Engineering Your Farm

Tony Mensing and Kapil Arora break down the science behind soil compaction, explaining how equipment adjustments and technology can help manage compaction.  They discuss the physical process of soil compaction and its impacts for ag crop production and share practical steps farmers can take to protect soil structure.  

Understanding and Managing Soil Compaction (CROP 3180)

In this episode, Tony Mensing sits down with Dr. Matt Helmers to explore the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS)—an initiative launched in 2013 to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico by 45%. Dr. Helmers breaks down the science and policy behind the strategy, highlighting the roles of both agricultural (non-point) and municipal/industrial (point) sources. 

Tune in to hear how Iowa is measuring success against historical baselines (1980–1996), and what’s next in scaling up implementation to meet ambitious water quality goals.

Tony Mensing and Brett Ramirez discuss the importance of preparing swine barns for winter. Key steps include ensuring equipment functionality, particularly fans and heaters, and maintaining a tight barn to prevent air leaks.  Regular maintenance and checks are essential for effective winter ventilation.

Winter Ventilation Checklist AE 3553B

Fall harvest is here and in this episode we discuss adjusting combine settings, measuring field and harvest losses, and ensuring the safe operation of equipment. 

Publications mentioned in the podcast are PM 573: Profitable Soybean Harvesting, PM 574: Profitable Corn Harvesting, and PM 1636: Soybean Harvesting and Drying. 

What is biochar and how can we use it to improve the sustainability of animal agriculture? In this episode we sit down with Carly Graves, a graduate research assistant in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering North Carolina State University.  Carly recently co-authored of a review paper evaluating the use of biochar to improve the sustainability of animal production and has also studied the use of engineered biochar as a poultry litter amendment. Listen in as we discuss agricultural applications for biochar and ways it can be used to improve agronomic and environmental outcomes. Access the review paper here. 

Variable weather conditions can make managing grain aeration challenging, but a tool for fine tuning aeration is now at your fingertips with the Grain Aeration & Storage App. Join us as we chat with Dr. Dirk Maier, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University, and developer of the app. We discuss different tools within the app and how they can make fine tuning aeration a 'breeze'. Download the app at the Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=argentina.gob.ar.inta.grainaeration&hl=en_US&gl=US
or the Apple Store https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/grain-aeration-storage-app/id1612701884 

Soil health - what is it? How do you know if you have it? How do you improve it? Join us as we chat with Dr. Anna Cates, State Soil Health Specialist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate at the University of Minnesota. We discuss soil health principles, testing, and how to get started with improving soil health on the farm. Visit mosh.umn.edu to learn more and check out the soil health assessment video series here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHagzNIoVms&list=PLyDHx-rmZpCnGYN3Rlrixv-KTl3BG5A2X  

Can we really farm without using tillage or chemicals to control weeds? Listen in as we chat with Clint Brauer, 3rd generation farmer and CEO of GreenField Incorporated, a company on a mission to eliminate the need for chemicals in no-till agriculture. We discuss different robotic platforms that can provide both preseason and in-season weed control for row crops, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead for chemical free no-till agriculture. 

Gary Lewis invented the Bio-Agtive Emissions Technology System to turn a problem into an opportunity: how to capture nitrogen from engine exhaust and use it to grow crops. In this wide-ranging conversation we dive into the details of how this technology has evolved from the goal of capturing nitrogen to increasing soil organic matter levels and boosting plant productivity, all while improving the soil and reducing input costs. The implications of this are profound - can we really turn diesel engine exhaust into a biological amendment that reduces the need for off-farm fertility? Listen in and decide for yourself. To learn more visit bioagtive.com 

Producing your own anhydrous ammonia on the farm with renewable energy might seem like a pipe dream but it's about to become a reality. Fuel Positive is a Canadian company that is rolling out a containerized  system that uses air, water, and either grid-tied or renewable electricity to produce anhydrous ammonia. In this episode we chat with Ian Clifford, Board Chair and CEO of Fuel Positive, about how the system works and how it can benefit farmers. Visit fuelpositive.com for more information.