The Grow Down on Soil Health

In this episode of The Grow Down on Soil Health, we are joined by Courtney Yuskis to explore how new technology and farming practices are shaping farmer profitability and adoption decisions. Courtney breaks down why there’s no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to conservation, especially when weighing the cost of adoption versus return on investment.

Hear Courtney share how technology and innovative platforms are helping farmers make more informed decisions about when and how to adopt practices like cover crops. She also explains how programs such as Farmers for Soil Health, with its direct...

In this episode of The Grow Down on Soil Health, we sit down with Jack Cornell, Director of Supply Chain Resilience at the United Soybean Board (USB), to explore how farmer stewardship and sustainable supply chains are at the heart of Farmers for Soil Health. Jack shares how his personal journey, from Ohio to Hawaii and back, shaped his passion for conservation, and even how his tradition of “Hawaiian Shirt Fridays” reflects a bigger story about connection, community, and stewardship.

Jack and host Ben West, Executive Director of Farmers for Soil Health, dive into what sets the prog...

On today’s episode of “The Grow Down on Soil Health,” we have Aidan Walton here to discuss the interconnected impact that trust, technology and dedicated conservation specialists have on the adoption of conservation practices in his home state of Illinois.

Learn about what drives farmer decisions and how neighbors can impact the start of trying something new. Aidan speaks on honesty and big data, highlighting whether more tillage passes are profitable or not and the most profitable nitrogen application range.

Meet the Guest:

Aidan Walton is both a precision conservation specialist for the Pr...

In this episode of The Grow Down on Soil Health, we are joined by Greg Goodwin to explore how economics, efficiency, and trust play a critical role in the future of conservation. Greg breaks down how funding conservation transitions, improving farm efficiency, and earning farmer trust are essential to bridging the gap between farmers and supply chains.

Hear Greg share about how advisors can build and maintain trust with farmers, why efficiency is as important for profitability as it is for environmental gains, and how shared value can be created between farmers and the supply chain beyond...

In this episode of The Grow Down on Soil Health, we are joined by Ryan Heiniger to explore how family, wildlife, and conservation come together to shape a farm legacy that benefits both the land and future generations. Ryan reflects on his journey back to Iowa after years away, the role of his children in carrying forward a fifth-generation farm, and how conservation and profitability can be woven into family farming traditions.

Hear Ryan share how habitat restoration shaped his approach to farming, why conservation resonates deeply with farmers as both a lifestyle and an economic choice...

On today’s episode of “The Grown Down on Soil Health,” Olivia Caillouet, Ph.D., and Erin Gundy detail the benefits of cover crops, highlighting why they are a game-changer for sustainability and soil health.

Caillouet is the soil health program manager at the University of Missouri’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture, a partner of Farmers for Soil Health. She has a background in agricultural education and extension and an extensive understanding of cover crop adoption and sustainable agriculture. 

Gundy’s academic background is in agronomy...