In this episode, Rue Genger interviews Kevin Anderson and Annelie Livingston-Anderson to learn about the reduced tillage systems they use to produce vegetables and flowers at Good Turn Farm, in Pepin County Wisconsin. Kevin and Annelie share their favorite low-tillage production systems, benefits they’ve seen for soil health, and advice for growers who are getting started with reduced tillage methods. We also hear about the Johnson-Su composting bioreactor that Kevin and Annelie are trialing wit...
Oct 20, 2022•43 min•Season 3Ep. 8
In this episode, Rue Genger and Liz Dwyer of Dancing the Land, Clearwater Minnesota, mix philosophy and practicality into their conversation about farming, food, and caring for the land. Liz describes the evolution of the several different reduced tillage systems that she and her partner Curtis use on their land, how their livestock are integrated into annual production systems, and the importance of adaptability and observation in developing systems for your farm.
Oct 06, 2022•52 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Deep compost mulch systems are gaining popularity among vegetable growers who want to reduce tillage. In this episode, Rue Genger interviews Jimmy Bauman about the deep compost mulch systems used at Farm Farm in Princeton Minnesota. Jimmy describes the path he and his partner Heather have taken to reduce tillage, build soil organic matter, and refine their deep compost mulch system for vegetable production.
Sep 26, 2022•55 min•Season 3Ep. 6
In this episode, Natalie interviewed Meg McGrath, a plant pathologist from Cornell, and Jim Jasinski, IPM coordinator at Ohio State University, about using biofumigation to manage soilborne diseases. We discuss how it works and tips for growers who want to try it on their farms.
Aug 30, 2022•37 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this episode we talk to Anna Testen and Bob Philbrun, from Ohio, about a method for directly competing with and destroying soil diseases by encouraging a special group of microbiology, called anaerobes. Like day shift and a night shift clocking in and out, the anaerobes rule with oxygen is removed from the soil, leaving behind a tilthy planting medium wither fewer plant disease-causing pathogens.
Aug 01, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 4
How do we build organic matter on farms without over-fertilizing our soils? And what are realistic goals for increasing organic matter? In this episode, Natalie Hoidal interviews Dr. Nic Jelinski, a soil scientist at the University of Minnesota. They talk about soil formation, how organic matter accumulates in soil, broadening our metrics for soil health, and how different practices like compost additions and cover crops contribute to organic matter in the longer-term.
May 18, 2022•55 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Across the Great Lakes region, we see vegetable farms with very high levels of soil phosphorus. In this episode, Natalie Hoidal interviews four ecologists who study nutrient leaching in freshwater ecosystems to understand how much it matters for vegetable farms to have high phosphorus levels in their soils, and what we can do about it.
May 17, 2022•37 min•Season 3Ep. 2
High tunnel crops often look great for the first few years, but as tunnel soils begin to build up salts and alkalinity, we begin to see plant health problems around years 3-5. In this episode, Natalie Hoidal interviews Dr. Elsa Sanchez and Thomas Ford from Penn State about trends they've seen in high tunnel soils, and strategies for dealing with common problems.
May 17, 2022•33 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this special mid-winter offering, three university researchers agreed to be interviewed and recorded for this live and in-person show. They were Marty Chilvers, specializing corn and bean diseases; James Dedecker, specializing wildlife management; and Zsofia Szendrei, specializing in insect pests of vegetables. This show is brought to you by Fartless Beans, and Heavy Metal Tube Man.
Mar 01, 2022•1 hr 50 min•Season 2Ep. 31
In this special mid-winter offering, three operations agreed to be interviewed and recorded for this live and in-person show. They were Blake Farms (Armada, MI), specializing in fruits, vegetables, and agritainment; Hoopers Farm Garden (Traverse City, MI), specializing in cut flowers for events; and Will Forage for Food (Grass Lake, MI), specializing in wild food tourism and educational events....
Feb 10, 2022•1 hr 47 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Ben Phillips interviews Lina Rodrigues-Salamanca about how diseases get through the winter. A written synopsis of this content will appear in the January edition of Vegetable Growers News, in a column called Great Lakes Veg Connections.
Dec 22, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Ben Phillips interviews Zsofia Szendrei about how insects make it through the wintry times. A written synopsis of this content will appear in the January edition of Vegetable Growers News, in a column called Great Lakes Veg Connections.
Dec 22, 2021•34 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Listen to a broccoli dream team discuss disease management, markets, varieties, insect control and more! Natalie Hoidal interviews Dr. Bhabesh Dutta of Georgia, Thomas Bjorkman of Cornell and Susan Scheufele of Massachusetts, a team tackling broccoli production east of the Mississippi. Learn more about their multi-state work on developing varieties and markets and improving pest and disease management....
Sep 11, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Caw, Caw, phwump, chk chk boom, arrgghhhh! It doesn't take long in farming to start to sympathize with Elmer Fudd, as it seems mammals are always one wing flap/paw/hoofprint ahead of the limited tools we have. Listen as we chat with James DeDecker about vertebrate pest management (P.S. sounds at the beginning were, in order, bird distress call "squawk box," a propane cannon, a shotgun, and an exasperated grower). Also check out a library of factsheets, videos and more on vertebrate management av...
Aug 30, 2021•44 min•Season 2Ep. 26
This week's show is all about getting set for the 4th growing season; winter! Planting dates are crucial for winter greens to yield during and through the Persephone period when we have fewer than 10 hours of light a day. When to heat? What kinds of insulation options are available? Lewis Jett is here to talk about preparing hoophouses for and tending to winter leafy green vegetables. Follow up questions can be sent to Lewis at Lewis.Jett@mail.wvu.edu ....
Aug 19, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 25
With pumpkins starting to color up, do you already have pumpkin spiced lattes on your minds? Next week the Vegetable Beet will be gnawing on the important pumpkin questions. Join Ben Werling of MSU Extension as he talks to the pumpkin duo, Nathan Johanning of University of Illinois Extension and Brad Bergeford of the Ohio State University Extension about how to be the pumpkings and pumpqueens you were meant to be! Here are some resources that were discussed in this week's episode. The Midwest Ve...
Aug 12, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Bok choy, fava greens, daikon, oh my! This week, University of Kentucky Extension Agent, Bethany Pratt, and Common Earth Gardens Executive Director, Laura Stevens, and Agricultural Consultant Stephen Bartlett join the podcast to talk about the production of Asian greens and other culturally appropriate crops, working with refugee populations, and the challenges and opportunities when it comes to marketing these crops. The Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers has a chapter on...
Aug 05, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Hold onto your oomycetes, folks! This week Mary Hausbeck joins us from Michigan State University to talk about a group of pathogens called oomycetes, also known as water molds. These include downy mildews on foliage, and the complex of Phytophthora , and Pythium rots on roots and fruits. What makes them different and more challenging than regular ol' fungus and bacteria? With loads of experience and research on these pathogens, Mary will have you saying "ooooo!-mycetes" and "oh!-mycetes" instead...
Jul 29, 2021•50 min•Season 2Ep. 22
CMV, INSV, TSWV, SqMV, WTF? Viruses are a confounding complex of pathogens of our vegetable crops that can hide in overhead ornamentals in greenhouses and non-crop weeds in fields. How can you prevent them from infecting plants, identify if plants are infected, or manage plants after infection? Brett Arenz, from the University of Minnesota, and Jan Byrne, from Michigan State University, join us to discuss these mysterious plant problems.
Jul 22, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Join us this week for the Garlic Guru of Ontario, Travis Cranmer. Garlic is one of those polarizing crops that people love or hate. But, those who like to eat it, tend to really love it. And those who grow it, really love to grow it. Planting in fall, harvested in summer. How strange!? What should you know about seed quality and sourcing, and what do you with the flower scapes of hardneck garlic? Travis will take us from A to Z. No vampires allowed.
Jul 15, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 20
There are many things that look like a disease, or insect damage, but they are not! What are they called? These are "abiotic" disorders, and they get their name from being "non-living" causes of plants stress and yield reduction. Cold snaps, heat stress, wind, hail, low spots, and pH and nutrient levels in soil and water are common causes for abiotic disorders, and Becky Sideman is here from the University of New Hampshire Extension to talk out some of the common and tricky ones with us! Here is...
Jul 09, 2021•56 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Ugh Bugs! Organic cucumber beetle management is an annual ordeal for both conventional and organic growers, but there are more limited options for sprays on organic vine crops. What is it about this bug that makes it so difficult to deal with? What can I do about it with the sprays available, and other tools beyond the boom? Celeste Welty, at The Ohio State University, has pondered and researched these questions in her career as a fruit and vegetable entomologist in the Buckeye State. Join us an...
Jun 30, 2021•44 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Ope! Starting a farm or transitioning a farm to certified organic is tough! New crops, new pests, new markets, and new paperwork. Jake Overgaard, certification specialist from Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA), and Vicki Morrone, organic systems academic specialist from MSU, are here to discuss the pitfalls and easily-missed or commonly screwed up things that require extra time to remedy and could have gone smoother for Organic Certification. You can get more information on organic cer...
Jun 24, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 17
$temphylium Onion Blight can cost onion growers $ in so many ways. Hear about ways to get a handle on the SOB as Dennis Van Dyk chats with Christy Hoepting about Stemphylium control in onions. Christy mentions at some point "What the frick is a FRAC?" Here is a quick run down of the products and their FRAC codes from Christy's most recent trial in 2020 . "Always be rotating through them and guard the 7's with your life". Viathon = tebuconazole + potassium phosphite = FRAC 3 + 33 Luna Experience ...
Jun 16, 2021•44 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Interested in growing strawberries in a vegetable rotation with the same tools and equipment you would use for vegetables? Can't get the lingo straight? This episode is for you! Ben Phillips interviewed Courtney Weber, berry breeder from Cornell, and Annie Klodd, fruit specialist from University of Minnesota, about strawberries production styles for June-picking that can work for vegetable growers. A summary of this podcast was written up for the Vegetable Growers News Veg Connections Column . H...
Jun 09, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Dicamba, 2,4-D, and bears, oh-my! Matt Kleinhenz talked with Doug Doohan about herbicide drift in vegetables, especially as we farm in the volatile world of dicamba-resistant field crops. Here is a great set of factsheets to help identify, prepare for, and respond to herbicide drift: https://ipm-drift.cfaes.ohio-state.edu/dicamba-and-24-d-fact-sheet-series Here is the regional survey about your experiences with herbicide drift that can help guide research and policy: https://ipm-drift.cfaes.ohio...
Jun 03, 2021•44 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Katie King interviewed Ajay Nair, from Iowa State University, and Emily Fagan, from Humble Hands Harvest, about summer lettuce production. Seeds or transplants? Timing for continuous cutting or harvest? How to keep ahead of summer stresses that affect flavor and bolting? Does irrigation affect quality?
May 26, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Natalie Hoidal interviewed Lori Hoagland, from Purdue University, about microbial stimulants, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. This was a topic we touched on in the Organic Media Mixes and Fixes episode but wanted to go deeper on! It's neat stuff! Can we co-opt this complex inter-species communication and communalism in an annual production system?
May 19, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Ben Werling interviewed Brad Bergefurd, from Ohio State University, and Nathan Johanning, from University of Illinois, about pre-season pumpkin tips. Both Brad and Nathan maintain their own personal pumpkin patches outside of their jobs at their universities. Beatnik Pumpkin skit written by Ben Werling, performed by Ben Phillips.
May 13, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 11
"Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink". It can be hard to get reliable and affordable water for urban vegetable farms even when there is water infrastructure running through nearly every street and building. Ben Phillips interviewed Naim Edwards , from MSU Detroit Partnership for Food, Land, and Innovation (DPFLI), and Micah Hutchison , from the Genesee County Conservation District, about water access and use efficiencies for urban farms. Michelle Wallace , from Central State Universit...
May 05, 2021•49 min•Season 2Ep. 10
