Soil Talks™ Podcast

Brandon Kail
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  • EARTH SCIENCES

Soil Talks™ Podcast cuts through the slogans and gets straight to decisions that matter. Each week, we sit down with producers, agronomists, researchers, and product builders shaping the next decade of agriculture. We go beyond theory into timing, placement, risk, and verification. So you hear exactly how people are solving tough problems: compaction that returns, salinity and sodicity, nutrient “access vs. supply,” microbe persistence, drought-time irrigation tactics, and when it’s safe to pull inputs back without risking the crop. You won’t hear hype. You’ll listen to what worked, where it stalled, and the single change that restarted progress. . If you’re responsible for acres, budgets, or outcomes and want signal over noise this is your show.

Episodes

  1. The Farm Debt Trap: Why Regenerative Ag Must Pencil Out

    5D AGO

    The Farm Debt Trap: Why Regenerative Ag Must Pencil Out

    Regenerative agriculture only works when the economics are in place. In this episode of Soil Talks™ Podcast, we sit down with Taylor Henry, CEO of Acres U.S.A., to discuss the aspect of regenerative farming that many people tend to overlook: finances, debt, and decision-making. Taylor shares his unconventional journey from law enforcement into agriculture and breaks down why regenerative systems often fail, not because the biology is wrong, but because the economic model is misunderstood. This conversation goes beyond soil health theory into: Why debt itself isn’t the enemy but unmanaged systems areThe biggest misconceptions holding regenerative farmers backHow technology should support farming decisions, not replace fundamentalsWhy long-term thinking separates profitable farms from struggling onesHow consumer expectations are shifting and what that means for producersWhy financial literacy may be the most important skill for the next generation of farmersIf regenerative agriculture is going to scale, it must be measured, economically viable, and decision-driven. This episode explains what that really means. 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube📚 Learn more about Acres U.S.A. and agricultural education

    1h 10m
  2. Biology Wasn’t Optional: How Betteravia Farms Reduced Nitrogen

    JAN 2

    Biology Wasn’t Optional: How Betteravia Farms Reduced Nitrogen

    In this episode of the Soil Talks™ Podcast, we sit down with Josue Diaz (Betteravia Farms / BoniPak Produce) and Dr. Christopher Height to unpack what actually happens when a large-scale operation transitions from conventional inputs to biological systems, under real-world pressure. This isn’t a conversation about ideology.And it’s not “biology vs fertilizer.” It’s a conversation about constraints. • Increasing regulatory pressure on nitrogen• Water scarcity and efficiency• Input volatility• Yield protection under stress• And the reality that soil health decisions now have to pencil out fast What stood out most in this discussion wasn’t belief.It was measurement. When biology is measured, not assumed: Active carbon becomes visibleNitrogen use efficiency improvesWater-holding capacity changesInput dependency declinesAnd resilience shows up sooner than most expectBetteravia Farms’ experience shows that biology doesn’t replace agronomy it changes how decisions are made. This episode is for:• Farm operators managing scale• Consultants working inside real constraints• Ag leaders navigating regulation, water, and margin pressure If you’re asking:“How do we keep producing at scale when the rules of the game have changed?” This conversation is required listening.

    1h 2m
  3. Soil Talks™ Podcast: How to Build Crop Resilience (N-Efficiency, Silica, Real-World Bio)

    12/26/2025

    Soil Talks™ Podcast: How to Build Crop Resilience (N-Efficiency, Silica, Real-World Bio)

    Can biology really pay? Dr. Curt Livesay (Alchemy BioScience, Dynamite Ag) breaks down the data behind crop stress mitigation with silica, nitrogen efficiency, and post-harvest nutrient removal testing. We dig into nutritional density trends, ROI, manure’s real value, and how to separate useful biologicals from marketing—using independent testing and fieldproof. Subscribe for more Soil Talks™: https://youtube.com/@RockyMountainBioAg?sub_confirmation=1Full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVD04wz0u2J9qqu3L0zcZ9V8_YVzpr81 What you’ll learn• Why silica matters for stress resilience (heat/drought/salt)• N use efficiency: timing, placement, and common leaks• Post-harvest nutrient removal testing to plan fertility• Nutritional density: what’s changing and why• Biologicals: independent testing, real-world criteria, ROI• Manure as a systems tool (and what it really covers)• Commercializing peer-reviewed science without the hype Chapters00:00 Intro02:41 Stress mitigation & silica05:34 Nitrogen efficiency (rate/timing/placement)08:34 Soil testing & nutrient management nuance11:16 Post-harvest removal testing (grain analysis)24:23 Nutritional density & plant growth29:08 Biological tools & independent testing34:23 ROI testing farmers can run42:24 Commercializing science → field tools47:07 Profitability first, ethics & claims51:53 Challenging conventional practices57:56 Agronomy myths to retire1:03:11 Future: biology-first, site-specific Links mentioned• Alchemy BioScience / PiKSi Dust® (guest’s company)• Reach out To Dr. Curt www.dynamiteag.com• Rocky Mountain BioAg® resources & BBO™ course CTA👍 Like the episode if it helped📝 Comment your biggest agronomy myth to test next season🔔 Subscribe & turn on notifications for new Soil Talks™ Podcasts #SoilTalks #SoilHealth #RegenerativeAgriculture #Agronomy #NitrogenEfficiency #Silica #Biologicals #SoilMicrobiome #SustainableFarming #FarmProfitability

    1h 12m
  4. PhycoTerra's Microalgae vs Traditional Amendments: The Results Are Clear

    12/22/2025 · BONUS

    PhycoTerra's Microalgae vs Traditional Amendments: The Results Are Clear

    Microalgae, Microbes & Measurable Gains with Cassidy Million, VP Ag Sciences @ PhycoTerra® What this episode delivers: a clear, field-ready look at how photosynthetically-derived microalgae feed native microbes, improve aggregation, and lift yield without overhauling your program. We separate myth from mechanism, show where microalgae fit in the regen stack, and outline how to verify results fast. Guest: Cassidy Million, M.S. (Plant Pathology), VP of Ag Sciences at PhycoTerra®. Cassidy translates peer-reviewed biology into practical agronomy: microbial activation, carbon flow, water handling, and ROI. Key takeawaysActivation, not replacement: why feeding the existing microbiome outperforms sugar spikes.Structure gains you can see: aggregate stability, infiltration, and residue handling improve when biology is fed.Proof over promise: simple before/after checks (cup test, slake, root windows) + optional biomass/F:B tracking.Adoption playbook: when to apply, how to pair with covers & moisture, and how to avoid “boom → bust” programs.Chapters00:00 Welcome & today’s outcomes02:05 PhycoTerra® in one sentence (what it is / what it isn’t)04:10 Cassidy’s path: plant pathology → soil function05:35 Why microalgae feed the right microbes (diverse carbon, not just sugar)08:30 Native microbe activation vs. “bugs in a jug”10:20 Where it fits vs. composts, humics, and traditional amendments12:30 Carbon flow → aggregation, infiltration, root access15:10 Microbial diversity & stress tolerance (heat, salts, drought)17:15 Field results & persistence beyond 30–60 days20:45 Water retention, rooting pattern, and crop response30:20 Adoption traps: impatience, no habitat, no measurement32:00 What’s next for microalgae in regen programs39:30 Final playbook: how to trial, track, and scale Links• PhycoTerra®: https://phycoterra.com/• Rocky Mountain BioAg® (host): https://www.rockymountainbioag.com• Subscribe on YouTube Soil Talks™ Podcast Try this on your acresPrep habitat: moist, aerated, living roots.Feed biology (microalgae) → avoid sugar spikes.Measure: cup test + slake + root photo (before, then 7–10 days after).If two signals improve twice, scale to more acres.Powered by: Rocky Mountain BioAg®, Biological…Beyond Organic®#SoilTalks #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilHealth #Microalgae #PhycoTerra #SoilBiology #Agronomy #RegenAg #WaterInfiltration #SoilStructure Disclosure: This episode discusses third-party products in the context of biological soil function and field measurement.

    42 min
  5. Soil Talks™ Podcast with Joel Leman GM of Ballantine Farms , CO

    12/19/2025

    Soil Talks™ Podcast with Joel Leman GM of Ballantine Farms , CO

    What does it actually look like to take a conventional, hay-focused operation and turn it into a resilient, biology-led system in one season? In this episode, Brandon sits down with Joel Leman, GM of Ballantine Farms (Durango, Colorado), to unpack the full transition: rotational/mob grazing in arid conditions, using goats to knock out thistle without herbicides, deploying virtual fencing (GPS collars) to increase stock density, and partnering with RMBA to add biology only when habitat is ready.

    39 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Soil Talks™ Podcast cuts through the slogans and gets straight to decisions that matter. Each week, we sit down with producers, agronomists, researchers, and product builders shaping the next decade of agriculture. We go beyond theory into timing, placement, risk, and verification. So you hear exactly how people are solving tough problems: compaction that returns, salinity and sodicity, nutrient “access vs. supply,” microbe persistence, drought-time irrigation tactics, and when it’s safe to pull inputs back without risking the crop. You won’t hear hype. You’ll listen to what worked, where it stalled, and the single change that restarted progress. . If you’re responsible for acres, budgets, or outcomes and want signal over noise this is your show.

Information

  • Creator
    Brandon Kail
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Brandon Kail