Under The Covers

In this episode of Under the Covers, Bill and James sit down at the cribbage board to talk cattle, grazing, and why more farmers may be looking at livestock differently in the years ahead.

The guys break down how they each manage cattle in completely different systems. They cover everything from grazing corn stalks and cover crops to utilizing small grains and warm-season annuals to stretch feed and extend the grazing season.

A big part of the conversation centers around warm-season grazing mixes and why they’ve become an important tool during the summer slump when cool-season pastures start running out of steam. The guys also explain what’s inside their “Cow Catcher” mix and why certain species made the cut.

The guys also dig into:

• Why more cattle herd rebuilding may happen in the Midwest
• The benefits of warm-season annual grazing
• Why they prefer millets over sorghum-sudangrass in many situations
• Using BMR varieties for improved feed quality
• The real-world challenges of establishing native warm-season grasses
• How cover crops and cattle can work together in a system

As always, the conversation goes where the cards take it.

Follow the show so you don’t miss the next hand.

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss the next hand. Also, if you have enjoyed the podcast, leave us a review and share this episode to your support!

Find us on social media in between episodes on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/iowacovercrop
Instagram: @iowacovercrop
X: @iacovercrop
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacovercrop
Learn more about Iowa Cover Crop at www.iowacovercrop.com

In this episode of Under the Covers, Bill and James sit down at the cribbage board to discuss what happened in the warehouse this spring and what we think it means for agriculture overall.

From launching a new alfalfa line (yes, named after legendary tractor models) to expanding our turf and forage lines the guys break down what’s been happening at Iowa Cover Crop.

But this episode goes beyond seed sales. The conversation turns toward the bigger shift they’re seeing in agriculture right now: more farmers looking beyond the standard corn-and-bean rotation, growing interest in grazing and annual pastures, and a stronger focus on cutting input costs while building resilient systems.

The guys also dig into:

• Why cattle markets are pushing more acres toward grazing
• How small grains can improve the bigger farm picture
• Reducing nitrogen and herbicide needs through cover crop systems

As always, it’s practical, unfiltered, and occasionally derailed by a good hand.

Follow the show so you don’t miss the next hand.

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss the next hand. Also, if you have enjoyed the podcast, leave us a review and share this episode to your support!

Find us on social media in between episodes on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/iowacovercrop
Instagram: @iowacovercrop
X: @iacovercrop
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacovercrop
Learn more about Iowa Cover Crop at www.iowacovercrop.com

Bill and James continue their talk about oat season for 2026. Oats don’t always get much attention in Iowa agriculture, but they’ve earned a spot in our system.

In this episode, Bill and James break down what it actually takes to grow oats. From planning and planting to figuring out where they fit in the rotation, this is a real-world look at what’s working, what’s not, and why oats might be worth a second look.

If you’ve been thinking about small grains, this is a good place to start.

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss the next hand. Also, if you have enjoyed the podcast, leave us a review and share this episode to your support!

Find us on social media in between episodes on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/iowacovercrop
Instagram: @iowacovercrop
X: @iacovercrop
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacovercrop
Learn more about Iowa Cover Crop at www.iowacovercrop.com

Bill and James talk about oat season for 2026. Oats don’t always get much attention in Iowa agriculture, but they’ve earned a spot in our system.

In this episode, Bill and James break down what it actually takes to grow oats. From planning and planting to figuring out where they fit in the rotation, this is a real-world look at what’s working, what’s not, and why oats might be worth a second look.

If you’ve been thinking about small grains, this is a good place to start.

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss the next hand. Also, if you have enjoyed the podcast, leave us a review and share this episode to your support!

Find us on social media in between episodes on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/iowacovercrop
Instagram: @iowacovercrop
X: @iacovercrop
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacovercrop
Learn more about Iowa Cover Crop at www.iowacovercrop.com

Piggybacking off Bill’s trip to the Iowa Farm Expo, this episode is simply about money on the farm.

Some things are an easy yes. Others? You’ll think about them for months… maybe years… and still not pull the trigger.

In this episode of Under the Covers, Bill Frederick and James Holz talk through some of their spending decisions on their farms. Equipment, inputs, and everything in between. Learn what we’re comfortable spending money on, what we hesitate on, and what that probably says about how we operate.

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss the next hand. Also, if you have enjoyed the podcast, leave us a review and share this episode to your support!

Find us on social media in between episodes on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/iowacovercrop
Instagram: @iowacovercrop
X: @iacovercrop
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacovercrop
Learn more about Iowa Cover Crop at www.iowacovercrop.com

The 2026 Practical Farmers of Iowa Conference is in the books.
In this episode of Under the Covers, we talk about what actually stuck with us after PFI.
Not a play-by-play recap, just the conversations, themes, and ideas we’re still thinking about weeks later.
We cover:
• How we explain the Practical Farmers of Iowa Conference to someone who’s never been
• What makes PFI different from other ag conferences
• Themes we kept hearing in hallway conversations
• A few moments that stayed with us
• Ideas we’re excited to take back to our own farms
• What feels like it’s shifting in Midwest agriculture right now

Some conversations reinforced things we’ve been thinking about for a while.
Others pushed us a little.
A few made us rethink how we’re approaching our own acres.
This episode is us sorting through what we heard and what it might mean for our farms, our business, and the direction regenerative agriculture and Midwest farming seem to be heading.

If you care about:
Practical Farmers of Iowa
Regenerative agriculture
Soil health
Cover crops
Grazing systems
Small grains
Farm profitability
Rural communities
Or the future of independent farming
You’re in the right place.

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss the next hand. Also, if you have enjoyed the podcast, leave us a review and share this episode to your support!

Find us on social media in between episodes on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/iowacovercrop
Instagram: @iowacovercrop
X: @iacovercrop
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacovercrop
Learn more about Iowa Cover Crop at www.iowacovercrop.com

If you live in Iowa, you’ve probably heard the headlines.

When Central Iowa Water Works turned on its nitrate removal system in January, it caught attention across the state. Winter operation is rare. Nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers were elevated. And once again, Iowa water quality and agriculture were in the news.

In this episode of Under the Covers, we slow the conversation down.

We talk about:

• The history and context behind Des Moines Water Works and Iowa farmers
• What actually happened during the 2015 Des Moines Water Works lawsuit
• How that moment intersected with the early days of Iowa Cover Crop
• What the nitrate removal system sounds like when it’s running
• How we felt about the lawsuit then and how we think about Iowa’s water quality progress now
• Practical ideas for improving water quality moving forward

This isn’t outrage radio.
And we won’t pretend this is simple.

It’s a farmer-to-farmer conversation about Iowa water quality, nitrogen management, responsibility, and the realities of modern agriculture.

We don’t solve it.
We don’t dodge it.
We talk through it.

And yes, we’re still playing cribbage while we do.

If you care about:
Iowa farming
Water quality
Nitrogen management
Regenerative agriculture
Cover crops
Ag policy
Tile drainage
Rural economics
Or how farmers are actually thinking about these issues

You’re in the right place.

When the game ends, the episode ends.

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss the next hand. Also, if you have enjoyed the podcast, leave us a review and share this episode to your support!

Find us on social media in between episodes on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/iowacovercrop
Instagram: @iowacovercrop
X: @iacovercrop
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacovercrop
Learn more about Iowa Cover Crop at www.iowacovercrop.com

If you’ve ever wondered what real conversations between farmers actually sound like… this is it.
Welcome to Under the Covers, a podcast hosted by Bill Frederick and James Holz,
founders of Iowa Cover Crop. We’re two Midwest farmers who built an independent seed business and decided that recording our constant banter and frequent disagreements was a good idea.
This episode sets the stage.

We talk about:
- How Iowa Cover Crop got started
- What our farms look like today
- Why we decided to start a farming podcast now
- Who this show is actually for
- And why we’re playing cribbage while we record

This isn’t an academic deep dive.
It’s not a sales pitch.
And we’re definitely not going to agree on everything.
This is farmer to farmer conversation about agriculture, regenerative farming practices, rural business, soil health, decision-making, and whatever else ends up on the table.
When the cribbage game ends, the episode ends.

If you care about:
Midwest farming
Row crops
Small Grains
Cover crops
Cattle
Grazing
Regenerative agriculture
Independent ag businesses
Agriculture policy
Rural economics
Or just honest farm talk
You’re in the right place.

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss the next hand. Also, if you have enjoyed the podcast, leave us a review and share this episode to your support!

Find us on social media in between episodes on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/iowacovercrop
Instagram: @iowacovercrop
X: @iacovercrop
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacovercrop
Learn more about Iowa Cover Crop at www.iowacovercrop.com

What’s the best way to seed a cover crop? It depends.

In this episode of Under the Covers, Bill and James break down the pros and cons of the most common ground application methods, including drills, high-clearance seeders, fertilizer spreaders, and vertical tillage. They discuss where each method shines, where each falls short, and how to match your application strategy to your goals, labor, equipment, and budget.

The conversation also dives into favorite drills, lessons learned after years of custom application, common mistakes, and why there isn’t a single “best” way to establish a cover crop.

As expected, the guys wander off course with stories about old equipment, rental cars with a mind of their own, a newfound appreciation for Lincoln Town Cars, and welcome the newest member of the Iowa Cover Crop team.

Whether you’re planting your first cover crop or looking to fine-tune your system, this episode is full of practical, farmer-to-farmer advice to help you make the most of fall seeding.

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss the next hand. Also, if you have enjoyed the podcast, leave us a review and share this episode to your support!

Find us on social media in between episodes on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/iowacovercrop
Instagram: @iowacovercrop
X: @iacovercrop
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacovercrop
Learn more about Iowa Cover Crop at www.iowacovercrop.com