Soil Talks™ Podcast

Brandon Kail

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 Green Philosophy: Why Lawns Fail Without Soil Biology

    4D AGO

    The Green Philosophy: Why Lawns Fail Without Soil Biology

    For decades, lawn care has been built on schedules, products, and chemical fixes, yet lawns continue to decline, thin out, struggle with disease, and require more inputs every year. Why? Most lawn programs ignore the most important part of the system: soil biology. In this episode of the Soil Talks™ Podcast, we sit down with Rob Gaunt, Plant Pathologist and ISA Arborist, to break down The Green Philosophy a soil-first approach to lawn and landscape care that moves beyond chemicals, beyond guesswork, and into biological function. This conversation challenges the traditional lawn care model and explains why fertilizers and chemicals often fail long-term when biology is missing from the system. In this episode, we explore:• Why lawns fail even when “everything is done right”• How chemical programs mask problems instead of fixing them• What living soil actually means in turf systems• The role of microbes, fungi, and roots in long-term lawn health• Why biology, not products, drives resilience• How a soil-first approach changes the way we manage turf Rather than focusing on quick fixes, this discussion looks at lawns as biological systems, not chemical equations. When soil biology is ignored, inputs increase and results decline. When biology is restored, systems stabilize and begin to regenerate. Whether you’re a homeowner frustrated with recurring lawn problems, a lawn care professional looking for better outcomes, or someone managing turf at scale, this episode provides a foundational framework for understanding why lawns fail and what actually fixes them. Soil Talks™ Podcast is where we break down soil biology, plant health, and regenerative systems one conversation at a time. 📞 Have questions about your lawn or soil system?Our team is happy to help: 1-877-874-2334

    54 min
  2. 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
  3. 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

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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.