker and one of the influential forces that challenged our thinking about the way we farm. There’s a great conversation ahead as Monte and Gabe take a three-hour deep dive into all thin...2023-01-033h 01
Ag Emerge Podcast097 AgEmerge Podcast with Monte Bottens CEO and Founder of Ag Solutions NetworkThanks for joining us, did you know that the Ag Emerge Podcast is just three episodes away from our 100th Episode!
We really value our listeners and we are excited to celebrate our 100th Episode with Gabe Brown, or as we like to call him, the guy who shifted Monte’s paradigm!
We are looking forward to a great conversation with Gabe that will air on Jan 3rd and if you’d like to submit a question you’ve got for Gabe or Monte, click on this link and send them our way.
https://forms.gle/PHAfz9cgJU1mWAA26
And, all th...2022-11-2239 min
Ag Emerge Podcast096 AgEmerge Podcast with Dan Kittredge Executive Director of the Bionutrient Food AssociationThanks for joining us, today we welcome Dan Kittredge. Dan has been an organic farmer for more than 30 years and the founder and Executive Director of the Bionutrient Food Association (BFA), a non-profit whose mission is to “increase quality in the food supply.” Dan has become one of the leading proponents of “nutrient density,” and works to demonstrate the connections between soil health, plant health, and human health through workshops and speaking engagements across the country and globe, the annual Soil and Nutrition Conference, and an increased presence online through social media, a YouTube channel, and an upcoming online course. Today he...2022-11-0854 min
Ag Emerge Podcast094 AgEmerge Podcast Dr. Mahdi Al - KaisiThanks for joining us, today we welcome Dr. Mahdi M. Al-Kaisi a Professor Emeritus of soil physics (soil management/environment), the Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. His research focuses on the effects of crops and tillage systems, crop residue, cover crops, and nitrogen application on soil carbon dynamics, sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions, and ecosystem services. Monte and Dr. Al-Kaisi really connected the dots when it comes to a systems approach, microbial function, soil carbon dynamics, and soil health.
Dr. Al-Kaisi studied the interaction effects of agricultural management practices and environmental factors such as weather variability and landscape...2022-10-111h 01
Ag Emerge Podcast093 AgEmerge Podcast with Jerry HattfieldThanks for joining us, today we welcome Jerry Hatfield, Jerry is the retired Director of the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment in Ames, Iowa, and his bio illustrates his passion and knowledge for helping growers improve their agronomic systems.
Much of Jerry’s focus has been on the evaluation of farming systems and their response to water and nitrogen interactions across soils and remote sensing methods to quantify field variation. A platform for his research utilizes the genetics by environment by management concept as a framework to work with producers to demonstrate how they can increase their pr...2022-09-271h 01
Ag Emerge Podcast089 AgEmerge Podcast Dr John Tooker Prof of EntomologyThanks for joining us, today we welcome Dr. John Tooker. Dr. Tooker is a Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Entomology at Pennsylvania State University. We have a great conversation with him as he discusses his research studying relationships among plants, invertebrate herbivores, and natural enemies to understand the factors that regulate populations of herbivorous insects and slugs.
Watch: https://youtu.be/l43o5aca-do
Dr. Tooker talks with Monte about how they are helping farmers observe what is happening in but also around their fields and using the power of observation while pausing to explore all the...2022-08-021h 04
Ag Emerge Podcast088 AgEmerge Podcast with Eric Jackson and Dr. Stephan van VlietThanks for joining us, today we welcome Eric Jackson and Dr. Stephan van Vliet, Eric currently serves as the Board Chair of the Bionutrient Food Association, on the BoD of Victory Hemp Foods and an advisor to Homeplate Foods, Water Asset Management, Other Half Processing and The Yield Lab. He is a Strategic Advisor to the Applied Ecological Institute and he also serves on the Steering Council for the Forever Green Partnership based out of the University of Minnesota. And since we last spoke with Dr. van Vliet, he has joined the Center for Human Nutrition Studies at Utah State...2022-07-1957 min
Ag Emerge Podcast087 AgEmerge Podcast - Alan Lewis Natural GrocersThanks for joining us, today we welcome Alan Lewis. Alan is the Vice President of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs at Natural Grocers. Alan navigates government affairs and food and agriculture policy for Natural Grocers, a Colorado based health food chain founded in 1955 with over 170 stores in 20 states. At the federal, state and local level, Alan engages on food, agriculture, nutrition, rural economic development, food safety, trade and health issues. He is active in several trade and advocacy organizations and is a fearless writer, speaker and activist.
Alan shares how his personal family story plays deeply into why he is so passionate...2022-07-051h 03
Ag Emerge Podcast085 AgEmerge Podcast Clint Brauer Greenfield RoboticsThanks for joining us, today we welcome Clint Brauer, CEO and Founder of Greenfield Robotics. Clint has a great story. He grew up farming in south-central Kansas and went to K State where he got into technology. After graduating from college and spending a decade plus in media and technology, in Los Angeles, San Fransisco, and New York, Clint decided to return to his roots in Kansas, launching MG Honor Farms on the family farmstead.
Clint began adopting regenerative ag principles but was frustrated with the limitations of current tools and technology for regenerative farming and the dream of organic...2022-06-0750 min
Ag Emerge Podcast084 AgEmerge Podcast Dr Fatma Kaplan - PheronymThanks for joining us, today we welcome Dr. Fatma Kaplan. She is the co-founder, CEO, and CSO of Pheronym. Not only is she an entrepreneur and accomplished scientist with experience in biology and chemistry, but she also has a passion for understanding the intricacies and behaviors of both parasitic and beneficial nematodes. Monte and Fatma explore everything from nematodes in agriculture to nematodes in space, yes space! Dr. Kaplan conducted the first agricultural biocontrol experiment in Space at the International Space Station in 2020.
Watch episode: https://youtu.be/tMsJvDQGpiI
Dr. Kaplan has a Ph.D. in Plant Molecular and Cellular...2022-05-2457 min
Ag Emerge Podcast083 AgEmerge Podcast - Paul Greive PasturebirdPaul Greive, is Pasturebird’s Co-founder and VP of Sales and Marketing, located in Temecula, California. Paul shares with us Pasturebird’s awesome story and what has driven their team to reinvent American poultry production. They’ve worked to scale the production of regenerative poultry, raising over two million chickens without antibiotics or drugs. They’ve kept their focus on the land, the animal, and the consumer all while improving the soil every year. Paul says, “we use nature as our template, and move animals to fresh pasture every day.” Listen in and Monte and Paul discuss this great American story of pas...2022-05-101h 00
Soil Solutions with Jessica Gnad - HPJ TalkPrecision Farming Tech, Crop Diversity with Livestock, and Regenerative Ag Principles feat. Monte BottensWelcome back to Soil Solutions with Jessica Gnad. This episode features Monte Bottens, a fifth-generation Illinois farmer who owns and operates Bottens Family Farm, Grateful Graze, is the Founder and CEO of Ag Solutions Network Inc., and host of the AgEmerge Podcast. Monte shares what regenerative ag means to him and how producers can get started with it themselves, focusing on what consumers actually want, and how his operation Grateful Graze is using soil health principles. Monte Bottens is a business owner, entrepreneur, and thought leader who has deep roots in agriculture. Raised as a...2022-05-0930 min
Ag Emerge Podcast082 AgEmerge Podcast with Brad SchmidtBrad Schmidt, is the Manager of Agronomy at Regeneration Nation. We’ve had the pleasure of knowing Brad for several years and he was one of the speakers at our first AgEmerge event back in 2019. Brad has a passion, not only for soil health but for bringing people together to share their regenerative management experiences. Brad had the opportunity to work and learn under Dr. Dwayne Beck at the Dakota Lakes Research Farm where he saw and experienced firsthand how these practices worked in some of the toughest soils. Listen in as Monte and Brad discuss the power of producer-based re...2022-04-2655 min
Ag Emerge Podcast081 AgEmerge Podcast With Ecdysis Foundation's Dr. Ryan Schmid and Tia BusenitzResearch scientist Dr. Ryan Schmid and student scientist, Tia Busenitz both from the Ecdysis Foundation, join us for episode 081. Ryan leads the foundation’s rangeland studies. His current research focuses on how regenerative grazing affects pollinator and dung arthropod communities, and how arthropods facilitate the cycling of nutrients in Grasslands. Tia’s current research is focused on honey bee health and hive management, as well as land management effects on pollinator conservation and survival.
Add passion and purpose to the pollinators, pastures and poop discussion. It’s folks like Ryan and Tia and all the researchers at Ecdysis that are helpin...2022-04-121h 03
Ag Emerge Podcast080 AgEmerge Podcast - Dr. Stephanie Seneff, MIT Senior Research ScientistDr. Stephanie Seneff, is a Senior Research Scientist at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
On this podcast Monte and Dr. Seneff discuss her research and work in understanding the role of toxic chemicals and micronutrient deficiencies in health and disease. Sometimes our topics are hard but necessary to hear. Hopefully, this conversation will encourage you to do some critical thinking about our production systems and how we can continue working to improve not only soil health but human health.
Dr. Seneff has a BS degree from MIT in biology and MS, EE and PhD...2022-03-291h 00
Ag Emerge Podcast079 AgEmerge Podcast With David Brandt: Learning and LegacyDavid Brandt of Brandt Farms and Walnut Creek Seed is a living legend. If you know your soil health, no-till history, and follow the leaders in these areas then you know how fortunate we are to get to visit with David.
He’s been no-tilling since 1971, back when they called it trash farming and a whole list of other things. But David would not be deterred, he continued to test systems, implement cover crops and utilize livestock to improve soil health. Listen in to this great conversation as he and Monte talk about the history, the present, and the exciting fu...2022-03-1558 min
Ag Emerge Podcast078 AgEmerge Podcast Russell Hedrick, Farmer & Co-Owner of Soil Regen, Regen Mills & Heritage GroundRussell Hedrick is a first-generation farmer in the foothills of Hickory, North Carolina.
Known as one of the most progressive young farmers in the country for his work utilizing soil health practices on his cash crops. He was just awarded as the winner of the North Carolina soybean yield record in 2021 and in 2017 he won the North Carolina Corn Yield Contest. He was the first person to win in the state using regenerative practices.
Russell's operation focuses on maximizing profits and direct consumer marketing for all their products, including corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, pastures beef and pork. He is the...2022-03-0152 min
Ag Emerge Podcast076 AgEmerge Podcast Nofence Grazing TechnologyNofence CTO Oscar Hovde Berntsen and CEO Knut Bentzen talk with us about how Nofence has worked to develop technology to graze animals and control moves using virtual fencing technology.
Monte discusses with them the opportunities virtual fencing could create through managed grazing utilizing daily or regular moves. They also explore other opportunities virtual fencing could provide through proper ground management and animal observation like where the animals move and how they graze.
Nofence is doing pilot projects in the United States so they can learn more about the needs of growers here in the US. This is an exciting...2022-02-011h 04
Ag Emerge Podcast074 AgEmerge Podcast with Dr. Liz Haney: Founder of Soil RegenDr. Liz Haney is Founder of Soil Regen and co-founder of Regen Mills and Heritage Ground. Liz is a soil and ecosystem scientist with experience in regenerative agriculture education, soil health testing and analyses, carbon as well as conservation practice modeling.
Today Monte and Liz unpack all of those areas including soil testing in the regenerative space, carbon, mobile milling, and everything in between. Listen in as we explore these topics!
Liz’s purpose, drive, and passion are helping to improve producer profitability, environmental sustainability, and human health through regenerative practices and soil health. Throughout her career, she has developed an...2022-01-0448 min
Ag Emerge Podcast073 AgEmerge Year End Edition: Thought Leaders, Growers, Entrepreneurs and ResearchersAg Solutions Network entered the soil health game with biologicals almost two decades ago. We’ve seen farmers and our dealer network successfully impact more and more acreage with a soil health first approach. In 2019, AgEmerge began as an event idea where we gathered awesome speakers along with a dynamic group of growers to really challenge old paradigms and have conversations that resulted in system changes. Since the AgEmerge events, we expanded learning opportunities to our AgEmerge podcast. You can find podcast episodes and all the previous AgEmerge event speakers on our Ag Solutions Network YouTube channel, linked in the sh...2021-12-2134 min
Ag Emerge Podcast072 AgEmerge Podcast: Monte Bottens Talks Harvest, Challenges, and What's NextMonte and Kim discuss a range of topics including some of the exciting things Monte’s been working on, thinking about, and implementing over the past year. This time of year also gives us an opportunity to evaluate what worked, and what didn’t, as well as explore new ideas and opportunities. And, we talk about some topics happening right now in agriculture.
Monte Bottens has deep roots in agriculture. Raised as a fifth-generation, northwestern Illinois farmer, Monte is a business owner, entrepreneur and thought leader. Monte began his farming career with two bred sows given to him by his gran...2021-12-0755 min
Ag Emerge Podcast070 AgEmerge Podcast - Dino Giacomazzi, CEO of Giacomazzi Almond Company, Inc.Dino Giacomazzi, is the CEO of Giacomazzi Almond Company, Inc and the 4th generation to manage his family’s farm founded in 1893 by his Swiss-Italian great-grandfather. The operation consists of 700 Acres of Almonds, 300 acres of Corn, wheat & Alfalfa, and 2 miniature donkeys.
Dino talks with us about his farming journey, including family farming identities, industry dynamics, new opportunities and the different pressures changing farming practices and improvements face. He and Monte also discuss the excitement and challenges of engaging the next generation in the paradigm shifting business of agriculture. Monte and Dino explore everything from dairy, to almonds and cover crops an...2021-11-091h 12
Ag Emerge Podcast069 AgEmerge Podcast Dr. Provenza: Livestock & Behavioral Ecology Impacts Soil, Plant & Human HealthDr. Fred Provenza, is Professor Emeritus of Behavioral Ecology in the Department of Wildland Resources at Utah State University where he directed an award-winning research group that pioneered an understanding of how learning influences foraging behavior and how behavior links soil, plants, herbivores, and humans. Today, he and Monte explore some of that research and the connections between animal and human nutrition.
Fred Provenza grew up in Salida, Colorado. He later worked on a ranch while attending school in Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University. He obtained a Master’s and a Ph.D. degree in Range Science from Utah St...2021-10-2659 min
Ag Emerge Podcast068 AgEmerge Podcast Dr. Don Huber - Professor Emeritus, Purdue UniversityThank you so much for joining us! It’s a true honor to get to speak with Dr. Don Huber Professor Emeritus of Plant Pathology at Purdue University. You’ll want to read Dr. Huber’s full bio in the show notes. He is a pioneer in his field, his experience, knowledge, and understanding of plant pathology and physiology is simply remarkable.
The AgEmerge podcast is committed to asking tough questions and seeking solutions. The work Dr. Huber began stemmed from one question he wanted to answer, “why crop rotation has such a dramatic effect on many of the plant diseases...2021-10-121h 03
Ag Emerge Podcast067 AgEmerge Podcast - Seth Watkins, Farmer and StewardSeth Watkins is a farmer from Clarinda, Iowa, and joins our podcast as he and Monte discuss what it looks like to think differently about our responsibilities as farmers. This summer Monte heard Seth’s TEDx talk about his passion for stewarding his land and where he said what he really wanted was clean water, healthy soils and happy cows. You’ll quickly hear that Seth wants to share what he’s learned on his journey from both his farm and his family’s perspective.
Seth is the fourth generation to care for his family’s heritage farm near Clarinda, Iowa. They...2021-09-2853 min
Ag Emerge Podcast064 AgEmerge Podcast - Sarah Carlson - PFIWe’ve got a great conversation with Sarah Carlson, Sarah is the Strategic Initiatives Director for PFI, Practical Farmers of Iowa. And well, there’s just a whole litany of things she does as an agronomist, agronomic researcher, educator, writer and just all-around amazing resource for everything cover crops, small grains, integrated crop and livestock concerns, all kinds of soil health practices and the list goes on and on. Today on the podcast she and Monte will dig into all these topics and so much more!
Sarah Carlson joined Practical Farmers of Iowa staff in the fall of 2007. Sarah is the...2021-08-1757 min
Ag Emerge Podcast062 AgEmerge Podcast Blaine Hitzfield Seven Sons FarmsWelcome our guest Blaine Hitzfield, a second generation farmer and business entrepreneur with a passion for regenerative agriculture. Blaine carved out an early life career by helping his family of seven brothers establish a farm-to-consumer food business that thousands of consumers know as Seven Sons Farms.
We discuss the success of the Seven Sons brand and how he and his family transitioned from conventional farming practices to regenerative pasture-based farming models. Monte and Blaine cover everything from disruption of the food system, impact on local communities, customer trust, and loyalty, and utilizing technology to make it all happen.
After graduating...2021-07-2059 min
Ag Emerge Podcast059 Joe Bassett - Dawn Equipment And Underground AgHave you ever wanted to brainstorm with an ag-tech / equipment manufacturer? Well, that’s just what we did on today’s podcast. Joe Bassett, CEO of Dawn Equipment and Underground Ag joins us to discuss the full gamut of equipment, technology, software, management practices and, farming mindsets that drive research, development, investment and, implementation of these technologies.
Grab a cup of coffee and hold on tight as Monte and Joe dig through all these topics.
More about Joe: Joe studied Physics at the University of Iowa and has owned Dawn Equipment since 2015. He founded Underground Agriculture in 2019. Joe and his wife...2021-06-081h 09
Ag Emerge Podcast058 AgEmerge 2021 Monte Bottens: Soil Health, Spring, Innovation and Ag TechHave you ever heard the saying, “the second mouse gets the cheese?” Well, today we’ll talk about the work and practical research Monte Bottens and his team are doing on the farm to discern practices that do and don’t work as we continue to fine-tune this system we call regenerative agriculture. As Monte says, they work to be the first mouse, taking one for the team so you, the second mouse can get the cheese! We discuss everything from planting green, companion cropping, livestock integration, and all the ag-tech both present and future to support these endeavors. And, we go on...2021-05-2551 min
Ag Emerge Podcast057 AgEmerge Podcast: Will Harris - White Oak PasturesThanks for joining us today, we always enjoy visiting with all our guests on the podcast and Monte was particularly excited to speak with our guest today, Will Harris of White Oak Pastures. Will has been recognized all over the world as a leader in humane animal husbandry and environmental sustainability. As a fourth-generation cattleman, he and his family were raising livestock in the typical conventional methods, but in the mid-1990’s Will became disenchanted with the excesses of these industrialized methods. They’d created a monoculture for their cattle, and, as Will says, "nature abhors a monoculture." In 1995, Will made...2021-05-1159 min
Ag Emerge Podcast053 AgEmerge 2021 Podcast - Monte Bottens presents Fear The SameOn today’s podcast, Ag Solutions Network brings you the address Monte delivered for our virtual AgEmerge event this past January. Watch it on YouTube at this link: https://bit.ly/2TRqObn
Monte examines the why of making changes in your farming operation. Why regenerative ag? Why are we so passionate about soil health? Simply put, sustaining is not enough. He explores what it looks like to adopt these changes, what barriers we have to overcome, what success and yes, just as important, what failures we’ve seen as we improve our farming system. And it all starts with soil heal...2021-03-1637 min
Ag Emerge Podcast052 AgEmerge Podcast 2021 Live Q&A SessionHave you ever wished you could have a cup of coffee or a cold beverage with leading soil health and regenerative ag thinkers? Well that’s just what we made possible for you as we recorded our live Q&A session from our AgEmerge event where our speakers, Ray Archuleta, Rick Clark, Loren Poncia, and Tommy Fenster join Monte Bottens and Dawn Bull in an engaging conversation of Scaling up Regenerative Ag.
This year's AgEmerge event was a lot different because it was virtual. We missed the buzz of morning conversations at breakfast, the great ocean views and delicious food. Bu...2021-03-021h 30
Ag Emerge Podcast050 AgEmerge 50th Episode! Learning Curves.Welcome to our 50th podcast! We're excited to share this episode with you! Today, we’re going to talk about the journey the Bottens family has been on to adopt key soil health practices in their operation. And we’ll talk about the family connection between farming and adopting change with our special guests, Monte’s dad, Bob Bottens, Monte’s wife Robyn and Monte!
You know, there’s a proverb that says: By wisdom, a house is built, and through understanding, it is established; through knowledge, its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
The goal of the AgEmerge P...2021-02-0255 min
Ag Emerge Podcast049 AgEmerge 2021 Podcast - Dr. Dwayne Beck Dakota Lakes Research FarmToday we’re so excited to have Dr. Dwayne Beck join us from the Dakota Lakes Research Farm in Pierre, SD. Dr. Beck’s work on developing and promoting diverse no-till cropping systems played an important role in allowing producers in South Dakota to dramatically improve their profitability while also protecting soil and water resources; enhancing wildlife habitat; reducing net carbon dioxide emissions; improving air quality and having other positive impacts. The question is, how do you cover everything that Dr. Dwayne knows, in one hour? Well, the answer is, you can’t. But what we did do is cover some k...2021-01-191h 05
Ag Emerge Podcast048 AgEmerge 2021 - John HeermannWe’ve got a great guest to kick off this new year, it’s a grassroots discussion with John Heermann, a farmer from northeast Colorado. John was a guest at one of our events back in 2016 and really got our gears turning when it came to thinking differently about how we saw our management practices. He challenged us to look at how cover crops were changing the way the soil functioned. John really had a paradigm shift of his own when he saw the rainfall simulator showing five different management systems. And when he saw the no-till pan with no cove...2021-01-051h 05
Ag Emerge Podcast044. AgEmerge 2021 Speakers Announcement: And the lineup is ...In today’s episode, join us as Monte, Kim and, Megan announce the speaker line-up for AgEmerge! As you might expect, there are some modifications to the delivery, due to the pandemic, but the great news is, that hasn’t affected the awesome lineup of speakers that are participating in the AgEmerge event.
This year we are focusing on Scaling Up Regenerative Agriculture. It’s time to ramp it up and put these practices into action. But first, we want to start with a little background to help you understand how AgEmerge came to be and why these conversations are so imp...2020-11-1036 min
Ag Emerge Podcast043. AgEmerge Podcast - Systems approach, creating efficiencies & greater outcomes in California ag.AgEmerge is brought to you by Ag Solutions Network and one of the things we think makes us unique is that we are the boots on the ground helping growers navigate a systems approach to regenerative agriculture. Today we discuss what that looks like with our guest Silas Rossow. Silas is President of California Ag Solutions, and one of the member dealers that makes up the Ag Solutions Network. Silas and his team focus on seeking out the very best practices for California growers and much of that focus comes from his love of agriculture and technology. We’re going to...2020-10-2753 min
Ag Emerge Podcast040. 2020 AgEmerge Podcast -Larry KandarianThere's great work being done, building a new ag paradigm and we'll be talking about all of that work at our 2021 AgEmerge Event. Save the date, January 6th, 2021. Stay tuned as we will have more information on all the details and speakers joining us for this great event.
Go to www.agemerge.com and subscribe to receive event information updates.
Today Larry Kandarian of Kandarian Organic Farms joins us as we have a great conversation about the soil and plant management practices that Larry has adopted over the years to build healthy plants and soils. Larry’s journey is evidence th...2020-09-1555 min
Ag Emerge Podcast039. 2020 AgEmerge Podcast - The Rhizophagy Cycle And Its "Plant Managers"So good we gave it a reboot! And we think we'll have you doing your own system reboot as we talk research on plant, microbe, and soil interactions.
It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing the AgEmerge podcast for a year and a half. Today we’re doing a reboot with a podcast we recorded early on in our podcasts, why? Because this is some cool research that's helping us understand the incredible interaction between plants, microbes, the soil. And honestly, it’s a big deal. Dr. James White is Professor of Plant Biology at Rutgers University and he and h...2020-09-0130 min
Ag Emerge Podcast038. Marketing Agriculture with an Educator’s Heart with Megan SilcottIn today’s episode, we meet Megan Silcott. She’s a Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo graduate, where she earned her undergrad degree in Agricultural Science with minors in Ag Business, Ag Communications, and Spanish, and a master’s in Agricultural Education.
Following undergrad, Megan worked for a commercial fertilizer company and learned the ins and outs of bulk production, sales, and marketing. In 2011 she transitioned to a lecturer within the Animal Science and Agricultural Education and Communication Departments at her alma mater.
She advised the Western Bonanza Junior Livestock show and managed the Brock Center for Agricultural Communication. Megan taught...2020-08-181h 04
Ag Emerge Podcast037. AgEmerge 2020 Hang on cause this soil just grew legs!What’s the win-win product of integrating livestock on the land? Grateful Graze will tell you it’s great-tasting pastured protein. In today’s episode, we’re continuing the conversation we began a few weeks ago on the podcast when the Bottens Family Farm livestock team discussed the fifth principle of soil health that promotes the synergistic role between plants, animals, and soil. Today we’ll continue the conversation as we examine the product of good soil health practices. Grateful Graze markets the pastured and grass-fed proteins raised on Bottens Family Farm. Listen in as Monte talks about what it looks like...2020-08-041h 00
Ag Emerge Podcast036. 2020 AgEmerge - Norm BrownOn today’s podcast, take a rest from the tractor seat and hop into the office seat for a fresh view of one of your most important resources, your data.
More than ever, as we explore new practices in regenerative agriculture, the importance of accurate, timely, data collection and practices can be critical to the success of an operation. Today we’re discussing what growers are doing to capture costs and get a true picture of what is happening on their farms and ranches.
We often talk about the five soil health principles but today we’re going to discuss the ei...2020-07-2139 min
Ag Emerge Podcast035. AgEmerge 2020 Livestock Integration with Bottens Family Farm Livestock TeamOn today’s episode, the livestock team from Bottens Family Farms, joins us to talk about livestock integration and what that diversity means for the farm and the soil. You’ve heard us talk so much about the soil health principles and today we’re going to focus on the last of those principles, livestock integration. This fifth principle describes the synergistic role between plants, animals and soil. Livestock are an important part of soil health and today we’ll explore the journey Bottens Family Farm and their livestock team has taken to integrate livestock in a regenerative system. This is a lea...2020-07-071h 19
Ag Emerge Podcast034. 2020 AgEmerge Podcast - Steve Groff founder of Cover Crop CoachingSteve and Monte have long discussed, researched, and evaluated the use of cover crops, but not only that, they’ve discovered so much through this journey. Join us as they explore what they’ve learned and what the future of cover crop management looks like, the equipment available today that has improved the adoption of these practices. One point they hit home is treating your cover crop like your cash crop. We also explore what cover crops look like within specialty and perennial crops.
Steve Groff and his family, farm 215 acres of cash grain crops, cover crops for seed, pumpkins, hard...2020-06-2358 min
Ag Emerge Podcast033. 2020 AgEmerge Podcast - Dr. Richard Mulvaney on nitrogen and the soil.AgEmerge focuses on changing paradigms. When you change paradigms, you change how you think about things. In agriculture, we’ve had to change how we think about things, things like tillage, soil biology, mono-cropping, soil health, fertilizer, and how we use, the list goes on and on.
Mark Twain once said, “What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so.”
Today Dr. Richard Mulvaney joins us on the podcast as we discuss how we think about nitrogen. A native Illinoisan with a longstanding interest in soil science and agrono...2020-06-0955 min
Ag Emerge Podcast032. Dr. David Montgomery on soil, civilizations, geology, biology, and regenerative ag systems.In this wide-ranging episode, we take an inspiring soil journey through the eyes of Dr. David Montgomery, telling us his story of exploring how soils shaped human civilizations. That exploration resulted in his book “Dirt, The Erosion of Civilizations” and lead to more learning as he investigated the connections between the geology and biology of the soil.
Dr. Montgomery delves into the messy nature of nature and how we’ve come to understand the connections between microbial ecology and the health of crops. Key discoveries of how plants get their nutrition and tee up their defense systems have given us a grea...2020-05-2658 min
Ag Emerge Podcast031. AgEmerge Podcast: Dr. LaKisha Odom Foundation For Food and Agriculture ResearchToday Dr. LaKisha Odom joins us on the podcast. Dr. Odom is a Scientific Program Director at the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research where she pursues her commitment to promoting the use of innovative science, collective impact, and the development of public private partnerships to tackle today’s complex challenges in food and agriculture. She is also extremely committed to cultivating increased diversity in a new generation of food and agriculture scientists.
At FFAR, Dr. Odom spearheads scientific direction of the Soil Health challenge area and manages a portfolio of projects that address issues in sustainable water management, plant ef...2020-05-1255 min
Ag Emerge Podcast030. AgEmerge Podcast: Accelerating change and how this pandemic is affecting American agriculture.Accelerating change: Learning, problem solving and how this pandemic is affecting American agriculture.
Warren Graeff joins us today on the AgEmerge Podcast. Warren is the Senior Vice President, Agriculture Market Manager at PNC Bank and leads the Ag Banking Group throughout the PNC footprint. Since joining PNC in 2007 he developed and implemented the mission and strategy for the PNC Ag Banking Group to provide farmers and agribusinesses with a full range of deposit, credit, and financially related services.
We tap into Warren’s wealth of knowledge in agriculture, leadership and finance while exploring the current conditions, challenges and opportunities we ar...2020-04-2850 min
Ag Emerge Podcast029. 2020 AgEmerge Podcast with Nutritional Therapist Emily CollingwoodToday, Nutritional Therapist Emily Collingwood joins us on the AgEmerge Podcast. As a nutritional therapist Emily consults with her clients, helping them to identify and solve diet-related health concerns. Emily is also the creator of the Facebook Group called "Green Avocado Gang!" where she shares ideas, recipes, and encouragement for her followers as they develop healthy eating habits.
Emily shares her personal journey of how she uses nutrient-dense foods to help address and solve the health issues she was facing and in turn, she wanted to use her knowledge to help others find solutions too.
This podcast explores the importance...2020-04-1457 min
Ag Emerge Podcast028. Dr. Wayne Honeycutt from Soil Health Institute discussing the full measure of soil health.This week on the AgEmerge Podcast... Dr. Wayne Honeycutt
Dr. Honeycutt is the President and CEO of the Soil Health Institute where he leads the Institute’s programs to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of soils.
Among his wealth of experience, Dr. Honeycutt has served as the Deputy Chief for Science and Technology with the USDA-NRCS in Washington, DC, and as a Research Soil Scientist with the USDA-ARS just to name a few. His experience in research in the field of soil health is extensive and you can check out his full bio on the Soil Health Institute we...2020-03-311h 00
Ag Emerge Podcast027. Satellite technology leveraged to create value in agricultureToday on the AgEmerge podcast, Zara Khan joins us as we discuss how satellite technology can be leveraged to create value in agriculture. Planet has developed the largest constellation of Earth-imaging satellites, which are capturing near-daily imagery of every field across the globe. What’s exciting about the work Zara is leading is that we are just at the beginning of unlocking the potential of this vast and unprecedented empirical dataset. Zara also shares how the technology is being used by other actors such as government and humanitarian agencies.
You can also learn more about Planet by visiting their website, fo...2020-03-171h 00
Ag Emerge Podcast026. AgEmerge 2020 Podcast: Farm Dog with Liron BrishLearn about a digital hub for crop scouting, field observations, and treatment decisions in our podcast with guest Liron Brish, the CEO of Farm Dog. Farm Dog provides digital pest and disease management solutions for growers, agronomists, and Extension Agents across 1.5 million acres. In addition to being Farm Dog’s CEO, Liron serves on the California Department of Agriculture grant review board, the Advisory Board of the iPiPE integrated pest management initiative and is a partner in farm-to-fork restaurants in Texas.
https://farmdog.ag/2020-03-031h 08
Ag Emerge Podcast025. Seeking out innovation, technology and successful practices supporting soil health principles.In today’s episode, we’ve got a wide-ranging discussion recapping the great ideas explored at this year’s AgEmerge event including Dr. Dwayne Beck’s recommended book list. We’ll talk about Monte’s travels to the Grassfed conference and what he learned from Dr. Fred Provenza, a speaker at the conference.
Also, what does it look like to implement a stacked enterprise model? Monte will discuss some ideas and experiences that lead to wanting to explore this model. There’s a little something for everyone as we continue to seek out innovation, technology and successful practices that support soil health pr...2020-02-1841 min
Cover Crop Strategies PodcastCover Crops And Forage: A Win-WinUsing cover crops as forage for livestock is a profitable and effective way to make cover crops a win-win situation. Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff welcomes guest speaker Monte Bottens, a California crop consultant, in this week’s podcast to discuss how to choose the best cover crop mixes for grazing, how to scale regenerative agriculture, how cash cropping can mesh with grazing livestock, and more. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)2020-02-0450 min
Ag Emerge Podcast024. Walter Lynn AgEmerge 2020 PodcastWalter Lynn combines his wealth of experience as a CPA coupled with his desire to further soil health initiatives into a great portfolio of knowledge. He’ll tell you how he learned that you can’t have economic and financial rewards without biological capital and that’s just one of the great nuggets of info we’ll tap into today. He's worked with clients across the states and serves as the current chairman of Holistic Management International in Albuquerque, NM and the current CEO of Understanding Ag, LLC.2020-02-041h 02
Ag Emerge Podcast023. 2020 AgEmerge: Panel DiscussionWe’re mixing it up a little today on the
AgEmerge Podcast. We’ve just gotten back from the AgEmerge event in Monterey, California and we’re pretty pumped up from all the learning and exchanging of ideas that went on. The venue and the food were pretty great too! This episode is a recording of our panel discussion we held while at the conference. Three of our panelists are growers from California and the other three are their support team from California Ag Solutions. This is a real, unprompted, unfiltered discussion centering around how they’ve chosen to adopt regenerative...2020-01-211h 07
Ag Emerge Podcast020. AgEmerge 2020 - Accelerating knowledge - Facilitating leadership - Equipping for action.Wondering what all the AgEmerge excitement is about? Monte and Kim discuss all things AgEmerge like all the emerging trends in agriculture, not to mention the great lineup of speakers including Dwayne Beck, Keith Berns, and Zach Bush. You won't want to miss this discussion and you won't want to miss AgEmerge 2020 in Monterey, California. Join us January 7th - 9th in beautiful Monterey for a conference that will leave you energized and equipped for breaking out of the old ag paradigm. It's not too late to be part of this awesome event!
For more info and to register, visit...2019-11-1952 min
Strip-Till Farmer PodcastPutting Soil Health Principles to Work in Your Strip-Till PracticeIn this episode of the Strip-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Topcon Agriculture, we're joined by Cambridge, Ill., farmer Monte Bottens who shares the structure of the starting out in strip-till program he launched, along with proven tips and tools for achieving early returns on the system.2019-11-0122 min
Ag Emerge Podcast018. AgEmerge 2019 - Zach Bush PodcastToday Zach Bush, MD joins Monte and Kim on this episode of the AgEmerge Podcast. Dr. Zach is a triple board-certified physician and internationally-recognized educator on the intersection of the microbiome with human health/disease and our food production systems. His work is giving new insights into root-cause solutions in the sectors of farming, big pharma, and Western Medicine at large. Zach’s work in both for-profit and nonprofit arenas alike is creating avenues to foster collaborative action for all stakeholders in the global community, promoting a regenerative future of health for the planet and our children.
Learn more at ww...2019-10-2154 min
Ag Emerge Podcast017. Blockchain - not your Grandpa’s data.You’ve got data? Agriculture is full of data, collected from every tractor, planter, combine, plant, you name it, there’s no lack of data. On this episode, Monte and Kim talk about how blockchain can harness the masses of data in agriculture to wrangle everything collected into a useful system.
Then, Kim is joined with Erin Vincent, she’s a software developer, but more than that, she’s a proponent of blockchain and the possibilities in agriculture. She joins us on this episode of AgEmerge where we discuss not only what blockchain is, but the unlimited opportunities to harness data for...2019-10-0843 min
Ag Emerge Podcast016. Monte & Kim – State of the Union, School of Hard Knocks and all things Soil HealthJoin Monte and Kim today with their “State of the Union” as they cover all things soil health from their travels this summer, including the National Strip-Till conference and the Farm Progress Show. One key concept they discuss is how the soil health principles are solid and transfer uniformly across the globe but the practices are always local and can even vary from field to field, depending on soil types, cropping system rotations, irrigations, water availability, etc.
They discuss the compounding effects of what our rotational decisions make over time when we look at maximizing diversity. What does that diversity mean...2019-09-241h 02
Ag Emerge Podcast011. Cary Crum — Crazy Ideas Put to ActionOn this week's episode of the AgEmerge Podcast, Monte & Kim talk with Cary Crum, a Customer Account Manager at California Ag Solutions.
Cary Crum hears the phrase “that is crazy and will never work” and proceeds confidently. He’s passionate about finding the best farming practices and is driven to help farmers in California bring their operations to the next level with a systems approach. He talks about the revelations he’s had over the years about the principles of soil health, and both the rewards and challenges that growers encounter during the process of transforming an operation to regenerative practice...2019-07-1654 min
Ag Emerge Podcast010. Brad Schmidt – Generational Farming & GrowthOn this episode of the AgEmerge Podcast Monte and Kim sit down with Brad Schmidt – a farmer from South Dakota, agronomist for Ducks’ Unlimited, AgEmerge alumni, and soil health enthusiast. As you can tell from his introduction, Brad is all-in for changing the face of agriculture. It’s heartening to listen as Brad expands on his experiences over the years describing how he and his family converted their farm from conventional to regenerative practices. Brad goes on to explain what those changes look like for them today. They also delve into some of the different Ducks Unlimited conservation endeavors including soil h...2019-07-0245 min
Ag Emerge Podcast009. Monte & Kim – Farming for more than a perfect year.The corn belt has had a trying time this year due to a lot of extreme weather. On this episode of the AgEmerge podcast, our hosts, Monte & Kim talk about how implementing the five principles of soil health has helped Monte’s farm in Illinois. They also discuss the market in Western regions and the benefits of creating cropping plans for more than just a perfect year.
Cover crop video: https://www.facebook.com/bottensfamilyfarm/videos/381412612463178/
Jason Mauck’s field day: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lpLu7FUz-_Pr4NboQcpKyzy_x9m2c5GiBl2ro1SLq7k/edit#slide=id.p...2019-06-1848 min
Ag Emerge Podcast008. Tristan Wright – Radical changes in AZOn this windy episode of the AgEmerge Podcast, Monte Bottens & Tristan Wright talk about all of the out-of-the-box ideas that Tristan is implementing on his farm in Roll, Arizona. This is a challenging area for growers, with high heat, high ET, salty soils in the valley floor, and very porous soil in the Mesa. Tristan has decided to make some radical changes on his operation to overcome some substantial challenges. He is switching to no-till and integrating cover crops to increase the water holding capacity. He’s even considering integrating livestock to add more carbon and further restore the soil.2019-06-0420 min
Ag Emerge Podcast006. James White, Part 2 – Something is happening between plants & microbes and it’s a big deal!Today on the podcast we continue our conversation with Dr. James White. In this Part #2 installment Kim Sheese and Monte Bottens discuss with Dr. White the implications and applications of what we’ve learned about the rhizophagy cycle.
This knowledge may help us to understand and think about some of the things we’ve seen with virulent diseases that we’ve seen in the corn belt, or in produce, or cotton.
The rhizophagy cycle is a mechanism where plants attract microbes and acquire needed nutrients. But even more interesting, there’s also a mechanism where plants can actually cultivate their most ben...2019-05-0738 min
Ag Emerge Podcast005. James White, Part 1 – Something is happening between plants & microbes and it’s a big deal!Today on the podcast Dr. James White sits down with Kim Sheese and Monte Bottens to elaborate on his rhizophagy cycle research. Join us as we explore what’s going on in the plant, microbe and soil rhizosphere, it’s fascinating!
The rhizophagy cycle is a mechanism where plants attract microbes and acquire needed nutrients. But even more interesting, there’s also a mechanism where plants can actually cultivate their most beneficial microbes and then populate the soil with those microbes so they can maximize nutrient acquisition.
We’re looking at the soil, plant and microbe interaction from a whole new pers...2019-04-2329 min
Ag Emerge Podcast003. Jeff Mitchell — Test Plot InsightsFrom one of his test plots in Five Points, California, Dr. Jeff Mitchell talks with Monte about a few of the studies he’s conducted over the years. Listen to their discussion about his observations in yield, carbon, and microbial activity when comparing conventional tillage to no-till plots with and without cover crops. Some of these studies have been ongoing with recorded observations starting in 1999! Jeff also shares some insights from the 15 different plot trials being conducted to monitor how cover crops affect soil-water content and water depletion.
Jeff wants to continue and grow the conversations that began at AgEmerge. If...2019-03-2625 min
Ag Emerge Podcast002. Scott Park — Integrating LivestockMonte had the opportunity to catch up with Scott Park after a soil health conference in Paicines, California. Scott Park is the owner of Park Farming Organics in Meridian, CA and was a speaker at AgEmerge 2019. Monte & Scott talk about the logistics of implementing livestock on their fields, and how they can create a revenue stream while reducing compost cost and building microbial activity in the soil.
Learn more about AgEmerge:
www.AgEmerge.com
Learn more about Park Farming Organics:
http://www.parkfarmingorganics.com/2019-03-1215 min
Ag Emerge Podcast001. Monte Bottens — What inspired AgEmerge?Kim Sheese & Monte Bottens sit down and talk about what inspired the AgEmerge Event and Community.
For more information about the AgEmerge Event and Community, visit www.AgEmerge.com2019-02-2522 min