Farming on Mars

Dr. Murilo Maeda is the extension cotton specialist and assistant professor for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Lubbock. We talked about growing up around his family's farming operation in Brazil, the WTO case between Brazil & the US, differences between cotton farming in Brazil and West Texas, and his path to his current role here on the South Plains.   

Podcast Music: "Melody" - Kody West

Brady Raindl is a cotton trader for ECOM USA in Lubbock. He and his wife also own Cotton Row Clothier, which is a cotton-based apparel company with shirts and caps that are made here in the U.S. from primarily Texas cotton. We talked about what a cotton trader does, different ways farmers can market and sell their cotton, cotton futures, and what sparked his interest in wanting to start Cotton Row.    

Use code MARS for 15% off the Cotton Row Clothier website!

Podcast Music: Kody West "Melody" (used with permission)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Interview recorded on August 22 

Jerry Cave is a farmer from the Flower Grove-Ackerly area. He talks about coming back to the farm after his service in the Army, stories from his life as a dryland farmer, and advice for younger farmers. 
 
Podcast Music: Kody West "Melody

Sam Stanley is an entirely no-till cotton and corn farmer in the Levelland area (Hockley County). He talks about his decision to switch to a no-till system, drip irrigation, 30-50 row spacing, cotton marketing, and why he was always drawn to farming.

Podcast Music: Kody West "Melody"

Dwight Roye is a farmer in the Ralls area and along with his two sons, he is the co-owner/operator of Beta Ag, Inc., a custom application business that also sells seed and fertilizer. He talks about the golden years of irrigation in Crosby County, some equipment history (sandfighters, buster planters, etc.), and why technology will become even more vital to the cotton industry on the South Plains. 

Dr. Peter Dotray is a professor of weed science at Texas Tech University and holds a joint appointment with Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension, where he is the Extension Weed Specialist on the High Plains. We talked about what first piqued his interest about weed science, the updated dicamba label, and the challenges of controlling weeds on the South Plains. 

Podcast Music: Kody West || "Melody" (used with permission)

Jennifer Blackburn is the External Affairs Director for National Sorghum Producers and the Sorghum Check-Off. We talked about some of the interesting new uses for grain sorghum, why agriculture means everything to her, and the Sorghum Smart Talk podcast. (Plus fun fact, she was on the National Champion Livestock Judging team for Tech a few years back -- wreck 'em!)

Go check out Sorghum Smart Talk Podcast (iTunes + Spotify + all other podcast platforms)!

Podcast Music: Kody West || "Melody"

Emory Geye is a senior plant and soil science student at Texas Tech from Rising Star, where he and his family farm cotton and peanuts. He talks about starting out as a young farmer, his thoughts about the future of farming and taking care of the soil, and the importance of farming to his family.

Podcast Music: Kody West: "Melody" (used with permission)

Janet Thornton is an education specialist for the Region 17 Education Service Center and has lived on the South Plains her entire life. We talked about the challenges that rural school districts face, how small communities can retain teachers, opportunities for young people back in their small communities, and similarities between farming and teaching.

Podcast Music: Kody West || "Melody"