Soil Health Labs

This is a short-form episode pulled from a larger discussion with South Dakota NRCS specialists on the realities of managing through dry conditions across the Great Plains. Across South Dakota, producers are watching an uneasy growing season unfold. Crops are emerging slowly. Cool-season grasses are heading early. And while long-range forecasts remain uncertain, concerns about drought persistence...

Drought doesn’t begin when the grass turns brown. It begins much earlier—when producers continue operating as though rain is guaranteed. In this short-form episode, three experienced South Dakota Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) representatives—Tanse Herrmann, Marcia Deneke, and Emily Rohrer—share practical strategies for navigating dry conditions before they become a crisis. This conv...

Salinity doesn’t show up overnight—and it doesn’t go away with a quick fix. In this two-part series, Shane Jordan helps us connect the dots between what’s happening this year and what it will take to respond effectively . Episode 1 explores why conditions are aligning for salinity to expand—wet years, rising water tables, and bare soil setting the stage. Episode 2 moves into practical strategies—h...

Salinity hasn’t gone away—and in some parts of South Dakota, it may be setting up for a comeback. In this short, focused episode, Buz Kloot sits down with conservationist Shane Jordan to unpack why conditions are aligning for salinity to re-emerge as a serious issue this year. What looks like a dry start may actually be the trigger for something deeper—literally. This episode sets the stage for un...

This is a short-form episode featuring Natalie Sturm, pulled from our recent interview and focused on one of the most important—and often overlooked—drivers of soil health: crop rotations . We’re launching these short-form episodes to better serve our audience. Instead of listening to a full 60–90 minute conversation, you can now jump straight into the most valuable insights—practical, research-ba...

Guest : Natalie Sturm Hosts : Dr. Buz Kloot and Dr. Gabe Kenne Running time : 62 mins “We could take a shovel, and shovel up some soil in one field, and then just go across the dirt road, and the soils would look completely different... it kind of blew my mind that the only difference between those two fields was the crop rotation they had been under for the past 20 to 30 years.” —Natalie Sturm Ep...

Featuring: Liz Kierl , Executive Director, Second Century Habitat Fund Buz Kloot , Soil Health Lab, University of South Carolina Joe Dickie , Videographer and Conservation Storyteller, Soil Health Lab 📝 Episode Summary In this episode, we sit down with Liz Kierl, Executive Director of the  Second Century Habitat Fund (SCHF) , to talk about one of South Dakota’s most effective and underappreciated...

In this episode, Joe Dickie and Buz Kloot sit down with Karlie Kammerer, a rising senior from western South Dakota whose wisdom and clarity around regenerative ranching belies her age. Karlie grew up on a cow-calf operation near Rapid City where her family, including parents Riley and Jimmie and sisters Katelyn and Kimball, is embracing holistic management and regenerative agriculture with open ar...

🧲 Quotable Quotes  “When people don't understand much about the prairie, it just kind of looks like this monolith… just one FLAT thing. But really, it's like an old growth forest — full of life.” - Kate Rasmussen “Once you learn about it, your brain can look for it — and it completely changes how you see your place.” - Kate Rasmussen 👩‍🌾 Meet Our Guest Kate Rasmussen grew up ranching in the Sou...

In this episode, we sit down with Dawn Butzer to discuss her journey from her early life and career to her current work and future aspirations. Dawn shares insights into her deep connection with conservation and land management, emphasizing partnerships with the NRCS, South Dakota Grassland Coalition, and Ducks Unlimited. Early Life and Career Dawn Butzer’s roots in agriculture and conservation ru...

In Part 2 of our series with Dr. Bhupinder Farmaha, we go deeper—literally.  Dr. Farmaha joins us again to talk about what’s happening below the topsoil and why it matters more than ever in nutrient decision-making. From soil testing at deeper depths to assessing the biological activity of soil microbes, Bhupinder's research is showing that one-size-fits-all recommendations just don’t cut it anymo...

In Part 1 of our two-part conversation with Dr. Bhupinder Farmaha, we dig into the reality of shifting farmer mindsets around nutrient management. As Clemson Extension’s Soil Fertility Specialist, Bhupinder walks us through his journey from studying soil science at the University of Illinois to on-farm research in Minnesota and across South Carolina—where he’s working side-by-side with farmers to...

🧲 Quotable Quotes “You can’t graze a landscape unless you understand what that landscape wants to be.” — Dave Ollila “We’ve got a chance to tell a story—to show that red meat can come from stewardship, not just consumption.” — Dave Ollila “The biology in the rumen is the same biology in the soil. That’s no accident. That’s design.” — Dave Ollila 👩‍🌾 About our Guest Dave Ollila is a seasoned ran...

Guest: Dr. Gustavo Lascano, Associate Professor of Ruminant Nutrition, Clemson University Host: Drs. Gabe Kenne & Buz Kloot Length: ~70 minutes In this conversation with Dr. Gustavo Lascano, Ruminant Nutrition Specialist at Clemson University, we discuss integrating ecological principles like succession and diversity into farm management to improve animal, soil, and human health. Dr. Lascano descr...

In this episode, Carl Coleman continues his deep dive into the lessons learned from years of soil health experimentation —and how they changed not only his farm but his entire career. Carl shares how the pushback he received from scientists and extension professionals led him to set up a randomized, replicated study on his farm, proving that regenerative practices could reduce inputs without sacri...

In this episode, Carl Coleman continues his deep dive into the lessons learned from years of soil health experimentation —and how they changed not only his farm but his entire career. Carl shares how the pushback he received from scientists and extension professionals led him to set up a randomized, replicated study on his farm, proving that regenerative practices could reduce inputs without sacri...

In this episode, Buz and Dickie chat with Clinton Rasmussen about the innovative use of goats for land management, particularly in combating the spread of eastern red cedar in South Dakota. Clinton shares his journey from growing up on a ranch to returning after his military service and discovering the power of goats to clear invasive brush. He discusses how these goats thrive in rough terrain and...

In this episode, we chat with Lealand Schoon from the South Dakota NRCS about drought management, grazing strategies, and the long-term health of pasturelands. Lealand covers how subtle factors like trigger dates and residue levels impact grazing decisions, stressing that if land is left with less than 1,000 pounds of residue per acre, it can be much slower to recover. This makes it crucial for ra...

Our third and final interview with Fred Provenza unfolds like a symphony in four parts, each movement resonating with deep reflections on human connection, nature, and the inner workings of the mind. With a cadence that mirrors the unfolding of a well-composed piece, Fred takes us through a journey of shifting perspectives and shifting lives, inviting us to hear the music of the earth as it teache...

In this second podcast with Dr. Fred Provenza, professor emeritus of Behavioral Ecology at Utah State University, and author of several important books on animal behavior and land stewardship, we discuss key themes include wildlife nutrition, ecological practices, and the interconnectedness of animal behavior and plant diversity. The discussion opens with Provenza detailing the Welfare Elk Program...

This episode of the Soil Health Labs podcast delves into the importance of peer learning among farmers, innovative approaches to soil health, and the implementation of climate-smart practices through the Climate-Smart Grown in SC Program out of Clemson and SC State Universities. Featuring insights from Dr. Lacy Barnette, this episode explores how collaboration, community support, and scientific re...

As we end the growing season, we want to air this podcast that Joe Dickie and Buz Kloot conducted with NRCS’s Shane Jordan and Kent Vlieger. This is the fourth podcast of the year that discusses salinity, the others being with Kent Cooley (Soil Scientist), Matt Hubers (Agronomist with Ducks Unlimited), and Lee Brise (Crop Consultant).  We wanted to time this podcast with the end of the growing sea...

In a recent interview with Dr. Gabe Kenne, Lance Samuel spoke about his family’s farm, ‘Bushels & Bags’ near Ridgeway, South Carolina. Co-founded with his wife, Kim, initially the two former personal trainers only intended to start a homestead. Their journey began with a provisional vegetable plot, which gradually expanded into a full-fledged operation centered around microgreens. Their shift towa...

In this episode of the SoilHealthLabs podcast series, Buz Kloot and Joe Dickie chat with Dr. Fred Provenza, professor emeritus of Behavioral Ecology at Utah State University, and author of several important books on animal behavior and land stewardship. Our discussion delves into the profound connections between healthy grasslands and healthy livestock, with Fred sharing personal stories and resea...

In this conversation with Soil Scientist Buz Kloot, Dwayne Beck— former research manager to Dakota Lakes Research Farm— discusses the destructive effects of some traditional land management techniques, one of which being tillage. Tillage consistently disrupts soil pore structure and leads to the loss of organic matter, initiating a downward spiral towards desertification. He references the Sahara...