In Episode 1 of Beyond the Inputs, we head to North Carolina to sit down with fourth-generation farmer Kevin Matthews of Matthews Family Farms.

Kevin and his family farm thousands of acres in the Yadkin River Valley, producing corn, soybeans, wheat, and other crops while pushing the limits of precision agriculture. Known nationally for his work with no-till farming, subsurface drip irrigation, nutrient management, and on-farm innovation, Kevin was named North Carolina Farmer of the Year in 2022 and is a co-founder of XtremeAg.

Our conversation covers the evolution of modern farming, technology adoption, soil health, irrigation, family succession, and what it takes to build a successful operation from the ground up. Kevin also shares lessons learned from decades of farming, leading through challenges, and helping other farmers shorten the learning curve through education and collaboration.