The Evolution of Eco Agriculture with John Kempf - #4

In this episode of the Acres USA Podcast, host Taylor Henry welcomes Mark Kastel, a passionate advocate for family farmers and organic farming. Mark shares his inspiring journey from working with Agribusiness Giants to pioneering organic farming practices in the 1980s, driven by his personal health transformation. As the Executive Director of Organic Eye, Mark continues to fight for economic justice and the principles of organic farming. The conversation delves into the history and challenges of the organic movement, regulatory issues, and the importance of authentic organic certification. Tune in to learn how Mark's work aims to preserve the integrity and sustainability of eco-agriculture in today’s food system. Important Links from Today's Episode: https://members.acresusa.com/ https://www.acresusa.com/ https://organiceye.org/

Insights from 'A Farmer's Guide to the Bottom Line' by Charles Walters In this special episode of the Acres USA podcast, Taylor Henry shares a recording from Acres USA founder Charles Walters. The recording features an overview of Walters' book, 'A Farmer's Guide to the Bottom Line,' which compiles stories and knowledge gained from decades of visiting small farms and his own business experiences.  Walters provides practical advice for small farmers on running their farms ecologically and successfully. Topics discussed include the challenges faced by farmers, the importance of direct selling, and the pitfalls of commodity farming. Walters also addresses the significance of having a robust business plan and harnessing the power of small businesses in agriculture.  The episode concludes with a Q&A session where Walters interacts with the audience, discussing the shift towards sustainable and organic farming, and the potential threats posed by large corporations. Thanks for listening! Pick up your copy of 'A Farmer's Guid to the Bottom Line' at: https://bookstore.acresusa.com/ Check out more archival content like this at: https://members.acresusa.com/

This episode of the Acres USA podcast, hosted by Taylor Henry, features Gary Zimmer sharing his experiences with sustainable dairy farming and nutrition. The discussion covers his work in Hawaii with pineapple hay, the challenges of insecticides, and his journey from college to practical farming. Key topics include quality forage, mineral balance, soil health, cow comfort, optimal feeding strategies, the impact of stray voltage, and the use of sexed semen. Additionally, the podcast delves into best practices for transitioning livestock from a grain to a grass-based diet, emphasizing a gradual shift to medium-quality grass to prevent health issues. The episode explains the benefits of organic farming and the importance of proper animal rearing in achieving sustainable agricultural practices.

In this episode of the Acres USA podcast, host Taylor Henry interviews Harriet Behar, an organic inspector and educator, about sustainable farming practices and the prevention of organic fraud in the supply chain. Behar shares her extensive experience with organic farming, describing her work on her certified organic farm and her involvement with the National Organic Standards Board and the Organic Farmers Association. The discussion focuses on recent regulatory changes to strengthen organic enforcement and improvements in organic livestock standards, highlighting the importance of maintaining integrity in the organic certification process.

Tune into this in-depth conversation between John Kempf and Taylor Henry. They cover Kempf's transition to regenerative practices, the establishment of Advancing Eco-Agriculture, the community-driven approach, and the prediction of widespread adoption. Additionally, they explore the current adoption landscape, emphasizing mindset shifts, technological advancements, and the imperative of investing in agri-tech for sustainable practices in agriculture.

This is the first podcast of a series with Gary Zimmer, where Acres owner and CEO, Taylor Henry, will sit down with Gary and discuss what steps led him to where he is at currently in his life. On this episode, they talk about how Gary was raised on a dairy farm over on the East side of Wisconsin. They discuss Gary's time at the University of Madison, Wisconsin, his experiences in Hawaii, becoming a professor in Winona, finding his way back to Wisconsin, and buying a farm in the Spring Green area. Through the conversations, they discuss how he came to found Midwest BioAg and how he became a staple Acres USA author and presenter at our yearly Eco-Ag conference in December.

Introducing a brand new podcast from Acres U.S.A. - ⁠The Acres U.S.A. Podcast!⁠ On this second episode, listen to insights from Dan Kittredge, founder of Bionutrient Food Association (BFA), and discussions around sustainable agriculture, regenerative practices, nutrient density in food like beef and wheat, meter development for measurement, the importance of open-source science, funding challenges, soil health, biological systems principles, and upcoming conferences on nutrient density and regenerative agriculture.

Introducing a brand new podcast from Acres U.S.A. - The Acres U.S.A. Podcast! In this inaugural episode, your host Taylor Henry delves deep into the world of sustainable farming and regenerative practices. Joined by guest expert Steve Diver, a seasoned horticulturist and organic farming guru, they explore the fascinating realm of herbicides in organic farming. From cultural practices to cover crops, they unravel the secrets of weed control while preserving soil health. Discover the evolution of organic herbicides, the environmental impact of conventional counterparts, and groundbreaking techniques to minimize toxicity on farms. Join us as we journey through the history of regenerative agriculture and unveil the core principles uniting sustainable farming methodologies. Tune in and cultivate a greener future with The Acres U.S.A. Podcast!

Taylor, Nathanial, and David delve into the world of organic certification, revealing insights on recent regulation updates and the Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule. They cover the importance of certification, challenges in compliance, benefits for producers, and the role of technology in maintaining organic standards. Their conversation provides practical advice on documentation, compliance technology, market stability, and product quality, essential for understanding and managing organic certification processes effectively.

On this special edition of the Tractor Time podcast, hosted by Taylor Henry, CEO of Acres U.S.A., we delve into sustainable farming, regenerative practices, and organic certification with guest Sam Welsh from OneCert, Inc. This podcast was made possible by the partnership between Acres U.S.A. and OCIA. The USDA's Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) is aimed at educating producers on transitioning to organic farming through white papers, webinars, podcasts, and on-farm events. Sam Welsh shares his journey from executive director at OCIA to founding OneCert in 2003 and its growth to include a global certification agency. The episode covers organic certification processes, the role of certifiers, integrity in the organic certification world, the new fraud prevention updates, and challenges with organic certification. Sam shares insights on the importance of record keeping, mentoring for aspiring organic farmers, and navigating the complexities of organic certification in the face of evolving standards and expectations.