51 National Erosion Specialist Shares Mind-Blowing Truth about Soil Loss

enMay 12, 2023

Soil Health Labs

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What was the main topic of the podcast episode?

Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?

Were there any notable quotes or insights from the speakers?

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Were there any points particularly controversial or thought-provoking discussed in the episode?

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About this Episode

We sat down to chat with Chris Coreil, now the National Erosion Specialist based at the NRCS’s Central National Technology Support Center in Fort Worth, TX. Chris is originally from Louisiana where he was state agronomist for ten years before going to Fort Worth. On May 12, 2022, a derecho wind hit eastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota (see May 12 derecho summary below. Note that a derecho (pronounced similar to "deh-REY-cho") is a widespread, long-lived windstorm where damage is typically directed along a relatively straight swath (see description in derecho link for more below. The May 12th derecho as Chris describes “the event really occurred during about a 10 to 15 minute period, immediately following that tremendous wind event, which, had sustained winds of maybe 60 miles per hour, gusts, around a hundred miles per hour. Right after that event, rain occurred. You could clearly see that and again, settled a lot of the dust and, prevented, erosion from occurring at quite an intense level for the rest of the day.” After the derecho, Chris was contacted by NRCS in South Dakota to help quantify and explain what happened during this event, and what could be done to prevent some of the damage in the future. Chris used a wind erosion model called SWEEP to estimate the erosion of bare tilled soils in that 15-minute window on the day of the derecho. While the derecho was a spectacular 15-minute event, Chris talked about modeling for the 12-hour day of May 7th where wind held steady between 20 and 30 mph, yet the amount of erosion on one day exceeded that of the derecho. While the numbers for bare ground were eye-popping, Chris did point out that if the ground were covered by residue or a cover crop, the soil loss would be considerably lower. We will leave the numbers to the podcast. We next turned to the ways in which the soil health principles can be used to mitigate soil loss through wind – Chris does a nice job of explaining these interactions to lay people. We finally reflected on the fact that while there is a long way to go, we have made much progress in the last 10-15 years – adoption rates of cover crops may be the best indicator. If you want to understand more about the effects of a derecho or wind erosion on bare soils, and how to reduce the damage, this podcast is for you. References: Description of a Derecho: https://www.weather.gov/lmk/derecho May 12 derecho summary: https://www.weather.gov/abr/StormsummaryMay122022

Recent Episodes from Soil Health Labs

58 How One Grassland Initiative is Leveraging Landowners and Scientists to Ignite Profound Real-World Change

Laura Kahler is the director of the South Dakota Grasslands Initiative (SDGI), pushing South Dakotan agriculture toward sustainability and heightened reverence for the natural landscape. Laura's mission is to provide resources and support to landowners, helping them keep their pasture lands not just profitable, but also sustainable and ecologically sound.

The SDGI aims to manage grasslands effectively while balancing profitability and environmental conservation. Grasslands are more than just land; they are ecosystems that require attentive, informed management to thrive. Laura emphasizes that the initiative is more than a conservation effort; it's a collaborative platform where hunters, ranchers, conservation groups, and others converge to share perspectives and solutions.

A key aspect of SDGI's approach is the integration of local knowledge with scientific research. Farmers and landowners bring generations of experience, while scientific insights offer new perspectives on soil health and ecosystem management. This blend of knowledge is crucial for developing effective, sustainable land management strategies.

Education forms the backbone of the SDGI. By educating landowners and the public about the importance of soil health and sustainable practices, the initiative aims to create a ripple effect, one that spreads awareness and action across communities. This educational component is vital in cultivating a shared understanding and commitment to land stewardship.

At its heart, the success of the SDGI hinges on collaboration. By bringing together diverse groups, each with their own perspectives and interests, the initiative fosters a sense of community and shared purpose. This collaborative spirit is essential for addressing complex environmental challenges.

The real-world impact of the SDGI and regenerative practices is profound. Farmers report healthier soils, increased biodiversity, and improved yields. Environmentally, these practices contribute to carbon sequestration, water retention, and habitat preservation - essential components in the fight against climate change.

Looking ahead, Kahler intends to continue expanding the initiative, deepening the understanding of regenerative practices, and fostering a community where every stakeholder has a voice in shaping the future of our grasslands.

The South Dakota Grasslands Initiative stands as a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and a deep commitment to our planet. Regenerative practices and collaborative effort not only impact today’s soils, but have ripple effects into plant, animal and human life for years to come.

Links:

SD Grasslands Initiative Homepage: https://sdgrassinitiative.org/

SDGI Summit and Introduction Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikpzs8sA4xU

New Feature Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAoqp0cYwPc

enMarch 06, 2024

57 Preserving America's Grasslands: Insights from Tate Lantz on The Central Grasslands Roadmap

In this insightful episode, Tate Lantz joins hosts Joe Dickie and Buz Kloot to discuss the Central Grasslands Roadmap. Lantz shares his personal journey from a childhood on a South Dakota cattle ranch to his current role in conservation, reflecting a deep connection to the grasslands.

Tate grew up on a cattle ranch near Winner, SD and after high school attended SDSU majoring in range science. His career began at the Conservation District in Kingsbury County, after which he joined the NRCS in 1998 and currently serves as Assistant State Conservationist for field operations in Rapid City, SD since 2016. Lantz first got involved in the grasslands roadmap mission when the operation was temporarily housed in the Sturgis field office where he was positioned. He was immediately drawn into the aim: to combine the efforts of three countries and eight sectors to save one of the most vital ecosystems on earth- the grasslands. Grasslands face threats from urban sprawl, agricultural conversion, and tree encroachment, leading to grassland loss (32 million acres since 2012) as well as significant biodiversity loss.

The Roadmap aims to raise awareness of grasslands' value in carbon sequestration and climate mitigation. To do this, the Roadmap emphasizes community involvement, including indigenous voices and industry partnerships. The Roadmap highlights the interconnection between grassland health and economic resilience of rural communities. It aims to bolster collective understanding and action, influence and push forward impactful legislation, heighten efficiency of resource use and allocation, refine shared progress monitoring standards and construct sustainability models to support scaling programs in grazing, regenerative agriculture, and industry. Tate Lantz's conversation sheds light on the Central Grasslands Roadmap's importance in preserving one of America’s most vital ecosystems. Stay tuned for more discussions on grassland conservation and the roadmap's impact across North America.

Useful Links:

Central Grasslands Roadmap Home page: https://www.grasslandsroadmap.org/

Our recommendation for understanding the roadmap:

Roadmap Executive Summary New Feature Video on Grasslands loss and reclamation: Two Regenerative Ranchers Share Shocking Soil Health Discovery (growingresiliencesd.com/videos)

Other Notes on the Central Grasslands Roadmap:

History: 2018- Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (backbone organization) – Tammy VerCauteren’s (exec director of BCoR) vision.

Need/Context: 50 million acres (size of SD?) lost in last 10 years? “Measures of human community health and healthy grassland ecosystems across the biome continue to decline. The time to act is now.”

Scale: Mexico, US and Canada, 600 million acres, eight sectors (e.g., indigenous communities, landowners & ranchers federal agencies, industry/ag and private sector, state and provincial agencies, NGO’s, academia, foundations and funders). Diverse ecosystems and diverse communities What is the Central Grasslands Roadmap? A hub for information and connection across countries and sectors - “We must think, collaborate, and act differently.”

Vision: Eight outcomes – all look like related to thriving economic, environmental and equity (3 tectonic plates of sustainability) outcomes for these communities, beginning with indigenous populations, but includes ranchers/landowners, NGOs policymakers..

Principles: Respect, priorities to sustain indigenous communities, ranching and rual communities, science priorities, eight sectors.

enFebruary 28, 2024

56 How Dr. Liz and Rick Haney are Reshaping Soil Tests and the Agricultural World by Following Nature's Blueprint

Most folks have heard of the Haney test, but who are the people behind the test, what is the test and how did it all get started? In this episode, Buz Kloot and Joe Dickie talk to Drs. Liz and Rick Haney both soil scientists who live in Texas. Rick and Liz met during their graduate studies at Texas A&M – he was doing his PhD at the time and Liz her Masters. We begin by asking about the philosophy behind the Haney test and Rick walks us through his background as a farmer, student and soil health advocate. As Rick says, “My main objective was to come up with something that would help [land managers] do something… Soil science seemed to be the place.” Rick takes us through some of the steps of the development of the Haney Test that included looking at organic nitrogen, soil respiration and using an alternative extractant to look at soil minerals. Rick’s driving philosophy was to mimic in the lab what was happening out in the field. While the middle part of the discussion does get technical, Joe and Liz bring us back to reality with examples, for instance, of talking about how soil respiration may resemble a party. We end the conversation discussing what this means for producers and how the soil test provides a different look at their soils, how this has allowed many producers to save on inputs (especially nitrogen) and how mimicking nature in soil tests encourages producers to improve farm management practices. Rick concludes the discussion with: “The biggest takeaway that I've had in the last 15 years is seeing farmers that had no hope have hope. That is been the most dramatic thing that I've seen in that instead of doing it the same old way over and over and over, you know, try, try different test and I'd have to be the hey, just try something.” After retiring from the ARS, Rick continues his work as a technical director for a commercial soil test lab. After leaving a job in the corporate world Liz now is co-owner of a company called RegenAg that educates and consults with farmers and nonprofits on their regenerative journey. To learn more about what Liz and Rick are up to, visit them at: regenag.com For more free links and resources, visit our website: growingresiliencesd.com

enDecember 06, 2023

55 Gabe Brown Shares How Regenerative Agriculture is Breathing New Life into Farms, Soils and Society

In this podcast, Buz Kloot, Joe Dickie, and Gabe Brown discuss Gabe's motivation behind his mission to help farmers and ranchers. Gabe shares that his dedication to the mission was solidified during the three years of extreme difficulties he faced. At that time, there were few resources for farmers and ranchers to learn about the principles, rules, and processes required for regenerative agriculture. Gabe felt a calling to help others avoid the difficulties he faced and made a commitment to dedicate his life to this mission. Throughout the podcast, Joe and Buz reflect on their own experiences working with Gabe and express their admiration for his unwavering dedication to this mission. Gabe's work is about more than just farming and ranching—it's about making a positive impact on the planet. The discussion turned to regenerative agriculture, and Gabe shared his experience in showing visitors his garden before the farm: "And I often get this puzzled look, 'Well, why the garden?' [visitors ask]. And I tell them, 'Every single thing you need to know about regenerative agriculture can be shown in this garden.'" He notes that the transformational movement towards regenerative agriculture has been driven by farmers who are leading a grassroots effort to change the industry. Gabe adds to the discussion by sharing a story about how Maker's Mark bourbon announced that their farm has been certified as regenerative, which received 2.47 million views in five hours. This indicates a high demand for regenerative certified products, which can be profitable for producers. He also notes that regenerative principles can significantly reduce input costs for producers, which is why the industry has experienced explosive growth. What drives producers towards regenerative agriculture? Gabe explains that profitability is the main driver for producers, as regenerative principles can reduce input costs. He also points out that education is crucial to promoting regenerative agriculture. "I always tell people that, you know, if I went out and polled farmers and ranchers and asked them to write me one paragraph about how a soil aggregate was formed, 95 plus percent of them wouldn't be able to answer that simple question. Yet 100% of those producers, their livelihoods depend on that soil aggregate," says Gabe. How do we shift the mindset of farmers and ranchers towards regenerative agriculture? Initially, Gabe says, producers make decisions based solely on money. However, when they start working with regenerative practices and see positive changes in their soil health, water infiltration, and nutrient cycling, they have an "aha moment" and realize the broader impact of their actions. This realization leads to a shift in priorities towards a more holistic approach to farming and ranching, where they consider the positive impact on the landscape, wildlife, and their families. Gabe and his team take clients through a process that includes a shovel and infiltration test in the field and nearby woods, followed by soil testing, split trials, and profitability tracking, which helps farmers and ranchers recognize the benefits of regenerative agriculture. Positive compounding effects, such as increased soil aggregation, improved water infiltration, and increased insect populations, further reinforce the idea that regenerative agriculture is not just about making money but also about improving the environment. The shift towards regenerative agriculture leads to more diversified operations, with farmers and ranchers adding more crops and livestock. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of a holistic approach to farming and ranching, where producers consider the impact of their actions on the environment and their communities. Link to Six principles of Soil health, Three Rules of Adaptive Stewardship, and Four Ecosystem Processes: https://understandingag.com/resources/fact-sheets/

Soil Health Labs

enNovember 01, 2023

54 How to Structure a Win-Win Grazing Lease for Land and Livestock Owners

We were delighted to get back with Pete Bauman who is a Natural Resources and Wildlife Field Specialist for SDSU Extension. Pete specializes in range, pasture, and grassland management with an emphasis on educating producers about how profitability and ecological balance are complimentary. Pete’s focus areas include alternative grassland management tools such as fire, biological control, controlled grazing, and reduction of inputs for systems health. We got together specifically to discuss contract grazing and structuring of grazing leases. Pete, who wrote an SDSU Extension article on Structuring Grazing Leases (see link below), explains that at the core of contract grazing is an agreement between two parties with parameters that are beneficial and acceptable to both parties. Contract grazing can be beneficial if both parties are committed to mutual goals and objectives, leading to better resource management and a recognition of the other’s needs and goals. Pete warns against the conventional paradigm of prioritizing short-term income and profit maximization over the long-term relationship and ecological impact, what happens then is the land “gets trampled in the dust” and the relationship between lessor and lessee is either strained or broken. The time that lands – and relationships – are most vulnerable are when cropland rental prices are high, driving grazing land rental prices up. This mechanism is explained by Pete in the podcast. Overgrazing, often leading to costly weed problems, and pressure on water systems and fences, leading to costly repairs, can often lead to unexpected costs that the landowner has to bear – it is these unexpected costs that can have negative effects on the relationship between lessor and lessee. Parameters can and should be established in the lease agreement to prevent such consequences, and both parties should have a clear understanding of their partners’ contract's goals and objectives - good communication between the landowner and the livestock owner is key to this process. If you take nothing else from the podcast, get the agreement down on paper, a handshake agreement may work for a while, but when things go wrong, the more that is spelled out, the less there is to dispute. Pete talks about the importance of setting goals (e.g., financial, input cost, aesthetic, ecological goals) for managing grazing land and how landowners should assess the current state of their property and set a desired future condition, based on their gals – this ought to be communicated to the livestock owner as well. A good lessee's role is to enhance the long-term viability, productivity, and ecology of the leased property to keep it or improve it toward being a well-functioning system; when the lessor’s goals should align with the current lessee's goals, they can create a mutually beneficial agreement between the parties. As long-term relationships build, many good landowners consider the value of their lessee beyond short-term arrangements; a landowner who values their lessee is often willing to take less, conversely some lessees are willing to pay more – all of this points to the inherent (financial and other value) of a good partnership. Bauman believes that instead of renting by acre, it is better to rent per head, per day, which is based on the amount of grass consumed by the lessee's livestock. By having a predetermined agreement, both parties can avoid misunderstandings and conflicts over conflicting goals. Buz and Pete also discussethe services provided by the landowner and lessee during the grazing period. He provides examples of both extremes, where some lessees are responsible for everything, while others have contract graziers that provide all services, including infrastructure, rotation labor, water systems, and even medical treatment. Links: SDSU Extension Article on Structuring Grazing Leases: https://extension.sdstate.edu/structuring-grazing-leases South Dakota Grazing Exchange: https://sdgrazingexchange.com/

enSeptember 19, 2023

regenerative agriculture

53 Regenerative Farmers Share Most Important Practice for Soil Health Success

Barry and Eli Little are a father and son team farming near Castlewood, SD located in the eastern part of South Dakota. Together they have close to 1600 acres of crop land, and farm this along with another 1300 acres of Barry’s brother’s land. Though cropland is still the centerpiece of their business model, Barry and Eli run close to 500 head of cattle – while they have 800 acres of dedicated pasture, their operation is designed for the integration of livestock. In the previous episode, Joe Dickie and Buz Kloot spoke at length to the Littles about their operation. In this bonus podcast, we ask them ten (10) questions like “what was the most important thing you have done to advance soil health in your operation?”, “when did the light bulb go on for you?” and “what would you say is the biggest misconception people have who are not managing their crop farming systems for soil health and resiliency?”. We were so delighted by their witty and diverse responses that we thought we’d air these as a bonus to the Little’s main podcast. Enjoy! Videos featuring Barry and Eli: A New Approach to Farming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZsZgMSGLeU&list=PLg6Jx7lcOmB3kQyswC5iP2YuY6rWQfLSP&index=45 Incorporating Diverse Enterprises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RzqzjNtRyY Additional Resources: Stress Reduction through Soil Health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAG2ouCZjFk Follow Barry and Eli's operation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bliouxriverranch/ For more info on regenerative, climate smart ag, get in touch with your local NRCS: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/south-dakota

enAugust 08, 2023

52 How Father/Son Team is Cutting Input Costs and Increasing Yields

Barry and Eli Little are a father and son team farming near Castlewood, SD located in the eastern part of South Dakota. Together, they have close to 1600 acres of cropland, and farm this along with another 1300 acres of Barry’s brother’s land. While cropland is still the centerpiece of their business model, Barry and Eli run close to 500 head of cattle – and though they have 800 acres of dedicated pasture, their operation is designed for the integration of livestock into their operation. While a herd of cattle was on the land when Barry’s father farmed, 2011 was the first time the Littles deliberately planted cover crop with an eye to utilizing the cover for grazing. Their first cover crop, planted behind winter wheat did so well that it encouraged the Littles to double down. In this podcast, Joe Dickie and Buz Kloot hear from Barry and Eli on their livestock integration journey, some of the things they have tried with cover crops, inter-seeding and their pastures. We then move on to talk about some of the economics of cover crops and livestock integration and how, while maintaining and increasing yields, they’ve managed to cut back on inputs. Barry and Eli also talk about the fact that if a decision is motivated with an eye to soil health, decisions become a lot simpler, and intergenerational conflict is lowered. Eli attributes his ability to farm full-time with his dad to soil health (livestock integration has played a huge part of that too). Finally, if you think the Littles have it figured out, Barry’s take on his operation is: “There's been several times in my life when I thought we had it all figured out and then something comes along and we have to change our paradigm one more time. We're on a journey. It gets better every year, but I’m pretty sure that we're not even a quarter of the way there.” Enjoy the show! Videos featuring Barry and Eli: A New Approach to Farming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZsZgMSGLeU&list=PLg6Jx7lcOmB3kQyswC5iP2YuY6rWQfLSP&index=45 Incorporating Diverse Enterprises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RzqzjNtRyY Additional Resources: Stress Reduction through Soil Health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAG2ouCZjFk Follow Barry and Eli's operation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bliouxriverranch/ For more info on regenerative, climate smart ag, get in touch with your local NRCS: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/south-dakota

enMay 30, 2023

51 National Erosion Specialist Shares Mind-Blowing Truth about Soil Loss

enMay 12, 2023

50 The Cost of Tillage and Bare Soil in Extreme Conditions

In this podcast, Buz Kloot talks to Dan Mehlhaf, District Conservationist for the USDA NRCS, currently stationed at Yankton, South Dakota. Dan was raised on a farm and has a degree in agriculture from South Dakota State University and he actively farms with his son on land they own in Hutchinson County, about 30 miles from his work. The discussion centers around Dan’s experience in April and May 2022, that culminated in the May 12, 2022, windstorm (or derecho) that occurred in South Dakota. Prior to the derecho, the entire spring was extremely windy and warm; and on April 14, 2022 there was a day of constant 40-50 mile an hour winds that caused wind erosion in the fields. Dan went to investigate a relative's report of severe wind erosion about 30 miles northeast of Yankton and saw soil coming off the field due to the tilled, dry soil and the absence of any residue or canopy cover. Dan looked up the soil to find this was an Egan-Ethan soil, which is a silty clay loam, considered a very good soil. Five days later, Dan revisited the site on a sunny day, and the road ditch was completely full of soil that had come off the field, Dan noticed that the soil in the road ditch was sand, not the texture on the field which was a silty clay loam. Dan realized that the silts and clays that made up the soil had gone airborne and disappeared, and the only particle left was the sand left in the ditch. He took a soil sample to be tested and found high to very high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and other nutrients which ought not to be in a sand, and calculated that over $900 of fertilizer per acre were in the ditch sand, what about the rest of the silts and the clays that blew off the property? Buz and Dan turn to the topic of the importance of cover (small grains, standing residue, cover crops) and no-till agriculture in the context of wind erosion was raised. Dan highlighted his experience on April 14th, 2022 (a full month before the May 12th 2022 derecho) in the significant difference in wind erosion between two fields of the same soil series (Egan-Ethan), where one was bare ground and tilled, while the other had a cover crop of cereal rye. The field with the cover crop experienced virtually no erosion compared to the other field, which was blowing soil around even with a moderate wind. Dan emphasizes that the adoption of no-till and the use of cover crops are slowly changing farmer's attitudes towards conservation tillage. Dan does note that a well-planned cover crop can protect against a 25 mile an hour wind fairly easily, while a 50 mile an hour wind requires a good, intact residue from the cover crop to prevent significant erosion. Dan notes that adoption of no-till and the use of cover crops is slowly gaining momentum, in both and wet dry years, and that the attitude of farmers towards reduced tillage is changing. Dan hopes that the change in attitude towards cover crops and no-till agriculture is a long-term change and not just a temporary response to the dry years. Dan highlights that there is still a need for more education and awareness on the importance of cover crops and no-till agriculture to protect soil quality and water quality. MORE ON THE DERECHO See: https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/ for more on the derecho and find our Growing Resilience name for videos wherever you get your social media. OTHER REFERENCES: Description of a Derecho: https://www.weather.gov/lmk/derecho May 12 derecho summary: https://www.weather.gov/abr/StormsummaryMay122022

enMay 05, 2023

49 Adaptive Grazing Masterclass with Allen Williams

As part of our adaptive grazing management series (if you haven’t listened to the podcasts with Justin Thompson and Candice Mizera, we highly recommend the listen, especially if you are in South Dakota and want to understand more about cool season invasive grasses) Joe Dickie and Buz Kloot sat down with Allen Williams who is an adaptive grazing management practitioner, consultant and former academic. Allen grew up and went to school in the south and after his PhD, continued for 15 years in academia. Around the year 2000, Allen left the safe environs of a tenure-track professorship to start on his own in regenerative farming and ranching consulting. Since then, Allen has consulted for regenerative agriculture all over the country and the world. After exploring Allen’s interesting background, we dive into some of the basics of adaptive grazing management principles and practices. Adaptive grazing is not about a formula or a prescription, but rather a practice that is profoundly dependent on observation and constant adjustment. Allen also does a great job of demonstrating why the time invested in daily observation is ultimately less labor intensive than the labor required to feed hay all winter long, for example. Allen walks us through what we need to observe in the field, and also some of the more recent developments in the relationships between healthy soils, healthy forage and of course the health of the animal as well. Another key set of thoughts that Allen walks us through are the three rules of adaptive stewardship, namely the rules of compounding, diversity and disruption. Allen’s explanation of these alone are worth the listen. In addition to the generalities, we bring some of the examples back to practical applications that may be found in South Dakota, including the grazing of annuals and applying adaptive stewardship to the controlling of cool season invasive species (Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome and crested wheatgrass). We hope you enjoy this podcast a much as we enjoyed talking to Allen! Notes: Fact Sheet that outlines three rules of adaptive stewardship along with the six soil health principles and the four ecosystem processes: https://understandingag.com/resources/fact-sheets/ Please search “Allen Williams Adaptive Grazing” for fact sheets, magazine articles journal articles, videos and more on Allen’s work. Take the soil health challenge: https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/challenge-gr

enMay 01, 2023

Ask this episode Anything

What was the main topic of the podcast episode?

Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?

Were there any notable quotes or insights from the speakers?

Which popular books were mentioned in this episode?

Were there any points particularly controversial or thought-provoking discussed in the episode?

Were any current events or trending topics addressed in the episode?