What is pomology...or a pomologist? Join us for yet another "first" on Sustaining The Herd to find out. Andrew and Brock sit down in the studio with Win Cowgill, Professor Emeritus from Rutgers University, to discuss the science of growing fruit and developing new fruit varieties. Win has spent his career in the North East U.S. and beyond, working with fruit growers to sustainably produce fruit for hungry consumers. They discuss the intricacies of fruit cultivation and challenges faced by producers when it comes to labor, pest prevention, and changing consumer preferences. Tune in for the full episode!

Most people have heard of artificial intelligence, but does anyone really know how it will impact the future? Join Brock...yes, you read that right...as he hosts solo for the first time without Andrew. Brock sits down in-person with Dan Kurdys of Pairwise at the AgTech Connect conference in Lincoln, NE for a thoughtful discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture. Dan shares his perspective on how AI can be used in the ag industry and what impacts it will have. He also talks about the interesting ways his team is using AI at Pairwise. This is seriously an episode you won't want to miss. And don't worry...Andrew will be back soon for the next episode! Tune in for the full conversation. 

This episode may not contain top secret information, but it comes close. Join Andrew and Brock as they sit down to interrogate...we mean interview...the FBI! Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge from the FBI Omaha Field Office, joins The Herd for an insightful conversation about how the FBI works to protect the agriculture industry from various types of threats. This is one you won't want to miss, so tune in to the full episode to learn all about the classified details.

Who will be working in and leading the agriculture industry several decades from now? How will those individuals prepare to take that charge? Andrew and Brock share perspectives on what it means to prepare the ag professionals of the future. They talk about education, internships, and much more as they dig into this important topic. As an added bonus, they take a look back at the first half of Season 2 of Sustaining The Herd for a partial year in review discussion. Tune in to hear it all! 

Interested in knowing if the food you eat is sustainably produced and how sustainable production is verified? Are you a food producer looking to verify your production practices in order to access new markets and increase profitability?  Andrew and Brock dig into these topics and more when they sit down with Doug Stanton of IMI Global and Where Food Comes From to discuss how sustainability claims and agricultural production practices are verified. Doug and his team work with stakeholders across the agricultural supply chain to help producers add value to their products while also giving consumers confidence in the food they're buying. This is yet another aspect of sustainability that we're excited to explore on Sustaining The Herd. Tune in for the full conversation!

An anaerobic digester project developer’s worst nightmare—tanks filled with sand.  But is it only sand that settles in digesters?  Sand bedding on dairies is an easy target when it comes to digester tanks filled with sand, but there are other settleable particles in manure—some inorganic, some organic.  In Episode 29 of Sustaining the Herd, Brock quizzes Andrew on sources of settleable material in manure, their respective quantities, and what to do about them.  Andrew discusses mixing and agitation, as well as separation strategies and the future of sand handling in digesters.

You may have heard of a robotaxi... but have you heard of a robo feed truck--a self-driving feed truck? In this episode of Sustaining the Herd, Andrew and Brock sit down with Jacob Hansen of ALA Engineering. In the words of Jacob, he feeds cattle—but not as a cattle feeder in the traditional sense. ALA Engineering feeds cattle with their self-driving feed truck that they're currently bringing to market.  Jacob talks about how the self-driving feed truck first came to be.  He also gives a glimpse into the future of precision cattle feeding. Buckle up and tune in for a fun ride in Episode 28!

In Episode 27, Andrew Wedel and Brock Vetick record LIVE from the Biogas Americas Conference in Denver, Colorado. They dive into the latest trends shaping the biogas and renewable natural gas (RNG) industry, offering insights from the heart of the action. Tune in as they discuss the value of connecting with industry professionals, sharing perspectives on innovation, collaboration, and the future of sustainable energy.

What’s the average farm field size in Western Pennsylvania?  Where in the world are US soybeans sold and how are they marketed?  Join Andrew and Brock as they sit down with Andy Fabin of Fabin Brothers Farms located near Indiana, Pennsylvania. Andy shares about sustainable corn and soybean production as well as soybean processing on his family's farm. As if that's not enough to discuss on its own, the conversation takes a turn into global trade and how it's a critical component of the United States ag economy. Check out the full episode to hear it all!

Where are 25% of cattle on feed in the United States located? If you guessed within a 150-mile radius of Canyon, Texas, you guessed right! Andrew and Brock sit down with Dr. Kevin Pond, who serves as Dean of the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. Dr. Pond has dedicated his career to innovation and sustainability in the beef industry here and abroad.  Dr. Pond talks about WTAMU and explains how working together with industry is central to his college's mission. He also shares an exciting update as he talks about the new feedlot research and education center currently being designed and soon to be constructed at WTAMU. If you have any level of interest in cattle feeding, this episode is for you. Tune in to catch the full conversation!