When we talk about sustainability, very often we’re talking about how a grower’s actions or practices can help the environment.

But it works both ways!

Sustainable improvements to the environment can help the grower out in the field as well.

When we invest in promoting soil health through practices like cover crops, we're laying the groundwork for better yields, lower input costs and even potential new revenue streams.

So in this episode, we're looking back at two of the best conversations we've had about cover crops and soil health.

Dr. Chuck Rice, a distinguished professor of soil microbiology at Kansas State University, has a great framework for growers that he calls the “Holy Trinity of Soil Health.”

And for growers who don’t feel like they know enough about cover cropping to make an informed decision, we're also speaking with Patrick Reed, the Vice President of Sales at La Crosse Seed.

Sustainability buzzwords won't move the needle... and they sure aren't helping anyone.

Growers need to be front and center in any conversation about the future of agriculture.

Because, without growers, agriculture has no future.

So in this episode, we're looking back at three conversations that really cut through the noise and surfaced some actionable sustainable agriculture insights.

We'll talk with Curt Blades, the Senior Vice President of Industry Sectors and Product Leadership at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, about finding purpose in the industry's pivot toward sustainability.

From Florida, we'll explore how one of North America's most diverse and challenging croplands is making huge strides in nutrient management with David Royal, the Florida Nutrient Stewardship Project Manager at the Nature Conservancy.

And we'll learn how to support variable rate nutrient application through careful soil sampling and data collection from Brian Arnall, precision nutrient management extension specialist at Oklahoma State University.

Managing insects, weeds and disease on crops is an ever-evolving battle.

Spray too late, and you'll have lost your crop.

Spray too soon, you'll have wasted a lot of money and time.

Spray too much, and you'll be increasing pest resistance and causing other problems.

And none of those options is sustainable OR practical.

So in this episode, we're learning about one of agriculture's oldest practices—field scouting—from one of Nutrien Ag Solutions' newest crop consultants, Megan Guy.

From our office in Dansville, New York, she'll explain how she builds trust with growers, how they determine thresholds for application, and how these practices have evolved to be more sustainable.

Plus, we'll be joined by Deirdre Hickey, instructor of plant science at the State University of New York Cobleskill, to discuss how to get more young people like Megan interested in agriculture careers.

Agriculture can mean a lot of different things in the Northeast U.S.

From row crops to specialties, from broccoli to potatoes, from dairy to turf production, every ag operation has unique needs.

And every operation is looking for a competitive edge to boost production and create new revenue streams.

So in this episode, we're visiting the New York Farm Show in Syracuse to pop in on Nutrien Ag Solutions Northeast Division Manager Steve Harrison.

He's going to tell us how his team is tackling the unique mix of agriculture, terrain and climate in the Northeast, and helping growers optimize their sustainability footprints while improving their margins.

Plus, we'll explore how sustainability partnerships with downstream food processors are creating new revenue streams for growers in this part of the world.

Sustainable agriculture in the Corn Belt means something different from sustainable agriculture in the American South.

And sustainable agriculture in California is its own kind of animal.

But one of the best things about making the FARMSMART Podcast is that we go to all those places and more, sharing field-level insights that make it possible to improve your sustainability footprint and your margins.

So in this episode, we’re checking in with experts from Iowa, North Carolina and California to see what we can learn from one another about nutrient management, cover crops and water management. 

Our guests are:

Plus, we'll get reintroduced to our new podcast co-host, Nutrien Ag Solutions Director of Digital Sustainability Ryan Adams.

Good sustainable ag practices and carefully-collected data won’t make it rain more.

But they will help you make the most out of every drop.

And in Northwest Texas, they know a thing or two about making due with limited rainfall.

So on this episode, we’re talking to Precision Ag Lead Ky Houchin from the Nutrien Ag Solutions South Plains Division about how growers in the Lubbock area are tracking their water use and inputs to maximize their yields in a climate with less than 20 inches of rain a year.

We'll also discuss how data-driven decisions can enhance crop yields and sustainability, the hurdles that some growers encounter in adopting new practices, and the critical role of water quality and nutrient management in achieving sustainable outcomes.

Christine Bielski's ability to leverage data and science with integrity and transparency is a big part of the reason why she has been named "Trusted Adviser of the Year" by Field to Market.

And it's also a big part of the reason why the Northern High Plains Division, where she works as Nutrien Ag Solutions' research and sustainability manager, has seen 10x enrollment in certain sustainability programs over the last three years.

We chatted with Christine three years ago in episode 18 of this podcast about what we could learn from Nutrien Ag Solutions' carbon pilot.

And given the massive growth since then, and her award from Field to Market, we figured it was about time we caught up with her again.

So in this episode, Christine joins us to talk about the abundant challenges growers face in the Northern High Plains, how they're leveraging sustainable agriculture practices to improve their yields, and what she expects to see over the next couple years.

Plus, she shares some hard-earned insights about what works and what doesn't in one of North America's most challenging agricultural geographies.

Artificial intelligence has been a hot topic in the business world over the last year.

Some of it has been really interesting, and some has been just hype.

But in the field of sustainable agriculture, where we already work with massive volumes of data, there are some A.I. applications that could provide real value to growers.

So in this episode, we meet Dr. Nathan Boyd, the Associate Director of the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.

He's helping develop Florida's state-funded Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence, and with a background in agriculture and weed control, knows that new technology has to create a clear value for growers if it's going to succeed.

We'll discuss how A.I. is different from other new technologies in agriculture, how it could be used to create value, and why it could be a game-changer for sustainability.

Center pivot irrigation is so prevalent in Southern Idaho, you can see it from space.

With only 12 inches of annual rainfall, Justin Place says his 1,250-acre operation is heavily reliant on pumping water from the Upper Snake River aquifer to grow wheat, barley, alfalfa and mustard.

But, faced with a mandate to cut water use by 15 percent, he's spent the last decade incorporating no-till and minimal-till into his practices; and that has allowed him not only to exceed those water management goals, but also improve his soil health.

So in this episode, we spent some time learning more about Justin's operation, as well as his involvement as President of the Idaho Grain Producers Association.

We'll discuss how sustainability means different things to different folks in the Rockies, how commodity groups can help growers incorporate new sustainability practices, what practices are working in the arid valley along the Upper Snake River, and what new technologies are helping him thrive in a challenging climate.

Visit agrible.com to sign up for Nutrien Ag Solutions' free digital toolkit, and info.nutrienagsolutions.com/SNO to learn more about Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes.

When the U.S. Congress missed a key deadline to extend or renew the Farm Bill last month, it was not without precedent.

But it is concerning, nonetheless, for growers who count on this massive piece of agriculture policy to lay the groundwork for everything from crop insurance to food stamps to sustainable ag incentives.

So in this episode of the FARMSMART Podcast, we're talking to Renee Munasifi, Senior Director of Global Government & Industry Affairs at Nutrien, about what the Farm Bill's expiration means for growers.

She'll explain how Congress could still act before the end of the year, and what could happen if they don't, as well as the importance of growers reaching out to their elected representatives now to get them to take action.

We'll also explore what different election outcomes might mean for sustainable ag policy, and how Nutrien's public affairs team is working to give growers the tools they need to provide sustainable food, fiber and fuel for the world.