Sustaining The Herd

Andrew and Brock give their perspectives on what’s new in the world of RNG and feedlot manure management. They touch on the impact of the recent change in administration and then they switch gears to discuss insights on manure management on roller compacted concrete in feedyards - also known as RCC - and how RCC is being utilized in the beef cattle industry. Tune in for this can't-miss episode to gain some valuable insight!

What does it mean for beef cattle production to be sustainable? Does a feedlot look and operate the same today as it did 25 years ago? Join Andrew and Brock as they once again sit down with John Schroeder of Darr feedlot for a lively discussion. John, a cattle feeder from Cozad, NE, passionately shares how he and his team at Darr Feedlot work every day to produce beef in a safe, ethical, and sustainable way. The discussion takes a few twists and turns into topics such as cover crops, manure management, innovative pen surfaces, and stewardship throughout it all. Check out this insightful discussion that will keep you on the edge of your seat by tuning in to Episode 21 of Sustaining The Herd!

What is cattle feeding? How does the beef supply chain work? Andrew and Brock sit down with John Schroeder of Darr Feedlot to answer these questions and many more. John is an industry leader and passionate producer from Cozad, NE who cares about sustainably producing high-quality beef for consumers to enjoy. In this episode, John lays the groundwork to help our audience understand the cattle feeding industry and how it fits into the greater beef supply chain. Tune in to the full episode for a conversation you won't want to miss! Also, stay tuned for Part 2 with John in Episode 21 of Sustaining the Herd!

Did you know that 78% of agricultural workers in the US are Hispanic? To kick off season 2 of Sustaining the Herd, Andrew and Brock sit down with Katie Dotterer of AgvoKate to discuss immigrant labor in the US agriculture industry. Katie, a former dairy farmer herself, works with agricultural producers to teach language courses and overcome cultural barriers between owners/managers and Hispanic laborers to make the industry better for all. Check out the full episode to join this worthwhile conversation! 

Episode 18 looks back at the first 17 episodes of Sustaining The Herd. Join Andrew and Brock as they recap the highlights from Season 1, episode-by-episode.  Want to learn more about an episode or new to Sustaining the Herd?  Jump to the episodes that interest you the most.  Settje Agri-Services and Engineering would like to say thank you our guests and listeners for being part of "The Herd" in Season 1.  We look forward to Season 2 , which will debut on January 8th.

Season Index:
E1: Welcome to the Herd
E2: American Biogas Council Executive Director Patrick Serfass Joins the Herd
E3: Animal Feed and Sustainability — Lara Moody, P.E. Joins the Herd
E4: LIVE! From Biogas Americas in Savannah, Georgia
E5: Environmental Attorney David Crass Joins The Herd
E6: ABC's of Getting Paid for Biogas
E7: Anna Kobza Joins The Herd
E8: Compliance and Nutrient Management - Travis Caspersen and Nick Maaske
E9: Manure Management for Digester Developers 101: Water, Hoof Blocks, and Neck Chains
E10: All Things Hoof Health With Karl Burgi
E11: Zach Settje Joins The Herd
E12: Unlocking the Transportation Market for Renewable Natural Gas with Charles Love of Trillium
E13: Mark Fahleson: A Trusted Advisor
E14: Zoning and Permitting - Travis Caspersen and Nick Maaske
E15: LIVE from Business of Biogas with Dairy Producer, Lynn Boadwine
E16: Myriah Johnson Joins the Herd
E17: Manure Management and Worm Farming with Jim Wallace of BioFiltro

We really "dig in" to the details in this episode of Sustaining The Herd—treating animal manure with worm farming, otherwise known as vermiculture.  Andrew and Brock sit down with Jim Wallace of BioFiltro to discuss the many manure treatment options for producers to consider with a particular focus on vermiculture.  Jim shares some interesting insights when it comes to the process of worm farming, the benefits, as well as BioFiltro’s unique business model.  Tune in to the full episode to learn more—this is one you won't want to miss!

Have you ever wondered how an agricultural lending institution approaches sustainability? Well, if you have, you're in luck! And if you haven't, you're still in for a great episode! Andrew and Brock sit down with Myriah Johnson, who is the VP of Corporate Sustainability with Farm Credit Services of America, Frontier Farm Credit, and Ag Country Farm Credit Services. We dive into how the Farm Credit System differs from other commercial lending institutions and then jump into how Myriah and her team take a customer-driven approach when it comes to matters of sustainability. Andrew and Brock ask about what types of sustainability-related projects might be financed and Myriah offers some examples. Finally, the conversation turns to a critically important (and sometimes overlooked) aspect of sustainability - profitability. Join The Herd for the full episode to learn more from this insightful conversation!

Join Andrew and Brock as they record on-location in St. Louis at Business of Biogas, a conference hosted by the American Biogas Council. They are joined by special guest Lynn Boadwine of Boadwine Farms in Baltic, SD. Lynn is a dairy producer and also a panelist for a session at Business of Biogas. From project development, to construction, to operation, Andrew and Brock visit with Lynn about his vast experience with anaerobic digestion systems and how they are integrated into operations at his three dairies. Lynn, Andrew, and Brock also discuss some of what they saw at the conference and along with some industry insights. Join The Herd for the full conversation to learn more!

What needs to happen for a livestock production facility to be built? What processes exist to ensure facilities are properly located and operated? Back by popular demand, Andrew and Brock are once again joined by Travis Caspersen and Nick Maaske of Settje Agri-Services and Engineering. Travis and Nick previously talked about environmental regulatory compliance and nutrient management for livestock facilities in Episode 8 of Sustaining The Herd. This time they dive into all things related to zoning and permitting for livestock production facilities as they walk through the zoning and permitting process and discuss why the process exists. Join The Herd to dive into this insightful conversation focused on how the environment, public input, and sustainability all come together to sustainably produce protein for a growing population.

Did you hear “the one” about the livestock producer and the lawyer?  

What if the lawyer is the livestock producer?  This episode of Sustaining the Herd is no joke as Andrew and Brock are joined by Mark Fahleson—an attorney with Rembolt Ludtke.  Mark talks about how his roots in livestock production enable him to be a trusted advisor to his agriculture clients. Andrew and Brock also visit with Mark about various aspects of sustainability, with a particular focus on business sustainability and succession planning. Is there a new livestock facility or renewable energy project in your future?  Mark gives some insights from an attorney’s perspective on how to get projects off on the right foot and see them through to completion. Tune in to Episode 13 to learn more!