The Grow Down on Soil Health

Farmers for Soil Health
  • 5.0 (2)
  • EDUCATION

Welcome to “The Grow Down on Soil Health” podcast, where we dive deep into sustainable farming practices designed to enhance both your land and your bottom line. Join host Ben West, Ph.D., executive director of Farmers for Soil Health, and a diverse lineup of guests from various agricultural backgrounds as they share entertaining stories, invaluable soil health management techniques, and the incredible benefits cover crops can bring to your farm. Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the United Soybean Board, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.

Episodes

  1. 6D AGO

    From Practice to Profit: The Role of New Technology and Farming Practices on Profitability

    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-to-farmer payments and emerging sustainability marketplace, can make a real difference in bridging the gap between practice and profit. Meet the Guest: Courtney Yuskis is the Agriculture Commercial Leader for Sustainability at DTN and is based on her family farm in Illinois. With a background that spans a BS in Business Administration, service with the Peace Corps, work with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Samoan Ministry of Agriculture, Courtney brings both global experience and local understanding to her role. Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.

    22 min

  2. 12/18/2025

    Putting Farmers First: The Farmers for Soil Health Approach

    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 program apart from other initiatives, how it directly supports farmers across regions, and the resources available to help producers adopt or expand practices like cover crops. Meet the Guest: Jack Cornell is the Director of Supply Chain Resilience at the United Soybean Board, where he leads projects and partnerships that connect farmers with sustainability opportunities while ensuring profitability remains front and center. With a career path that blends agriculture, conservation, and collaboration, Jack has dedicated his work to building programs that empower farmers and strengthen supply chains for the future. Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.

    29 min

  3. 12/05/2025

    On the Ground with Farmers: Conservation, Data, and Trust

    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 Precision Conservation Management (PCM) Program and a technical advisor for the Farmers for Soil Health program. Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.

    19 min

  4. 11/14/2025

    Bridging the Gap: Economics, Efficiency, and Farmer Trust

    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 carbon markets. He also discusses how farm data can be repurposed to generate greater returns for farmers while meeting the sustainability demands of end-users. Meet the Guest: Greg Goodwin is the Director of the Precision Conservation Management (PCM) Program. Since taking on the role, he has helped double the program in just three years. With a strong background in agricultural engineering and soil and water resources, Greg has dedicated his career to helping farmers and conservationists understand the environmental impacts of agricultural practices. Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.

    26 min

  5. 11/07/2025

    Family Legacy of Cover Crops and Wildlife

    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, and how input prices can be repurposed for conservation techniques. He also discusses the launch of CTIC’s Conservation Connector platform and a new family cover crop seeding business that bridges conservation values with real-world farm profitability. Meet the Guest: Ryan Heiniger is a fourth-generation Iowa farmer and the Executive Director of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC). With more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit conservation, Ryan has built strong partnerships across agriculture and wildlife organizations to advance sustainable farming practices. He holds a degree in Wildlife Biology from Iowa State University and spent much of his career working in habitat restoration before returning to his family farm along the Mississippi River. Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.

    21 min

  6. 09/04/2025

    Cover Crops: A Valuable Tool for Today’s Farmer

    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. She is currently a soil health educator with the Soil Health Institute and specializes in corn and soybean systems across the Midwest. The Soil Health Institute is yet another valued partner of Farmers for Soil Health.  Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.

    21 min

  7. 08/19/2025

    Starting Cover Crops: A 5-Step Guide with Kristin Poley

    Today on “The Grow Down on Soil Health,” Kristin Poley guides you through a practical and easy-to-follow five-step process for establishing cover crops in your fields. Topics covered include: How to establish both short-term and long-term goals. Identifying a test area. Selecting species that align with your goals and equipment.Developing both an initial and backup termination plan.The importance of patience and thorough note-taking.Poley has a background in entomology with a focus on pest management. She has extensive experience in various commodities, including tree fruit, vegetables and row crops. Poley is the director of research and agronomy for the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, Michigan’s Corn Checkoff Program. Additionally, she serves as a technical advisor with Farmers for Soil Health.   Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.

    17 min

  8. 07/31/2025

    Insights from the Field with Stefan Maupin

    In today’s episode of The Grow Down on Soil Health, we explore soil health and sustainable agriculture practices with Stefan Maupin, the executive director of the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Council. Maupin discusses what is needed to enhance cover crops in Southern states, the reasons behind the popularity of certain sustainable practices in different regions, and the role organizations play in bridging the knowledge and accessibility gap between sustainable practices and farmers. Having grown up on his family’s row crop farm in Dyer County, Tennessee, Maupin spent over 20 years with the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, where he ultimately served as the director of public policy. He currently holds the position of executive director of the Tennessee Soybean Council and is part of the leadership team that oversees Tennessee’s technical advisors for Farmers for Soil Health. Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.

    36 min
  • 8 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to “The Grow Down on Soil Health” podcast, where we dive deep into sustainable farming practices designed to enhance both your land and your bottom line. Join host Ben West, Ph.D., executive director of Farmers for Soil Health, and a diverse lineup of guests from various agricultural backgrounds as they share entertaining stories, invaluable soil health management techniques, and the incredible benefits cover crops can bring to your farm. Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the United Soybean Board, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.

Information

  • Creator
    Farmers for Soil Health
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Grow Down on Soil Health
  • Show Website
    The Grow Down on Soil Health