On Life and Land

What have we learned about soil health in the last 10 years? And wow do we even define soil health? Is it simply organic matter content? And what can farmers start doing right now to help boost the health of their own soils? Join us as we talk with Bill Spiegel, farmer and field editor for The Furrow, about everything happening in the ground underfoot.

On Life & Land is produced for John Deere by Bader Rutter and is hosted by David Jones, former editor of John Deere's The Furrow magazine. Recording, mixing and mastering services are provided by RecWest Studio, and our music is by Dale May.

During a 2017 live-stream from their own kitchen table, Canadian farmers Lesley and Matt Kelly admitted they had both recently suffered mental health crises...Lesley from post-partum depression, Matt in the form of panic attacks. Today, they prioritize mental health on their own farm, with daily check-ins and discussions. Lesley even helped establish Do More Agriculture, a foundation devoted to advancing the state of mental health care in rural areas. In this episode, host David Jones is joined by Lorne McClinton, field editor for The Furrow, for a frank discussion with Lesley about her and Matt's experiences.

On Life & Land is produced for John Deere by Bader Rutter and is hosted by David Jones, former editor of John Deere's The Furrow magazine. Recording, mixing and mastering services are provided by RecWest Studio, and our music is by Dale May.

If there were to be a Mount Rushmore of ag journalism, the face of Jim Patrico would occupy a position of honor. Jim spent a decades-long career telling ag's story, most notably for The Progressive Farmer magazine. Now he's a written a book, Dispatches from Farm Country, that more closely resembles an anthropological or sociological study of rural America than a collection of random rural reminiscings. In this episode, we talk with Jim about his book, his career, and his next project.

On Life & Land is produced for John Deere by Bader Rutter and is hosted by David Jones, former editor of John Deere's The Furrow magazine. Recording, mixing and mastering services are provided by RecWest Studio, and our music is by Dale May.

Jim Whitaker and his family are model stewards, and operate by the belief that "What's good for the land is good for the farmer." Their approach to stewardship has paid off in reduced water, fertilizer, and chemical use, increased productivity from their ground and their equipment, and improved wildife habitat. Join us as we chat with Jim about the his stewardship efforts, and learn more about what it takes to produce one of the world's most prolific crops.

On Life & Land is produced for John Deere by Bader Rutter and is hosted by David Jones, former editor of John Deere's The Furrow magazine. Recording, mixing and mastering services are provided by RecWest Studio, and our music is by Dale May.

The decision of whether or not to stay on the family farm after graduation is a personal one, and can be difficult for those who have never known a life off the farm. But Travis, Trent, and Tyler Smeltzly of Port Byron, Illinois, are perfect examples of how well it can work when the 'farm children' are encouraged to seek their own paths, whether or not they lead back to the family operation. Today, Travis works the farm with his father and other family members, while Trent and Tyler both work for John Deere. Hear how they each came to their decisions - with bonus commentary from Grandma Darlene Smeltzly - in this episode.

On Life & Land is produced for John Deere by Bader Rutter and is hosted by David Jones, former editor of John Deere's The Furrow magazine. Recording, mixing and mastering services are provided by RecWest Studio, and our music is by Dale May.

The story of the John Deere Classic isn't one of one-percent players. It's a story of local enthusiasm, and of giving back. Join us as we speak with Mara Downing, Vice President, Global Brand Management and Corporate Communications, Deere & Company, about this unique tournament and its impact on the Quad Cities and the golf community.

On Life & Land is produced for John Deere by Bader Rutter and is hosted by David Jones, former editor of John Deere's The Furrow magazine. Recording, mixing and mastering services are provided by RecWest Studio, and our music is by Dale May.

California's Sonoma County prides itself on being a center of excellence for sustainable grape production; ninety-nine percent of of Sonoma County's vineyard acreage is third-party certified sustainable. In addition, Sonoma County has established itself as a proving ground for advanced equipment technologies and cultural practices, many of which promise to reduce inputs, reduce labor requirements, improve soil quality and, ultimately, boost production.

In this episode, we speak with four experts in the field of wine grape production: Karissa Kruse, president and CEO of Sonoma County Winegrowers; her husband, Steve Dutton, co-owner of Dutton Ranch and co-founder of Dutton-Goldfield winery; Tyler Klick, co-owner of Redwood Empire Vineyard Management; and Bret Munselle, a fifth-generation Sonoma County grape grower.

On Life & Land is produced for John Deere by Bader Rutter and is hosted by David Jones, former editor of John Deere's The Furrow magazine. Recording, mixing and mastering services are provided by RecWest Studio, and our music is by Dale May.

You probably know Rob Wolfe as co-host of the popular series American Pickers, but he's much more than a TV personality. Rob has spent a lifetime finding and collecting antique cars and motorcycles, along with other bits of Americana; Rob is also deeply familiar with the history of Davenport, Iowa, and the larger Quad Cities Area. In this episode, Rob talks to us about his love of antiques, and about one of the stranger events in Davenport history.

On Life & Land is produced for John Deere by Bader Rutter and is hosted by David Jones, former editor of John Deere's The Furrow magazine. Recording, mixing and mastering services are provided by RecWest Studio, and our music is by Dale May.

From the production of complete goods like the M2 Tractor to the machining of submarine components to the actions of the John Deere Battallion, the war-time story of Deere & Company and its employees is one of service, innovation, and adaptation. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, On Life & Land speaks with Chris Boyens to learn more about the role Deere & Company and its employees played in securing victory for the U.S. and Allied Forces.

On Life & Land is produced for John Deere by Bader Rutter and is hosted by David Jones, former editor of John Deere's The Furrow magazine. Recording, mixing and mastering services are provided by RecWest Studio, and our music is by Dale May.

It would be hard to overstate the impact that the opening of the Erie Canal had on American life and American agriculture. The canal was the first link between New York Harbor and the Great Lakes, and between overseas markets and the growing population in the Midwest. This year, as the Erie Canal celebrates its 200th birthday, we join Steve Werblow, field editor for The Furrow magazine, and Amy Machamer, a seventh-generation farmer whose land borders the canal, for a look at one of the greatest technological achievements of its day.

On Life & Land is produced for John Deere by Bader Rutter and is hosted by David Jones, former editor of John Deere's The Furrow magazine. Recording, mixing and mastering services are provided by RecWest Studio, and our music is by Dale May.