Roots + Ruminants

Jared and Justin are catching up this week on current happenings in agriculture and politics following recent events. Hear the pair discuss how changing incentives could impact commodity agriculture and grazing systems, as well as the role of seed oils and ethanol in the future of farming. Tune in for an in-depth look at where the agricultural industry might be headed following the election.

Justin is going solo this week with special guest Karl Palmberg, a retired Air-Force Veteran who runs a farm near Larchwood, Iowa. Karl is working towards fully organic practices and specializes in grass-fed beef and the science behind sustainable farming. Tune in to hear to Karl talk about how his time in the Air Force relates to his experiences on the farm and his approach to farming as a whole.

We are headed north! Well, not actually, but this week our guest joins us from all the way up in Alberta, Canada. Jolene Noble from Jackknife Creek Land & Cattle joins Jared and Justin to dive into swath grazing and what it looks like on her operation. Hear how she and her family use swathing to help reduce feed, labor, and handling costs on their cattle operation. Tune in!

Ohlde Cattle Company has been breeding “cattle with a purpose” near Palmer, Kansas for years. This week Tim Ohlde and his wife Trudy join Jared and Justin to discuss the history and details of beef genetics. Tune in this week to hear the four discuss everything from breeding functional traits in cattle to innovative grazing techniques using rye and triticale. 

Bison are back! This week Jared and Justin are talking about bison marketing and production with third generation producer Kadyn Nolz. Kadyn helps run his family’s bison farm near Hartford, South Dakota, where they have been raising and breeding buffalo for years. Tune in to learn more about their unique operation!

Jared and Justin are going back to their roots today and just chit chatting about all things agriculture. Listen to them dive into ag policy and what’s happening in our world, and about how things are going on their own operations. You won’t want to skip this one! 

Will Harris from White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia joins Jared and Justin this week to talk all things grass, cows, and money. Harris runs an operation focused on radically traditional farming where he uses regenerative and humane farming practices. Listen to this week’s episode to hear the three discuss why Will turned away from industrial agriculture techniques and how his operation morphe...

This week hosts Jared and Justin discuss crop rotations, cattle, and other hot topics along with guest Craig Bieber. As Jared said, Craig "paints the picture" of what his operation looks like and describes the history of how his practices have evolved over the years. Tune in to hear the cattle and forage discussion between these three gentlemen. 

Luke Hiebert is from the same area as our host, Jared. Jared, Justin and Luke spend this episode chatting about the spring they've had so far (spoiler: it's thrown them some curveballs) and problem solving for real-life scenarios Luke's experiencing on his farm. Plus, there's a graze it, harvest it, rent it out scenario with conflicting answers. Just three real farmers talking...

Grazing hogs and honeybees... well, kind of. Listen to hosts Jared and Justin chat with Rob Dowdle of Dowdle Family Farms in Steens, Mississippi about how he raises pigs, cattle, and honeybees. Throughout the episode, the guys discuss the details of raising honeybees, how Rob is trying to accomplish year-round grazing with his livestock, what it's like to be from a "humble" state li...

Dodge Slead of Lebo, Kansas is no stranger to unique farming strategies – even if that strategy means NOT farming. Yes, you read that right. Dodge and his wife run a bison and beef operation, as well as traditional row crop farming. On this episode, he breaks down why he decided to try bison farming, how he manages his livestock, why he felt called to take a year off from growing crops entirely, a...

All your questions will be answered on July 2nd at the Renovo Rally plot day in Brookings, South Dakota. The event will feature sessions on incentive programs, product info, breakthrough crop strategies, and more. And of course, there will be plot tours, warehouse tours, and a great meal. Get all the details and register to attend at www.renovoseed.com/plot/.

No guest this week, there are too many spring things to catch up on! Jared and Justin are filling us all in on where their own operations sit this spring, what they're hearing from other farmers and ranchers, and how they prioritize when everything needs to be done at once. Just two farmer friends chatting about everyday farm things - what more could you want?

“We're believing in a system that's been here for millennia. We’re just trying to learn some lessons from natural systems that have always been here, and that built the topsoil we're farming now.” Mic drop.  Christof Just shifted his operation in 2019 when a heavy prevent plant year changed his plans. Tune in for his insight on what he’s learned, what he’s trying next, and why he th...

Graeme Finn is an Australian native who brought his extensive agriculture knowledge and livestock background to Canadian agriculture. He is a huge proponent for year-round grazing, but he questions whether practices like this are considered sustainable agriculture, or simply survival agriculture? Tune in!

"At what point do the ducks become limited?" - a real question asked by our hosts on this episode. Spoiler alert: never. Ducks Unlimited joined Roots + Ruminants at Commodity Classic to talk through their mission, incentive programs available in the ag space, and to enlighten Jared with a new word - herbivory. Tune in! You won't want to miss this lighthearted episode. 

We're live at Commodity Classic 2024! Jared and Justin chat with four guests from the show - a Tennessee farmer, a Kansas farmer,  a national sorghum board member, and a soil and water conservation employee. This lively episode gives a quick view of all facets of ag across the country. 

We're coming at you with a double episode today. Jared Luhman of the Herd Quitter podcast is making waves by interviewing "farmers and ranchers who aren't afraid to think for themselves and do things a little bit differently." Sounds familiar, right? Tune in for this in-depth episode to hear all about why JR (IYKYK) quit the herd, how JD diversifies his operation, and who'...

As is true to form on Roots + Ruminants, we feature those who question the quo. And AJ Munger of Eagle Pass Ranch is no different. He hails from a six generation (soon to be seventh generation) cattle ranch in Highmore, SD. The ranch has gone through many changes and phases through the generations, but the constant over time is that the ranch continues to be home to a progressive cattle operation...

Van Mansheim, a farmer since 2011 and board member on the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, shares how he prioritizes crop diversity on his farm. As someone who is relatively new to the industry, Van has the benefit of a fresh perspective – never looking at things with a “we’ve always done it this way” mindset. Hear how he prioritizes soil health, water infiltration, crop diversity, and how he f...

Run it back! The 2023 predictions episode was one of our most popular of the year, so Justin and Jared are back at it to check the scorecard on their predictions and make some new forecasts for 2024. From land and commodity prices, to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, to the most popular cover crop mix – you won't want to miss what Justin and Jared think is in store for 2024. 

Zack Smith, AKA the Stock Cropper, is the co-creator of autonomous grazing machines, developed from the desire to harness the natural cycles of a plant-animal ecosystem. The autonomous grazing concept grows healthier animals and healthier soils, all with a lower carbon footprint. Hear from Zack on autonomous grazing, rural community sustainability, and more!

Lynn Fahrmeier is a Missouri farmer involved in everything from traditional row crop production, to drone application of seed and chemicals, to cover crops, to raising Katahdin sheep.  He's not afraid to try new things, and he shares with Justin and Jared some of what he's learned in his decades of farming. Lynn even gives a peek into the possible future of his farm, and it's not wh...

Sara Bauder is an SDSU Extension Forage Field Specialist, and she sits down with Justin and Jared to talk all things forage, and to share about the Northern Plains Forage Association. Join the association at their annual meeting on December 1! Meeting details are available here: https://fb.me/e/1exveJuRv

Yes, you read that right. Hosts Justin and Jared sit down with Vivian Georgalas of AgSpire to discuss five grants that are providing new and added income sources for farms and ranches across the country. Many of these grants operate differently from other government or carbon programs in the fact that they don't necessarily require "added" practices to be eligible for incentive paym...