Andrew is a forward-thinking farmer and entrepreneur based in Chowchilla, California, dedicated to advancing regenerative agriculture practices.

Andrew will be one of the speakers at the 4th Annual Regenerative Tree Nut Field Day Jan 21-22, 2025. You can find out more about the event here:

https://burroughsfamilyfarms.com/pages/regenerative-almond-field-day

Andrew is a forward-thinking farmer and entrepreneur based in Chowchilla, California, dedicated to advancing regenerative agriculture practices. After a career in music in Los Angeles, Andrew returned to his hometown in 2012, where he began his journey in farming by working with his father-in-law. What started as a curiosity about the overuse of chemicals and the lack of biodiversity in traditional farming quickly evolved into a passion for building resilient soil systems.

In 2020, Andrew founded EcoThrive Farm Management, a business focused on promoting soil health and balancing agricultural ecosystems. Through the adoption of practices like cover cropping, reduced chemical inputs, and composting, Andrew has demonstrated that sustainable farming not only benefits the environment but also significantly reduces costs and enhances long-term profitability.

Andrew’s innovative approach has led to remarkable successes, such as saving over $600 per acre in farming costs, reducing water usage by up to 25%, and fostering thriving ecosystems that include improved biodiversity and nutrient cycling. His commitment to working with nature instead of against it has earned him recognition as a leader in sustainable farming.

Beyond farming, Andrew is passionate about sharing his journey and encouraging others to rethink conventional practices. He believes in the power of collaboration and learning from failure to push the boundaries of what’s possible in regenerative agriculture.

In Andrew’s own words: “We went from considering ourselves almond or pistachio farmers to ecosystem farmers. We're soil farmers. This is what our focus is.”

Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast?

Send your questions or suggestions to [email protected] we’d love to hear from you.

Guest host David Kleinschmidt joined us at the 2024 Big Soil Health Event in Cedar Falls, IA, where we had the privilege of connecting with some incredible attendees.

It was a great event where hundreds of farmers and ranchers from all over the country gathered to learn, share, and encourage each other to continue to adopt soil health strategies. We asked attendees to join us in our “on the road" studio to share their soil health journey.

Below is our BSHE podcast guest list showing where they are from and how you can connect:

Tony Peirick

Tony farms lives in south-central Wisconsin and he’s also the chairman of a farmer-led group in Wisconsin called Dodge County Farmers Healthy Soil, Healthy Water. Tony is also involved in the Fields of Sinsinawa.

https://fishersandfarmers.org/groups/dodge-county-farmers-for-healthy-soil-healthy-water/

https://fieldsofsinsinawa.org/

Blake Vince

Blake is a fifth-generation farmer from Merlin, Ontario, Canada. Blake will tell you that soil health is the focus of his farm practices. You may have heard Blake speak at other events - his wisdom and perspective on soil health is certainly an encouragement to growers striving to improve their systems.

https://www.notill.org/blake-vince

https://www.cpm-magazine.co.uk/sustainable-farming/conversations-with-blake-vince-roots-not-iron/

Grant and Dawn Breitkreutz

Grant & Dawn operate Stoney Creek Farm near Redwood Falls, MN. They are also the inaugural Minnesota Leopold Conservation Award. You’ve seen them on Farmer’s Footprint and so many other places. Their story offers so much hope and sage advice to other growers.

https://sandcountyfoundation.org/news/2024/dawn-and-grant-breitkreutz-receive-minnesota-leopold-conservation-award

https://www.mnsoilhealth.org/mentors/dawn-and-grant-breitkreutz/

https://farmersfootprint.us/grant-and-dawn-breitkreutz/

Phil Smith

Phil farms in Minnesota and has a great story of adopting a regenerative system on his farm and encourages growers to know it’s never too late to start!

Adam Chappell

Adam is from Cotton Plant, Arkansas. They grow about 2,500 acres of, corn, soybeans, rice, and occasionally cotton. You've probably seen Adam on YouTube and other avenues as he has been very transparent of their soil health journey and practices.

https://farmersfootprint.us/adam-chappell/

Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast?

Send your questions or suggestions to [email protected] we’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for listening today, we’re digging into the power of regenerative farming, enterprise stacking, and community-driven agriculture with our guest, Lydia Dresbach. Lydia’s story is a testament to rethinking what’s possible on the farm—from growing heritage grains and running agritourism events to creating a thriving ecosystem of many enterprises! Get ready to be inspired by her vision for stewardship, her dedication to community, and her commitment to crafting a future where farming is sustainable, profitable, and deeply connected to the people it serves.

Lydia Dresbach is a young farmer at Dresbach Farms, a multigenerational regenerative farm located in southern Ohio, focused on providing quality food to her community through stacking enterprises, stewarding well, and direct marketing. She currently manages all direct marketing for Dresbach Farms, has her own herd of cattle, has a large role in the agritourism events hosted on the farm, dabbles in vegetable production, is a part of a local heritage grain hub, and assists with the managing of the whole farm operation.

https://dresbachfarms.grazecart.com/

Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast?

Send your questions or suggestions to [email protected] we’d love to hear from you.

As a trailblazer in soil health and regenerative practices, Adam Daugherty, a farmer, educator, and NRCS Soil Health Specialist for the State of Tennessee. Adam has inspired farmers to embrace big, diverse cover crops and innovative no-till practices that challenge the conventional norms. So listen in as we talk about his journey that’s full of resilience and practical wisdom.

Adam is the new Tennessee State Soil Health Specialist after serving as the district conservationist for the Manchester Field Office since 2013. He began his NRCS career in August 2002 as a soil conservationist at Manchester. He was selected as district conservationist at the Winchester Field Office in 2005 and served as the area resource conservationist in the

Murfreesboro Area Office from 2008 until May 2013.

Adam operates a small family farm where his wife, Jaime, and two sons, Brady and Tanner, specialize in regeneratively grown produce. They continually experiment with pushing the limits on biomass management and agro-ecological production systems. Recently Adam has begun expanding the application of the soil health principles into his annual wildlife management systems. In his spare time, he is an avid outdoorsman. If not rolling down covers or planting and managing a crop, Adam tries to spend ample time at traditional archery competitions bowhunting whitetail deer, or coaxing in thunder chickens.

Adam was born in Cumberland County, grew up in the masonry and stone fabrication industry, and graduated from Cumberland County High School. He has a bachelor's degree in agriculture from Tennessee Tech University and a master's degree in biosystems engineering technology from the University of Tennessee.

Adam's Email: [email protected]

Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast? Send your questions or suggestions to [email protected] we’d love to hear from you.

David 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 power of timing and diversity, he continues to bridge the gap between conventional and regenerative practices, empowering farmers to make informed decisions that benefit both their present needs and future sustainability. And if you’d like to make informed decisions on adopting effective soil health practices, let us help!

You can contact us at asn.farm and find us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and Rumble.

David Kleinschmidt grew up on a diverse family farm in west-central Illinois, cultivating corn, soybeans, wheat, hogs, and even Christmas trees. Originally pursuing veterinary studies, he shifted to agricultural economics after realizing the importance of managing farms for profitability. From 2004 to 2012, David worked in ag retail, selling seed, chemicals, fertilizers, and installing planter systems. His career took a pivotal turn in 2012 when he began promoting cover crops to farmers, sparking his interest in soil health and the overlooked biological dynamics of farming. This shift led him to a path of observational farming and in-depth research into soil biology.

In 2018, David left the corporate ag retail world to start consulting, embracing a purist approach to promoting cover crops, no-till, and holistic soil management. Today, he focuses on empowering farmers with advanced soil testing, optimized nutrient application timing, and fostering microbial diversity, bridging conventional and regenerative practices to enhance both immediate yields and long-term soil health.

https://www.facebook.com/progressiveagronomyconsulting

Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast? Send your questions or suggestions to [email protected] we’d love to hear from you.

Dr. Dwayne Beck has driven research on cover crops, no-till, and the dynamics of herbicide resistance in weeds, all while emphasizing the benefits of diverse cropping systems. His efforts have empowered producers to achieve greater profitability while enhancing soil health, conserving water, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting wildlife habitat.

Dr. Beck’s work continues to shape the future of agriculture, and listeners can experience his knowledge and insights firsthand in this episode. Episode 148 features Dr. Dwayne Beck’s powerful 2020 presentation from the AgEmerge stage, where he shared insights from his years of pioneering work in functioning soil health systems at the Dakota Lakes Research Farm. With a background in chemistry and a reputation as a critical thinker, Dr. Beck has profoundly impacted sustainable agriculture practices, especially in profitable no-till farming adapted for producers in the Northern Great Plains.

Additionally, for those interested in hearing from Dr. Beck in person, he will be a featured speaker at the 2025 National No-Till Conference this January in Louisville, KY. Details are linked in the show notes.

Dakota Lakes Research Farm

http://www.dakotalakes.com/

2025 National No-Till Conference link where Dr. Beck will be speaking.

http://www.NoTillConference.com

Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast?

Send your questions or suggestions to [email protected] we’d love to hear from you.

Bernie Hansen is the Managing Member of BetterFedFoods. From transforming the precooked meats industry and launching prepared entrée products for food service to dedicating years of research to the benefits of essential fatty acids in animal diets, Bernie’s work is far-reaching and includes connecting consumers to the farmers that produce their food.

Want to know more about transforming the food industry?

https://youtu.be/s9v36OouaIo

Food as medicine? Yes. Watch here:

https://youtu.be/sWe7VEhUfNM

Soil and Human Health are Connected? Watch here:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF-Hc8USB_JtS5EQqVuGgK-OueZZEz3vu&si=9iNglYjwNd2XUI4N

*** Show notes and Links ***

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https://www.facebook.com/ASN.farm

https://www.linkedin.com/company/agsolutionsnetwork

https://twitter.com/POWER2GRO

https://www.instagram.com/agsolutionsnetwork/

Ag Solutions Network website:

https://www.agsolutionsnetwork.com/

Bernie launched BetterFedFoods LLC, a limited liability technology company based in Kansas and chartered in Delaware. It is the creator, developer, and administrative entity providing sponsorship and oversight among a coalition of established stakeholders that each contribute to a program of Better Fed Land, Better Fed Animals, and Better Fed People. With its stakeholders, BetterFedFoods will transform the U.S. agricultural system from one based on subsidies to one based on producer premiums, using Climate-Smart practices.

Since 2006, Bernard L. Hansen has devoted his time to researching the beneficial role of essential fatty acids in animal diets. Lowering the Omega 6:3 ratio is essential in reducing inflammation to improve animal performance and production, including beef cattle, dairy, swine, and poultry. Over 10,000 data points and numerous commercial feed trials document that essential fatty acids increase fertility, decrease anti-biotic use, and provide a multitude of associated health benefits.

Microalgae play a major role in the delivery of essential fatty acids when included in daily feed rations by feeding the micro-biome to improve gut health. BetterFedFoods partner NBO3 Technologies manufactures a microalgae-based feed nutrient, Great O Plus, which has sold to many feed suppliers across the United States.

Other strains of microalgae play a similar role in feeding the microbiome in soil, improving soil organic matter (SOM), and increasing plant biomass and root structure. BetterFedFoods provides the A+ soil amendment for crops and pastureland using microalgae as a bio-stimulant to improve yield and protein.

The BetterFedFoods coalition includes AgWise, a technology platform providing complete traceability of food products to educate producers and consumers about the benefits of verifying the BetterFedFoods program.

BetterFedFoods was proud to receive the Texas Independent Cattlemen’s Association 2024 Agri Business Award. Linking the producers to the consumer is our mission.

https://betterfedfoods.com/

https://www.facebook.com/betterfedfoods

Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast?

Send your questions or suggestions to [email protected] we’d love to hear from you.

Eric Fuchs is a consultant for Understanding Ag. He lives in Southeast Missouri on a diversified livestock operation where they raise hair sheep and contract graze cattle. He’s been using Holistic Planned Grazing for over eight years and has had a managed grazing system on his operation for more than 20 years. In addition to that, Eric also works in the water and wastewater industry as a source water protection technician. He works with small and large small communities and with agricultural producers to help ensure community water protection.

Watch full episode here: https://youtu.be/7L3H8ZYBiJ8

Eric's efforts help save millions of dollars in costly water treatment system upgrades while also negating the need for long-term regulations. He has seen firsthand the problems with agriculture land use and its effect on drinking water.

Eric’s journey into regenerative ag began on his own operation when he discovered how soil health focused practices could benefit water resources. He also realized that more regulation is never the answer but that the solutions for clean water are easily attainable by changing how we operate.

Graduating from the University of Missouri in 1994 with a degree in agronomy, Eric served in the U.S. Air Force for five years, during which time he received a master’s degree in human resource development.

www.understandingag.com

Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast?

Send your questions or suggestions to [email protected] we’d love to hear from you.

Garth Mulkey and his wife, Susan, are fourth-generation seed farmers in the Willamette Valley of Western Oregon and have been growing, conditioning, and marketing seeds at the same location since 1966. As dedicated seed producers, they are always focused on seed purity and quality, combined with proven genetics.

GS3 Quality Seed Inc. is owned by Garth and Susan Mulkey. They are fourth-generation seed farmers in the Willamette Valley of Western Oregon and have been growing, conditioning and marketing seeds at the same location since 1966. As dedicated seed producers, they are always focused on seed purity and quality, combined with proven genetics.

Garth and Susan have been no-till farming for 23 years and know firsthand the benefits of planting radishes and other cover crops. Even in seed production fields, radishes provide the same great benefits as they do for row-crop producers.

Watch full episode here: https://youtu.be/CVlNmw8C8m8

https://www.tilthpro.com/

Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast?

Send your questions or suggestions to [email protected] we’d love to hear from you.

Erin Meyer is the Founder and President of Basil's Harvest (BH), a nonprofit sharing the message that soil health impacts human health by bringing people together in agriculture, health, and food systems to grow regional systems that are good for people and the planet. She is also a Clinical Associate at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL, where she enjoys training residents in the Food is Medicine experiential program she co-developed. Erin is a chef and registered dietitian with a Master of Sustainable Food Systems. Before founding BH, Erin developed on-farm experiential sustainable food system education and outreach to culinary professionals and health care professionals, owned a wholesale and retail food business that supported regional organic growers that created made-from-scratch goods, and was a certified diabetes educator.

Watch full episode: https://youtu.be/s9v36OouaIo

Check out the links to Basil’s Harvest, the research Erin mentioned, as well as Janie's Mill.

https://basilsharvest.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/092221_BH_Report_RM_MP_OneUp_Digital.pdf

https://basilsharvest.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Soil-Factsheet-2023-Final-Draft.pdf

www.basilsharvest.org

https://www.linkedin.com/company/basilsharvest/

https://www.janiesmill.com/

Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast?

Send your questions or suggestions to [email protected] we’d love to hear from you.